Newsletter   I   NOVEMBER 2004

THANKFULNESS Mark Tidd of Webster, New York, describes an experience from his college days: An old man showed up at the back door of the house that we were renting. Opening the door a few inches, we saw his eyes were glassy and his furrowed face glistened with silver stubble. He clutched a wicker basket holding a few unappealing vegetables. He bid us good morning and offered his produce for sale. We were uneasy enough that we made a quick purchase to alleviate both our pity and our fear. To our chagrin, he returned the next week, introducing himself as Mr. Roth, the man who lived in the shack down the road. As our fears subsided, we got close enough to realize it wasn't alcohol but cataracts that marbleized his eyes. On subsequent visits, he would shuffle in, wearing two mismatched right shoes, and pull out a harmonica. With glazed eyes set on a future glory, he'd play old gospel tunes between conversations about vegetables and religion. On one visit, he exclaimed, "The Lord is so good! I came out of my shack this morning and found a bag full of shoes and clothing on my porch." "That's wonderful, Mr. Roth!" we said. "We're happy for you." "You know what's even more wonderful?" he asked, "Just yesterday I met some people that could really use them."                                                                                               --Illustrations for Teaching and Preaching Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.?

THOSE WHO DO NOT GIVE THANKS A Christian farmer was asked to dine with a well-known gentleman. While there, he asked to pray and give thanksgiving at the table as he was accustomed to do at home. His host said in a mocking tone. "That is old fashioned; it is not customary nowadays for well-educated people to pray before they eat." The farmer answered that with him it was customary, but that some of those on his farm never prayed over their food. "Ah, then," said the gentleman, "they are sensible and enlightened. Who are they?" "My pigs." answered the farmer.

LETTER FROM THE ISF ASSISTANTS Dear International Friend, Greetings to you from International Student Fellowship! On November 25th many American families will celebrate the traditional holiday of Thanksgiving. Maybe your country has a celebration similar to ours here in the United States. No matter when or how you celebrate, thanksgiving is really something that we should practice every day. How easy it is to focus on the problems and difficulties that we face in every day life. Sometimes we find ourselves spending more time complaining than we do in giving thanks. We know that it is not always easy to find the blessing or lesson to be learned in the challenges of life. Many times we wonder why such difficult and discouraging things happen to us. It is not easy to understand why things are happening in such an adverse way. We all have this in common. Maybe more than we are willing to admit. Over the years we have found that even when it seemed that things could not get any worse, thanking God for the many other good things He had done for us in our lives helped to see us through many discouraging times. We pray you will find this to be true. It really can make the difference in your life. God is still in control and loves you. We hope you will be able to join us in our annual Thanksgiving dinner for you at the William Pitt Union. It would be nice for all of you to be able to come but realistically that is not possible. We urge you to take time this month to be thankful for the good things you take for granted every day that God has blessed you with. We can even be thankful for the things we don't understand for one day we will know the reason why. We will look forward to seeing you at the November gathering. This gathering will be on Friday, November 5th at 7:30 PM in the beautiful Ballroom of the William Pitt Union. The William Pitt Union is located in Oakland on the corner of Bigelow and Fifth Avenue. To get to the Ballroom, use the entrance on Fifth Avenue and then follow the signs. At this gathering we plan on special music, wonderful fellowship, a traditional Thanksgiving meal for you to enjoy, an interesting lecture and of course there will be children's activities in the Kurtzman room. And remember it's all free!. We look forward to seeing you on Friday, November 5th!                                                                                                   --Terry & Pam Tiberio, ISF Assistants   International Student Fellowship Presents the Annual     International Christmas Banquet     Thursday Evening - December 9th 2004, 7:00 PM     3rd Floor Banquet Room Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall Fifth Ave. & Bigelow Blvd., Oakland     Come and Invite all your International Friends (It's Free!)

ISF OCTOBER GATHERING (October 1, 2004)