The South Gibson Star-Times serves the towns of Haubstadt, Owensville and Fort Branch.
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CHURCH "All Scripture is profitable." We know that this is the case be- cause Scripture itself, in the Second Letter to Timothy, tells us so, and the interpretation of Scripture is to be by Scripture, not through some outside philosophy. In individual cases, though, we may find this truth difficult to defend. What about chapters 25 through 30 in Exodus, which, at first glance, might be mistaken for a description of architects' drawings, and pages from the notebook of an interior dec- orator? Within these chapters, we find given precise measurements for the Tabernacle itself, and for many of its furnishings. We find a materials list, which includes such things as gold, silver, and bronze; blue, purple and scarlet yarns; fine twined linen; tanned rams' skins; acacia wood; and gemstones. Would it not have been more help- ful, in Holy Writ,to have used that space for further moral instruction? In what way are those passages use- ful, and therefore, Scripture? We need to consider the circum- stances within which the Tabernacle was set. All around the Israelites, on their way from Egypt to the Promised Land, there lay danger, disorder, and things being generally out-of-joint. There is lack of potable water, and attacks by Canaanites, Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, to say nothing of that infestation of deadly fier y ser- pents. Is that the way God wants his peo- ple to live, in such a disordered and chaotic manner? The opening chapter of the Bible strongly suggests not. There, we are told how God brought form to what had been a dark void, one ordering move at a time. Light was separated from the darkness; the heavens were created; waters were gathered, and dr y land appeared; that earth brought forth vegetation; lights were set in the heavens to separate day and night, and also to mark signs and seasons, days and years; there was an order- ing that progressed right on until the waters, the heavens, and the earth were inhabited by living creatures; and people had been created in the image of God. Well, the perfect goodness of Cre- ation did not sur vive humankind's disobedience to their Creator, but God still willed good for his children. So...even though the Wilderness through which the Israelites were traveling was in so many ways threat- ening, there was placed within it a symbol of present order and future aspiration. Those wandering and often har- ried Hebrews could stop for a time and enter a place of ordered dimen- sions, one that was solid and stable. Somewhat in imitation of Creation, in which the trees were not only "good for food" but also "pleasant to the sight," they were there sur- rounded by beauty: by curtains of linen embroidered with cherubim in blue, purple and scarlet; by a veil of blue similarly worked; by the gleam of gold that overlay the Ark, and the two gold cherubim that surmounted it; the gold, branched lampstand; the soft glow of the bronze altar, along with its bronze pots, basins, shovels, forks and fire pans; seeing the twin- kle and flash of topaz, emerald, sap- phire, diamond, amethyst, and the other stones set in the high-priest's ephod. But it was not only the static set- ting that was there to ser ve them. Equally ordered were the manners prescribed for the sacrificing of of- ferings, whether those be bull, ram, buck or turtle dove, or grain and oil. More: as the days and seasons, marked by heavenly bodies, pro- ceeded outside the Tabernacle walls in an orderly fashion, so, too, did the celebrations held within them: Pass- over, the Feasts of Firstfruits, Weeks and Booths, the Day of Atonement. And ever y seven days, the Sabbath arrived,regularly, dependably. Then, the Israelites could retreat from the disorder of daily life into what Rob- ert Alter describes as the"ordered sphere that mirrors the harmony of God's Creation. So what do we find, when we have set our feet across the sanctuar y sill on a Sunday morning? Do we also find that comforting--and challeng- ing–order? In my experience, some buildings provide this better than others. The church which I ser ved in Miami had a cruciform floor plan, that is, it Abortion is blood money The fur y against the Supreme Court's ruling overturning Roe vs Wade continues to intensify. Abor- tion advocates are furious with the Republican controlled Indiana leg- islator and governor. Indiana is the first state to enact legislation banning abortion, unless a pregnant woman's life is at risk, for incidents of rape and incest, and lethal fetal anomalies. In a statement provided to NPR, the giant pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly is concerned the law will hinder their 'ability to attract diverse scien- tific, engineering and business talent from around the world.' It also said it will have to plan its future growth outside of Indiana. Another corporate giant in Indiana, Cummins, said it opposes the law. It parrots an eerily similar statement saying the abortion ban will 'impede our ability to attract and retain top talent and influence our decisions as we continue to grow our footprint with a focus on selecting welcoming and inclusive environments.' Both businesses cite the new law conflicts with their company beliefs. Large employers have now be- come shakedown artists. If a law is passed, they dislike, they threaten to leave the state and take their bag of money and go elsewhere. Is this not a definition of extortion? Abortion is a big moneymaking industr y. Behind the façade of cham- pioning abortion as a woman's right to health care lies the dirty truth that companies and healthcare providers make millions of dollars providing abortion. Planned Parenthood is the largest provider of abortion. In 2017- 2018, it performed 332,757 abortions and only 2,831 adoption referrals. Its revenue was $1.67 billion, of which $563.8 million was taxpayer funding. If it was a for-profit corporation, it would have reported a $245 million profit. Not a bad day's work if you ignore the fact wholesale death is profitable. Nationwide, there were 930,160 abortions in 2020. In Indiana, 8,414 women got abortions in 2021. The World Health Organization reports worldwide there are about 125,000 abortions performed ever y day, and about 40-50 million abortions yearly. Let that number sink in! There is no such thing as a free abortion. Somebody picks up the tab. In the U.S., an abortion pill costs about $500. The cost of an abortion at 10 weeks is about $500. So, 930,160 times $500 is? Oh, my! Indiana abortion providers will lose millions of dollars in easy mon- ey. From my Christian perspective, abortion is blood money. It deliv- ers up the unborn for profit. It also mirrors the ancient child-sacrifice to Molech. Isn't it ironic that Judas de- livered up Jesus for profit? He asked the religious authorities, 'What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him [Jesus] to you,' Mt 26:15? It disturbs me when I hear Chris- tian religious leaders support abor- tion—and there are many. Evidently these leaders haven't read 'Psalms 139: 16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When [as yet there were] none of them.' They must have also missed Jeremiah 1:5 'Before I South Gibson Church Services 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 ser vice 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 Br yan 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 Sunday); Second Cup of Coffee (la- dies' group) all ladies welcome, sec- ond 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., nurser y 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. Gary Kaiser Pastor Joe Siewers, Deacon 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. Chris Forler, 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 ser- vices 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Ver tical Kids children's ministr y available during both ser vices for children from bir th to fifth grade. Ignite Ministr y is 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednes- days 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 Prayer 208 West Street, Haubstadt Adam and Lindsay Ping Phone: 812-215-9003 Sunday morning ser vice 10 a.m.; Children's Sunday school during ser vice; Food Pantr y open first and third Wednesdays of the month from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Ever yone 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 ser vices 5:30 p.m.; Sunday worship ser vices 8 a.m. and 10:15 a.m.; Sunday school 9:10 a.m. ST. JAMES CATHOLIC CHURCH Old Princeton Rd., Haubstadt Fr. Andrew Thomas, Admistrator Fr. Kenneth Betz, Parochial Bicar William Brandle, Deacon 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. Andrew Thomas, Admistrator Fr. Kenneth Betz, Parochial Bicar William Brandle, Deacon 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 Points to Ponder By Curtis Bond Two Minutes With the Bible By Pastor Ricky Kurth Reflections From the Page By Cleoramae G. Stunkel Act your age! When someone is acting foolish- ly, have you ever heard anyone say, "Act your age, not your shoe size?" Of course, this popular slogan would not be much of a rebuke for a nine- year-old! That might be why I re- member that when I was a boy, we used to say, "Act your age, not your IQ." Now that's a pretty insulting thing to say to a nine-year-old! While it is important to act your age at any age, it's even more im- portant for a Christian to act in such a way that is becoming to the truth of God's Word, as Paul told Timothy to remind older men, saying, "Speak thou the things which be- come sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober… temperate…" (Titus 2:1,2). If aged Christian men want to live in such a way that is becoming to sound doctrine, they must be sober. The only thing sadder than a drunk is an old drunk. Many years ago I used to minister at the Chicago Gos- pel Mission. I can remember putting my arm around old drunks while speaking to them about the Lord, and thinking how hard it must be to overcome an addiction that would have been more easily conquered earlier in life. What a testimony to the wisdom of Solomon's admoni- tion, "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth" (Eccl. 12:1). But the word "sober" has another meaning in Scripture. Paul wrote the Romans, "I say… to ever y man… not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly" (Rom. 12:3). Do you see how that verse defines the word "sober" as not thinking too highly of yourself? Insight By Dave Ingler God's Forgiveness "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but ever y- one to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9) For ever y truth presented to us by God will be a subtle lie presented by Satan. Jesus said of Satan, "…When he lies, he speaks his native lan- guage, for he is a liar and the father of lies." (John 8:44) Because of the spiritual warfare caused between truth and lies, many fail to believe and act upon the lib- erating facts God has disclosed through His written Word, for God's truths demand faith while Satan's counterfeits and lies can be rational- ized through feeling or emotion. Those who read God's offer of forgiveness will always be tempted to doubt His faithfulness and willing- ness to forgive them personally. Sa- A-6 Tuesday, August 23, 2022 South Gibson Star-Times See INSIGHT on page 7 See POINTS on page 7 See CHURCH on page 7 See MINUTES on page 7 See REFLECTIONS on page 7