The South Gibson Star-Times serves the towns of Haubstadt, Owensville and Fort Branch.
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1480050
CHURCH Now has the har vest begun. Cor n pickers roll slowly along the rows, plucking ears from dried stalks, shelling golden grains from the cobs and into the hopper. Dust rises above bean fields, as the combine pops from their pods the slightly oval, pale beige beans. May our local fields, and many more, widespread, enjoy good yields, for nearly one-third of the countr y of Pakistan is said to be under water, and many farmers in Ukraine have been obliged to deal with bits of hot metal falling on their fields, as well as heavy machiner y rolling over them-- events not conducive to sowing and reaping, planting and har - vesting. Probably, there have been sparse har vests or outright crop failures in less publicized loca- tions. "Food insecurity," for many, does not begin to describe the situation. We also read of those facing malnutrition or outright star vation. Therefore, having enough to share matters, really matters. God cares for his children, not only at End-time, but also within time. That they should give her some- thing to eat was one of the first things that Jesus said, after he had brought back to life the little daughter of Jair us. Down-to-ear th, and utterly prac- tical, was Jesus. Up in the hills along the sea of Galilee, he recognized that the people who had then been with him for three days would likely, if sent away hungr y, faint on the way. With seven loaves and a few small fish, the crowds, made up of four thousand men, besides wom- en and children, were all fed, and were satisfied, and the leftovers filled seven baskets. Yes, material nourishment in ear thly times is impor tant, and therefore, the har vests that bring in food from the fields are impor t- ant. But more impor tant is the fi- nal har vest that will occur at the End-time, not of wheat or barley, cor n or beans, but of persons. Jesus told a parable concer n- ing a field in which its owner had sown good seed, but in the night, an enemy came and sowed weeds among that wheat. When those weeds appeared among the stalks that were suppor ting grain-bear- ing heads, his ser vants inquired about pulling them out. The owner, however, recog- nized that in the process of gath- ering the weeds, they might root up the wheat as well. "At the har vest time," he said, "I will tell the reapers, 'Gather the weeds first and bind them in bun- dles to be bur ned, but gather the wheat into my bar n.'" When the disciples sought ex- planation for this parable, Jesus fur nished them with a point-for- point comparison of the various elements in the parable, specify- ing, "The har vest is the close of the age." So it is comfor ting to believers to know, that at the last har vest, they will be gathered, like grains, into the Father's granar y. But this circumstance is some- what like our being both cared-for sheep and also undershepherds, responsible for bringing others into the flock. As Jesus sat by the well near the Samaritan city of Sychar, and saw the people coming out of the city to him, he said to the disciples, "Lift up your eyes and see how the fields are already white for har vest." Jesus had used that same im- age in speaking to the seventy men whom he was sending out, two by two, ahead of him, when he said, "The har vest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the har vest to send out laborers into the har- vest." Sometimes we are to function like a grain of wheat, covered by a husk, gathered into a head, suppor ted atop a stalk, waiting to be safely gathered into the gra- nar y. Other times, we need to have our feet on the ground and that sickle in our hand, swinging away. God hasn't died Where were you in 1977 when the headlines screamed, "the King is dead?" Or 2009 when the next "king" died? If you are clueless, I am refer- ring to Elvis as the king of rock and Michael Jackson the king of pop. They may be gone, but their musi- cal influence continues (for better or worse). Inversely, a real royal has died, Queen Elizabeth II. Queen Elizabeth reigned 70 years, 214 days. Only Lou- is XIV of France reigned longer at 72 years 110 days. She lived a remark- able life, unlike the pop and rock kings mentioned above; free from scandal and died from old age. As a public figure, she embodied ser vice to her subjects while showing re- straint and dignity. Her subjects are showering her memor y with love and adoration. Elizabeth's longevity and public conduct on the throne are remarkable. Upon hearing of her death, I was mindful of the prophet Isaiah. He wrote, "In the year that King Uzzi- ah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up (Isa 6:1). Uzziah was one of the few excellent kings of Judah. Uzziah was 16 years old when he became king of Judah. He reigned 52 years. He did what was "right in the sight of the Lord." His neighbors honored and feared him. God was with him. One day, his pride got the best of him. He went into the temple to burn incense on the altar of incense. This was a major transgression of the Law because only priests could enter the holy to burn incense. The priests rebuked the king, but he wouldn't listen. Suddenly, he became leprous. And by the Law of leprosy, he was unclean and lived the rest of his life separated from his people. He died a leprous outcast (2 Chr 26). How a person died is as important as how they lived. Death is that last punctuation mark in a person's life. As a Christian we want to die in the faith. It often gives the last testimony. My brother died of brain cancer, testifying to the end, "I'm not giv- ing up, I'm going to be with Jesus!" I have known many people like him facing death strong in the faith. Stephen was a deacon in the first church. The crowd stoned him to death for giving his testimony of Jesus. James was the first apostle martyred for his testimony of Jesus. When Jesus died on the cross, the centurion said, "Truly, this Man was the Son of God!" Ever yone's life is an open book which anyone can read. Millions idol- ized the kings of pop and rock. Be- hind the façade of success was heart- break and loneliness. They died alone before they were 50 years old. The cause of death, drug addiction and a victim of their own successes. Judas Iscariot was one of the 12 disciples. He died by his own hand, guilt-ridden over the wickedness he caused. Unlike Queen Elizabeth, King Da- vid, Uzziah, or Elvis, most people's books never make the New York Times bestseller list or fodder for the National Enquirer tabloid. Only a few people know our short- comings. Even when a person of du- bious reputation dies, most people gloss over the rough edges, remem- bering the good they did. 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.; Sun- day Worship 10:30 a.m., nurser y provided for preschool age and under. Youth Groups for grades 4-12 meet at 6 p.m. on Sunday evenings, Sept. through May. De- tails 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-12th 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 (Grow- ing in God) Club for ages 5 to 11 (available while school is in ses- sion), 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 Don Williams, Pastor Points to Ponder By Curtis Bond Two Minutes With the Bible By Pastor Cornelius R. Stam Reflections From the Page By Cleoramae G. Stunkel Three brutal murders Ever y student of the Word should know the three brutal murders around which all histor y revolves. These three murders represent Is- rael's response to God's three-fold call to repentance. They explain the unpardonable sin and form the back- ground for the present dispensation of grace. It was John the Baptist, the last of the Old Testament prophets, who was sent as the forerunner of Christ to call Israel to repentance. He was beheaded by Herod, the wicked and licentious "king of the Jews". After John, Christ Himself took up the cr y: "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heav- en is at hand". Him they crucified. Then, at Pentecost, Israel was given a third opportunity to repent, until they shed blood again, stoning Ste- phen to death. It should be noticed, too, that their guilt, as well as their bitter enmity, increased with the second and third murders! Had Israel, responded to John's call to repentance Herod would never have dared to even put John in jail. This explains why our Lord did nothing to release him from prison, even though this had offend- ed John. It was not His, but theirs to do something about John's unjust imprisonment and ever y moment he spent in prison testified against them. Read carefully Luke 3:18-20; 7:19-29; and Matthew 14:1-11. As to the beheading of John the Baptist, they permitted it. As to the cruci- fixion of Christ, they demanded it (Luke23:23,24). As to the stoning of Stephen, they committedit, casting him out of the city with their own hands and stoning him there. And so that generation in Israel committed the unpardonable sin Insight By Dave Ingler House Cleaning Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. (Acts 15:18) From the creation of the world until now, no situation in recorded or unrecorded histor y has escaped God's attention. No action has hap- pened apart from His presence or di- vine knowledge nor has the outcome of any event ever surprised Him, for He knows all things and sees the fu- ture as clearly as He sees the pres- ent. He knows how we feel, what we think and what motivates the actions we choose. "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Ever ything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." (Hebrews 4:13) All of the deeds of men, good or bad, are known by God and will be judged accordingly. The secret sins, known only by the doer, are clearly seen by God and will ultimately be A-6 Tuesday, September 27, 2022 South Gibson Star-Times See BRUTAL on page 7 See HOUSE on page 7 See POINTS on page 7 See CHURCH on page 7