The South Gibson Star-Times serves the towns of Haubstadt, Owensville and Fort Branch.
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1468517
A-10 Tuesday, May 24, 2022 South Gibson Star-Times Believers in Christ have been made "free from sin" by grace (Ro- mans 6:14,18) in the sense that they need not, indeed, should not, yield to sin when temptation arises (Ro- mans 6:12,13). Believers have also been made "free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:2) for Christ, in grace, bore the death penalty for them. But no believer is free from what Paul calls "the law of sin which is in my members" (Romans 7:23), that is, the old Adamic nature, with its inherent tendency to do wrong. Nor is he free from the conflict with the new nature which this involves. If the Christian would be truly spiritual and deal in a scriptural way with the sin that indwells him, he must clearly recognize its presence; he must face the fact that while, thank God, he is no longer "in sin", sin is still in him. But this conflict should not dis- courage us, for it is one of the true signs of salvation. It is unknown to the unbeliever, for only the addition- al presence of the new nature, along with the old, causes this conflict, for the Bible says about these two na- tures: "these are contrary the one to the other" (Galatians 5:17). But not only is this conflict within the believer a sure sign of salvation; it also creates within him a deep and necessary sense of our inward im- perfection and of the infinite grace of a holy God in saving us and min- istering to us daily in helping us to overcome sin. And this in turn gives us a more understanding approach as we proclaim to the lost "the gos- pel of the grace of God". Paul's epistles show clearly that there is nothing that will so help us to overcome sin and live pleasing to God as an understanding and an ap- Don't be mad, be glad in forgiveness In 1963 Hollywood released the slapstick comedy film It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. The film be- gins with a car accident on a lone- ly freeway in the Southern Califor- nia desert.Ex-convict Smiler Grogan ( Jimmy Durante) loses control of his car and drives it off a cliff. Five mo- torists stop to assist Grogan. Smiler is fatally injured and with his dying breath reveals to the five where he hid a cache of stolen loot; $ 350G's, at a park buried under a "Big W" in the town of Santa Rosita, California. The five motorists dash off and it be- comes a mad-cap race to who will get to the money first. Civility instantaneously deterio- rates into madness. An all-out zany race ensues between the motorists to find the money first. The movie lives up to its billing—everyone is mad! Like the movie, mad people are everywhere! People are mad about the economy, the president, price of gas, congress, the president, police, drunken drivers, taxes, stock mar- ket, masks, politicians, the president, air travel, the war in the Ukraine, the border, food prices, lawlessness, BLM, abortion, wokeness, crazed shooters, and the president. People use mad interchangeably with anger. Anger is an emotional response to something or someone stirring us up. Recall the last time you were mad at someone. Being of- fended or hurt by another person is an occupational hazard of being hu- man. Most of us have heard the story of Peter and forgiveness. Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my broth- er when he sins against me? Up to seven times? " Rabbis taught you were to forgive your offender three times. So, Peter was being quite generous when he offered seven times to Jesus. Was Jesus impressed by Peter's generosity? Jesus answered, "I tell you, not sev- en times, but seventy-seven times," Mt 18:21-22. Some people, when offended, miffed, or aggrieved, don't just sit around and brood about it. They want other people to know how wrong they feel. Most of us know someone who has someone in their crawl. Having a meaningful conversation with them is nearly impossible. Any conversa- tion quickly converges on their hurt and anger toward someone. Some- thing happened years ago, and they are still mad. If you've been caught in the middle of such a situation, you understand the madness. The danger of being mad is—it's contagious. What starts out as a sim- ple protest quickly escalates into a riot as in Portland or Minneapolis. People protesting abortion rights have invaded churches and disrupt- ed services. Our government fans the flames of discontent by failing to condemn these extreme actions and refusing to prosecute the offenders unless you defend yourself against the insurrectionaries and then jail 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 We know that it is a relatively new hymn, since its author died in 1912. However, a phrase in its second verse reminded me, as our congregation sang it this past Sunday, of an inci- dent which occurred in the fourth century A.D. This phrase, in the hymn "Lift High the Cross," speaks of Chris- tians being "led on their way by this triumphant sign." What sign would that be? The same sign which, Constan- tine would later tell the Greek his- torian Eusebius, he saw in the sky before he led his troops into battle at the Milvian bridge, near Rome, in 312 A. D. Accompanying that vision of the cross was the phrase, "In this sign, conquer." Which Constantine did, thus be- coming emperor of the Roman Em- pire. He was the first Roman emperor converted to Christianity, and, by the Edict of Milan, which was pro- claimed in 313 A.D., he established religious toleration for Christianity within the Roman Empire. But, mere toleration was only the beginning of the good things to come. Constantine donated land to the church, and supported the building of churches. He granted special privileges to the church and its clergy. When he went on military cam- paigns, a mobile chapel, housed in a tent, accompanied him. He composed a special prayer for his troops. He set copyists to work producing Bibles for new churches. He took note of variant ideas which could disturb the peace of the church, such as the Donatist schism, and Arianism. In fact, in 325 A.D., he himself gave the opening address at the Council of Nicaea, which had gathered to deal with the latter con- troversy. In his later years, he attempted to deliver edifying sermons. Were there any downsides to all this governmental involvement in church affairs? The historical record for the fourth century A.D. is a good deal thinner than it is from some twelve centuries later, when John Calvin came on the scene in Geneva. We have extensive records- -many of them from his own hand- -of what he did in that city in an attempt to establish a theocracy, which is de- fined as a situation in which the cler- gy rule, in the name of God. A society ruled by God sounds like an excellent idea. Question, though: can we trust any person, in their sin- ful humanity, to completely properly understand what that might look like, or will their self-interest intrude on their interpretation of God's Word? No such self-doubt seems to have impeded Calvin in his composition of the "Ecclesiastical Ordinances," which "set up a consistory of pas- tors and elders to make all aspects of Genevan life conform to God's law." This consistory undertook a wide range of disciplinary actions covering ... enforcement of sexual morality, the regulation of taverns, and measures against dancing, gam- bling, and swearing." (Do we have any teaching from Jesus concerning drinking or danc- ing? Would any reader who has come across such texts please drop me a note.) Not every citizen of Geneva thought well of this heavy-handed imposition of supposed moral au- thority. And yet- -we would like to live in a moral society. Do you suppose, that this might be largely brought about if all the folks who sit in pews on Sunday mornings Drawn to Jesus Insight By Dave Ingler "When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righ- teousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me…" ( John 16:8 -9) The convicting power of the Holy Spirit always points us to Jesus for the forgiveness of sins for Jesus alone is the mediator between man and God. (I Timothy 2:5) While the ministry of the Holy Spir- it is seen through correction, teaching, comfort and other areas that strength- en the believer, His primary purpose is to make us aware of sin and our need for the Savior, Jesus Christ. We must bring into subjection any thoughts that would lead us to be- lieve that anything other than faith in Christ can bridge the separation be- tween fallen man and Holy God. Hu- man effort is not the beginning of sal- vation. The Holy Spirit never challeng- es our behavior or habits so that we may win God's approval. The idea of "quitting this" or "be- ginning that" to get right with God are not inspired by the Spirit of God but are powerless substitutes created by the blinded human heart which refus- es to accept Jesus Christ, "…the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" ( John 1:29) A fter drawing his sword to take his own life, the jailer of Paul and Silas fell 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 The secret of spiritual victory 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.