Happy Thankgsgiving!!!

Happy Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday today to Lori Robbins!!  Hope your special day is a good one!!!

SPOT News!!!

Lesson Preview

     Can you believe it?  We have arrived at the end of our study in 1 & 2 Corinthians.  This week's lesson comes from chapters 10-13 of 2 Corinthians.   The topic is Improving Relationships.

Conflict in relationships is common.  We are individuals with wills and opinions and with teens also in our homes, conflicts are inevitable.  But handled with Christ-like grace, conflict actually can lead to improved relationships. 

This Sunday is also the beginning of Advent.  We will experience a short time of Advent prior to the lesson.  As a heads up;  the three Sundays in December prior to Christmas will be devoted to Advent.  "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas . . ."

Peace,
Don

Update from Zenobia

Dear Friends and Family,

It's 2:33p and I'm here at the St. Louis Cancer center sitting in the "infusion room" at St. John's hospital in West County.  My friend Linda M graciously brought me here this am.  Im kind of tired after a night of very little sleep due to the portacath being put in yesterday.  This is a little mechanism about the size of a quarter that they sewed under my skin just below the right collar bone.  There is a tube attached to this that goes through the vein in my neck to send all meds and chemo through instead of starting an arm iv every time.  Well, little did I know that I wouldn't be able to turn my neck, get up or down very easily, and can't lift anything heavy for at least 2 weeks.  I now know that I use my neck muscles to get up and turn in bed.  They gave me pergoset but it said one of the side effects could have been getting dizzy so I left it alone.

This room is pretty big - all open walls with curtains to pull and comfy chairs for us to sit or recline in while we're here.  Today's session is going to last almost 6.5 hours.  When they put in the Herceptin thru the iv I started to have chills which is normal, so she slowed the adminstering of the med a little and it helped.  The sheets are toasty warm and my feet are reclined while sitting in this chair.

After Linda M left, Kelley Simers came and visited and brought us lunch and fun pink balloons.  My friend Jean Deasy also came and we chatted for a while.  She brought me a long pillow to use that you put in the microwave to heat in case I need it for my neck.  I took a short nap and listened to my ipod and the first song was "After the rain" by Aaron & Jeoffrey

After the rain you can look to the sky again

The clouds will give way to the light of the sun. 

Afrter the rain to know that you've made it thru

and you'll finally see the joy from the pain, after the rain.

So I guess I'm kind of looking at this whole experience as a time of "rain" with the clouds giving way periodically.  And through it all God is just watching over me.  I have met some nice patients here who also are receiving treatment for cancer, and my nurses Laura and Stacy have been very kind and patient.  I've been here long enough this morning to have seen almost all other patients come and go.  I think I will have had about 6 or 7 bags of stuff dripped thru my port by the time I leave here.  I have to come back tomorrow for a shot of Neulasta to stimulate the white blood cells and then begin taking oral medications to help me with reflux, indigestion, and nausea.  I have a feeling I'm gonna be really tired tonight.

Thanks so much for praying, and for your support.  I told a friend just a couple of days ago - I could not go through this without all of you!

In Him,

Zenobia

2nd Annual SPOT Christmas Shindig

...will be held on Wednesday, December 22nd at 6:30 PM.  The event will be graciously hosted by the Massey's.  Plan on bringing an appetizer of your choice and enjoy the festivities!!!  All kids welcome..even the college aged ones!

Prayer Requests

• Continued prayers for health issues with Zenobia Perry and Jim Meinhardt..
• John, Jeff Bradshaw's barber, is dealing with mental health issues.
• Susan Hurt's godmother is very ill.
• Lots of holiday travel this week..

 

 

Happy Birthday!!!

Happy birthday to Douglas Stubbs, whose birthday was yesterday.   Happy birthday today to Cynthia McKee!!

SPOTmail Update!

Lesson Preview

     I was a member of a church, not Concord, where an older couple mentioned to me that they had never had an argument in almost 50 years of marriage.  My immediate thought was - have they ever talked to each other?  On a couple of occasions I have visited with engaged couples as they were preparing to get married.  One of the questions I like to ask is does the other person fight fair.  On a few occasions the reply has been, "I don't know - we have not had a fight or argument."  My reply has been, "Then do not get married until you do." 

     Relationships are fun and rewarding but they take work.  Any time you have two people,  you have two opinions and often times they differ.  This is fertile ground for conflict.  This week we continue our study on relationships.  Coming from 2 Corinthians 5:11-7:4, we will consider the Biblical formula for reconciliation in a fractured relationship. 

Peace,
Don

Snacks

This week...Kay Massey!

Big Chill

We will be serving a chili dinner at Big Chill on March 19th!!  Be on the lookout for a donation envelope and a volunteer sign up sheet.  Please consider helping feed the kids with us!

Prayer Requests

• Jim Meinhardt's MRI has shown a benign brain tumor.  His next step is to see a neurosurgeon.
• For Zenobia and her battle with breast cancer.  She will see a medical oncologist today for a 2nd opinion.  Her doctor wants her to have surgery and treatment right away because the cancer in an aggressive type.
• For the Christmas musical and all those involved.
• Zenobia's uncle passed away.  She will travel to Houston for the funeral and to be with extended family.
• Zenobia's search for another home care assistant for Ryan.  It is important that he/she be trustworthy and becomes a part of the family.

All Mom Wants For Thanksgiving

Enjoy: Click here!!!


All Mom Wants For Thanksgiving « Videos « The Skit Guys

The Sunday Update on Tuesday!!!

Lesson Recap

The Sunday lesson was from 2 Corinthians 3:1-5:10.  This study teaches that we can still serve God faithfully even though dealing with a relationship that seems to be going nowhere.

Concerned or Confident? 3:1-18.
 We know that all believers are considered ministers, servants, and slaves (Lk 22:27, Mk 10:43, 2Cor 6:4, Eph 3:7 Col 1:25, 4:12)  In order for ministry to happen we must serve God faithfully and rely on Him completely to work in our relationships.  When we are in the middle of a conflict we must remain focused on God.  A frayed relationship may be beyond a persons ability to manage or even restore.  What actions can we take as we rely on God to work?

Depressed or Determined? 4:1-18.

 We see that Paul refused to give up on the Corinthians.  Even though there was opposition to him in Corinth, he had received both mercy and his ministry from God, and that was all the motivation he needed to keep going despite this opposition.  What actions can we take to avoid giving up on a relationship?  In verse 2, Paul, using "God as his witness" vowed that his actions had always been and open display of the truth.  In verses 15-18 you can see how Paul remained faithful to God despite suffering difficulties.  In verse 15 Paul refers to his life as a jar of clay, meaning he was bound to face suffering.  Paul's suffering for the Corinthians and others was because through his tribulations God's grace would be extended to and through more people.  Paul is resolute to not give up because of the daily personal renewal, and that God replace the temporal with the eternal.  We live by faith, so our task is to remain faithful.

Looking Down or Up? 5:1-10

Paul mentions "home in the body" and "away".  Paul never seemed to be concerned about his place of ministry, but rather the purpose.  His purpose in ministry was to please God.  Our ultimate home is heaven and there too we will serve God for eternity.  Paul knew this, and his message can be interpreted to say "no matter where I am, I see it as a ministry field."

Conclusion:

Pain experienced in relationships can discourage us.  We may focus so much on problems that we become less committed in our relationship with Christ.  By persevering in faithfulness to Jesus, we will also strengthen our other relationships.

1) We can serve God faithfully in any relationship when we rely on Him to work through us.

2) We are serving God faithfully when we live by the truth of the gospel, and help others to understand that truth.

3) We serve God faithfully when we Concentrate our attention on the things that are most important...those that are eternal.

4)  Anticipating the future judgment of Christians by Jesus encourages us to serve God faithfully every day. 

SPOTnik!!

Those that attended the SPOTnik on Sunday had an awesome time!  In addition to great weather, there was great food and fellowship.  Many thanks to Brooks and Ginger for getting this all together! 

Big Chill

Our class is going to serve one of the meals at CSM's Big Chill.  It is being held at the church this year, so they are looking for a few connection classes to serve. The dates for the Big Chill are March 18-20..so mark your calendar.  Details coming soon!

SPOT Christmas Party!!

The date of our annual Christmas party has been set!!!  It will be on the evening of Wednesday, December 22nd.  Watch this space for times and more details!!

Prayer Requests

• Jim Meinhardt's MRI has shown a benign brain tumor.  His next step is to see a neurosurgeon.
• Praise that Rich Conrad returned home on Monday!! 
• For Zenobia and her battle with breast cancer.  She will see a medical oncologist today for a 2nd opinion.  Her doctor wants her to have surgery and treatment right away because the cancer in an aggressive type.
• Chris Moniz had cancer surgery yesterday.
• For the Christmas musical and all those involved.
• Zenobia's uncle passed away.  She will travel to Houston for the funeral and to be with extended family.
• Zenobia's search for another home care assistant for Ryan.  It is important that he/she be trustworthy and becomes a part of the family.

Happy Anniversary!!!

...today to Jeff and Ronda Bradshaw.  God's blessings, and congratulations!!!

SPOTnik Sunday, November 7 @ 1 p.m. in Fenton Park - Shelter 1 RSVP to Brooks and Ginger by Friday at 7 p.m. (larowejb@hotmail.com or 636-343-3609) $10 per family (bring $ on Sunday) Burgers, Hot Dogs and plates/utensils provided Bring your own: - Side dish or Dessert - Chips - Drinks Don't forget the CSM parent meeting at noon, (just don't ask questions) then come on over for the fun!

Sputnik, the first man-made satellite to orbit the earth, was launched by the Soviet Union in October of 1957. It started a frantic space race which ended in July of 1969 when US astronaut Neil Armstrong  stepped on the surface of the moon.