The South Gibson Star-Times serves the towns of Haubstadt, Owensville and Fort Branch.
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1465915
Church event? Give us a call at 812-753-3553 or email editor@ sgstartimes.com B-8 Tuesday, April 26, 2022 South Gibson Star-Times Overcoming FUD Many people throughout the world are experiencing "FUD." FUD is fear, uncertainty, and doubts (some people could be in despair more than doubts). I saw this term in a blog I read the other day. How relevant, I thought, to describe the situation we are in today. There is hardly a fac- et of our existence that isn't produc- ing FUD. There is a long list of FUD exam- ples, such as COVID, Russia and Ukrainian war, inflation, crime, can- cel culture, white-supremacy, woke school boards, woke government, climate change, nuclear war, loom- ing energy crisis, looming food cri- sis, cancer, border crisis, BLM, Dis- ney going woke, President Biden's next speech, vice-president Harris' next outing, China invading Taiwan, North Korea's nukes, Trump running for president, Hillary running for president, Iran getting nukes, new cold war, rise in crime, rise in mur- ders, carjackings, drug overdoses, aliens, the Kardashians are in court, and your favorite T V show is being canceled. We can thank Adam in the garden of Eden for fear (and sin). A fter Ad- am sinned, something had changed. He heard God's voice, so he went and hid himself. When God asked him what was wrong, Adam said, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid my- self." When faced with fear, humans instinctively want to run away. It is called the flight or fight reaction. The question to ask is, what are people afraid of? John tells us in his gospel the exe- cution of Jesus scared the disciples to death. Being the chief disciples of Jesus, they figured they were next to go. They had every reason to be afraid. You can bet their fear was re- al and terrifying. There was no torturesome agoniz- ing, disgraceful and barbaric meth- od of execution greater than cruci- fixion. Rome used it as an instrument of terror to keep the people subjugat- ed. Mass crucifixions were common. Just the thought of a cross sent fear through the populace. Is it no won- der the Jews rejected Christianity because they killed our savior on a cross? Jesus saw FUD up close and per- sonal. It was so prevalent in Palestine it confronted him daily. More than 30 times in the Gospels, Jesus finds people overwhelmed with sickness, disease, death, poverty, and reject- ed as social pariahs. When confront- ing FUD, Jesus uses phrases such as, "fear not," or "be not afraid," or "let not your hearts be troubled" or "be of good cheer" or "peace be with you." We find a most enlightening en- counter with FUD in Mat. 8, Mark 4, and Luke 8. Jesus and his disci- ples were in a boat traveling on the Sea of Galilee. It was night and a se- vere storm appeared and threatened to swamp the boat. The boat was tak- ing on water, and the disciples were afraid the ship was sinking. Jesus spent these terrifying moments in the ship's rear, asleep on a pillow. Frightened and in fear, the disciples woke Jesus, saying, "Teacher, do BUCKSKIN ST. JOHN'S CHURCH OF BUCKSKIN 8260 E. 900 S., Buckskin Sunday school 9 a.m.; Worship ser- vice 10 :15 a.m. CYNTHIANA FIRST UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST Corner of North and Walnut Sunday worship service 9 a.m. FAIR HAVEN CHRIST FELLOWSHIP Church Street, Cynthiana Mike Douglas, Pastor Phone: 812-724-4735 Sunday morning worship 10 a.m.; Wednesday evening 7 p.m. FORT BRANCH BETHLEHEM GENER AL BAPTIST CHURCH 3208 W 525 S, Fort Branch (CR 325 W off of Hwy. 168) Steve Wilson, Pastor Bible study 9 a.m. Sunday worship 10 a.m. FIRST CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE 601 S. Lincoln, Fort Branch Pastor Bryan Holzappel Sunday school 9:30 a.m. Morning worship 10 :30 a.m. FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 212 West Locust, Fort Branch Pastor Corey Atkins Phone: 812-753-4623 Sunday school 9 a.m.; Worship ser- vice 10 a.m. (Communion first Sun- day); Second Cup of Coffee (ladies' group) all ladies welcome, second Wednesday, 9 a.m. FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF FORT BR ANCH 100 W. Vine St., Fort Branch Rev. John Baylor, Jr., Pastor 812-753-4424 Sunday School 9:30 a.m.; Sunday Worship 10 :30 a.m., nursery pro- vided for preschool age and under. Youth Groups for grades 4-12 meet at 6 p.m. on Sunday evenings, Sept. through May. Details on the church website www.fbfirst.org. HOLY CROSS CATHOLIC CHURCH 200 S. Church St., Fort Branch Fr. Christopher Droste, Pastor Fr. Kenneth Betz and Fr. Luke Hassler, Associate Pastors Joe Siewers and William Brandle, Deacons Saturday Mass 4:30 p.m.; Sunday Mass 8:30 a.m. PROVIDENCE PRIMITIVE BAPTIST CHURCH CR 550 S., NE of Fort Branch Mitch Breidenbaugh, Pastor Sunday school for children and adults at 10 :30 a.m.; worship 11 a.m.; For information, call 812-753-3386. ST. LUCAS UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 6777 S. 350 East, Fort Branch Pastor John Heumann Sunday school 9:30 a.m.; Sunday worship 10 :30 a.m. ST. BERNARD CATHOLIC CHURCH SNAKE RUN 5342 E. SR 168 (East of Fort Branch) 812-753-4568 Fr. Gary Kaiser, Pastor Sunday Mass 8:30 a.m. ST. PAUL'S UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 4222 E. SR 168, Fort Branch Pastor John Heumann Sunday worship 9 a.m.; Sunday school 10 :15 a.m. VERTICAL CHURCH Coal Mine Rd., Fort Branch Rich Clark, Pastor Sunday morning worship services 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Vertical Kids chil- dren's ministry available during both services for children from birth to fifth grade. Ignite Ministry is 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays for students in sixth-eighth grades. WESLEYAN CHURCH 202 E. Vine St., Fort Branch Sunday school from 9:30 to 10 :30 a.m.; Sunday worship, 10 :30 a.m.; Sunday evening worship 6:30 p.m.; Wednesday evening adult Bible study, 6:30 p.m., GIG (Growing in God) Club for ages 5 to 11 (available while school is in session), Teen Group for ages 12 and up. For more information call the church at 812- 677-5007. HAUBSTADT NEW LIBERTY CHRISTIAN CHURCH Hwy. 68 between Cynthiana and Haubstadt Gordon Jones, Pastor Services Sunday 10 :30 a.m. NEW LIFE HOUSE OF PR AYER 208 West Street, Haubstadt Adam and Lindsay Ping Phone: 812-215 -9003 Sunday morning service 10 a.m.; Children's Sunday school during ser- vice; Food Pantry open first and third Wednesdays of the month from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Everyone welcome! IMMANUEL LUTHER AN CHURCH (LCMS) 1-1/2 miles south of I-64 and U.S. 41, Volkman Rd. Rev. Kirk Horstmeyer Saturday evening services 5:30 p.m.; Sunday worship services 8 a.m. and 10 :15 a.m.; Sunday school 9:10 a.m. ST. JAMES CATHOLIC CHURCH Old Princeton Rd., Haubstadt Fr. Christopher Droste, Pastor Fr. Kenneth Betz and Fr. Luke Hassler, Associate Pastors Joe Siewers and William Brandle, Deacons Saturday Mass 5 p.m.; Sunday Masses 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. STS. PETER AND PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH 201 Vine St., Haubstadt Fr. Christopher Droste, Pastor Fr. Kenneth Betz and Fr. Luke Hassler, Associate Pastors Joe Siewers and William Brandle, Deacons Saturday Mass 5 p.m.; Sunday Masses 7 and 10 a.m. ZION UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST Second and Elm St., Elberfeld Rev. Paul Fraser Sunday school 9 a.m.; worship ser- vice 10 a.m. LYNNVILLE BARNET T CHAPEL Stanley Road, Lynnville Don Williams, Pastor reflections From the Page By Cleoramae G. Stunkel See CHURCH on page 9 South Gibson Church Services Having finished first in a high- ly prestigious beauty contest, the young lady seemed to imagine that she was occupying the cat-bird seat. Her cousin came around to dis- abuse her of that notion. Howev- er luxurious might be her present lodgings, she remained a member of a targeted group. The killers would be coming for her, too, even there in the royal palace. So she had better just do away with all this stuff regarding being unable to approach the king inside the inner court unless she were summoned. There had been a law put out there, a day set, on which, throughout all the kingdom, all non-Jews were au- thorized to turn on and destroy, slay, and annihilate all Jews, be they young or old, women or children- - and to plunder their goods. So, my little dear, it is time for you to don your royal robes and present yourself at the palace's inner court, and hope for the best. As things fell out, all went well. When King Ahasuerus saw Queen Esther standing there, he held out the golden scepter in his hand, thus showing her favor, and saving her from the death prescribed for any who might intrude without invitation. The king, indeed, proclaimed him- self ready to grant her request, what- ever it might be, even to the half of his kingdom. There was some preliminary ma- neuvering to be gotten through, but eventually, Esther made her request: that her life, and the lives of her peo- ple, be saved. There existed a little problem, however, with the structure of the laws of the Medes and the Persians. Any edict written in the name of the king, and sealed with the king's ring- -as the original orders had been- - could not simply be revoked. A little work-around was needed. Therefore, further orders, these also written in the king's name and sealed with his ring, were sent throughout the kingdom, allowing the Jews to gather and defend their lives and property. Well, you know how it is with bul- lies- -met with a little resistance, they tend to back off. Those, howev- er, who persisted in being the Jews' enemies were slaughtered and de- stroyed. So Esther's heroism in approach- ing the throne uninvited was a means of saving her people, but would we not admire her more if Mordecai had not been obliged to appeal to her self-interest, if she had simply done the right thing for the right reason? Oh, if people only would- -do the right thing for the right reason, that is! It is a good thing, certainly, to give alms, but, as Jesus pointed out, mo- tive counts. In the synagogues and in the streets, hypocritical givers were hav- ing trumpets sounded before them, thereby to gain the praise of men. Well, but. What's the harm, real- ly, if my motive for giving to Feed- ing America was to have my name appear in print, high up on the do- nors' list? People still got fed. Or, if I contributed to Habitat for Humanity, with a view to having my name called out from the stage at the organization's annual banquet? People still got a roof put over their heads. Or if I did write that hefty check to Doctors Without Borders in the hope of being the recipient of an en- graved plaque? People will get just as much medi- cal care out of it, as if my motive had not been self-interested. I'm not hurting anybody. Except by robbing them of the good example that an anonymous gift could have provided. Then, too, there is that consider- able self-harm involved. Jesus warned, "Beware of prac- ticing your piety before men in or- der to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven." Righteousness of God Insight By Dave Ingler "Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was the condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men." (Romans 5:18) Stop trying to be righteous by your own actions and accept the righteousness that God has provided for all humanity through the sacrifi- cial death of Jesus Christ. The strife and struggles which result from try- ing to be accepted by God through works can only be eliminated by ac- cepting the blood of Jesus as full pay- ment for our sins. "Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!" (Romans 5:9) Any notion that we can be right in the sight of God apart from the per- son of Jesus Christ is heresy and a denial of what God has freely done through Him. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eter- nal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Ro- mans 6:23) No matter how hard we try or what we may do, the righteousness of God is never merited by our own works. God's righteousness is an un- merited act of grace which was ful- Points to Ponder By Curtis Bond See POINTS on page 9 See INSIGHT on page 9 See MINUTES on page 9 Two Minutes With the Bible By Pastor John Fredericksen The man upstairs? In his song entitled "Unanswered Prayers," country singer Garth Brooks refers to God as "the Man upstairs." Similar phrases referring to Almighty God include: the Big Man, my Co-pilot, my Homeboy, my Golf-buddy, or simply JC. The user may not intend it this way, but such references are highly disrespectful, and reveal a lack of understanding about who and what our Great High God really is. When the Apostle John encoun- tered the Lord Jesus Christ, who was instructing him to write what would be revealed to him, he said, "I fell at his feet as dead" (Revelation 1:17). Notice there was nothing casual in John's response. Why? When the Lord Jesus Christ spoke, it was with "a great voice, as of a trumpet" (vs. 10). "His eyes were as a flame of fire" (vs. 14), and "His countenance was as the sun" (vs. 16). This brief picture, and the reac- tion of a mere man in the presence of God, is consistent with the rest of Scripture. Isaiah says he saw "the Lord…high and lifted up" with dy- namic angelic hosts attending Him crying, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Hosts" (Isaiah 6:1-3). Isaiah's re- sponse was not casual or irreverent. He said, "Woe is me! For I am un- done; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a peo- ple of unclean lips" (vs. 5). People of old had a far greater rev- erence for the Lord. King David de- scribed his great God by saying, "The Lord reigneth, He is clothed with majesty; the Lord is clothed with strength…Thy throne is estab- lished of old: Thou art from everlast- ing" (Psalms 93:1-2). He continued, "God sitteth upon the throne of His holiness" as He reigns over all men