Whatever happened to uncluttered and uncomplicated lives? Maybe every generation asks that same question. But has every generation had to deal with pressures like ours? We find ourselves hurried and haggard - too much to do and too little time in which to do it.

There are three threads that run through nearly every life that is too busy:

1. An inability to believe that God is in control. The world questions the power of God and emphasizes the adequacy of man. To believe in a God who is actively involved in our lives is to find ourselves "out of step" with most of the folks around us.

2. A general discontent with the way things are. Being hurried and restless throws a wet blanket over joy. It is like running a low grade fever. You are not sick enough to stop what you are doing and go to bed, but you cannot really enjoy much of what you are doing either.

3. A lack of genuine intimacy. Intimacy provides the immune system for the soul. It battles the psychological infections of discouragement, rejection, inadequacy, insignificance, and insecurity. Rushed schedules rob us of time needed to develop meaningful relationships.

There is a paradox in all of this that we must allow to become a principle in our lives. Here is the paradox: Genuine rest is never far away from the middle of a challenge.

Years ago a contest was held in which artists were invited to paint a picture of peace. The entries were eventually narrowed down to just two. The first artist had interpreted perfect peace by painting a quiet lake cradled high in the lonely mountains. The second artist painted a thundering waterfall with the branch of a birch tree bending out over the foam. on the fork of that limb, sat a robin undisturbed on her nest Which one depicts life as it really is? With which one do you identify most?

Remember that genuine rest is never far from the middle of a challenge. We, too, can have an unshakable calm, even in the middle of a storm.

Baby Showers
There will be a baby shower for Tracy Mathis, today (Sep 14) in the annex at 3:00.

There will also be a baby shower next Sunday afternoon (Sep 21), for Katrina Stearsman, in the annex at 3:00.

Personal Work Groups
Both Personal Work Groups, “Team A” and “Team B” will have short meetings today after the morning worship. Team “A” will meet in the Bible Lab and Team “B” will meet in Assembly Room “B”. Members of the two groups are encouraged to attend.

Our Gospel Meeting
If you have not done so already, please mark your calendars so that there are no conflicts with the dates October 26-29 (that’s a Sunday through Wednesday). That is the time that has been set aside for a Gospel Meeting here at Orange Street with speaker Brooks Boyd of Oxford, Alabama.

News & Events
If you have notices of events or other congregational news or changes of schedule that the congregation needs to be aware of— please try to have that information to Carl or Nancy Chambers by Friday morning for inclusion in the following Sunday bulletin. For the calendar– we must know of events or schedule changes by the Friday before the last Sunday of the month, in order to include them in the following month’s calendar. Your help will be much appreciated.

Is there one man (or woman) in the whole, wide world who can look you in the eye, take you by the hand, and say, "Thank God I am better having known you"? If there is, life may not be a bed of roses, but a well cultivated garden.

Don’t Forget the Weekly Prayer Meeting
in classroom #3, Sundays at 5:30 p.m.