. , • ■ K * • . .1 * .'& * , t - > ’ ‘- V ? . Î P age B4 ■ % - •.’ N ovember 1, ’ 995 • I'm P ortland O bserver A by • ? * • L T M. I saacs and crime and health problems; all promoted by primitive and greedy people, who continue to create new problems and broaden old ones. There is no concern for the lives o f other people nor for their own lives and little respect for the law. Though all these world-wide troubles were created by man and not by God, man must solve these problems by return­ ing to godly values, family love and appreciation and preservation o f nat­ ural resources needed for the physi­ cal survival o f us all. G od w ill not fo rev er to lerate m a n ’s abuse o f nature, fam ily and his fellow m an. P ro v erb s 21:2. “ E very way o f a man is right in h is ow n e y e s: b u t th e L o rd p o n d e re th the h e a r t” . S tra n g e b eh aviors, lying tongues, neglect Never Lose Hope! There is al­ ways som ething good, how ever small, hidden in bad things. Humans must look for it, and draw it out. If people ignore and resist the values and powers o f God ’ s love and God s peace, many suffer. Though we face chaos in our world today, (especially in America) where we are heading for self-de­ struction: shortages o f food, living space, fights over territory, rebel­ lions, strikes, terrorism and disease; depletions o f rain forests to supply the air we breathe, holes in the ozone and global warming; pollution, acid rain and smog; racial and religious conflicts; oil spills, garbage disposal and chemical wastes, medical wastes, nuclear wastes and weapons; drugs Kirk Franklin has enjoyed tre­ mendous success over the past two years He has broken barriers and achieved success not known to other gospel artists in the past and crossed into mainstream America. What Kirk Franklin has been able to do in one year, is just short o f miraculous! His debut and self titled album “Kirk Franklin and The Family” has been certified Gold (actual sales in excess of950K ). Last year, he was virtually unknown, but today, at just 25 years o f age, Franklin hails as the leading force in the new gospel music explo­ sion. Todate his success is unprece­ dented! He has garnished fans from the controversial R&B recording art­ ist R. Kelly, rapper Ice Cube to “Liv­ ing Singles” Kim Fields. Since ex­ ploding onto the scene in 1993 with his debut release, “ Kirk Franklin and The Family” has topped the gospel, urban, pop and video charts. Simul­ taneously, Kirk Franklin and The Family have traveled the world spreading their message. Abandoned by his teenage moth­ er and father at the age o f 3, the orphaned (Kirk) was adopted by a distant, 64 year-old aunt, Gertrude Franklin. Born and reared in Ft. Worth, Texas, Franklin began play- E R The Lord N A T I rings Hope To You o f the poor, ta le b e a rin g , c u rsin g p aren ts, d e c e it, rev enge all show a lack o f good co n sc ie n c e . M e r­ cy and T ruth are now foreign to m ankind. Ju d g em en t, ju s tic e and sa c rific e are fo rg o tte n and man seem s only to love m oney and the p leasu res it p ro v id es. “ T he g r e a t A m e ric a n D re a m , it is called . P ro v erb s 20:11 “ E ven a child is know n by his d o in g s, w h eth er his w ork is pure, and w h eth er it be rig h t” . Thus saith the Lord G od: “ 1 w ill w ater w ith thy blood the land w here in thou sw im m est, even to the m ountains; and the riv ers shall be full o f th e e ” . E zekiel 3 2 :6 -7-8-9: “ I w ill co v er the heav en s, and m ake the stars there o f dark; I will c o v e r the sun w ith a cloud, and the m oon shall not five her lig h t.” “ All the bright lights o f heaven will 1 m ake dark over thee, and set d a rk n e ss upon thy land,” saith the L ord. The word o f God has been with us generation upon generation and yet it goes unheeded. It tells us to walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the times, be­ cause the days are evil” . Ephesians 5:15-16. It tells us to submit our­ selves one to another in the fear o f God. Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name o f our Lord, Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:18-19-20. This is our only alternative to destruction. God is a God o f organization, not disorga­ nization and confusion and darkness. There is a road that leads to destruc­ V tion and there is a road that leads to life everlasting, - Our Choice. These roads are separate and distinct - O r­ dered By God. The people o f this world (especially A m erica) must learn to be submissive to G od’s order ofthings, But Again It IsO ur Choice Therefore, if we perish it will be by our own hands and not by the hands o f God. Though we are far on the road to our destruction, there is hope; put away lying, corrupt communications, bitterness, anger, wrath, evil speak­ ing, all malice, and be renewed in the spirit ot our minds; forgiving and loving our fellow man; thus stemming the tid e o f d e s tru c tio n . Eph. 4:25,29,31. God alone is our hope. For those who choose the right road, he will Kirk Franklin And The Family ing piano at the age o f four. On Saturday mornings, his aunt would col lect cans for his music lessons. On Sunday mornings, that same woman, the only mother he ever knew, made sure he was in church. By the time Kirk was out o f kindergarten, he was singing and playing on the gospel church circuit. At the age o f seven, he was offered a contract with a gospel record compa­ ny. (His great aunt thought he was too young, and declined.) At 11, he was appointed Minister o f Music at the Mt. Rose Baptist Church It was then that he began to write and rear­ range Christian music. “My first tri­ umph,” he recalls, was turning Elton John’s highly successful Benny & The Jetts into a gospel tune. At 19, he did his first home recording, Franklin gave the tape to Biggham and he (Biggham) was so impressed, he invited Franklin to work with the D.F.W. M assChoiron their debut album. Franklin not only directed some o f the tunes on the choir’s album, but one o f his songs, “ Every Day With Jesus,” was re­ corded on the project. Ironically, despite extensive work and successes with choirs, Frankl in opted for a more tightly knit vocal unit when he organized “The Family” a 17-member aggregation o f talented vocalists and musicians in April o f 1992. Many o f who are Ft. W orth/Dallas-based musicians, that he had worked with in the past. Word of Franklin’s impending r SÌ redeem them, everyone who takes ; refuge in him will be freely par- ‘ doned. Psalm 34:22. We will have courage to change things, because we will have hope. Job 11:18. Every­ one who has this hope fixed on God purifies himself, just as he is pure. I John 3:3. and hope does not disap­ point; because the love o f God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy spirit who was giv­ en to us. Romans 5:5 For this God is our God for-ever; he will be our guide, even unto death Psalm 48:14. for whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement o f the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4. We Rejoice In Hope O f The Glory O f God. Romans 5:2. solo project set off a bidding war of sorts among some o f gospel’s more prestigious labels. In January 1993, he signed with the brand new fledg­ ing label Gospo Centric. The first album, “Kirk Franklin & The Fami­ ly” was released in June and within a month it was charting among Bill­ board’s top five hottest selling gos­ pel releases in the nation. Just what is it that makes his mu­ sic so unique? Sculpting each delivery with a dexterity, touches hearts,' Franklin calls it “Christian love mu­ sic”. Sometimes music needs to let you know that you are not your own or alone. I’m a young man and I have the desire to show the world that it’s not about the bumping and rocking. But when you finish bumping and rocking you can realize that there is forgive­ ness and salvation at the cross. Look for Franklin’s feature sto­ ries in Ebony, Ebony Man, Vibe, YSB CCM Magazine, Shout & Bet Screen Scene! Franklin and The Fam­ ily will be featured in Keenan Ivory W ayans m ovie/soundtrack/video “ Don’t Be A Menace in South Cen­ tral” . (Polygram /Island Records) Also, he is being courted by several undisclosed company to be a part o f a feature film and TV specials. ‘K ig fitfi A n n iv e r s a r y O f CDr. ‘J a m e s '2J. _ The members of Mt. t Olivet tist C hurch located at 8501 N. Chautauqua Boulevard extend an in­ vitation to the public to join them in celebrating the 8th ann i versary of the ir Sr. Pastor, Dr. James E. Martin during the week o f November 8, 1995. Dr. Martin brings the message each Sun­ day morning at 8:00 a m. and 11:00 8501 N. Chautauqua Blvd., at Willis Blvd. Worship Services 8:00am & 11:00am. Church School 9:30 to 10:30am, Bible Study, Wednesdays, 10:30am & 7:00pm Radio Ministry each Sunday, 8:00am on KBMS a a rv a» the tka ti.y-i.-oU ¿ Center. _II- He can m » at worship also be heard each Sunday morning at 8:00 a m. on KBMS Radio, 1480 AM. The theme for this year’s celebra­ tion is: “ ...And God Gave Us....’’ Evening services will be begin at 7:00 pm . on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, November 8 through 10. The guest Minister will be Pastor Bobby FAITH TEMPLE CHURCH A T each in g C h u rch With A R each in g M in istry Dr. J a m e s E. M artin , S e n io r P astor (50 3 ) 2 4 0 -P R A Y 4224 S .E . 62n d A venue . .. _ Hicks o f New Home Baptist Church, Washington, D C The message will emphasize the role of men on Wednes­ day evening, women on Thursday and children on Friday. An “Appreciation Luncheon” will be held on Saturday, November 11, 1995 at 11:30 a.m. at the Red Lion Jantzen Beach Hotel with the lun­ <£t. (b etw een P ow ell «& F oster) N ew Crop la rg e size crisp and sweet SUNDAY Sunday School 9:30am Morning Worship 10:45am Evangelistic Service 7:30pm Tuesday Pastoral Teaching 7:00pm FRIDAY Evangelistic Service 7:00pm DAILY Prayer 12:00pin & 6:00pm • • • • • (503) 774-5470 Raptizk C&U10&, 103 NE Morris St., Portland, OR 97212 P o rtlan d , O reg o n 97206 RED D ELIC IO U S APPLES cheon message delivered by Rev. Jeffery Jackson, Assistant Pastor, Mt. Olivet. Tickets for the luncheon may be obtained by contacting the church office at 240-7729. Co-Chairpersons for the Pastor’s Anniversary are Ernest and Patricia Warren. The week’s celebration will cul­ minate on Sunday, November 12,1995. Sunday School - 9:30am Sunday Morning Worship Service - 1 1 :00am Sunday School Teacher’s Meeting Tues - 6:30pm Bible Study Wednesday 6:00pm Prayer Meeting Wednesday - 7:00pm Church Phone Number 287-7457 We Invite You To Come And Worship With Us. The Church Where Everybody is Somebody And C hristis AU. Dr. Joe S. Hardie, Pastor PASTORS: Bishop Robert Simpson, Jr. • Dr Ida M Simpson BROCCOLI or CAULIFLOWER great for cooking or dips Cox Funeral Home Inc. FLOW! RITTES 7 9 \b J (503)281-4891 POUND A. A. CO X , SR. Mortician & Funeral Director MUSHROOMS large size W hite or Crimini