P ag e 6
P o r tla n d O b s e rv e r • B la c k H is to ry M o n th • F e b r u a r y 28, 1990
ih ti
Scripture o f the ‘Week, |
St. John: Chapter 17
Strengthen Jour ‘f a i th ‘Through ‘Prayer A n d fyguiar Church ‘Worship
Insight from The Word
Living In A Storm
by Mattie Ann Callier-Spears
In today’s world, everybody has an
overall sense o f ‘fright’. These times seem
to be harder than any other times, already
experienced. We have ‘Designing Women',
‘Free Sex’, ‘Open Relationships’ (what
ever that means], ‘Swinging Singles’,
'M arriage Contracts’ and many others.
Recently, I had the opportunity to as
sist in the preparations of not one weddin
but, two. The two couples were as different
as night and day. Their values and views on
life were decidedly different. One couple
had not allowed themselves to become in
timate with one another before their wed
ding. On the other hand, the other couple
was living together. The first thing that you
want to ask is—’’W hich one will last?”
Our young children are involved in
their schools, during the week. The chil
dren in elementary, middle and high school
are faced, on a daily basis, with decisions
that we, as adults, are unable to handle. Peer
pressure can be a terrible thing; especially
when the peers are involved in drugs, crime,
and sex.
I wanted my daughter to be a little girl
for as long as she was a little girl. Now,
mind you, I don’t mean I didn’t want her to
grow up. Children have forgotten how to be
children. They don ’ t know how to have fun.
Pure unadulterated fun. Where are the par
ents? What are the values of the parents?
Whether than attacking the child, at school
or at church, find out who the parents are
and what their lifestyle is like. What is the
dialogue that is used everyday between the
parent and the child?
.
Do you know what your child is wear
ing? Is there a dress code in the schools? Do
you know what is in your child’s bedroom -
in your house? Does this sound old-fash
ioned? Many of the old-fashioned methods
are hurriedly being recalled due to the
overwhelming discord that the present day
concepts are causing. Many times, we cut
off our noses to spite our faces. When, no
matter what your intentions may be, your
face is still hanging out there for all to see.
Storms! Storms! Storms! We don’t have
to live in any of these storms, of life. There
are many, many more; for instance, job
lessness, divorce, abuse, adultery, poverty,
sickness—ju st to name a few.
How must we handle these storms in
our lives? First of all, we must be firmly
anchored in the Lord. We can’t just take on
Christianity for a fortnight. And, then, after
the calm of the storm, we just continue on
as if nothing ever took place. Wrong! Wrong!
If you just sit down for a hot second and
think, you will find that many of the prob
lems, in our lives could have been avoided
by us. If we had known who to go to . . . or
who to c a ll. . . or what to s a y . . . or what to
do; maybe, just maybe none of this would
have happened. Bingo! You got it! On the
G J. Joe cartoon, a saying that they use
frequently is . . . “ Knowing is half the
battle.”
Some of us are running around here
like a chicken with its neck chopped off,
aimless and without a plan of any kind.
Many have found the answer in a rela
tionship with their children, their mates,
with their neighbors and with themselves
by having a meaningful relationship with
Jesus C hrist W hen we have apparently
insoluble problems, where do we turn? This
is a m uch-asked question.
The psalmist says, "T rust in the Lord,
and do good; so shall thou dwell in the land.
BIBLE QUIZ BOOK
According to Paul’s advice, Timothy should stop
drinking water and “use a little wine.” Why?
When three visitors came to Abraham at Mamre, to tell
him that Sarah would bear him a child, Abraham was
properly hospitable. After he invited them into his tent,
what did he give them to eat and drink?
A. lamb and wine
B. lamb, milk, and cakes
C. cakes, dressed calf, butter, and milk
D. kid, sweet cakes, and frozen milk
Of their twins, Rebekah preferred Jacob, but Isaac
favored Esau, “because he did eat of h is ---------
It wasn’t just pottage that Jacob gave Esau after they
reached an agreement over the birthright; he also
served him ---------
A. bread
B. grapes and figs
C. meat
D. milk
What did Joseph’s brothers eat after they threw him
into the pit?
and verily thou shalt be fed.” Psalm 37:3
Yea! “ Trust in the Lord." Each day has its
burdens, its cares and perplexities; and
when we meet how ready we are to talk of
our difficulties and trials. So many bor
rowed troubles intrude, so many fears are
indulged, such a weight of anxiety is ex
pressed, that one might suppose we had no
pitying, loving Saviour ready to hear all our
requests and to be to us a present help in
every time of need.
If we keep uppermost in our minds the
unkind and unjust acts of others we shall
find it impossible to love them as Christ has
loved us; but if our thoughts dwell upon the
wondrous love and pity of Christ for us, the
same spirit will flow out to others. We
should love and respect one another, not-
withs tan ding the faults and imperfections
that we cannot help seeing. Humility should
be cultivated and a patient tenderness with
the faults o f others. This will kill out all
narrowing selfishness and make us big-
hearted and generous.
Jesus Christ truly experienced sorrow
and was acquainted with grief. But, though
His life was self-denying and shadowed
with pain and care, His spirit was not crushed.
He did not take out His pain on others. He
did not go around hurting the ones He
loved. His humility and peaceful serenity
was known and felt by all who came in
contact with Him. His heart was a well-
spring of life, and wherever He went He
carried rest and peace, joy and gladness.
Christ Jesus was deeply serious and
intensely in earnest, but never gloomy or
remorseful. The lives of those who imitate
Him will be full of earnest purpose; they
will have a deep sense of personal respon
sibility. Levity will be repressed; there will
be no boisterous words or rude jesting; but
the Gospel of Jesus Christ gives peace like
a river. It does not restrain cheerfulness nor
cloud the sunny, smiling face. Christ came
to seek and to save that which was lost. He
came to minister to the storms in our lives.
When His love is allowed to reign in our
hearts, we shall follow His example.
The storms, in our lives, are oft times
“ reaping what w e’ve sown.” We need to
discern the nature or the cause of the storm
so that we can implement a plan for a
speedy e x it Christ told us " . . . in this world
we shall have tribulation.” But, just be
cause we exist in this world, we do not have
to take part in the corrupt practices of the
world.
When the storms of life are raging,
know that Christ is standing right by you.
Giving you a helping hand. Whispering to
you “ Don’t be discouraged for I have al
ready overcome this w orld."
Young people and adults! Be of good
cheer!
by Michael Lindsey, Dean o f North Portland Bible College
Abiding in the
The Sunday School lesson for M arch4
in the uniform series will be John 15:1-17.
I know many of you who read my
column are really active in your local
churches, teaching Sunday School, usher
ing, serving on various missions, brother
hoods and other boards. There's a lot of
activity going on in your church, and they
really need you to help hold it all together.
Right?
And sometimes (maybe often) you get
pretty wom out doing all those good things
for the Lord. You feel the stress of serving
Jesus, not the joy. The feeling o f drudgery
overwhelms the sense of satisfaction. Have
you ever reached that point? I know I have.
Then read today’s Scripture passage for
your own blessing-not to preach to some
one else, okay?
A good way to experience the allegory
of the vine and the branches is to put
yourself in the position of a branch. Maybe
you can just lean back in an easy chair and
pretend to be a branch of the big grape vine.
I know this sounds crazy -b u t isn't that
exactly what the Lord is telling us? “ I am
Ihs gUS.yjne, and my Father is the gapJenSf
. . . I am the vine; you are the branches"
(John 15:1,5, NIV).
Good. Now you are a good branch,
aren’t you? So you want to bear nice big
grapes, in big bunches, and do your part for
the vine. Are you starting to feel the pres
sure to produce? Don’t! The vine is full of
life, and the sap is flowing from the roots
right up the vine and into all the branches.
Everything you need to produce fruit-water,
minerals, nutrients—is given to you natu
rally, tlirough the connection with the vine.
Not only that, but that sap makes you feel
really good, too. Like you belong to Some
one wonderful, who loves you no matter
how well you do, who knows what you need
before you even ask. The life of the vine has
become your life, too. ‘‘He that abides in
me. and I in him, brines forth much fruit;
for without me you can do nothing" (15:5).
Isn’t that better? The Lord doesn’t pul
conditions on his love for his people, any
more than the vine feeds life into only the
best branches. But sometimes you and I
(remember, w e're branches) need a little
trimming and cleaning. I ’m not talking
about dieting or personal hygiene. We all
have some personal habits or faults that
make it hard to receive the life flowing
from the vine. Maybe w e’re growing too
long, getting into other branches’ business,
sprouting too many leaves, spreading our
selves too thin. Maybe we’re falling down
tt
Who Will Catch My Tears
by Mr. Eric Churchwell
When I cry,
Who will catch my tears
So hurt am I
From my childish fears
Save me from myself
And my hear that lies
Who will catch my tears
When they hear my cries?
Stopped by fate,
Chosen in war
Who will catch my tears.
When my eyes grow sore?
With no regret,
Yet still remorse
Who will catch my tears?
Not me, of course
Send me a satchel,
One that is pure
To carry my tears,
For time they must endure.
“ A dedicated poem for Lattie
McGee & Cornelius Abraham’’ torture
and murder in Chicago-child abuse how
long must it continue in this world. So
much pain ever single day-even at home
in Portland, Oregon. Some reported, some
hot, but death cannot be called back, it is
always the final chapter.
/ / Chronicles 7:14
“ If my people, which are called
by name, shall humble themselves,
and pray, and seek my face, and turn
from their wicked ways; then will I
hear from heaven, and will forgive
their sin, and will heal their land.”
You are invited to a
World Day of Prayer Service
March 2,1990
7:00 P.M .-8:15 P.M.
at Piedmont Friends Church
5736 North Albina
Portland, Oregon 97217
Rev. Aaron Hamlin, Pastor
For information contact Chap
lain John Parker, 284-7563.
• (503) 284-1954
7:45 A.M. - WORSHIP SERVICE
9:30 A.M. - SUNDAY SCHOOL
10:45 A.M. - WORSHIP SERVICE
6:30 P M, - WORSHIP SERVICE
BIBLE STUDY:
10:30 A.M. -12 NOON - WEDNESDAY
6:30 A.M. - 8:00 P.M. - WEDNESDAY
Radio M inistry Each Sunday, 8.00 A.M. - KBMS
“ Before You Must’ ’
— Make a Decision —
Jesus Loves You!
“ Inquire about the services we offer"
Best Cash Prices
DAD'S OIL SERVICE
Heating Oils
» » * * * »
Dr. James E. Martin, Senior Pastor
116 N.E. Schuyler
What food did God send the Israelites in such great
abundance that they ate themselves sick?
|
You must admit, Jesus really knows
how to tell a story. Enjoy the vision, there
in your easy chair, a few minutes more,
okay? I know I will.
MT. OLIVET BAPTIST
CHURCH
This Old Testament edible was described as being “a
small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the
ground.” What was it?
Service
into the dirt, not getting enough light, even
getting walked on. Do you feel like you
can’t help it? T hat’s okay.
You see, the Gardener (“ husbandman")
comes by regularly to see how we’re doing
(15:1). He wants us to bear much fruit, too;
and he knows just what it will take—a lot
better than we can ever know. Sometimes
he has to trim back some wild growth, or lift
you up and put you on a new trellis. Some
times he has to lift you out of the dirt and
cleanse you, so you can respond naturally
to the light and start bearing fruit (15:2). It
does hurt to get trimmed, doesn't it? And
getting lifted out of the dirt can put you in
a position that feels pretty uncomfortable at
first. I guess w e'll just have to trust that the
Gardener knows what h e’s doing; in fact, I
know we can! And w e’ll be better off for it
in the long run, I'm sure.
We need to listen to the Vine; h e’ll tell
us how to hang on to him. We shouldn’t be
surprised, that he doesn't tell us to strain
really hard, or to meet the statewide grape
quota. (How could a branch strain, any
way?) He does tell us to abide in his love
(15:9), and to do that we need to obey
(keep) his commands (15:10). But then the
main command he’s interested in is this:
love the other branches! (15:12,17).
This can be difficult, because the other
branches also have problems with wild
growth and dirty leaves. They even get in
your way sometimes, right? But if we keep
on loving the Vine, and as a result we learn
to accept and love the other branches, we
will not have to worry about drying up and
getting thrown away (15:6). The Vine tells
us to do this for our own good, so that our
joy might be complete (15:11). That’s good
enough for me.
We just have one more little matter to
attend to: bearing fruit! If you d o n 't work
hard all the time, will you ever bear any
fruit? Sure you will! But you have to bear
fruit the way the Vine tells you to. He says,
“ Ask the Father in my name, and he will
give you the fruit you desire” (see 15:7).
And if you do it his w ay-through p ray er-
then the fruit of your labors will last and
ripen and become sweet (15:16). Some of
the fruit will result in the production of new
branches in the Vine. Some of the fruit will
be a beautiful appearance, a good reflection
on the Vine—what people call “ the fruit of
the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-23).
By the way, who gets to pick the fruit?
Who is glorified by a good harvest? Why,
the Gardener, of course! (John 15:8) That is
the greatest cause for joy to me.
‘¡A. Teaching Church W ith A ‘Reaching (Ministry. '
The Lord commanded the Israelites to make the
Passover sacrifice and feast on roast lamb, unleavened
bread, a n d -------------------
speedv
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