FallsCreek Community Church

149 Northmoreland Ave. Munroe Falls, OH 44262 (330) 686-1400

the FALLSGR K by Pastor Thomas

Dr. Mike Thomas

Senior Pastor www.fallscreekcc.org

Fall at

the

Creek Volume 16

October-December 2014

it was obviously by accident and not by plan. Here is the interesting thing. There were no genius rats or idiot rats. They were all average rats out of the same litter. The difference in performance was the direct result of the difference in the attitude of the students conducting the series of experiments. In short, the students treated the rats differently; because they saw them differently. Different treatment brings on different results. The students didn't know rat language but rats have attitudes, and attitude is a universal language. The point of the story is this: Your attitude has an effect on the people whose lives you touch. Have your children gotten any smarter in the last five minutes? How about your wife? Has she gotten any prettier and more interesting? Did your husband grow in stature? If those things did not happen, you missed the point. Your family and other people have a problem, the problem is you! A poet said it best. "If you take a man as he is, you make him worse than he was. But if you see him as being the best person possible, then he in fact becomes the best person possible." If your children suddenly became smarter while you were reading these words; if your wife, husband or associate improved; congratulations, you are the one who is making progress. At FallsCreek we see people the way God sees them; unique, valuable and loved.

HOW DO YOU SEE PEOPLE? We have all heard it said, "We need to see the good in people." We need to be "Good finders" in every situa-tion. There is a universal truth that we treat people the way we see them. Several year ago a Harvard Professor conducted an intriguing series of experiments. It involved three groups of students and three groups of rats. The first group of students worked with genius rats; rats bred for intelligence. They were extremely bright. They would get to the end of the maze in no time flat and eat lots of cheese, so buy plenty. The second group of students worked with average rats; not too bright and not too stupid. They would eventually find the end of the maze and eat some cheese, so don't expect too much from them. They were average in intel-ligence and ability. Their performance was average. The third group of students worked with really bad rats. If they did find the end of the maze, it was by accident and not by design. They were really idiot rats. So natu-rally they will be low in performance. I am not certain you should even buy any cheese. Just paint a sign at the end of the maze that says, "Cheese". The next six weeks the students conducted experiments under exacting scientific conditions. The genius rats performed like geniuses. The average rats, well what do you expect from a bunch of average rats? They made it to the end of the maze but they did not set any speed records in the process. The idiot rats, oh brother, were they ever sad. They had real difficulty and when one did find the end of the maze,

TEACHER TALK

by Gary Varner

WOW! $2,326.25 was earned by our Heart2Heart group in their June yard sale.

This wonderful, hard-working group of women donated the money to be used to

make a month’s payment on our building. “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and

your plans will succeed.” Prov. 16:3 NIV

Shary White, Linda Reynolds, Karen Needham, Karen Mason, Debara Collins, Mickey Knight, Pam Partch

2

THE KINGDOM

When I graduated from high school, the key note speaker, was the Vice President of Marketing for Burger King. His speech was entitled, "Will You Have It Your Way?". You can't make this stuff up. I was appalled and made a great deal of fun of it. Marketing is not about the truth, it is about making the truth. To borrow a line from a Jackson Browne song,

"They sell us everything

from youth to religion the same way they sell us their wars".

Ever wonder why, most of the talk shows have the same talking points? It's because the news is being marketed. Unfortunately, the same thing is happening in many churches today. I see this as a big problem. The other big problem I see in the church today, is the reliance on psychology for spiritual problems. Of course, Christians as well as non-Christians should seek psy-chological help if they need it. A couple of weeks ago, I read of a large Midwestern seeker friendly church, that in its bookstore, con-tained more self help books than it did books of theology. If true- this is shameful. Pop psychology should not replace theology. This in effect is what happened to my previous denomination, and that is why I left.

The flaw, shared by marketing and pop psychology, is that the focus is on the individual and not on God. That's not good, and leads to a consumer oriented, shallow faith. Certainly, not what is needed. As one young girl said, "Adults think we want pizza and prizes. We want the hard truth". Shades of my reaction to the high school graduation speech. In the Bible Discovery Class, we have been looking at Luke's presentation of the kingdom of God. (Matthew uses the term kingdom of heaven). As I have pointed out to the class, if Jesus's disciples do not accept his teaching of the kingdom, and fail to pass them on, then they die with that generation. Paraphrased they are:

love God, love your neighbor, love your enemy Give to the poor, and forgive others

These teachings put others first. They are not driven by marketing or pop psychology. Some of them, to the non-Christian seem counter intuitive. They are requirements for entrance into the kingdom. As Matthew 7:21 states: "Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven".

You only need a shirt and shoes for entrance into the king-dom of Burger King. The requirements for entering into the kingdom of God are a little higher. This is the hard truth. By the way, this is my last article, it is time to graduate.

This year’s Trunk or Treat

Community Outreach

will be held on Sunday, October 26th,

from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

In this fun event children are given “treats” from decorated trunks in the

church parking lot. Volunteers may or

may or may not dress in costume. Cider and donuts, provided by the church will be served. This is a good opportunity to invite family and friends to a fun activity held in a “safe” environment. Questions, please contact Barb Brunk.

On August 26th, heaven received “our angel” when Frances N. McCray went home to be with her Lord and Saviour. She was a faithful member of Falls Creek and the “adopted mother” of the women in Heart 2 Heart. She devoted her life to her family and loved nothing more than spending time with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. We send our love and prayers to her daughter, Shary White, her son Don Joiner and the rest of the extended family and friends. Please pray that they may be comforted by the promises of God and know the peace only Christ can bring.

November

2nd

Remember to

turn your clocks

Back 1 hour

“Fall Back”

Sunday, November 2nd, following the Worship Service,

we will be having a

“Thanksgiving Dinner”

for the Church “Family”. Ham, Turkey, Stuffing, Potatoes,

Vegetables and Desserts will be served.

Plan to attend and spend time in fellowship

with your brothers and sisters in Christ.

“The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.” 1 Timothy 5:17, NIV

11 p.m.

October

2nd Chuck Heiner

3rd Ron Withrow

5th Dale O’Brien

6th Matt Gilbert

8th Becky Barncord

Mark Igleheart

Cindy Terry

Emma Wichert

10th Bill Burch

Jeanette Lutey

13th Ava Chaney

18th Betty Likovetz

21st Linda Handschumaker

22nd Caylah Cook

Jeff Stein

23rd Christopher Decker

24th Mickey Knight

November

5th Brian Bernstein

7th Harriette Atsaroff

8th Pastor Michael Thomas

11th Larry Long

12th Sherl Dreier

Marcia Lees

Randall Terry

17th Randy Jackson

20th Pam Partch

27th Kay Wharton

29th LaVon Thomas

December

3rd Sue Smith

6th Robert Mathis

7th Rosalee Hupp

12th Maria Burch

Karen Needham

13th Angie Beca

15th Alexis Gilbert

Austin Underwood

16th Robin Ickey

21st Renny Long

22nd Dan Campbell

24th Rita Anderson

28th Tom Likovetz

The week of November 17th will be

the time for collecting our shoe boxes.

Why not start buying items now? The

time will come before you know it.

Information will be given as to how to

fill a shoebox, or you can go to:

www.samaritanspurse.org

And click on the OCC link for more

information.

If you make your $7 per box donation

online you will receive a tracking

notice telling you the country where

your shoebox gifts will be delivered

into the hands of children in need.

This is a very easy and fast process.

After you complete your payment

information, you will receive a barcode

label that enables us to track each

shoebox. Print the label from our web-

site, or save it to your computer. You

can use the same label for all of your

shoeboxes. Your specific barcode is

connected to your e-mail address, so

it’s important to include the label on

each of your boxes, so they can be

scanned before shipment.

After your shoeboxes are shipped,

you will receive one email for each

different country where they are deliv-

ered, along with information about

Operation Christmas Child in that

country. If your boxes go to only one

country, you will receive one e-mail.

Focus on

Women

OUR GOAL is 100 BOXES!

All women are invited to attend Focus on Women, the Bible Study held on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:00 in Room 100. Taught by LaVon Thomas, we are studying the Book of Ruth. This is a wonderful oppor-tunity to study God’s Word and enjoy the company of your sisters in Christ.

Do you want to learn more about specific Biblical truths and be able to have your questions answered? If so, join us at 6:15 on Wednesday evenings for Pastor’s study called “Exploring the Bible”.

All retirees or those 50 and

older are invited to come to the social hall and join us

for lunch and a program. We meet monthly from

September through May on the 3rd Tuesday of the

month at 11:30. This is a wonderful time of fun, food

and fellowship. October 21st we will be

celebrating Pastor and Worker Appreciation.

November 18th will be our traditional Thanks and

Giving Dinner.

December 16th will be our Christmas Celebration.

All are welcome and encouraged to attend!

July 1st we saw 3 people follow

the Lord’s example in Believer’s

Baptism. By doing so, Josh

Iglehart, Kelly Zickefoose and

Dale O’Brien showed that they

had accepted Jesus as their Saviour.

When in the water the going back-

wards represents burying our old

sin nature and coming out to walk

as a new person. “The old is dead,

the new has come.”

I g l e h a R t

Josh

Kelly

Zickefoose

Dale O’ B r i e n

The Zickefoose Family

LaVon had a relaxing time seeing various sites in Colorado...that Don and Sharon Redd spent a few days

at Niagara Falls...that Betty Swartz attended her 60th High School Reunion in September!)...that Linda

Reynolds had the opportunity to join her grandson, Grayson and his family at Disney World...that Ken

and Lela Marana took a two week adventure. They started in Nashville, traveled to Little Rock, Arkansas

and went where the Spirit led them before returning home… that Mickey Knight and Renny Long at-

tended a ladies retreat in Frankenmuth, Michigan...that Jesus said, “Come off by yourselves; let’s take a

break and get a little rest.”...that Dan Campbell spent time taking dance lessons so he could dance to

the song “I Loved Her First” with his daughter, Samantha, at her wedding...that Debara Collins experi-

enced the wonderful love of friends several times this summer. On July 19th, at the Alliance Balsa Bees

Annual Big Plane Fly Inn, someone flew one of her husband’s planes and won the Pilot’s Choice Award.

They presented her with the Pilot’s Award Plaque. Then on August 9th. at the Air Plane Club Open

House, the patio on the CMAC Clubhouse was dedicated to the memory of Russ Collins. A plaque was

placed in his honor. Finally friends took her for a surprise trip to New York to a Martina McBride concert

and many other Birthday activities...that A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversi-

ty...that everyone is a little ”Irish” on St. Patrick’s Day and everyone is a little “Colombian” on July 20th

when Ytha Chaney celebrates Colombian’s Independence Day (right, Ron Withrow?)...that there is a

new member of the Lenc Family. A new puppy, Diesel. He is really CUTE!...that just a few weeks after

returning to South Carolina, Mickey’s granddaughter, Avery, took her first steps. Boy will she be fun

when she returns in October for her first birthday...that Dan and Terri Campbell opened their home

again for the Third Annual Fall Bonfire for Mrs. Thomas’s Sunday School class and the choir...that a

cheerful heart is good medicine...that laughter is good for the soul...that many laughs could be heard

when Steve Chaney, Chuck Ickey, and Mike Lutey performed a lip sync to It’s Raining Men, dressed in

nun outfits... that Pastor Thomas even made reference to Ytha Chaney’s unique laugh during a mes-

sage one week… that Debara Collins, Dale O’ Brien, Lenny Stemple, Austin Underwood and Kelly Zick-

afoose completed Pastor’s 101 class learning about FallsCreek...that Betty and Tom Likovetz’s family

had a picnic and worship service celebrating God’s goodness to the family in the wonderful healing tak-

ing place in Betty’s body...Did you know these things? I thought you should! Donna A.

…that summer is

vacation time and

that is true of

those at FallsCreek

also...that Sherl

Dreier needed a vacation from her vacation after

she had 14 people visiting her from Seattle in July;

but she turned the tables when she visited them in

September...that Candy Grubb should be an expert

on Mount Rushmore. After traveling there with her

sister-in-law, she returned to Ohio where she and

Ytha (the 2 biker babes) joined Chuck and Steve

for a trip to Mount Rushmore on their Harleys…

that Erin Sadler celebrated her graduation with a

trip to Hawaii...that Wayne and Rita Anderson

came home from Germany in August after investing

time spoiling their grandchildren...that Pastor and

Pastor Thomas has developed a ministry team to

help and support him with different ministries in

the church. Below are the names of the people

holding these positions for this year.

Care Committee: Charlotte Burns

Christian Education: Cindy Terry

Custodial Ministry: Barbara Brunk

First Impression / Guest Services: Dave Law

Grounds Keeping: Joe Kidwell

Music Ministry: LaVon Thomas

Social Committee: Donna A. Peters

Please pray for all of these people as they strive to

serve the Lord in the ministry He has given them.