The South Gibson Star-Times serves the towns of Haubstadt, Owensville and Fort Branch.
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1467872
A-10 Tuesday, May 17, 2022 South Gibson Star-Times It is an interesting fact that in this day of godlessness and lawlessness so much is being said about what we all deserve! Ads in the newspa- pers and commercials on radio and T V ask: "Don't you deserve the very finest automobile? " "Don't your children deserve the best? " "Doesn't your baby deserve Pam- pers? " And even, "Doesn't your dog de- serve Alpo? " Well, do you really deserve the fin- est car? Please don't answer that! Do your children deserve the best — al- ways? If so, you surely have model children — not at all like their par- ents! And does your baby deserve Pampers? That's funny! And does your dog deserve Alpo? That's ridic- ulous! Dogs do not "love" or obey you from any moral consideration, nor, for that matter, does your baby, lov- able as the darling is. And as to you and your children, including the ba- by, the Bible has something to say on this subject. The Bible says that "by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men for that ALL have sinned [i.e., in Adam]" (Romans 5:12). You and I were "in Adam" when he sinned. When he sinned, we sinned. Deny this and you might as well agree with the murderer who argued: "My feet and legs didn't do it; my ears and nose didn't do it; only my one hand and one or two other parts of my body did it, so the rest should go free." We believers in Christ should thank God that our blessed Lord took upon Him our just desserts when He died for our sins at Calvary. Abortion, a national tragedy. A million of anything is a lot. A mil- lion of anything is difficult to com- prehend. In 1973, the U.S. had 211 million people, 1973 is a pivotal year. In that year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled abortion is legal in all 50 states. Since that time, they estimate more than 60 million babies have been aborted. How can we comprehend 60 mil- lion abortions? We use comparisons to wrap our head around such a large number. It- aly, a country that has been around for thousands of years, has a popula- tion of 60 million. Imagine Italy's 60 million people perishing. Joseph Sta- lin said the death of one man is a trag- edy. The death of millions is a statis- tic. He should know. He orchestrated the murder of millions of Russians. When I was in college, I heard all the catchphrases justifying abortion. Supporters begin by saying abortion should be legal for incidents of rape, incest, birth defects, and the health of the mother. Then they added abor- tion is better than a child growing up in poverty. Now it is a woman's right. Sur- veys on abortion show people's atti- tudes are about 50/50. These num- bers have not moved in decades. Con- versely, if 75% of Americans identi- fy themselves as Christians, then a good number of Christians support abortion. If you're not a Christian, then my words will ring hollow, even hateful. Some Christians will find my words acerbic. Such is the upside-down world we live in. Right is now wrong and wrong is now right. Abortion advocates say a wom- an has a "right to choose." Abortion challenges God's word. This is the same tactic the serpent used in the garden: "Did God actually say, You shall not eat of any tree in the gar- den? " Gen 3:1. The claim, "it is my body, and I will do with it as I please" is in to- tal disharmony with the scriptures. Paul told the Athenians on Mars Hill that we are the offspring of God. God has given us life, breath. In him we "live, and move, and have our being." Acts 17. God gives life not death. He forbids humans to take it. For many years advocates said a fertilized egg is not a human being. It is just a bunch of cells. Biology states that once cell division occurs, some- thing is alive. Life has begun! Human biology does not support the argument that a zygote or em- bryo is a non-nothing. The abortion lobby has jettisoned science and now embrace abortion as a healthy "choice." The Holy Scriptures say the hu- man body is the temple of God. "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own." The human body is the most sacred place God wishes to dwell. The scriptures remind us of how sacred we are with the words, 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 11 South Gibson Church Services Saffron crocus ... Rose of Sharon... lily of the valley...calamus...quince... fig...pomegranate...henna...cinna- mon...mandrake. No, the foregoing list is not part of an index for a garden-center catalog. Rather, these plants form part of the setting—a rather extensive set- ting, actually—for the events de- scribed in the Biblical book that Prot- estants call "The Song of Solomon." It is a beautiful setting, composed of vineyards and orchards, pastures and fields, mountains and hills, springs and streams—and gardens are sometimes mentioned, as well. A beautiful setting—but what about the events that are described as occurring within it! I think of our little Dr. Urch, who attempted to teach us history when we were in college. When folks be- came upset regarding current events, he prescribed, as a solution to their problem, that they learn more about history. Just so, any who feel flustered over what they are reading in the Song should perhaps become more fully acquainted with the Bible. With, as an instance, the writing of the prophet Isaiah, as he assures Is- rael, "Your Maker is your husband;" or with that of the prophet Jeremi- ah, as he conveys the Lord's prom- ise that in coming days he would, "make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant which they broke, though I was their husband, says the Lord." Or perhaps such persons should make themselves familiar with that extensive passage in the writings of the prophet Hosea, in which he de- scribes Israel's turning away from the Lord to follow false gods, how Israel "forgot me," says the Lord. God's plan, therefore, was to "al- lure her, and bring her into the wil- derness, and speak tenderly to her." And there, it was predicted, "she shall answer as in the days of her youth, .... and in that day, says the Lord, you will call me 'My husband' .... " It was true, as Robert Alter points out, that the "nature of the Song con- stituted a challenge for the framers of the canon, both Jewish and Chris- tian, and their response was to read the poems allegorically-in the case of the early rabbis, as the love be- tween the Holy One and Israel, and in the case of the Church Fathers, as the love between Christ and the Church." In the fifth chapter of the letter to the church at Ephesus, the writer cites the passage from Genesis con- cerning how a man leaves his parents "and cleaves to his wife, and they be- come one flesh," then comments, "This is a great mystery, and I take it to mean Christ and the church ...." In no way could we imagine that even the most devoted spousal love could approach the love that God has for his people. But...that is the best picture that we have. Since the proph- ets report God himself choosing to employ this marriage metaphor, who are we to cavil? Protestants call this book "The Song of Solomon;" Roman Catho- lics refer to it as "Canticle of Canti- cles;" but our Jewish friends—whose it was before it was ours, so that they may know better—call it "The Song of Songs." This does not mean, as it might at first appear, that it is a song concern- ing other songs. Rather, the title of the book as- sumes this form because of the fact that adjectives in the Hebrew lan- guage have no superlative degree. The reader will remember the good A newness of life Insight By Dave Ingler "The earth is the Lord's, and every- thing in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters." (Psalm: 24:1-2) As one looks around they cannot help but see the newness of life as the spring season brings forth the matchless smells and beauty of na- ture. As we witness this change from lifelessness to life, the Psalm of Da- vid reminds us that God is the own- er and creator of this beautiful world and He alone is responsible for these miracles that are being unfolded be- fore us. The Apostle Paul realized that the creation of God was a means for mankind to recognize the pow- er and wonder of the Lord and he wrote a stern warning to those who refused to recognize God and con- tinue in their wickedness by ignor- ing so great a witness before them. "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." ( Romans 1:20) While the earth's beauty and mystery are certainly of divine or- Points to Ponder By Curtis Bond See POINTS on page 11 See INSIGHT on page 11 See MINUTES on page 11 See REFLECTIONS on page 11 Two Minutes With the Bible By Pastor Cornelius R. Stam Desserts vs. grace Upcoming Events In Concert at the Park On Friday, June 10, at 6:30 p.m. at the Owensville Carn- egie Library Park, bring your chair and enjoy your evening with award winning Gordon Mote and Christian artist Aus- tin Glover, opening for Gordon. There is a free will offering. In case of rain, the concert will move to the Owensville Methodist Church. Call Barb Harris, 812-632- 0227, for more information or questions.