Newsletter   I   OCTOBER 2002

NO ROOT, NO FRUIT Before a person becomes a Christian (I mean a real Christian, not just someone who says he is) his "want to" is broken. He is not interested in God. He is bored by church and by reading the Bible. He cannot "make" him-self "want to" do right and cannot "make" himself "want not" to do wrong. When a person is born again, God re-pairs his "want to." Even though he still feels the pull of temptation, he will have a new set of desires. He will love God and want to talk to God in prayer and see what God has to say to him in His Word, the Bible. He wants to be around other people who love God; church attendance becomes meaningful. There is a new desire to obey God.s. Why do we do what we do? The answer is simple: we do what we do because of what we are. It's like fruit trees. Apple trees bear apples, pear trees produce pears, and peach trees grow peaches. The fruit is the natural result of the nature of the tree. I suppose you could tie apples to a peach tree, but that would not make it an apple tree. In the same way, adding religious activities to one's schedule doesn't make one a Christian. Just as the fruit of the tree naturally flows from the nature of the tree, even so the attitudes, words, and actions of our lives reveal our true selves. Jesus said, "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit….Therefore, by their fruits you will know them."   Matthew 7:17 & 20 e.                                                                                                --A Treasury of Bible Illustrations

LETTER FROM THE ISF ASSISTANT Dear International Friend, It seems like we have just experienced what some are saying has been the hottest summer we have had in a long time. If we were to survey those who have spent most of their lives here in the Pittsburgh area, they will tell you they wholeheartedly agree. The cooler temperatures are a welcome relief. Some of you have started school and we wish you success with your studies. Others have moved away and we will miss you here in Pittsburgh but we wish you God's best as you make the new adjustments in your life. Our world continues to be an amazing and interesting place to live in. Did you know that in Albania nodding your head means 'no' and shaking your head means, 'yes'? The guinea pig is from South America, not Guinea, and it is a rodent, not a pig. On some Caribbean Islands, the oysters can climb trees. We enjoyed having some of you at our last gathering when Julie Gurnee's family of five generations was present. Surely that is a great blessing, especially to her great grandmother. Not many are able to enjoy their great-great grandchildren so we wish her many more years. At our October gathering we hope to have a couple who have recently returned from traveling in South Africa speak to us. Their names are Thornton and Alberta Merrifield. Both have spent a number of years in Africa and we are sure that you will find them to be interesting speakers. So our October ISF gathering will be on Friday, October 4th, 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 5th. Avenue. To get to the Ballroom, use the entrance on 5th. Avenue and then follow the signs. As always there will be a full course dinner, good music, special children's activities in the Kurtzman Room, but especially good International fellowship. It's all free, so do plan to come and invite your friends. Hope to see you on October 4th!                                                                                                       --Terry Tiberio, ISF Assistant

WORDS OF WISDOM