V « « « <• ♦ * « * ♦ *•* * * O < *<
, , % « « « * 1 «
Page 4... The Portland Observer ...September 18,1991
¡Portland Observer
RELIGION
God Works Through His Word And Through Miracles
BY MICHAEL LINDSEY
D ean o f North P ortland Bible College
1 he te xt fo r the Sunday School
lesson (In te rn a tio n a l Series) fo r next
Sunday is A cts 14:8-18. Please read
th is te xt and the others I refer to, as you
read these com m ents.
T h is w o n d e rfu l in c id e n t o f heal­
in g happened later in Paul and Barna­
bas’ m issionary jo u rn e y to the heart o f
-he was “ stedfastly beholding h im , and
perceiving that he had faith to be healed’ ’
(14:9).
The L o rd was w o rk in g on the heart
o f the man firs t! A man so crip p le d as
this L y s lra n man w o u ld usually be
consigned to a life o f begging, hunger
an disease, and an early grave. B u t as he
heard the w o rd o f the L o rd from P aul’ s
lips, G o d used it to awaken fa ith and
people recognized and honored the
gods, and the rest o f the c ity were
destroyed. Perhaps th is explains the
reaction o f the L y s tra people.
Beacuse o f the language b a rrie r, it
to o k Paul and Barnabas a w h ile to re ­
alize that the people were preparing to
w o rsh ip them in h igh style. O f course,
they refused any part o f this, and Paul
appealed to them elo q u e n tly, to re co g ­
nize the C reator and his goodness, in ­
stead o f w o rsh ip p in g people o r other
A s ia M in o r (m odern T u rk e y ). I f you
have maps in the back o f y o u r B ib le , o r
better yet, a B ib le atlas, you w ill get a
better grasp o f the jo u rn e y by fo llo w ­
in g the “ F irst M issio n a ry Journey” on
the m ap as you read A cts 13-14. R e­
m em ber that Paul and Barnabas, lik e
m ost travelers o f th e ir um e, w o u ld be
w a lk in g these m any m iles from tow n
to to w n . For exam ple, fro m Ico n iu m to
L y s tra w o u ld be about 18 m iles, w h ile
hope fro m w ith in . Paul saw th is change
w ith s p irit-le d insight, and he d id not
despise the unattractive fo rm o f the
man. Instead, Paul took the ris k o f
Derbc was about 55 m iles further.
m ust be concerned fo r the diseased and
hand recently in Ico n iu m (14:3). A n d
L ystra was a mere v illa g e c o m ­
pared to A n tio c h and Ic o m iu m , and
c rip p le d and h u rtin g people around us
(and among us as w e ll!). B ut the fin a l
answer, the real diffe re n ce , comes from
the message o f salvation through fa ith
these m iracles do c o n frim the message
o f C hirst. B u t often people w ill fin d
any o ther explanation o f a m ira cle
more acceptable than the truth. In
Ico n iu m , despite m iraculous signs and
w onders, m any banded together to
oppose the apostles and persecute them
(1 4 :4 -5 ). In L y stra , despite the evident
there also seems to have been no Jew ­
ish synagogue there. L ystra was o f f i­
c ia lly a Roman c o lo n y , and I ’ m sure
the people a ll knew G reek, but they
s till held on to th e ir ancient language,
L yca o n ia n (14:11). T h e ir re lig io n had
adapted to the G reek/R om an pantheon
[L u ke refers to “ Z eus” and “ H e r­
m es,” fo r w h ic h the K in g James trans­
lators used Rom an equivalents “ J u p i­
te r” and “ M e rc u ry ” (1 4 :1 2 -1 3 .], but
it was s till the same L ycaonian w o r­
ship they had practiced before the
Roman E m pire arrived.
So w hen Paul and Barnabas came
to L ystra , they began preaching the
gospel (14:7) w herever they co u ld fin d
com m anding h im to stand up and w a lk
(as Jesus and Peter had done before:
Luke 5:17-26; A cts 3:1-10) and G od
im m e d ia te ly restored his feet, and gave
strength to his atrophied leg muscles, so
the man co u ld leap to his feet and w alk.
So it is today. The people o f G od
in Jesus C hrist. W hen G od awakens
fa ith in people, he also produces hope
so people can liv e p ro d u ctive , healthy
lives. In some cases, the L o rd chooses
to heal the sick q u ic k ly , in c lu d in g those
whose lives have been ravaged by sin.
m iraculous signs and wonders to co n ­
firm the truth o f the gospel at every
turn. The m iracles m ay be there, as in
the firs t days o f the church in Jerusa­
lem , and even by Paul and Barnabas’
healing m iracle, the people were eas­
ily turned against Paul, so that they
In o ther cases, the physical healing is
stoned h im , le a vin g him fo r dead o u t­
not as fo rth co m in g , but G od gives the
grace to a llo w his c h ild to liv e w ith his
side the c ity (14:19).
The M ira cu lo u s signs o n ly co n ­
in firm ity (2 C o r 11:7-10).
As the account o f L ystra proceeds,
we see that the healed man made a far
greater im pression o f the local people
than the message o f the gospel had. B ut
th e ir response m ig h t surprise a lo t o f
firm the message w hen they are p e r­
ceived through eyes o f fa ith . “ A n d
fa ith com eth by hearing, and hearing
by the w o rd o f G o d ” (R om 10:17). I
think we can pray fo r miraculous w orks
in to d a y’ s church, consciously fo llo w ­
ing the exam ple o f the Jeusalem church
(A cts 4 :29-20). B u t it is fa r m ore im ­
p ro b a b ly ju s t a h a n d fu l, but one man
am ong them was a special case. N o t
because he was crip p le d , though the
m odem C hristians. Instead o f g lo rify ­
ing the G od w h o had done this great
th in g , they ju m p e d to the conclusion
that the preacher themselves m ust be
author makes sure we see ho w crip p le d
(do you see the th re e -fo ld description
o f his d is a b ility in verse 8?). Paul n o ­
ticed m ore than the outside o f the man-
gods. W e know fro m a Rom an poet,
O v id , that the Lycaonians had a legend
o f tw o gods com ing among them in
human fo rm . In the legend, o n ly tw o
an audience. The audience at firs t was
created things (14:15-17).
The response o f the Lystrans
demonstrates an im p o rta n t truth about
C h ristia n w itnessing. W e cannot seek
portant that we pray fo r boldness to
preach (or, as we m ig h t say today,
“ share o u r fa ith ” ) and fo r prepared
Matrons Celebrate 36th
Anniversary
by Mattie Ann Callier-Spears
The H arley A kers M atrons C lu b o f
Bethel A M E Church w ill celebrate their
36th anniversary
Sunday September 22, 1991 4pm
Bethel A M E C hurch
5828 N E 8th A ve.
P ortland, Oregon
The special service w ill include —
an “ A ffirm a tio n S ervice,” guest solo­
ist: E arl W inchester & L e slie W illia m s
and a scru m p d illy u m p tio u s reception
to be held in the m u lti-p u rp o se room at
the church. The m atrons’ colors arc
y e llo w , b la ck and w hite.
THEM E:
“ O u r Legacy - Past, Present &
F u tu re ”
The p u b lic is c o rd ia lly in v ite d to
attend this m em orable occasion.
L illie S im m ons, President; Lenora
M o rris , Program
C o o rd in a to r; Rev.
M ilto n Green, Pastor
Volunteers
The P ortland W om en ’ s C risis L in e
announces openings in its N ovem ber
tra in in g fo r C risis L in e volunteers.
T ra in in g s are 46 hours lo n g , scheduled
o ver a three w eek period. C ris is L in e
volunteers are trained to answ er the
crisis lin e , P rovide crisis in te rve n tio n
counseling, and to p ro vid e advocacies
fo r w om en and ch ild re n (and th e ir
fa m ilie s and frie n d s) that have o r are
experiencing dom estic o r sexual v io ­
lence.
P W C L is a n o n -p ro fit, tax-exem pt
o rg a n iza tio n w h ic h operates a 24 hour
a day crisis in te rve n tio n h o tlin e , p ro ­
vides advocacies and support groups
fo r v ic tim s /s u rv iv o rs o f dom estic and
sexual violence. A d d itio n a lly , we p ro ­
Luke 22:64
Voices Of Kuumba
by M a ttie Ann C a llie r - S p e a r s
September twenty-second w ill mark
the th ird p u b lica tio n o f V O IC E S O F
K U U M B A , a collection o f literary works
by the N o rth w e st A fric a n A m erican
W rite rs W o rksh o p . T h is event w ill
cu lm in a te w ith a gala reception and
book signing w h ic h w ill be held at the
Y W C A located on N E M a rtin L u th e r
K in g , Jr. B o u le va rd between the hours
o f 2 and 5 pm.
There w ill be a program featuring
readings and entertainm ent by the
members o f the N W A fric a n A m erican
W rite rs W orkshop.
The mem bers, o f the N W A A W W ,
have p erform ed throughout the year at
L it-E ru p tio n , the m ain L ib ra ry d o w n ­
to w n , P o w e ll B ookstore, C onant &
C onant B ookstore, w ith the Oregon
C o lo n y o f W rite rs and more. The w r it­
ers have also hosted the firs t, o f m any,
tact - Joseph F ra n klin , (503) 620-8843.
Leave yo u r name, telephone num ber,
your address and w hether o r n o t you are
an a d u lt o r a student. I f you are a m in o r
aged student, please have y o u r parent
ca ll and leave a ll p e rtin e n t in fo rm a ­
tion.
The p u b lic is encouraged to attend
this a ffa ir and be w itness to the c re a tiv ­
ity o f this group.
A n th o lo g ie s w ill be on sale d u rin g
this a ffa ir: K U U M B A I. I I & I I I . So -
i f you missed the firs t tw o a n th lo lg y
p u b lica tio n s, com e prepared to p u r­
chase, to m in g le to enjoy and b rin g a
frie n d .
A rc you proud o f y o u r heritage?
C om e share an afternoon o f cre a tiv ity .
D o n ’ t forget; September 2 2 ,1 9 9 1
B la ck H isto ria n s Conference. A ll per­
sons, o f a ll ages, w h o have a desire to
2 pm to 5 pm
N ortheast Y W C A
C O M IN G UP: B la ck P oetry D ay
become a published w rite r should con-
O ctober 17, 1991
Homestyle Cooking
e Family Dining ▼ Catering ▼ Specialty
* Down Home Cooking At Its Very Best!
. Catfish . Red Snapper. BBQ Ribs * Steaks
.Turnip Greens .Cornbread .Chitterlings
.Yams .Blackeyed Peas .Sweet Potato Pies
. Peach Cobbler
.6AM Breakfast
. Hot Food Express Line 11am - 2pm
. Master Charge . Visa . American Express
vide transportation from danger to safety
hearts to receive ou t testim onies. O n ly
fo r w om en and ch ild re n .
then can we c o n fid e n tly expect to see
changed liv e s and com m unites.
at the C ris is L in e can ca ll 232-9545 fo r
W om en interested in vo lu n te e rin g
a p p lica tio n
Portland Observer encourages our readers to write
letters to the editor in response to any articles
we publish.
Scripture o f the ‘Weefi
and fu th e r in fo rm a tio n .
D eadline fo r ap p lica tio n s is O ctober
28.
C o lle g e students are urged to ap­
p ly . P racticum c re d it is available.
P W C L is an equal o p p o rtu n ity
em p lo ye r, funded in part by the U nited
W ay.
Steen’s Kitchen
7332 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
For Best Results
Advertise in the Observer
i . '"■ '■'.
* • 7, «
HUD HAS
A HOME
FOR YOU,
AVAILABLE
NOW!
? .■ ’•.G
,- »••:•*-
■ ' ■
• 4?.
• .
V'- . ' ' .
>. ' -
. '
* -, •
-’ i . •
M
(ÍVS i
.
¿.X.-'.i?
*
‘I
•¿«“ A
»k
V *V
. • * i « -
8
mini ll tl iri) nl°f n
Alonzo Scott Jr.
Your personal
Sales Rep.
: r
For any new
or used car
Give your
Friends a
call at
Gresham
Dodge
i
v s
:-V f
TJ,
i. ~ k C?/
, ■
'Z'"¿ >T.
î . / ’-i-’ ï
t * ’
Get the
Personal Touch
r* ^ 2 -
V1 » > '5
If you've been wanting your
very own home but never thought
you could afford it, HUD has
exciting news for you! HUD
makes hom eownership easier
and more affordable than you
ever thought possible.
You won’t find a better home
for the money than a HUD home
... and there's one in your area
that’s available right now. HUD
properties are offered for sale to
Hlack O w n e d
666-2277
855 NE Burnside, Gresham, OR. 97030
V;
• <■'•* -“ C
.5
•
• «4. •
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING
AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
qualified purchasers w ithout
regard to race, color, religion,
sex, national origin, familial status
or handicap. So to see a HUD
home available in your area, call
your real estate agent now!
For your information;
Details, conditions, program changes and
Express Bid information on the HUD
programs are included in the classified
section of your Sunday Oregonian.
i=l
EQUAl HOUSING
OPPORTUNITY