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J anuary 27, 1993 • T he P ortland O bserver
P age 6
>‘M s D isc ¡píes sa ief unto M m , ßoref, te a c £ us to p r a y ... a n d M l saief
Scripture Of O/ie lSÙee£.
unto i/iem , a M n y e p r a 'p s a y “Our_
REFLECTIONS
by Mattie Ann Callier Spears
J /□
We
have reached the “top” so to speak, yet
we cannot improve this simple peti­
tion.
Let’s look at what we are asking
“Our Father.”
“Thy kingdom come, Thy will be
done in earth, as it is in heaven.” “But
Lord, we have to go over here first, we
have to finish this project, we have to
close this deal so we can acquire all
this money, when w e’re finished we
will see what you have in mind. Mat­
Most of us have either heard or ter of fact, as long as we’re succeed­
repeated this prayer at some point in ing, we don’t need to concern our­
our lives. Some of us hear this occa­ selves with ‘Thy will’.” How simplc-
sionally at special events, or as a -when “ His will is done”, everything
weekly ritual at church. For others falls in its proper place. No need to go
it’s a daily routine because we astray.
“Give us this day our daily bread.”
learned it as children and have al­
What
more could we want? Clothes,
ways “said our prayers.” We could
houses,
money, cars, fam e?-the list
probably repeat it in our sleep-som e
goes on. Asking for nourishment alone
of us do.
,
This prayer has spanned the es­ seems not enough.
“Forgive us our debts, as we for­
sence of time, the mix of cultures,
give
our debtors.” When we internal­
the global sphere, and the most dif­
ize
this
exchange, it gets to be a real
ficult group—the differences of reli­
heavy request. Can we actually be
gious beliefs.
W e have acquired degrees, good to the persons we think owe us
stately positions, political aspira­ something? Like, “Lord be patient
tions, various accomplishments, and with us as we are with those around
Our Father which art in Heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be
done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we
forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil: For thine
is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory, forever,
Amen:
Matthew 6: 9-13.
” ßu£e_
us.” If He really forgave us the way
we forgive one another, there would
be no need for the word compassion
to exist.
“Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.” The Lord
must work overtime on this one. If
we seriously meant for Him to de­
liver us, He would probably need all
the angels to help carry the over­
load. Can we imagine the amount of
interceptions it must take to keep
just one of us on the straight and
narrow?
“Our Father...Hallowed be Thy
name...for Thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory for­
ever.” Our flesh should respond with
goosebumps, our ears should re­
sound like clapping thunder, our
eyes should fill with tears of adora­
tion and awe. Our hearts should
burst with praise, our physical bod­
ies should leap to unm easured
heights, and our souls should con­
nect with heaven!
Our Father! Our Father! He
hears uS all. He has the power. He is
the power, forever! “Amen.” So be
it!.
When you feel yourself slipping— Tie
a knot in the end of the rope and
hang on—Help is on the way.
not w ander from thy com m and­
Ina time when men, women, boys out in his mind. Don’t you know that
ments.”
and girls are seeking to find some­ every time we use ourselves as sources
The key word in that passage of
thing to hold-on-to...to trust in... to of wisdom: We fail. Let God be your scripture is—sought. Are you seeking
believe in .to m ake th em feel main source. For the Scripture says,
the Lord? O r-a re you seeking other
good.. but, instead of finding satisfied “Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
(worldly) ways and means to figure
and
lean
not
to
your
own
understand­
people, w e find a myriad of confused,
out your problems? “In all your ways
ing.”
(Proverbs
3:5)
disillusioned and unhappy people.
In every area of life, we falter acknowledge him, and he shall direct
So many different avenues are
your paths.” (Proverbs 3:6)
being sought and tried to bring about without the help of the Holy Spirit.
We could surely save ourselves a
As individuals continue to as­
relief, such as: alcohol, sex, drugs (of
sume that they are solely cognizant of lot of “wear and tear” if we would just
every conceivable kind),lying, steal­
put our trust in the Lord; instead of
ing, hatred, cheating, food, cigarettes, what transpires in their life, there will
trusting in man.
continually
be
prisons
and
other
places
coffee (all caffeine sources-teas,
Some people hold onto rocks and
filled
with
confused,
supposedly
in­
chocolate, cola) and the list goes on
say
that
this source helps them to
and on. These represent only a few telligent individuals going straight to connect to the earth. I don ’ t want to be
easily accessible resources which “Hell”.
Scripture again proves to be a connected with the earth. I want to be
mankind has chosen to further his
connected to and with the one who
handicapped situation. This list even worthy source, for it states, “seek ye
made the earth.
includes murder; and satan created first the kingdom of God, and his
Some people worship the cow
righteousness; and all these things
the list..
and they refuse to eat of its meat; but,
shall
be
added
unto
you.(St.
Matthew
Satan is the main source of all
I shall worship the Lord my God for
6:33)
these over-indulged stimulants.
Christian believers—your work he hath made the heavens and the
In my weekly visits to the prisons,
earth and all that dwells within. Yes!
I have found many, many older men, is cut out for you! What is the solu­
He even made you and me.
older women, young men and young tion? What do you tell these confused
The Accuser (Satan) places all
minds?
Tell
them,
“If
you
want
to
get
women who are sitting in prison be­
these
foolish ideas in our heads and
cause of overindulgence in oron some­ high...if you want to freak-out on
hearts-only
if we let him.
thing that eventually led them to com­ something, get high on TLC. Freak-
Heaven
and
hell are real places.
mit a crime.. and, many of these people out on TLC.” Yeah! Try it! I know
Don’t wait until it’s too late to make
that
you’ll
never
turn
back.
You
see-
claim to be Christians. So many of
up your mind.
them say, “Yes, I am a Christian; but, -TLC is “The Living Christ” .
When the w orld’s addictions
Let your life be full of TLC. Hide
1 fell by the wayside.”
come upon you, draw strength from
God’s
word
deep
in
your
heart
so
that
As I visit the “general populous”
the Holy Spirit. Don’t stick nothing
and the “Alcohol and Drug Units: you won’t sin against God. (Psalms
(which are separate f(om one another), 119:11) And as David said, “with all
Continued on page 7
I’ve met individuals of all races-m ale my heart have I sought thee: O let me
and female. Each had a story to tell—
but, each story had a com m on
Jesus Loves You!
denominator..’’Addiction” Sin! An
addiction that was allowed to control
them, divert their attention, take their
eye off the prize, knock them down on
Psalms 34:3
their bellies, face-down in the muck
and mire.
Satan presents himself in so many
4236 NE Eigth Avenue
attractive, incandescent, alluring ways.
(corner of 8th & Skidmore)
You hear so many people saying, “I
just couldn’t help myself. You just
Portland, Oregon 97211
don’t understand how it is out here.”
Satan will lie, cheat, deceive, be
your friend or even turn himself into
Phillip S. Nelson Pastor
an angel of light (11 Cor. 11:14). You
see—he is after your most prized pos­
session.. your soul.
The “supreme accuser” causes
humanki nd to have everythi ng worked
Allen Temple CM E Church
(503) 287-0261
Introducing the new... a.m.e.
The People’s Church’
1425 NE Dekum & 15th
MT. OLIVET
baptist church
(Housed in the Woodlawn Methodist Church structure.)
Pastor: Rev. Robert Probasco Sr.
Sunday A M. Worship - 9.30 a.m.
Thurs. PM. Bible Study - 7:30 p.m.
CHRISTIAN CENTER
7600
I O V V N
■ ™ .E. GLISAN
P O R T L A N D , OR. 97213
Has moved Sunday sevices to
Stone Tower Church
N.E. Sandy Blvd. & 30th
(Led by Rev. Probasco with everyone contributing to the discussion.)
Come as you are for Sunday and Thursday meetings.
Join us for warm fellowship.
Become a member of our family.
We accept you as you are.
We are not a ‘fashion’ statement.
We are a ‘people statement.
Larry & Tiz. Iluch
Senior Pastors
It's contemporary!
It's Multi-cultural!
Clay & Tam i Drayton
Pastors
It's Spirit Filled!
A church fo r the 90's!
283-5917
M allory Avenue
Christian Church
D is c ip le s
f
Are you tired of the same old thing?
Then you are ready for New Begin­
nings! Come join the excitement as we
take Portland for Jesus!
Scott & Lydia Sigman
Pastors
• Anointed Preaching & Teaching
Worship Services 8:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.
Church School 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Bible Study, W ednesdays, 116 N .E. Schuyler
10:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Radio Ministry each Sunday, 8:00 a.m. on KBMS
A T eaching Church W ith A Reaching Ministry
Dr. James E. M artin, Senior Pastor
Church Office 116 N.E. Schuyler St. • (503) 284-1954
g>t. $ a u l Jtttööionarp
JBaptíét (Cljurtlj
8101 N. Flske Avenue • Portland, Oregon 97203
. Dynamic Children & Youth Ministries
C h r is t
Church Phone: 289-0147
• Powerful Praise & Worship
’’Come to mo all you who aro
weary and heavy ladon and
I will givo you rost."
9:45om
11:00am
7:30pm
Sunday Service
10:45
Sunday School
9:30
Bible Study
6:00
Evening Service
7:00pm
• Street Reach & Overcomers Ministries
• Service Times: Sunday 10:30 am 6:00 pm
Sunday School
Morning Worship
Tuesday Bilble
Study and Prayer
PMor'
7600 NE Glisan Street
256-6050
Inter-racial Congregation
Study Phone:289-1911
Pastor, Rav James C E Faulkner
Theme: Whatever you're going to do for the Lord, do It now
I Peter iv.11
126 N.6. Alberto t Portland, OR 97211 t (503) 288-5173
t
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