SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2016
5 A
The secret to great relationships
Relationships are an impor-
tant part of life. Healthy rela-
tionships have the ability to
bring us great joy and satisfac-
tion; however, unhealthy ones
have the power to make life
miserable!
Throughout my life, God’s
Word has taught me so many
great lessons about how to get
along with people, something I
wasn’t very good at. But I think
the greatest lesson was this:
choose to live in peace with
others.
Simply put, it’s God’s will
for us to live in peace and har-
mony with one another, and his
word offers clear instructions
on how to get along with peo-
ple in our daily lives.
First Peter 3:11 (AMPC)
says, “Let him search for peace
(harmony
undisturbedness
from fears, agitating passions
and moral conflicts) and seek it
eagerly.
Do not merely desire peace-
ful relations with God, with
your fellowmen and with your-
self, but pursue, go after them!”
Notice how this verse says
we can’t merely desire peaceful
relationships,we have to pursue
them!
Now, this doesn’t mean we
won’t ever disagree. People are
naturally going to have dis-
agreements, and it’s okay to
disagree if we can do it respect-
fully. But we must avoid strife.
KEEP CHRIST IN
CHRISTMAS
What is strife? The diction-
ary defines strife as “ bickering,
arguing, a heated disagreement,
or an angry undercurrent.”
Strife is one of the greatest
threats to the body of Christ,
and it has the ability to
destroy marriages, personal
relationships
and
even
churches. Like a seed, strife
can get planted through some-
thing we say or do, then even-
tually grow to become a major
problem.
God’s word tells us that it’s
the “little foxes” that sneak into
the vineyard and spoil all the
grapes (see Song of Solomon
2:15). I believe this is true
when it comes to strife. Left
unchecked, even minor dis-
agreements or frustrations can
eventually destroy a relation-
ship. So, how do we keep strife
out of our relationships? Here
are a couple practical tips:
• Maintain a Humble Heart
Where there is contention
and strife, there is also pride.
That’s why it is so important
for us to practice humility.
We all like to be
right,whether it’s an argument
about a major issue or some-
thing trivial. However, humili-
ty insists that we give up our
“right to be right.”
I can’t tell you how many
times my husband, Dave and I
went round after round, argu-
ing about the same thing. But
even when I “won,” I still real-
ly lost because I damaged our
relationship and gave up my
peace in the process.
I challenge you to adopt an
attitude of humility. If you’re
having an argument, be the
first to make peace or apolo-
gize even if you know you are
Watch
“In Search of the Lord’s Way”
Sunday, 7:30 AM
KMTR Channel 12
Then visit the
Florence church of Christ
1833 Tamarack
Florence, Oregon
Sponsored by
St. Mary Our Lady of the Dunes
Knights of Columbus
Assembly 3656
Florence, Oregon
Join Us In Worship
4 lines, approx 15 words, $10 a week
4 week Minimum
Deadline 3 p.m. Mondays.
and experience the joy and simplicity of
pre-denominational New Testament Worship. (Romans 16:16)
Bible Study: Sunday, 10:00 am
Worship: Sunday, 11:00 am
www.churchofchristfl orence.org
To be included in this directory contact
the Siuslaw News at 997-3441, or drop off
information at 148 Maple St., Old Town, Florence.
J OIN U S I N W ORSHIP
WATCH! 3 ANGELS BROADCASTING NETWORK
(3ABN) TV UHF Channel 48.
24 hour Christian TV highlights Bible studies of prophecy, inspirational music,
health lectures, healthy cooking and more.
FLORENCE UNITARIAN
UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP
N.W. Corner of Heceta Beach Road & Hwy. 101
Every Sunday at 10 a.m.
All are welcome. (541) 997-2840
BAY BERRY CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP SINGSPIRATION
You are invited to come and sing your favorite old time gospel hymns
Every Friday night at 7pm • Non-denominational
Bay Berry Square; 101 at Sutton Lake Dr. /milepost 185 N.
For more information , please call 541-997-2681
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE GROUP
“God Is Life”
Meeting Thursday at 3pm
575-313-3640
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST
OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
Located at Munsel Lake Road and North Fork Road
Worship Services 10:00 AM Sunday
All are welcome! 541-997-7268
COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH
4590 Hwy. 101, Across from Fred Meyer –- 997-7418
Sunday School, 9:30a.m. – Worship, 10:45
Wed. Prayer - 6:00 p.m. –Wed. Ministries 1-8 Grade 7 p.m.
CROSS ROAD ASSEMBLY OF GOD
Corner of 10th & Maple –- 997-3533
Bible Study at 9:00 A.M.
Services: Worship, 10:30 A.M.
fl orencecrossroad.org • offi ce@fl orencecrossroad.org
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH - SBC
1935 25th St. – 997-7660 • Pastor, Dr. Marvin Owen
Series “People of the Bible.” on Wednesdays 6 p.m.
A friendly place to worship, vacationers welcome.
Sun.; 11am & 6pm, Sunday school 9:45am.
FLORENCE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
2nd & Ivy – 997-2961 –Non-Denominational
Worship Service: 9:00 am & 10:30 am
FLORENCE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
1st Sunday of each month worship at 10:30 am
2nd-5th Sundays worship at 9am and 10:30am
Every Sunday Adult Sunday School at 9am
Children and Youth Sunday School at 10:45 AM
2nd & Kingwood • (541) 997-6025
FOURSQUARE CHURCH
1624 Highway 101 (next to A&W) –- 997-6337
Pastor George Pagel – Something for the entire family.
Sun. Services: 10:45 a.m., Wed. Bible Study 7 p.m.
Website:fl orence4square.com
FLORENCE VINEYARD (GOD’S POWER HOUSE)
2610 Kingwood, Florence • 541-268-2025
Sunday Worship @ 10:00 a.m., experience the Power of the Holy Spirit
Pastors: George & Beverly Sisemore
Intercessory Prayer & Worship, Thursday night @ 5:00 pm
fl orencevineyardchurch.com
NEW LIFE CHURCH-UPC
1424 15th Street •541-991-9398
Sunday Services: 10am and 6pm
Tues. Bible Study 7:00pm
NEW LIFE LUTHERAN CHURCH, E.L.C.A.
21st & Spruce Street – 997-8113
Adult Forum 9 a.m. – Sunday School 10:30 a.m.
Worship services; Sun. 10:30am & Wed. 6pm.
Pastor Lori Blake
www.lutheranchurchfl orence.com
right! It may be painful in the
moment, but you will reap the
rewards long after it’s all over.
• Let Love Be Your Guide
Strife isn’t just a 21st centu-
ry problem. In fact, the apostle
Paul wrote to the early church,
encouraging them to avoid
strife and stay away from petty
arguments.
In Philippians 2:2 (AMPC),
he writes,“Fill up and complete
my joy by living in harmony
and being of the same mind
and one in purpose, having the
same love, being in full accord
and of one harmonious mind
and intention.”
Where there is unity, there is
also blessing and anointing
(Psalm 133). And God’s Word
tells us there is power in agree-
ment (Matthew18:19). How-
ever, we can’t truly agree and
walk in unity if there is bitter-
ness, offense, or unforgiveness
in our hearts.
I can put a big smile on my
face and say all the right
things, but if I’m still purpose-
ly harboring all sorts of nega-
tive thoughts and feelings
about Dave or a friend, I’m not
really walking in love or unity.
It’s not just the outside that
matters even more important is
what’s going on inside.
First Corinthians 13:5
(AMPC) tells us that love “is
not touchy or fretful or resent-
ful; it takes no account of the
evil done to it.” Verse 7 goes
on to tell us that love believes
the best of every person.
Wow! Can you imagine
what would happen in our rela-
tionships if we simply fol-
lowed these two verses?
I encourage you to truly love
the people in your life. Make a
decision to stay unified no mat-
ter what tries to get between
you. Because, after all,“love
never fails” (1 Corinthians
13:8).
• Seek the Prince of Peace
The very best relationship
advice I can give you is to
develop a personal, intimate
relationship with Jesus Christ,
the Prince of Peace. I encour-
age you to spend regular time
with him through prayer and
by reading and studying his
word.
As you do, he will literally
change you from the inside out,
causing you to think differently
and act differently. It is only
when we receive his peace and
his love that we can truly give it
away to others!
I am so grateful for the peace
of God in my life. The Lord
has not only changed my rela-
tionships, but He has changed
me. And He will do the same
for you. It is possible to enjoy
stable, joyfull, fulfilling rela-
tionships. And it all begins
with a simple decision to pur-
sue peace.
FUUF to discuss
‘whitespaces’ of life
Sunday, Dec. 4, from 10
until 11 a.m., the Rev. Marcia
Pearce will lead the Florence
Unitarian
Universalist
Fellowship’s worship service
titled: Courage to Trust the
Space.
Rev. Pearce says, “In the
printing industry there is an
important and expensive
commodity called ‘white-
space’. It is the unused space
between texts and pictures.”
Using “whitespace” as a
metaphor for life, Pearce will
discuss creativity, love and
trust as a joyful means to
heal the past and prepare for
the coming year.
The UU Fellowship is
located at 87738 Highway
101 at Heceta Beach Road
and is wheelchair accessible.
Each service concludes
with refreshments and a dia-
logue circle to explore the
questions that come up dur-
ing each service. For
YouTube videos of past wor-
ship services, please visit
FUUF’s website at florenceu-
uf.org.
Also see their Facebook
page and call 541-997-2840
with any questions or con-
cerns.
Spirituali-Tea to
meet Monday eve
On Monday, Dec. 5, at 6:30
p.m. everyone is invited to
join a group of friends from
varied spiritual paths to dis-
cuss a comfort prayer.
O God! Refresh and glad-
den my spirit. Purify my
heart. Illumine my powers. I
lay all my affairs in thy hand.
Thou art my guide and my
refuge.
I will no longer be sorrow-
ful and grieved; I will be a
happy and joyful being.
The main goal of the
Baha’i Faith will always cen-
ter around one ultimate aim,
the peaceful unification of the
entire human race.
The gathering will end at 8
p.m. with prayers for the
requests left in the Prayer
Pole in the garden of the
Florence Playhouse and those
shared by the group.
The Heintz home is located
at 875 Seventh St.
For more information call
Suzanne Mann-Heintz at 541-
590-0779.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF THE SIUSLAW
Traditional Worship Service 10:00 a.m. , Reverend Greg Wood
Sunday School and Nursery – Organ and Choir
All Welcome. Come as you are.
3996 N Hwy 101 997-7136
Middle School and High School youth groups meet on Wednesday.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS (QUAKERS)
FLORENCE CHURCH OF CHRIST
Pre-Denominational (Romans 16:16)
1833 Tamarack Street (2 blocks east of Hwy. 101 on 18th St.)
Bible Study: Sunday 10 a.m.; Worship: Sunday 11 a.m.
www.churchofchristfl orence.org
FLORENCE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE
12th and Nopal –997-9020
Worship Service 10:30 a.m.
10 am Wed., Women’s Bible Study
Saturdays, Mens’ Breakfast @ 8 a.m.
Online Worship Service@ www.fl orencenaz.com
FLORENCE EVANGELICAL CHURCH
1318 Rhododendron Dr. –- 997-2523 – Worship at 11:00 AM –- Sunday
School at 9:30 AM – Variety of Sunday evening activities - 5 PM
Wed. Bible & Children classes at 6:00 PM
Call for details.
FLORENCE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST
“War is still not the answer.” FCNL
We worship in homes at 11am Sundays
Call 997-4237 or 902-9511 for locations.
RESURRECTION LUTHERAN CHURCH, L.C.M.S.
Every Sun., Bible Class 9 a.m., Worship Service 10 a.m.
85294 Hwy. 101 S. – 997-8038
DVD of Weekly worship service available.
Pastor Randy Benscoter
ST. ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
2135 19th St. –- 997-6600
8:30am, Tuesdays, Morning Prayer
Sunday Services: 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. - Wed, 11 a.m.
Everyone Welcome – Come walk our Labyrinth.
SAINT MARY, OUR LADY OF THE DUNES
CATHOLIC CHURCH
Masses: Sat. 5:30 p.m., Sun. 11:00 a.m.
1.5 miles south of river on Hwy 101 – 997-2312
4445 Hwy 101 (South of Fred Meyer) – 997-3951
Worship on Saturday 10:30 A.M.
Adult/Children’s Sabbath School 9:15 A.M.
Voice Your Opinion! Write to:
EDITOR@THESIUSLAWNEWS.COM