The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1474536
The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, July 27, 2022 D-3 tians were united is found in Acts 4:32, "Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in com- mon." By the time of Jude's writ- ing (somewhere around 50AD) there were already men infiltrat- ing the church, "ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ." To this he urged believers to "earnestly content for the faith ONCE delivered to the saints!" Two-thousand years lat- er, the struggle to "contend for the faith" has never been more earnest and harder. Millions of Christians have rejected orthodoxy, including an alarming number of clergy and seminar y professors. In its place are little more than nurser y rhymes, feel-good stories, and no preaching of the Word, hence no power. I heard a Christian in a com- mittee meeting say we should have more singing and less preaching. Another one says I like to hear stories more than the Bible. I guess he did not realize the Bible is a stor y about God's love for us. Is it any wonder the church is los- ing its witness and power? Our nation of laws is becom- ing a nation of the jungle. Not one to accept the Supreme Court's ruling rescinding abortion as a Constitution- al right, President Biden is determined to overturn the "law of the land" with execu- tive orders. Justices are being accosted in restaurants. Law- makers are calling for the im- peachment of some justices. Why? Because they dislike and will not accept a ruling that is just and proper. Abortion is sinful and wrong coming from a nation characterized as Christian. A Christian supporting abortion would have a com- plicated time defending their position based upon scripture. Perhaps this is the reason I received so few comments on my article decr ying abortion. To respond negatively demon- strates an ignorance of scrip- ture and church teaching. To respond in the negative puts them in company with Pres- ident Biden and Speaker Pe- losi, who publicly claim to be devout Catholics, yet they sup- port immorality and flagrantly flaunt church teachings. Years ago, the church would have excommunicated them. Today, the church is more con- cerned with image and political fallout than they are following the teachings of God. Many Christian politicians justify their double-mindedness by insisting their faith is private while they have a duty of their constituents and the law. Jesus told his disciples you cannot ser ve two masters. You must be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot ser ve God and "mammon." In modern translations, the word "mammon" means money. Is it not ironic that most pres- idents and congresspeople en- ter public service with modest means and, in due course, end up millionaires? Lord Acton was correct when he said, "Power tends to corrupt; absolute pow- er corrupts absolutely." Washington is a cesspool of debaucher y bursting with pol- iticians for sale. God has called his church to be a light to the world, separate and holy. The Old Testament law said the people "are to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean." In the New Testament, it reads, "Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you," 2Cor 6:17. To support abortion on de- mand puts one on the wrong side of God's word. John Witherspoon, signer of the Declaration of Indepen- dence wrote, "he is the best friend to American liberty who is the most sincere and active in promoting true and unde- filed religion, and who sets himself with the greatest firm- ness to bear down profanity and immorality of every kind. Whoever is an avowed enemy of God, I scruple not to call him an enemy to his country." Abraham was called the friend of God because he be- lieved God's word. Can God call you, his friend? PAWS WEEK PAWS WEEK Pet of the REX Secondhand animals make first class pets. This week PAWS is features a comical young fellow named Rex, who is a pup, but is growing fast and has all the fun loving characteristics of a mischievous canine. This young fellow is all about the toys and he is not happy unless he has three in his mouth at once. We believe Rex has some Labrador and Brit- tany Spaniel heritage. He has par t-colored coat of white and orange fur with tan ticking on his front and hind legs, is ver y gentle, af fectionate and ver y good with chil- dren. He is approximate- ly five months old, neu- tered, has all his shots and can be adopted by calling 812-354-9894. PAWS also has an abundance of cats and kittens that desperately need good homes. Adopt locally if you are going to add a pet to your family. PONDER Continued from page 1 No accident but the other driver had to lay on his hor n like a big knuck- lehead. Yes if we would have wrecked it would have been my fault, but he wasn't there when I made the lane change. Driving in Evansville is a challenge for anyone who is not used to that much traf fic and it doesn't help that lots of Evansville drivers aren't ver y cour te- ous, because they are on a mission. I have looked at the expression on the fac- es of drivers on the Lloyd and lots of them just look angr y. A great big boy howdy, it looks like they are finally looking at the light at the end of the tunnel as far as the detour guantlet we have had to manuever to go around the road con- str uction on Highway 61. Petersburg will probably miss the extra fines levied on the many tr ucks who have been stuck in the de- tour. The owners of the prop- er ty who have had semis in their yards will have to have a sigh of relief when they can look out their windows and not see a big tr uck going across their yards. I still tr y to keep up a schedule for my exercises and the walk around the circle but like all folks who use any kind of weights I have hur t my shoulder and it is making it harder to ex- ercise. One day with the humidity as high as it was I had a little trouble with my breathing. Lately you leave the house and the heat and hu- midity makes you think you are in Miami. I was mowing my yard the other day and one of my mowers star ted r un- ning like it could croak at any time. So I got another mower out and as I was us- ing it the transaxle became so weak it was having dif- ficulty making it up some of my hills. It did finish the yard but it limped back into the shop garage. The wife and I along with a couple of friends took of f on an antique ex- cursion. We ended up driv- ing around the countr y just looking at flowers and lawns. There are some real- ly pretty places around our tri-county. Saturday there was a graveside ser vice for my cousin DK Brewster at Walnut Hills. It was sure hot out there. They had brought DK's body here from Branson Missouri. It is always nice to see family, but once again I ask why do we wait until it is too late to visit with one another. Our family is down to many younger cousins who don't even know one another. Well it is time to close this madness, but I will never forget to say BE A BLESSING. RAMBLING Continued from page 1 Pentecostal OAKLAND CITY FIRST PENTECOST Hwy. 64 East New number 812- 582-9877 Sunday morning ser vice begins at 9:30 a.m. with chil- dren's Sunday school during the ministr y of the Word. Sunday and Wednesday evening ser vices are at 6 p.m. All times CDT (Gibson Co.) Because of a scheduling conflict Sister Peach will not be with us on the fifth Sunday, but Br. Ed and Sister Beverly Hall have agreed to join us. If you are not having ser- vice, come for a visit and bring a song. Ron Vickers, Pastor Elaine Young, Reporter HOUSE OF MERCY CHURCH Corner of East and Porter Winslow Pastor 812-789-5229 A Church with open arms and a loving heart. Sunday morning ser vice 10:15 a.m.; Sunday school at 11 a.m. May the Word of God guide your life this week. Keep our Federal, State, and Local governments in your prayer as it was a com- mand from Jesus. Also, pray for the nursing homes, those in hospitals, family and friends that are afflicted. May you find peace and blessings in your week and be filled with joy. In His Service, George Bruce, Jr., Pastor Presbyterian MAIN STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 10th and Main Streets, Petersburg 812-354-6844 Visit us, our doors are al- ways open to you. Office hours: 9 a.m.-noon, Monday-Friday. This Sunday we are taking a look at our relationship with the Holy Spirit. How do we call on the Spirit? How does the Holy Spirit work in our per- sonal lives and the life of the church? As we discern our call to ser ve as a congregation in the community, we will reflect how the Holy Spirit empowers and guides each of us to lead full and meaningful lives in re- sponse to God's grace. Join us for the journey this Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Weighed down Many people dream of having the "right stuff" to fly to space. Re- cently, 18,300 people applied for just 12 astronaut spots at NASA! Fanfare over the moon landing's 50th anniversary is sure to spark even more interest. Leaving behind ear thly troubles and floating in zero gravity must be amazing, right? Not, it turns out, for one's body. Weightlessness takes a heavy physical toll in space. Without resistance, muscles waste away and bones weaken. Bodily sys- tems we take for granted are disr upted, causing disorien- tation. To counteract these ef fects, astronauts wear re- sistance suits while exercis- ing. Ironically, after escaping Ear th's gravity, they must replace it. Similarly, we long for trou- ble-free days and pray for an end to earthly burdens, not rec- ognizing that exertion, wheth- er physical or spiritual, builds strength. "He who knows no hardships will know no hardi- hood," said Harry Emerson Fosdick. "He who faces no ca- lamity will need no courage. … The characteristics in human nature which we love best grow in a soil with a strong mixture of troubles." Rob Henson, Pastor Amy Melhiser, Secretary Wesleyan OTWELL WESLEYAN CHURCH 2277 N. Mechanics Street Otwell Pastor 812-354-3028 Sunday school at 9:30 a.m.; morning worship at 10:30 a.m.; Sunday evening worship ser vice at 6:30 p.m. On July 31, fifth Sunday sing will be at our church starting at 6:30 p.m. Kindness Ways to show kindness to others: • Smile and say "hello" or "good morning" to a stranger walking down the street. • Pay for the person's cof- fee behind you. • Leave a sweet note for someone you love. • Let another driver merge into your lane – with a smile on your face. • Pass along a wonderful book you've finished reading. • Give praise to others whenever possible. • Create a care package for someone feeling under the weather. Does God reward kindness? The Good News: Being kind to others — even when it is not immediately reciprocated— can provide many blessings in the long run. God always rewards our efforts. "Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad." 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