South Gibson Star-Times

B-8 2021 Star-Times South Gibson Star-Times Church Tuesday, June 22, 2021 B-9 INSIGHT Continued from page 8 perfect direction, how can you not respond with praise and thanksgiving? Like a three-legged stool, praise, supplication and thanksgiving are indepen- dent yet essential elements to a stable and growing rela- tionship with God. If your prayer life is pri- marily a self-centered re- quest to have your needs met rather than a desire to know and worship God, it is little wonder that you feel defeated and overwhelmed. You have left out praise and thanksgiv- ing, which actually equate to faith that God is able and will intervene in your life. And let's all be honest. Failure to believe that God has our life under control is the cause of our anxious feelings to be- gin with. Begin today to focus on God and not your problems. Praise Him. Share you feel- ings with Him. Ask Him for His strength and direction. And do it all in the spirit of thanksgiving for what He is about to do in your life. Be- ginning today you are choos- ing His path to freedom from anxious worry and care for the rest of your life. Little Miracles Pre-School REFLECT Continued from page 8 Minutes With the Bible By Pastor Ricky Kurth Why not a wall? "And they set the altar up- on his bases; for fear was up- on them because of the peo- ple of those countries…" (Ez- ra 3:3). At first glance, this verse doesn't seem to make much sense. Back in Ezra's day, a city's walls were its main line of defense. The citizens of Jericho felt very secure with- in the confines of the mas- sive wall that surrounded them. So here, if fear had fall- en upon the Jews because of the enemies that surrounded them, why would they build an altar, and not a wall? Well, as you may know, at one time Jerusalem had a wall, but when Nebuchad- nezzar conquered Israel, his armies "brake down the wall of Jerusalem" (II Chron. 36:19). And the people of Is- rael knew why God had al- lowed this to happen. He had warned them, "…if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God…a nation of fierce countenance…shall besiege thee…until thy high and fenced walls come down…" (Deut. 28:15,50,52). So God's people knew that, if they continued in sin, the strongest of walls could not protect them. But they also knew that if they hearkened unto the voice of the Lord, He would protect them. And now that God had allowed them to return to the land after their captivity in Baby- lon, hearkening to the voice of the Lord included building this altar so that they could keep the Law by observing the feast of tabernacles with a burnt offering (Ezra 3:4 cf. Lev. 23:34-36). In the coming kingdom of heaven on earth, when God's people will be filled with the Spirit and caused to hearken to His voice (Ezek. 36:27), God has promised them that He will be "a wall of fire round about" them (Zech. 2:5). In that day, "salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks" (Isa. 26:1). That's part of what will make it heaven on earth! But here we have a dispen- sational difference. Your sal- vation is no defense against earthly enemies. You are not in the kingdom of heaven on earth, and you are not under the Law that promised Isra- el that God would protect them if they were good. As a responsible member of the Body of Christ, you need to take whatever precautions necessary to protect your- self from wicked men. We once knew a teenage girl who would go out jogging at night, assuring her moth- er that "the Lord will pro- tect me." She had obviously been listening to preachers who had applied the promis- es of the Law or the promises of the kingdom to us. While what she said sounds very spiritual, please don't follow her example. This is one area where a failure to rightly di- vide the Word of truth could cost you your life. OWENSVILLE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Corner of Third and Brummitt, Owensville Pastor Marsha Bishop Sunday school for all ages 9:30 a.m.; worship 10 :30 a.m. Transportation is available for all by calling the church or call 812-724-4041. Everyone is welcome to worship with us! SOUTH GIBSON APOSTOLIC CHURCH 6144 S. 1075 W. Owensville James Freels, Pastor Sunday worship times are 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Wednesday 7 p.m. prayer and Bible study. For more information about the church servic- es, home Bible studies and transportation to the church, call 812-729 -7231. PRINCETON BETHEL MEMORIAL CHURCH 1520 S. Main St., Princeton Pastor Kevin Wilson Asst. Pastor Kyle Powell Phone 812-386 -6202 for information. Services: Sunday 8 a.m., 10:40 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Wednesday Children's Youth Ministry (Awana) 6 p.m.; Adult Bible study 6:30 p.m. FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF PRINCETON 800 W. Faith Blvd., Princeton Jim Saunders, Senior Pastor 812-635 -9200 Sunday school 9 a.m.; Sun- day worship 10 :30 a.m.; Sun- day evening worship 6 p.m.; Wednesday evening service 6 p.m. OUR SAVIOR LUTHER AN CHURCH (ELCA) U.S. 41 and State Rd. 64 Princeton Sunday worship 9 a.m.; Sunday school 10 :30 a.m. PRINCETON CHRISTIAN CHURCH 219 N. Gibson St., Princeton Gary Fair, Evangelist Sunday worship 10 :30 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Sunday school 9:30 a.m.; Wednesday Bible Study 6 p.m. SALVATION ARMY CHURCH (non-denominational) 201 S. Gibson St. Princeton Capt. Chris Marques Phone 812-386 -6577 Sunday morning break- fast 9 a.m.; Sunday school 9:30 a.m.; morning worship 10 :45 a.m.; evening service 6 p.m.; Wednesday Bible study 6 p.m.; Men's Club and Home League at 7 p.m. Ask about boys' and girls' clubs. WARRENTON ST. STEPHENS COMMUNITY CHURCH 12152 S. 200 E., Warrenton Pastor Brian Pullum Sunday Worship 9 a.m.; Sunday School 10 a.m.; Bible Study at 7 p.m. on Thursday evenings. CHURCH Continued from page 8 had the playing field been more level, have turned out quite differently. Sup- pose that they had been in a position in which they felt free to speak honestly, and Joseph had asked them, "Why did you guys throw me into that pit in the wilderness? " "Well," they might have rejoined, "you always were a pain-in-the-neck, growing up. Tattle-tale about the way we did our work. Not that you ever turned your hand over! Swanning about in that long robe with the sleeves that Daddy gave you, just because your mother was his most beau- tiful wife. Then too, you were a big show- off—you and your dreams! Imagine! Sheaves that we had bound in the field gathering around your upstanding sheaf, and bowing down to it! Fat chance! Even if you really did dream such stuff, you should have had sense enough to keep it to yourself. If anyone ever deserved to be thrown into a pit, it was you. And we did pull you out again, to sell you to the Midianite traders." "But why," Joseph might have contin- ued, "did you dip my robe in goat's blood and take it to our father? You didn't exact- ly lie—you just said, 'See what we found; do you recognize it? " "Well," they might have responded, "he should never have given you that robe in the first place. Showing that sort of fa- voritism just causes trouble in a family." "That's families for you," said Prince Edward. But... are we willing simply to shrug the matter off in that way, or do we wish to protest, "That's not who we are! " Well, yes, as sinful human beings, in- habiting a fallen world, that is, on occa- sion, precisely who we are, every last one of us. There is sibling rivalry, resentment over perceived (or perhaps, genuine) parental favoritism, holding of grudges over offenses long-past, dislike of "mar- ried-ins," sarcastic jabs and none-too- subtle put-downs. What to do? Perhaps, accept the admonition sent to the church at Ephesus: "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger… be put away from you, with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one an- other, as God in Christ forgave you." That's the key, isn't it, forgiveness, no matter what the provocation has been. Seventy times seven—but who's count- ing? Concerts at God's House— 402 E. Illinois St, Petersburg Both events are free, but a free-will offering will be received. Don't miss these two concerts even if you have to rip the ad out of the paper and stick in onto the refrigerator. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL 812-236-4351. Upcoming concerts in petersbUrg Sat., June 26 at 7pm EDT Sat., July 31 at 7pm EDT Also singing: The White River QUARTET brian Free & assUrance the LeFevre QUartet Jenna and Kaisleigh paint beautiful artwork for their daddies for Father's Day. Avery and Layla use team work to learn to roller skate on our skating rink field trip last week. Ellie and her friends have a blast on water day in the bright sunshine. New Generation Dairy brought a beautiful calf to visit our students and taught us so many neat things about dairy life. Miss Chloe reads a fun picture book to the girls during the library trip. The beautiful Fort Branch library hosted our summer camp kiddos for an afternoon of fun and wonderful books.

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