_Page fe • Portland Observer • March 28, 1990
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Scripture o f the ‘W eek
I Corinthians: Chapter 7
Strengthen fo u r fa i th Through (Prayer Sind ‘Regular Church ‘Worship
Contrary Winds
In Memoru of
(Matt. 14:22-33)
J
Sermon on Notes from the Pulpit of Dr. T.L. Lewis, Pastor of Morning Star Baptist Church
This morning I want to preach on the
master of ‘Contrary W inds.’ There are four
thing I want to say about these winds and
then we will be finished.
1. ) The first thing suggested by our text
is that doing what the Lord say is not always
ea sy . .. These disciples were just following
the L ord’s orders an yet the wind was
contrary.
2. ) The second thing suggested by our
text is that we are not responsible for the
wind. There are some things that are just
out of our control.
3. ) The third thing suggested by our
text is that we are not responsible for the
wind. There are some things just out of our
control.
4. ) And finally the fourth thing that is
suggested here is that although the wind
may be contrary. The Lord is standing by.
Now with help of the good Lord I want
to say a little about each point and then we
can receive the blessing of the Benediction.
I.
The first thing we want to note is the
way of duty is not always easy. To be
responsible for someone requires commit­
ment on our part. It requires sacrifice, if
need be.
The way of duty is not always easy.
Being a church member may be easy, but
being a Christian is hard task. Wearing a
title is easy, but the responsibility behind
the title requires com m itm ent
The way of duty is tedious because we
have been called to deny ourselves, take up
the cross day by day, and walk in the
footsteps of the man from Galilee.
Its not always easy because we are
called to relinquish authority over your
own life. In other words you are no longer
your own m aster. . . For when you become
a believer you become a part of a spiritual
army, in a spiritual warfare with spiritual
weapons and on top of that you are not even
the general you receive marching orders
from general Jesus. So if you are looking
for glory, the army of the Lord is not the
army for you. However, if you are looking
to give God the glory then sign your name
on the dotted line.
These disciples had received there
marching orders from General Jesus. The
master commanded them to get into the
'ship and go over to the other side of the sea.
The Bible says while he went into the
mountain to pray.
They did just as the Lord had com­
manded them. They were walking in obedi­
ence to the Lord and yet they were facing
adversity . . . The Bible says that the wind
was contrary doing what the Lord says is
not always easy.
As you travel this Christian journey
you are going to find and no doubt most of
you have already found out that there are
some contrary winds that come about every
time you set out to do what thus saith the
Lord. Every time you open your orders
from General Jesus contrary winds begin to
blow.
However, it matters not how contrary
the winds may become. It matters not how
rough the road may become. It matters not
how deep the hurt may be. It matters not
how tough the going may be. It matters not
how hard the task may be. It matters not
how difficult and complex the situation
may become.
When General Jesus gives out march­
ing orders he expects for some marching to
be going on. In spite of contrary winds. The
Lord does not lower his standards.
He doesn’t say “ Since the weather is a
bit adverse today you can take the day off.
It looks like rain, you don’t have to be a
witness today. You don’t have to be instant
today after all it is out of season.
H.
Now the second thing suggested by our
text is that we are not responsible for the
contrary wind. As we live and as we move
in the will of God there will be some
problems and difficulties that will come
through no fault of our own. I know it
sounds incredible but there are actually
some problems that we face that we did
bring on ourselves.
Peter and company (the other eleven in
his band of merry men) were just rowing
their ship across the sea, just as they had
been commanded to do by General Jesus.
And through no fault of their own the wind
started rising . . .
Now if you haven’t already experi­
enced any contrary winds in you life you
just keep keeping rowing. Just keep rowing
your ship across the sea of life. One day
soon contrary winds that you are not re­
sponsible for will start rising in your life.
There are two things that normally
happens when we are confronted with contrary
winds. First of all we cry out, “ Why me
Lord."
You told me to be faithful and win
souls for the kingdom, and yet these winds
are steady rising.
You told me to be faithful and serve as
a deacon, and yet these winds are steady
rising.
You told me to be faithful and serve as
a deacon, and yet these winds are steady
rising.
You told me to be faithful and serve as
an usher and yet these winds are steady
rising.
You told me to be faithful and sing in
the choir and yet these winds are steady
rising.
I am down here Lord doing what you
commanded me to do and yet these winds
are steady rising.
Thats the first thing that happens when
contrary winds that we are not responsible
for start in our lives. We cry out “ why me
Lord?"
The second thing that happens is that
fellows pals and patrons, comrades and
colleague start analyzing your life.
That’s what happened to brother Job.
When he was in the midst of his affliction
his friends accused him of hidden sin. Yet
the Bible says that he was perfect and
upright one who feared God and shunned
evil. (Elucidate)
When contrary winds that we are not
responsible for come into our lives, friends
and associates sometimes accuse us of having
done some wrong to deserve contrary winds.
Its a narrow and bigoted kind of theol­
ogy that relates everything that happens to
you to some fault or shortcoming in your
life. Though it is true that we sometimes
cause our own problems sometimes we are
responsible for our own storms.
When we get into trouble for the wrong
reason we can expect judgement. We can
expect contrary winds when we knowingly
function outside of the will and plan of God
for our lives. There are something that we
do that if we know get caught doing them
we can expect contrary winds. We can
expect the judgement of God.
However, when you get into trouble for
the right reasons instead of judgement you
can expect redemption. Peter and the Boys
were just rowing their ship just as the Lord
had commanded them and through no fault
of their own the contrary winds started
rising.
HI.
The third thing that is suggested by our
text is that god can use contrary winds to
prepare us for a higher service in the cause
of C hrist
God doesn’t allow contrary winds to
come upon us just to scare us out of our
wits. He doesn't allow contrary winds to
come for no reason at all. He isn’t sitting up
in heaven saying ‘ ’It’s a slow day, I feel like
a little excitement, there’s old T.L. Lewis,
look at him just rowing his ship across the
seas of life, I think I ’ll have me some fun
and send a contrary wind or two his way,
that ought to shake him up a bit, get his
knees to knocking.”
God uses contrary winds to build our
Christian character. He uses trying circum­
stances to make our faith stronger. There is
nothing that happens in the life of the child
of God that is without divine purpose.
Now most of us have Christian charac­
ter, but we want to have it without contrary
winds. B ut you see you can' t have character
apart from contrary winds because charac­
ter comes as a result of us experiencing and
learning from contrary winds.
You can ’ t come forth as pure gold until
you have been through the fire.
You don’t really know that the Lord is
a deliverer unless he has delivered you.
You don’t really know that he is a rock,
a fortress, a shield and buckler until you
have need a place of refuge.
You don't really know that he is bread
in a starving land unless you have been
hungry.
There are some things about the Lord
that only contrary winds can teach us. So
instead of falling apart when the winds start
blowing let God teach you how to weather
the storm.
When you allow the Lord to teach you
how to weather the storm you will have the
testimony that John talks about in the Book
of the Revelation.
These are they which have come through
great tribulation these are they which have
washed their robes and made them white in
the blood of the lamb.
L C IIk U Iy
These are they which are undefiled.
These are they which follow the lamb
whithersoever he goeth when you allow the
Lord to teach you to weather the storm, how
to weather contrary winds you will dis­
cover that in spite of contrary winds you do
the incredible.
When you read the text you will dis­
cover first of all the obvious, Peter sank,
and its so easy to see because it is always so
easy to point out the faults in others. But
before he sank the Bible says, “ Peter walked
on the w ater, to go to Jesus. Yes he did sink,
but before he sank he actually accomplished
the extraordinary. He did the miraculous.
Luther Strong Sr.
To his family and friends he was a man
of great depth. He provided wisdom and
direction for those who needed it. He also
had empathy for everything that touched
those whom he loved.
He leaves to carry on the torch of live,
his wife o f fifty-six years. Opal Strong,
IV.
Fourth and finally the text suggest that
even though the wind is contrary, even
though trouble is at every hand the Lord is
standing by. You see the Lord never prom­
ised that the winds wouldn’t be contrary.
But he did promise Hebrews 13:5, he did
promise that he would never leave us nor
forsake us.
He never promised that as we rowed
our ships through the seas of life that we
wouldn’t be confronted with adversity, that
toil and trouble wouldn’t board our vessels,
but he did promise Matthew 28:20. He did
promise that he will be with us always.
He never promised that the storms would
rage and that the wind wouldn’t be con­
trary, but he promised never to leave us
alone.
I have seen the lighting flash.
I have heard the thunder roar.
I have felt sin breakers dashing trying
to conquer my soul.
But I heard the voice of the Saviour, he
bid me still fight on. For he promised never
to leave me never to leave me alone.
United Church’s Executive
Council Vows to Push for
Change in Media Images of
African-Americans
The United Church of Christ’s 44-
member Executive Council, concluded a
four-day meeting in Cleveland.
The resolution charges the media,
especially television; with too often “ cre­
ating the misleading perception’ ’ that the
"ills of American society,” such as drugs,
crime, AIDS, illiteracy, poverty, and teen­
age pregnancy, are centered in African-
American communities. Calling the media
“ valuable tools" which “ influence Ameri­
can societal behavior,’ the resolution calls
on them to depict “ more positive images
and realities within African-American
communities.”
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5828 N.E. 8th, Portland
The Busy Bees of Bethel AME Church
will present it's annual day, “ Mad Hatter’s
Tea on April 8,1990 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Please place this date on your calendar. Jan
Allen, President.
Gospel
Concert Tour
by Mattie Ann Callier-Spears
The Lane College from Jackson, Ten­
nessee will be appearing at the Jefferson
High School on March 29, 1990 at 7:30
p.m.
The choir is on a nine city tour. They
began in Tulsa, Oklahoma; then on to Phoenix,
Arizona; Los Angeles, California; Oakland,
California; Portland, Oregon; Salt Lake
City, Utah,; Denver, Colorado; Kansas City,
Kansas; and then, back to Jackson.
The members of the Lane College were
not aware of the population of Blacks in the
city of Portland. They have presented gos­
pel tours for five years. This will be the very
first time that they have been this far north.
Lane College is a CME sponsored in­
stitution. This concert will be a family
event and promises to satisfy all who may
come.
Tickets will be sold at the door: $10-
adults and $5-children. If there are more
than 2 children per family, the rate will be
$2.50 per child. If choirs are attending, in
mass, the fee will be $5-per every two
persons.
See Linda Thompson at the door.
The letter was sent to President Sam
Nujoma to acknowledge the “ decades of
oppression and dom ination" Namibia had
been under and said, “ your new nation has
emerged as a beacon of hope for liberty,
justice and the common good.”
The 1.6 million member United Church
of Christ is a 1957 union of the Evangelical
and Reformed Church and the Congrega­
tional Christian Churches.
optical illusion
these kids in red
maybe they're preparing
for the world we’ve made
shaping an identity
for the world to come
where death is casually summoned
in an argument about hype
where the brand of the shoes
makes the man
politics long since subsumed
in style
emotions trapped on the outside
television is the drug
commerce blind to its own depravity
greed the presence
hovering above this scene
crack is merely the inverted host
generic and colorless
submitted by
ARANATHA
HURCH
4222 N.E. 12th Avenue
Portland Oregon
I thank You for the blessings. Lord,
And all the joys of living."
“ M y cup is full to overflow.
Y ou’ve been so good to me.
M y heart had known much pain.
From the mountain top where I had been
Luther strong’Sr-
Born:May 14,1914
community activist; sons: Luther Strong
Jr. of Portland, Oregon, Julius Strong of
Los Angeles, California, Darnell Jackie
Strong of Seattle, Washington; daughter:
Gail Strong of Frankfurt Germany; broth­
ers: Arthur Chappie, Wilbert Reed; sister:
Lucille Reed; 10 grandchildren and 4 great­
grandchildren.
He was a member of First Church of the
Nazerene until his grandson became the
Pastor of Immanuel Free Methodist Church.
Luther Strong Sr. was bom on May 14,
1914 in the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma. He
was one of four children.
In 1934, he married his high school
sweetheart, Opal Thompson. This union
produced five wonderful children who
brought him joy and great pride.
In the early 1940s he traveled north­
west to Pordand, Oregon. Here he worked
hard to establish a secure foundation for his
Died:March20,1990
family whom he loved. During this early
period, he worked at Magnus Metals in the
shipyards as a shipping clerk. In the late
1960s, he became a longshoreman at Wa­
terways Terminal. He retired from W ater­
ways in 1979.
Luther Strong Sr. was bom on May 14,
1914 in the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was
one of four children.
In 1934, he married his High School
sweetheart, Opal Thompson. This union
produced five wonderful children who brought
him joy and great pride.
In the early 1940s he travelled northwest
to Portland, Oregon. Here he worked hard to
establish a secure foundation for his family
whom he loved. During this early period, he
worked at Magnus Metals in the shipyards as
a shipping clerk. In the late 1960s, he became
a long shoreman at Waterways Terminal. He
retired from Waterways in 1979.
Portland Sickle Cell Foundation to
Hold Gospel Music Program
Theme: Bloodline Awareness
Through Gospel M usic Transfusion'
Portland Sickle Cell Anemia Founda­
tion, Inc. will hold its Sixth Annual Gospel
Musical, on Saturday, April 28, 1990 at
Maranatha Church, 1222 N.E. Skidmore,
Portland, OR 97211 (on the comer of 12th
& N.E. Skidmore), at 6 p.m.
Our program will feature local groups
and choirs. Special features - Inspirational
Sounds of Eugene, Oregon; Emanuel Ap-
ostolic Choir of Bremerton, Washington;
and The Generators of Seattle, Washing­
ton.
Local talent - Alpha One; Karen Patter­
son, Cclloist; Portland Metro Area Choir
and many others will be featured in our
musical extravaganza!
For further in formation .please contact
us at 249-1366.
Greater St. Stephen Missionary
Baptist Church Celebrates
Pastor’s First Anniversary
Greater St. Stephen Missionary Bap­
tist Church will celebrate the Pastor’s First
Anniversary and 12th Year in the Ministry
in a series of services April 1st and 4th
through 8th. The church is located at 3922
North Williams Ave. at the com er of W il­
liams and Failing. Serving as Anniversary
Chairperson is Sis. T. McNeal. Sisters Sue
C. Carey and Bettye J. Coppage are Co-
Chairpersons. Sis. Nancy J. Kimmons is
the Banquet Chairperson.
These services will honor Rev. Robert
E. Houston, Sr., Senior Pastor and his family.
Pastor Houston was bom on May 16,1960
.in Portland to the union of Rev. Phene and
Ms. Naomi Houston. He is married to the
former Hester Jeanette Hart and they have
one son - Robert E. Houston, Jr.
He spent his formative years attending
Ockley Green Elementary School. He gradu­
ated from Thomas Jefferson High School in
1978, and has attended Multnomah School
of the Bible, Portland State University,
American Baptist Seminary of the West,
Golden Gate Theological Seminary, and
United Theological Seminary & Bible
College. He has received college credit
from the National Baptist Sunday School
and B.T.U. Congress in Nashville, Tennes­
see, and attended the last Bishop College
(Dallas, Texas) sponsored L.K. Williams
Institute. He is very active in Christian and
local community organizations.
The selected theme this year is "T h e
Limitless Ministry Through Jesus Christ”
(Philippians 3:14).
The Anniversary festivities will begin
on Sunday, April 1st at 3:00 p.m. The
featured speaker will be the Rev. Dr. O.B.
Williams, Pastor, Vancouver Avenue First
Baptist Church.
Lee R. Martin
Portland, Oregon
Please bless this day Y ou’ve given.
Before the day drew to an end
. . . .
Services will continue on Wednesday,
April 4th at 7:00 p.m., the featured speaker
will be Rev. Chester Staples, Pastor, Greater
Faith Missionary Baptist Church.
On Thursday, April 5th at 7:00 p.m.,
the featured speaker will be the Rev. Johnny
Pack, IV, Pastor, Fellowship Missionary
Baptist Church.
On Friday, April 6th at 7:00 pan., the
featured speaker will be Dr. T.L. Lewis,
Pastor, Morning Star Missionary Baptist
Church.
Guest churches will be featured nightly
in music service participation. The scene
shifts to the Bethel A.M.E. Church on Sat­
urday, April 7th for the Anniversary Ban­
quet at 6:00 p.m. The featured speaker will
be Sis. Ida Simpson-Daniels of the Greater
Mt. Calvary Church of God in Christ. Spe­
cial music will be provided by Sis. Lorene •
V. Wilder and the Sermonettes. Tickets for
this event are available for just $15.00 by
calling 281-6337.
At Greater St. Stephen on Sunday, April
8th at 11:00 a.m., Dr. Shelby L. Tate, Sr.
and the members of Rosehill Missionary
Baptist Church of Seattle, Washington will
be the guest church. Dr. Tate will be accom­
panied by approximately 100 guests from
Seattle.
The grand fihale worship service will
be held on Sunday, April 8th at 3:00 p.m. at
the Miming Star Missionary Baptist Church.
Dr. Tate will bring the closing message and
the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church,
Rev. Walter M. Brown, Jr. will be the guest
church. It is advised that you would come
early in order to get a good seat to this
event.
The public at large is cordially invited
to this grand occasion. For more informa­
tion you may call 281-6337.
'A Teaching Church ‘With A Reaching M inistry.'
Today I said, “ I love You, Lord,
To us at C alvary."
-a
Bethel A.M.E. Church
The Council vowed to work for change
through personal contacts with journalists.
It called upon two United Church agencies,
the Office of Communication and Com­
mission for Racial Justice, to "raise the
consciousness” of church and secular media
by advocating more honest images of eth­
nic minority persons in news, documentary
and entertainment programming.
The resolution was submitted by two
United Church special interest groups, United
Black Christians and Ministers for Racial
and Social Justice.
A (¿rourth ‘Experience
I thank You for Your gift of love
UJ
Sunday Services
MT. OLIVET BAPTIST
CHURCH
Dr. James E. Martin, Senior Pastor
116 N.E. Schuyler
• (503) 284-1954
3 M O R N IN G W O R S H IP S E R V IC E S
8:00 A .M . - W O R S H IP S E R V IC E 10:00 A .M . - W O R S H IP S E R V IC E
12:30 P .M . - W O R S H IP S E R V IC E
C H U R C H S C H O O L : S A T U R D A Y M O R N IN G 9 A .M . T O 10 A .M .
B IB LE S T U D Y :
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
Jesus Loves You!
Sunday School
9:00 A.M.
Through the valley once again.
I'll not ask why, just simply trust
In Him to lead the way.
It must be best for me, 1 know,
So close to Him I'll stay.
" A little more,” I hear His voice,
“ M y child keep sweet and pray,
And soon you’ll know the joy you had
On the mountain top today."
Ruby Roberu Cox
Morning Worship
10:30 A.M.
4236 N.E. Eighth Avenue
Maranatha School of Ministry
(corner of 8th & Skidmore)
6:30 P.M.
Portland, Oregon 97211
Mid-Week Services • Wednesday
(503) 287-0261
7:30 P.M.
Rev. Wendell H. Wallace
Senior Pastor
Phillip S. Nelson, Pastor
1
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Psalm 34:3
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