Bulletin

Lessons From Pearl Harbor
Joe Slater

Today we remember Sunday, December 7, 1941 as Pearl Harbor Day, when the Empire of Japan attacked the U.S. Naval base at Pearl Harbor, thrusting this country into the Second World War. While as Christians "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal" (2 Cor. 10:3), we can learn important lessons about our spiritual warfare by careful consideration of what occurred that day:

1. Sometimes you get hammered when you least expect it. War had not been declared that fateful Sunday morning, and virtually nobody expected hundreds of warplanes to be dropping bombs and torpedoes and strafing ships. In our case, Satan has, in a manner of speaking, declared war on the Lord and His church (see Rev.12:17). We know we will be attacked, but we don't know just when or how. Let us always be on high alert!

2. When something just doesn't look right, check it out. Two radar operators, Joe Lockard and George Elliot, spotted incoming planes on radar nearly an hour before the attack. Their commanding officer assumed it was a squadron scheduled to arrive that day from California, so he told the radar operators not to be concerned. If only he had tried establishing radio contact, the lack of response might have shown that the approaching aircraft were not friendly! Likewise, when we hear people teaching things that sound "off base," or see brethren doing things that seem odd, we should check it out. Perhaps all is well – or perhaps not. We need to find out.

3. Hindsight is always 20/20.. Learn the lessons and move on. Everyone from President Roosevelt to the lowest enlisted man might have wished he had done some things differently sixty-seven years ago today. Re-living the past accomplishes nothing. Even so in the church, being consumed with wishing we had done something differently is fruitless. Let us, like Paul, put the past behind us and press on toward the goal (Phil. 3:13, 14)!

Some Rules For the Holiday Season
Lance Cordle

As we enter the "core" of the holiday season, please allow me to remind us all of some things we can do to make and keep it a joyous time for us all:

Be careful about your spending. Stick to a budget. Life does not consist in the quantity or price of things (see Luke 12:15).
Do something for others. Whether it is with a group or on your own, give a little extra to help someone in need. In your plans (parties, etc.), try to include those who may not have plans of their own (widows, singles, couples who live far away from family, etc.).
Face your negative feelings. If you are sad about a loved who is no longer alive, think about them and face the sadness, but end your contemplation with a reflection of the precious memories and the positive influence of that person on your life.
Use part of you time to take personal inventory and set goals for the coming year. Try to avoid too much self-criticism, but be realistic in your evaluation. Prioritize and set some attainable goals (not too many at once) for yourself in the new year.
Enjoy the happy moments. Try to truly savor the times of celebration. They will serve you well as sweet memories in the years to come.
Count your blessings!!