The Press-Dispatch
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The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, November 20, 2019 C-1 CHURCH Submit church items: Call: 812-354-8500 Email: news@pressdispatch.net or bring in a hard copy: 820 E. Poplar Street, Petersburg them through the snow. I probably looked as strange as could be out there mowing the snow. I laugh at that commercial with the man out in the snow with his shorts on and mow- ing the snow only I brought it to live action. It is Christmas shopping time already? I am glad my wife does most of the shopping be- cause the crowds with their carts can become frustrating if you are trying to stay out of the way but still do your shopping as well. I must admit there was an unusual calm with most of the shoppers because the courtesy level was at least an eight out of a possible 10. The Sunday school lesson was about being a missionary and how to keep our lives in check with bringing the gospel of Jesus. The teach- er asked questions about the verses after we read them and made the lesson easier to fol- low. The biggest requirement of a missionary is to make self available to God and be your- self. We have said it before, only you can be you. Like it or not you are an influence to oth- ers because they are watching and they look to you as a guide through this world. The young man who asked to speak to our church brought a short sermon about jealou- sy. He had studied his topic and knew what he was going to say. His advice to us was to live our lives with a pure heart and to stop com- paring ourselves to others. The message was well presented and well received. When it was my turn I attempted to bring a message about kindness and consideration. It doesn't take much effort to be mean and nas- ty but sometimes it takes a little effort to be considerate and compassionate, but the end result is out of this world. I overheard a couple fellows talking about another man and they were saying he will probably just nasty away. I would never want that said about me or anyone I've tried to help through this life. Being kind to the people we love the most in this world should come easy but you know we take our loved ones for grant- ed and forget they have feelings too. God says be kind and affectionate to all people. Last but not least, you never know but you may be being kind to an angel and trust me we need our angels on our side As we say each week we should go out into the world and be a blessing and reap all the blessings we can. "As the Lord of hosts liveth, before whom I stand…" (I Kings 18:15). Is God dead? According to the above pas- sage He certainly was not dead to Elijah, who knew Him intimately as the living God. The prophet had used similar phraseology on a previous occasion when he had declared to the wicked King Ahab: "As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word" (1 Kings 17:1). Elijah's prediction had come horribly true. For three years and six months there had been no rain nor even dew in Israel. Rivers and brooks were drying up. The land lay parched and cracked in the sun. There were no crops, nor any grazing land for the cattle and they had been dying like flies. The king himself had been brought down from his throne to search for a bit of green grass along the remaining streams "to save the horses and mules alive," lest they "lose all the beasts." The king's humiliation had in turn enraged the haughty Queen Jezebel, so that she hated Elijah with a deep and bitter hatred. Indeed, so intensely was the prophet hat- ed by Ahab himself that the king had sent far and wide to find Elijah and had not given up until he had taken oaths from the heads of the surrounding nations that he was not to be found. It was under these circumstances that "the word of the Lord came to Elijah…saying, Go, show thyself unto Ahab…" (1 Kings 18:1). God was about to use the prophet to public- ly expose the sham and impotence of Jezeb- el's god Baal. As the prophet went to look for Ahab he met Obadiah, the governor of the king's house, and said: "Go tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here" (1 Kings 18:8). Obadiah shuddered at these words and begged Elijah not to make him go. He knew the bitter hatred which the king har- bored toward Elijah and he feared that while he went to convey the news the Spirit of God might take Elijah away to some other place. It was now, when it meant far more than it had meant three and a half years before, that Elijah replied: "As the Lord God of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself unto him today" (1 Kings 18:15). As we know, he kept his word. Is all this now changed? Some say yes, that God died in Christ at Calvary and is now dead! They also deny, of course, that Christ rose from the dead. But if this be true, then the story of Elijah is but a stirring memory and the Christian today is actually an ambas- sador, a representative of no one! The Church Page is made possible by the following Firms and Businesses: Amber Manor Care Center Petersburg — 812-354-3001 Benner & Co. Heating and Air Petersburg — 812-354-3433 Computers Plus Radio Shack Petersburg — 812-354-9633 DougGlass DBA Hold Everything Self Storage — 812-354-1110 Four Star Fabricators Petersburg — 812-354-9995 www.fourstarfab.com Harris Funeral Home 7th and Walnut Streets, Petersburg Phone: 812-354-8844 Play & Learn Preschool Campbelltown — 812-354-3999 Baptist Baptist Baptist Assembly of God CHURCH CHURCH Notes Notes Notes Continued in next column Continued in next column Ramblings of my mind by Lowell Thomas Is God dead? Minutes with the Bible By Pastor Cornelius R. Stam Why I Believe in God? Religious Viewpoint by Clyde Dupin Let me share some of the reasons people believe in God. I think every human being, in varying ways and degrees deep inside, won- ders about God and the future life. It is a be- lief in God that gives us hope and love for one another. Without this faith, life has little pur- pose. Most Americans believe there is a God. Ac- cording to studies and surveys, most people say it is important to develop their faith and want a relationship with God. Our human in- tellect tells us where there is a design, there is a designer. I believe that designer is God. It is this belief that gives us a sense of right and wrong. We know there are some things right and wrong regardless of circumstances. This universe is too great and wonderful to exist without the hand of God. This God hears and answers our prayers in many won- derful ways. I know many people whose lives have been trans- formed through faith in God's Son, Jesus Christ. These people have peace and joy, and offer love, com- fort and hope to oth- ers. When we see the hand of God at work in lives, it is easier to believe than not to be- lieve. I believe in God because of the assurance He gives me of eternal life. He manifests His love and power in many ways. Even science cannot supply the final link in the chain of how we came to be and why we are here. I choose to believe that final link is God. The very beau- ty, order and diversity of life on earth could not have happened randomly. Ramblings of my mind by Lowell Thomas Man alive, I sure hope and pray for a week without someone being sick. It was my turn again last week because the stomach bug hit me like a ton of bricks. It left me weak and drained for around three days. I'm sure you get tired of hearing about all of our ailments but if they have been on our doorstep I'm sure they will visit your household. So be prepared. Have you ever had a song stuck in your head that you can't get rid of? I encountered an odor somewhere and it was just like one of those songs no way I could keep from smelling it. I blew my snoot until I thought it was going to fall off and finally had to put some good smell- ing cologne on my mustache to get it out of my head. Too early for a snow fall and cold weather like we have been experiencing lately but let us look on the brighter side just maybe it will get prettier and milder for awhile.Each day we make it through is another day closer to spring. I can hardly contain myself from look- ing forward to the pleasant temperatures and fair days. Oh well may as well be quiet and take it as it comes because there is nothing we can do about the weather. I tried to move some of the leaves off the driveway and they were frozen so they were hard to blow. I ended up mulching some of Continued on page 2 crossroads BAPTIST CHURCH Community Partners FREE dinner November 28 • 11am-1pm anksgiving Day If you need more information or meal delivery, please call 812-749-3377 or email crossroadsoc@gmail.com meal will be hosted at Oakland City University Student Life Center, Room 210 720 W. Sherman St., Oakland City, IN, 47660 RIVER OF LIFE 342 E. CR 300 N. Petersburg Sunday morning worship 10 a.m.; Sunday evening worship 6 p.m. and Con- sumed youth group 7 p.m.; Wednesday evening Bible study 7 p.m.; Men's ministry meeting every other Thurs- day 10 a.m. If you would like a ride to WASHINGTON ASSEMBLY OF GOD 320 S. Meridian Street Washington Sunday school 9:30 a.m.; morning worship 10 :30 a.m.; Wednesday evening dinner and Bible study at 6 p.m. and from church services, call 812-354-8800. Jim Gidcumb, Pastor BETHEL G.B. CHURCH 4933 E. Co. Rd. 900 S. Stendal CROSSROADS BAPTIST CHURCH 2789 S. State Rd 57 Oakland City Sunday school 9:30 a.m.; GR ACE G.B. CHURCH 1007 E. Union St. Winslow Sunday school 9:30 ; Sun- day morning worship 10 a.m.; Sunday evening wor- ship 5 p.m.; Wednesday Bi- ble study at 5 p.m. Bill Chesser, Reporter WINSLOW G.B. CHURCH 600 E. Union Street Sunday school 9:30 a.m.; morning worship 10 :30 a.m.; Sunday evening soup and sandwich fellowship at 5:30 p.m.; Wednesday, adult Bible study at 6:30 p.m. First Wednesday of each month Advisory Board meeting, before Bible study and business meeting to fol- low. November 24 at 5 p.m., Thanksgiving dinner. Tur- key and ham will be provid- ed. Bring a side dish and/ or dessert. Everyone is wel- come. Bring a friend. November 27, there will be no Wednesday night Bi- ble study. Thought for the day: "Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness BIBLE BAPTIST CHURCH An Independent Baptist Church 4995 N. Co. Rd. 850 E. Otwell (Meeting in the Iva Union Church building) Sunday school for chil- dren and adults 9 a.m.; Sun- day morning worship ser- vice 10 a.m.; Sunday evening service, Youth Group (6th grade through 19 years old), and Patch Club (four years old through 5th grade) 6 p.m.; Thursday, prayer ser- vice 7 p.m. Scott Fulcher, Pastor morning worship 10 :30 a.m.; Wednesday, Bible study 6 p.m.; Wednesday children activities at 5:30 p.m., in- clude a meal, lessons and fun games. All times are CST. We are gearing up for our annual community Thanks- giving Dinner, served on Thanksgiving, Nov. 28 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. CST. The menu will be turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn and dressing. Sounds like a great Thanks- giving dinner and it is free. Make plans today to bring your family to OCU and en- joy the food, fun, and fellow- ship. New Address: Oak- land City University, Student Life building, Room 210. Special Notice: This Sun- day, Nov. 24 is baptism Sun- day at Crossroads. Come and enjoy our special bap- tism service. Can't make Sunday morning? Then come Sunday night to Oak Grove General Baptist Church, Oakland City, for the Community Thanks- giving service. The special community service starts at 6 p.m. CST. Also, a reminder that our Wednesday evening Bible study will be put on hold a few weeks so we can start our setup for the Christmas toy giveaway. December is only a few weeks away, so we will start laying out an assortment of toys for kids for Christmas. Save-the- date; our annual Christmas toy giveaway is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 7. Exciting things are hap- pening in our community and at our church. As I al- ways say, everything we do is because we love Jesus and love people. If you have nev- er visited Crossroads be- fore, then join us Wednesday and/or our Sunday services. If you do not have a church home, we would love for you to choose Crossroads. As al- ways, we encourage you to visit our website at www. crossroadsoc.org to get more information about up- coming events. Like us on Facebook and see some pictures from var- ious events. Curt Beadle, Pastor shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spo- ken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops" (Luke 12:3). Be in prayer for the lost, the sick, our church, our country and leaders, and always each other. God's blessings on you this week. Try to be kind and show God's love, because every- one is fighting some kind of battle. If you don't have a church home, we invite you to any of our services. Gary Watson, Pastor Nyles Head, Assoc. Pastor Kathy Henderson, Re- porter