It's not easy to confront

Confrontation is not easy to do for most people. We try very hard to avoid and pretend everything's okay. Here are the Ten Commandments of Confrontation that may help you.

1. Do it privately, not publicly.
2. Do it as soon as possible.
3. Speak to one issue at a time. Don't overload the person with a long list of issues.
4. Once you've made a point, don't keep repeating it.
5. Deal only with actions the person can change. If you ask the person to do something he or she is unable to do, frustration builds in your relationship.
6. Avoid sarcasm. Sarcasm signals that you are angry at people, not at their actions, and may cause them to resent you.
7. Avoid words like always and never. They usually detract from accuracy and make people defensive.
8. Present criticisms as suggestions or questions if possible.
9. Don't apologize for the confrontational meeting. Doing so detracts from it and may indicate you are not sure you had the right to say what you did.
10. Don't forget the compliments. Use what I call the "sandwich" in these types of meetings:
Compliment-Confront-Compliment.
--- John Maxwell, best-selling author of Developing The Leader Within You.

The Nativity Story - own it

"What the film does best is threefold: 1) It creates a believable, growing bond between Mary and Joseph. 2) It unfolds for us the trial it must have been for Mary to explain that her pregnancy wasn't manmade. In director Catherine Hardwicke's words, "I never [before] thought of who Mary and Joseph were as people, as humans, going through things that we all go through in life (self-doubt and trying to figure out what the right thing to do is; if we're ostracized, how to stand up for our beliefs and for our own faith, even if other people don't believe us and don't agree with us." 3) It confronts us with the harsh realities of living, traveling and giving birth 2,000 years ago. These were no plastic crèche figurines arranged on a mantle. These were frail, very young human beings struggling to find their way in life and discern God's will. The journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem becomes the symbol for that, as Mary, Joseph, donkey and in utero Baby jolt their way over hill and dale, rock and river, 100-plus miles away from home and comfort just to be told there's no room for them at the inn." - www.pluggedonline.com

Christmas Caroling- December 22nd

will be at Gateway Rest home in Hayward. Join us as we sing Christmas songs for the shut-ins and bless them with Christ's love. It'll start at 6 pm and end at 7 pm. The address is:

26660 Patrick Avenue
Hayward, CA 94544

Ruth Bell Graham TV Special

will be aired Sunday, December 9th at 8 pm on Channel 4.

Be inspired as we celebrate one of the most inspiring women of faith.

Volunteer Opportunity this Saturday, Dec. 15

at Davis St. Family Resource Center in San Leandro, from 9-12 pm. We will bag food and sort children's toys for low income families. Be blessed as you bless others.

www.davisstreet.org

3081 Teagarden Street,

San Leandro, CA 94577

Operation Christmas Child

Thanks to all who provided for the shoeboxes and contributed financially.

We collected 30 shoeboxes. Praise the Lord!

And we also want to thank Sis Jane for leading the church on our first Operation Christmas Child ministry.

Combined Adult Bible Study will be on Saturday

December 1 at 5:30 pm at the Nicolas residence.
It's an opportunity to get to know each other.

"Many movies pretend importance. Few, however, make good on their lofty ambitions. In contrast, Amazing Grace isn't landing at the multiplex with a multimillion dollar ad campaign trumpeting its arrival. And yet, the messages it delivers are important. " www.pluggedinonline.com

Watch and be inspired by William Wilberforce, an English reformer, by faith, fought to abolish slavery in the British Empire. (Rated PG)

Own the dvd today.

Singles Bible Study this Wed. 11/14

We'll resume next week at the Nicolas residence at 7:30 pm.

We'll finish our session on the 5 Love languages.

Bella - Must watch movie - October 26

If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans..." In Bella, director Alejandro Monteverde's emotional tale of self-discovery, two people whose lives are about to be changed forever discover that sometimes it takes losing it all to finally appreciate the things that truly matter. Bella has already won numerous awards, including the Toronto Film Festival's People's Choice Award. Bella was created by Christian filmmakers, and KFAX invites you to see this heartwarming story about life, family, relationships and our capacity for love in the face of the unexpected, when it hits theaters THIS Friday (October 26th)! (Rated PG-13 for thematic elements and brief disturbing images.)

Check out http://www.bellathemovie.com/