November 20,1991...The Portland Observer...Page 9
Portland Observer —
Scripture o f the w M i
RELIGION
W hat It Means
To ‘Keep The
F in »""»<.
aith
’ to his own
Rome m
to r come
BY MICHAEL LINDSEY
We need to keep our eyes on the
« munity
"« !•« •"
r
Dean of North Portland Bible College
prize—“ the prize o f the high calling of
God in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3 :1 4 )-an d
The text fo r the Sunday School
recognize that the rewards we shall
lesson (International Series) fo r next
obtain from His hand far exceed any­
Sunday is Acts 28:21-31. This is the last
thing this world can offer. That doesn’t
in our three-month survey o f the m inis­
mean the Christian life is free o f trials,
try o f the Apostle P aul in the book o f
heartaches, defeats and mistakes. It is a
Acts. In D ecem ber we begin a series on
struggle to climb for the mountain top.
the "S ongs and Prayers o f the B ible."
But have you ever experienced the
Life is often likened to a race. The
exhilaration o f enduring the hardship
course may be long, there may be ob­
of a long climb, and finally reaching
stacles, but there is always a direction,
the beautiful vistas at the top? W ith the
and a goal, and a finish line. And if you
exertion comes the reward. No pain, no
see life as a race, you will also have an
gain.
innate sense of urgency in your living,
Having a clear focus, a definite
a sense that what y ou’re doing really
purpose
for your life, can make sense
counts in the eternal scales of life. Paul
out
of
all
the details, good and bad,
admonished the Corinthian believers:
which
come
your way. The Christian
“ Know ye not that they which run in a
hope
is
so
much
more than just “ pie in
race run a ll, but one receiveth the prize?
the
sky,
bye
and
bye.” It gives direc­
So run, that ye may obtain” (1 Cor
tion
and
purpose
to
all the decisions of
9:24).
life,
and
it
should
lift
a Christian above
W hat would he obtain? The Greek
the
mere
“
reactive”
mode
o f life, which
Olympian ran in the hope of receiving
so
many
others
experience.
the fleeting honor of being crowned
It sure did for the Apostle Paul. He
with a laurel wreath. But the Christian
looked
forward eagerly to his eternal
runs the race of his life in hopes of an
rewards,
and the blessedness of being
“ incorruptible crow n” (9:25), that is,
with
his
Savior
for all eternity. But he
honor from the Lord in glory which
knew
he
had
a
particular purpose in
will last forever.
life,
set
by
his
Lord,
which he could
But there is a difference between
clearly
state
when
he
was
tried (see last
athletic races and the course o f human
w
eek’s
lesson,
Acts
26:17-18).
He set
life, a difference which makes that
clear
objectives,
such
as
ministering
incorruptible crown all the more attrac­
the gospel in Rome and Spain (Acts
tive and im portant. In the race of life,
19:21; Rom 15:28-29). And those ob­
people are running after a lot of differ­
jectives
kept him on course when the
ent goals at the same time. Their paths
obstacles
(very predictable) loomed up
cross yours at very sharp angles, and
in
his
path.
bumping is allowed.
Paul was discouraged by other
Have you ever looked at their goals?
Christian
leaders, then arrested in Jerusa­
Some o f them look so self-defeating,
lem,
nearly
killed by a mob there, held
like drug overdoses, or chronic unem ­
illegally
for
over two years in Jerusa­
ployment, or personal dispair. Some of
lem
and
Caesarea,
sent to Rome on a
their goals look really appealing, such
ship
which
was
wrecked
at Malta. From
as wealth, popularity, or self-indulgent
what
he
told
the
Roman
Christians,
pleasure. Now we who are Christians
w
e’re
sure
he
w
asn’t
planning
on going
have been told that such goals turn out
to
Rome
as
a
prisoner.
to be mirages, always retreating from
But what did it matter? He made it
those who run after them, never bring­
to
Rome,
and had the freedom to re­
ing the satisfaction promised. But it’s
ceive
guests
there. So he seized the
hard to rem em ber that when so many
opportunities
to advance his p u rp o se -
others are running their race in that
indeed,
G
od’s
purpose for h im -b y
direction, and seem to be getting some
inviting
the
leaders
of the Jewish com-
of the promised perks along the way.
City-Wide
Gospel Music
Workshop
house (Acts 28:17,23) and there he
ably presented the truth about Jesus
Christ to them. As so often in other
Choral directors, musicians and
cities, a few believed, but m ost hard­ composers have gotten together, from
ened their hearts against his teachings. all over the Christian community, to
This did not thwart the Lord spurpose, hold a a mOst
unique v CITY-W
n i- w IDE
i u l . gos-
gw
most unique
because the Apos’le could still eagerly i
workshop at M ount Olivet Baptist
share his faith with others around him. Church,
. - 116
. - - NE
— ~ Schuyler. Registration
During this time Paul wrote the will begin at 6:30 nightly at a one-tim e
“ Prison Epistles,” Ephesians, Philip- cost of $3.00.
pians, Colossians and Philemon. From
Class sessions will begin N ovem ­
these wonderful expositions o f faith, ber 18th and will continue through and
we know Paul was busy training and include November 22nd. Subjects to be
equipped others to spread the gospel
taught:
message. Paul himself, through the
Directors Class
Roman guards, was evangelizing the
Choral Techniques
very household o f Nero Caesar him ­
Songwriting
self (Phil 1:13). Instead of becoming
M usicians Class
discouraged by strife and jealousy
If everyone comes expecting to
am ong the saints in rome, he concen­ learn, they will. B u t-b rin g the Holy
trated on the good things accomplished
spirit along.
by both sides in the argument (1:14-
The instructors are musicians from
18). Paul’s focus on his purpose gave ten different churches in the com m u­
him added strength to cope with dis­
nity.
tractions.
On Saturday, November 23,1991,
W e might wonder why Luke left the workshop participants will present
off his account of Paul’s journeys here a finished product in a jubilant concert
in Rome. W e know Paul had been in to held at the Maranatha Church lo­
Rome two years when Luke wrote (Acts cated at NE 12th and Skidmore streets.
28:30), and it may well be that Luke The concert will begin at 7 pm. The
had accomplished his literary purpose doors will be opened at 6 pm.
in bringing Pual to the capital o f the
Empire. We can confidently state that
Disciples II In Concert
Paul was released this time, and con­
BY MATTIE ANN CALLIER-SPEARS
tinued to preach the gospel and visit
The Maranatha Church’s Disciples
som e of the churches he’d started ear­
II contemporary gospel choir would
lier. During this period he wrote 1 and
like to extend a special invitation to
2 Timothy and Titus, for the personal
everyone. Come enjoy an evening
itinerary of 1 Timothy and Titus docs
concert featuring the blessed sounds of
not match the travels recorded in Acts.
Douglass M iller o f San Diego, C alifor­
In 2 Timothy we read the final
testimony o f the great A postle, per­
haps again in chains in Rome: “ I am
now ready to be offered, and the time
of my departure is at hand. I have
fought a good fight, I have finished my
course, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim
4:6-7). There are no regrets here. Paul
lived a hard life, but it was good, godly
life, given in service to others, and to
his Lord. This Christian life we can
commend to anyone; why settle for
less than a “ crow n” from the Lord?
VANN & VANN
a blessing!
FREE-W ILL OFFERING
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Stone Tower Church,
N.E. Sandy Blvd. & 30th
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Good Times and Bad Times
Moi/hew / /:&3
"Come to me all you uuho ore
weary and heavy laden and I
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9:45am
11:00am
7:30pm
Sunday School
M orning Worship
Tuesday Bible
Study and Prayer
D e n z s e H ö e //, Postor
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Ill M r s M>W ON SAI.K U lio n « « * SiMimLOne Slop Records, and Cfcruti an Supply
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________ a
( , , S is a s ,
III w isB iM N O C oM M U N m C hoir
Jesus Loves You!
A llen Temple
CMECk urch
Psalm 34:3
Radio M in is try each Sunday. 8:00 A.M.-KBMS
(corner of 8th & Skidmore)
A Teaching C hurch W ith A Reaching M inistry
Dr. James E. M artin, Senior Pastor
Portland, Oregon 97211
(503) 287-0261
Church Office 116 N.E. Schuyler,
5211 N. W illia m s P o rtla n d , O r. 97217
»7/ hj 5. Nelson Pastor
r -
 setrm arçr
JBapitsi Cfttptrctf
M allory
C hurch
3908
NE
C hrist
of
M ALLO R Y
AVENUE
8101 N. Fiske Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97203
SUNDAY SCHEDULE
Bible Study
9:30 am.
Morning Worship
10:45 am.
Men’s Training Leadership
Women's Bible Class
5:00 pm.
Evening W orship
6:00 pm.
Attended nursery tor all
services
Wednesday prayer meeting
C ity W ide
T hanksgiving C rusade
November 28th - December 1
8:00 pm Nightly
3:30 pm on Sunday
at Highland United Church Of Christ
4635 NE 9th (corner of 9th and Going St.)
Minister Gregory Fobbs
and?^ ' ^ h,dv
Church Phon«: 2 8 9 -9 1 * 7
Sunday Service
10:45
Sunday School
9 :3 0
Bible Study
6:00
Evening Service
7 :0 0 P.M.
Study Phon«: 2 8 9 -1 9 11
Pastor. Rev James C E Faulkner
Them e: W h atever you're go ing to do
fo r th e Lord, do it now
I P«t«r hr.11
Radio Ministry Each Sunday, 11:00 AM - KBMS
288-1092
RESTORING
NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIANITY
City Wide Mass Choir singing each night.
»
C
o f
s
4236 NE Eighth Avenue
503/281-2836
* • M • • ,* ♦ * ♦ •• *.
l e
1.1(12 S l: Ankeny Si.
W orship Services 8:00 A.M. & 11:00 A.M.
C hurch School 9:30 A.M. to 10:30 A.M.
Bible Study, Wednesdays. 116 N.E.Schuyler
] 0:30 A.M. and 6:30 P.M.
Cleodus Vann
• A • * •* ♦ ? > * ♦ * * -*
i s c i p
«
MT OLIVET BAPTIST
CHURCH
Family Owned and Operated
Since 1954
Serving the City of Portland
for over 37 years
In your hour o f need
Vann &Vann are there to serve
Bro. James Robin from West Covina, CA
D
Douglass Miller has received
numerous awards for his rendition of
“ M y Soul Is Anchored.” This concert
will be held at the Maranatha Church
located at 4222 NE 12th on November
27, 1991 at 7:00 p.m.
Bring your tired, your poor, your
down-and-outs. Come and be filled from
the fountain of grace. Come expecting
D IR E C T O R S
E lder Leon B rew er, Jr.
P a sto r of The N e w T e sta m e n t C hurch
M a llo ry Avenue
Christian Church
nia.
WE ARE MOVING
SUNDAY SERVICES
TO
FU N ERA L
Colossians 3:15-17
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