You can learn a lot from the side of a coffee can. Maxwell House has written, there, to inform us that they have some experts who know how to carefully select, roast, and grind these beans in several different ways. They assure us that one of those ways will satisfy us. Read it for yourself if you don't believe me. They used to tell us that they had one coffee to offer us and that it was "good to the last drop". Now they tell us that they have gotten their experts to mix up some other batches in case you don't agree with their opinion of the first. They have a batch without much caffeine in it, one without any, a mix that is "bold, hearty, and exceptionally rich", one that's "pure, lively, and full- bodied", one that's "deep, intense, but not bitter", and one that's "smooth and satisfying". They used to tell us that their coffee was better than the other ones. Now, they are making a lot of "other ones" and telling us that any one of these might be the best one "for us".

Jesus established His church and He delivered the faith to her in the first century (Jude 3). His moral standards for our individual and collective lives are the right ones as He delivered them. His orders regarding the mission of the church are complete and unchanging. His instructions regarding how we are to express our worship, what we are to teach the world and each other, how we are to help those in need, and how we are to conduct ourselves toward one another are exactly as they ought to be. In the first century they were uniformly given to individual churches that were to walk by the same standard (1 Corinthians 4:17; 7:17; 16:1). When Jesus revealed truth that offended rather than drew people in, He said of those who did not want it, "Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind" (Matthew 15:12-14; see also Matthew 11:6; 13:55-57; John 6:60- 66; Romans 9:32, 33; 1 Peter 2:8). When Paul knew that he could draw larger crowds and awe larger numbers of people by using the admired techniques of rhetoric of his day, he refused to do so because doing so would deny the power of the gospel (1 Corinthians 1:17-31). The gospel produced oneness when it produced its designed fruit and all those things that threatened to produce distinguishable "varieties" from the substance of the gospel -- and thus division, were to be abhorred rather than embraced (1 Corinthians 1:10).

Could it be that some of our misguided brethren have been reading and learning from coffee cans when they ought to be reading their Bibles? When we are told that we ought to remove some element of Divine truth in order to appeal to some element of human desire, it seems so. When we are counseled to add some human element not found in the gospel, it seems so. When we hear of large churches having a "traditional service" for those who prefer such a thing, and then a "contemporary service" for those whose tastes are not satisfied by the other, it seems so. When we hear those who once called upon the world to find the church that is right and true rather than to "attend the church of your choice", now turning around and saying, "attend the service of your choice", it seems so. Even when it is suggested that any particular truths are to be emphasized while others are to be de-emphasized, it seems so.

The gospel has come to us ground and blended to perfection. We cannot, with human hands, reformulate and improve the substance of it. Its elements are all in right proportions to one another. The ratios of mercy, justice, love, duty, comfort, expected affliction, calls for repentance and obedience, and assurances of forgiveness are all perfect. Maxwell House can make its "Master Blend" and then go ahead and recommend some others. Jesus Christ has delivered the "Master's Blend" and no other will do. It is perfectly "good to the last drop."

Congregation Meeting

The elders would like to meet with the congregation this afternoon at 5:00 here in the auditorium. They will be discussing the budget for the coming year as well as some the plans that are in store. Make it your business to be here an hour early this evening.

Ladies' Work Group

There will be no luncheon in December, however the ladies will meet tomorrow evening at 7:00pm (the 13th). We will be working on lap robes for the shut-ins there are about 9 that need to be finished. They are cut and pinned - they need to be tacked and hemmed.

Sandy Callender

Prayer List

The complete Prayer & Sick List, along with who, what, when, and where, is now online at www.orangestreetcofc.com, in the "Members Only" area (see Carl or Nancy for the password). This list will be printed out approximately once a month and available in the foyer. If you need information from it at any time (and you don't have internet access) see one of the elders or Carl or Nancy Chambers.

"And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." (Matthew 6:12)
If we have not forgiven, we can in no way expect God to forgive us.

Bill Norton