Morningside Community Church

I’m an organized guy.   I like writing things down and checking them off on a list.   One of my spiritual gifts is administration.   My office, my closet, and my garage are all very organized… things go in specific spots and are used for specific things.   However, lately… I’ve found something that has helped me even more.   It’s another list… but different than before.   Before, I would just write down things “hap-hazardly” when I was trying to go thru my day… but, now, thru the wisdom my wife shared with me… I’ve learned how to make even more of my time.

At the beginning of every day (at least my work days, so far)… I start a list of things I need to do.   Then, I number them in order of their real importance.   Then, I start on #1 and continue until I finish it.   After that I work on #2 until I finish it… then, #3 and so on.   At the end of the day… it’s likely I will not have completed all my tasks… but, that’s okay… I have tomorrow for those… and I have taken care of the most important things in my day.  

The important thing is to do it daily… evaluate the relative importance of things you have to get done… establish priorities… record your plan of action… and stick to it.   Please understand… there may be things that happen during the day that take priority… personal emergencies and such… tend to those and then head back to your list.   It doesn’t always have to be work-related either.   You can do this at home too… and spending time with your wife and kids is a great addition that needs to be at the top!!   But, primarily, it’s something that helps us be more organized and scheduled at work.  

I would encourage you to “try it” for at least a week.   See if you aren’t getting done more of the important things in your life… and being more efficient in doing them.   I’d think you’d be surprised at how much you can accomplish in your day… which gives you more time for your family when you’re at home!!   Enjoy!!

Pastor Joe

Breaking Free: Making Liberty in Christ a Reality in Life

Breaking Free: Making Liberty in Christ a Reality in Life, leads you through a study of the Scriptures to discover the transforming power of Christian freedom. Based on Isaiah 61:1-4, this in-depth study draws parallels between the captive Israelites and today’s believers.

Beth uses Scripture to point out the benefits of our relationship with God and shows you how to remove obstacles that hinder that relationship. As you identify spiritual strongholds in your life, you will progress on the journey toward greater freedom in Christ. This study includes both personal assignments and weekly group sessions taped at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Join Beth on a Bible study journey unlike any other you have taken. In her other studies people like David and Daniel have been the main characters, but this time the journey is yours.   Click here to view a video of the study.

This 11-week study will be offered at Morningside Community Church beginning Thursday, January 10, from 10:00am-12:00noon, with the final lesson being held March 20. Cost for the study, which includes the study materials, is $30. Preregistration is required by Wednesday, January 2. To register, call the Morningside office at 692-2564 or e-mail Sandra Diedrich or Elaine Ganahl through the contact form.

The Great Physician’s Rx for Health and Wellness

Author Jordan Rubin shares the 7 keys to unlock your health potential that brought him total recovery from his debilitating disease. Through determination and a powerful faith in God, Jordan refused to give in to his disease and regained vibrant health – and this  class tells you how. You will learn what foods to eat, what supplements are best for abundant health, how and why to practice advanced hygiene, what exercise and body therapies add to health and why, how to reduce toxins in your environment, how to avoid deadly emotions, and how to live a life of prayer and purpose.

This 7-week study will be offered on  Sunday evenings from 6:30pm-8:00pm   at Morningside Community Church January 6-February 24th.Cost for the class is $40. Couples using the same study materials are welcome to come for the price of one.   Preregistration is required by Thursday, December 20, 2007. To register, call the Morningside office at 692-2564 or e-mail   Elaine Ganahl through the contact form.  Class size is limited.

Other classes to be offered this winter!!!

Beginning February 25-Beth Moore Study: A Woman’s Heart: God’s Dwelling Place
Beginning April 2- Parenting: The Early Years

For questions on any of these classes, contact the Morningside Counseling Center at 692-3871.

Outlook 2007 has this really neat feature that allows you to add important calendars of other people to your calendar.   You can then view each calendar separately or combine them all to one view.  

So how do you do this?

Well, on the left-hand side of the website there is a little calendar.   At the bottom of the calendar is a feed icon (circled in blue) ——–>

Outlook for some reason doesn’t like this link however if you prefix it with “webcal” instead of “http” it works.   So here’s your official link to add Morningside’s Event Calendar to your Outlook:

webcal://morningsidechog.org/?ec3_ical

Want another techy hint?   Try hovering your mouse over the days underlined on the calendar!

Just like a diamond has so much beauty to reveal as you slowly turn it and let the light touch it from diferent angles…grace has many beautiful qualities to offer as well, if we would just receive them!

Throughout this entire 10-week series Pastor Joe is going to turn the diamond slightly and reveal another aspect of God’s wonderful grace to us.   We hope that you will join us each week…

Read the rest of this entry »

I was just sent this and wanted to pass it on…

by Max Lucado

I drove the family to Grandma’s last night for Thanksgiving. Three hours into the six-hour trip, I realized that I was in a theology lab.

A day with a car full of kids will teach you a lot about God. Transporting a family from one city to another is closely akin to God transporting us from our home to his.

A journey is a journey, whether the destination be the Thanksgiving table or the heavenly one. Both demand patience, a good sense of direction, and a driver who knows that the feast at the end of the trip is worth the hassles in the midst of the trip… Read the rest of this entry »

Standup comedian and author David Brenner was signing books in San Francisco bookstore when a young man handed him a newly purchased copy to be signed and said softly, “I want to thank you for saving my life.” Brenner replied flippantly, “That’s okay.” The young man stood his ground and said, “No, I really mean it.”

Brenner stopped signing and looked at him. The man said “My father died. He was my best friend. I loved him and couldn’t stop crying for weeks. I decided to take my own life. The night I was going to do it, I happened to have the TV on. You were hosting The Tonight Show, doing your monologue. Next thing I knew I was watching you and laughing. Then I started laughing hysterically. I realized then that if I was able to laugh, I was able to live. So I want to thank you for saving my life.” Humbled and grateful, Brenner shook his and and said, “No, I thank you.”

Laughter does more than help us escape our problems. It sometimes gives us the courage to face them. As humorous author Barbara Johnson has said: “Laughter is like changing a baby’s diaper. It doesn’t permanently solve any problems, but it makes things more acceptable for awhile.”

“A happy heart is like good medicine, but a broken spirit drains your strength.” -Proverbs 17:22

7pm in the Crest Room (main level of the Union)- Join us for a night designed specifically for college students and young adults. We’ll continue the Song of Solomon Series with “Courtship pt. 2″