The South Gibson Star-Times serves the towns of Haubstadt, Owensville and Fort Branch.
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1480912
South Gibson Star-Times A-8 Tuesday, October 5, 2022 CHURCH Have you ever heard some preacher say: "There are many things in the Bible which are hard to understand but, thank God, the plan of salvation is as simple as can be." Well the plan of salvation is sim- ple IF we obey II Timothy 2:15, "rightly dividing the Word of truth." Otherwise it is far from simple. The Apostle Paul wrote: "We con- clude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law" (Rom. 3:28). Yet James wrote: "By works a man is justified, and not by faith only" ( James 2:24). Again, at Sinai God said to Isra- el through Moses: "If ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My cov- enant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people …" (Ex. 19:5). But our Lord said, as He sent His apostles to witness for Him that, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved… and these signs shall follow them that believe: in My name shall they cast out demons, they shall speak with new tongues…" etc. (Mark 16:16 - 18). Thus, according to their "great commission" water baptism was re- quired for salvation and miraculous signs were the evidences of salva- tion. Confusing? Contradictory? Not if we "rightly divide the Word of truth." It was after "the law was given by Moses," after our Lord's earthly ministry, after the commis- sion to the twelve, that God raised up another apostle, Paul, and sent him forth with "the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20 :24). It was Paul who was sent to de- clare: "But NOW, the righteousness of God without the law is manifest- ed…" (Rom. 3:21). "To him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness" (Rom. 4:5). "Therefore, being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. 5:1). Do you appreciate your pastor? From its blastoff on the day of Pentecost, the church has been un- der attack. Shortly after its fiery be- ginning, its leaders were called into question by the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin members were upset because the apostles were preaching in the "name of Jesus." Peter had the boldness to stand up to the same people who killed Jesus and laid the blame for his death on their feet. He also declared there was "no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." The battle against Jesus and his ministers has remained unabated. The pressure against clergy is at an all-time high. According to a re- cent study, a staggering 42 % of pas- tors have considered quitting full- time ministry. Research suggests somewhere between 250 -1500 pas- tors leave the ministry every month. There are many reasons cited, such as burnout, salary, family, and health. Clergy-killing toxic congre- gations causes a good number of resignations. The sad reality is denominational officials and church leaders often shroud this fact in secrecy. The new unsuspecting pastor enters the li- on's den, oblivious to the terror that awaits them. Clergy killer congregations are churches where a small group of members are so disruptive that no pastor can effectively lead for long. Usually led by one person, a clergy killer targets a spiritual leader who interferes with his agenda for con- trolling a congregation. Often a clergy killer recruits eas- ily pliable congregants to do their dirty work. They convince their minions they are looking out for "our" church. Sometimes the pastor doesn't know who this person is be- cause they operate in the shadows. I have come face to face with evil people like this and had two church- es that meet this definition. They are not misguided—they are evil. Whoever said, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing," was wise as Solomon. When a congregation knows it has toxic leaders and stands idly by while a pastor is vilified and slan- dered is beyond my comprehension. I put the blame for toxicity square- ly on the congregation. They allow this small group of people to run roughshod over the church. I know some pastors who have pastored four or more of these toxic church- es. One pastor I know was the 11th pastor in 20 years. It had seen 10 pastors come and go before him. An isolated example? No. Do you think they appreciated their minis- ters? This is clergy appreciation month. Pastors are a gift from God and sent by God. The Hebrews writer says, "Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those BUCKSKIN ST. JOHN'S CHURCH OF BUCKSKIN 8260 E. 900 S., Buckskin Sunday school 9 a.m.; Worship service 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 service 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., 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. 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. Vertical Kids children's ministry available during both services for children from birth to fifth grade. Ignite Min- istry is 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays 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 (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 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. 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 service 10 a.m. LYNNVILLE BARNET T CHAPEL Stanley Road, Lynnville Don Williams, Pastor Sunday school 9 a.m.; worship service 10 a.m.; Sunday evening worship 6 p.m.; Wednesday night prayer service 7 p.m. Reflections From the Page By Cleoramae G. Stunkel See CHURCH on page 9 South Gibson Church Services Some folks just don't get it, that they have been defeated, and are no longer in charge. Take, as one example, the parable told by Jesus which involved a rich man at whose gate had lain the beg- gar Lazarus, full of sores and hun- gry. A fter the deaths of both men, their relative positions were quite reversed: the poor man was taken up to lie in Abraham's bosom, while the rich man ended ·up in Hades, from where he still attempted to car- ry on as if he were the one holding the upper hand, asking Abraham to send Lazarus on an errand on his behalf — to dip the end of his finger in water and cool his tongue. But no — that wasn't going to hap- pen. There had been some changes made. Believers understand that the world is ruled by a just God, who, in his mercy, may grant evildoers a long leash, in the hope that they will repent and reform, but who will, in time, ring down the curtain. There will come a reversal. Things will be evened out. An early expression of this under- standing is to be found in the words that Hannah, mother of Samuel, spo- ken when, after years of barrenness, she brought the son with whom she had been blessed to serve, with Eli, at the shrine at Shiloh. At that time, she said, "My mouth derides my enemies." Then, she advised those enemies to, "Talk no more so very proudly, let not arro- gance come from your mouth." For, while "the bows of the mighty are broken, the feeble gird on strength. Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger." By these, and through so many other examples, Hannah describes ways in which the Lord "brings low, and also exalts." Saul had been king in Israel, but when he and his sons lay dead on Mount Gilboa, after having engaged in battle with the Philistines, David, hearing of those deaths, lamented, "How are the mighty fallen! " Even gentle Mary, mother of Je- sus, understood how the pattern unfolded. When, after the angel Gabriel had visited her with the announce- ment that she was to be the mother of Jesus, and also shared the news of Elizabeth's pregnancy; after she had hastened into the hill country of Judah to visit her; after Elizabeth had recognized the significance of Mary's pregnancy; Mary spoke of how God, "has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, ...put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree; ...filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away." In time, things will be set right. Even pagans, although unblessed with the revelation of Scripture, but simply out of their experience of the structure of reality, managed to get it, and so we have the legend of Icarus. Icarus was the son of the great ar- tificer Daedalus, who, so that they might escape from the island ruled by King Minos, fashioned for them wings which would enable them to by-pass the king's guards at the sea ports. As they were about to take flight, Daedalus cautioned his son not to fly too high, for if he did, the heat of the sun would melt the wax that held together the feathers of his wings. But the young man did fly too high, too close to the sun, and the wax did melt, so that the young man tumbled into the sea below, where he drowned. Overall, the evidence is plain: if we wish to avoid taking that mighty tumble, like Saul on Mount Gilboa, like Icarus into the sea, like Hump- ty-Dumpty lying scattered in shards at the foot of the wall, best not to at- tempt to fly too high. Jesus told another parable, this one, concerning the sort of guest who, when they arrived at a mar- riage feast, would march right up to the VIP section of the table, and plunk themselves down there. Not a good move, said Jesus. There may come a guest more im- portant than you are, so that the host will turf you out of that seat in his favor. If you want to be impres- sive, go and sit in the lowest place, so that people can observe the host inviting you to move up. Whatever the unjust circum- Insight By Dave Ingler Serving Jesus "And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me." Matthew 25:40 I want to share the time I ran into my old friend Keith. To call it a chance happening would be an understatement. We grew up to- gether and were best friends. But somehow the years passed, and like many friendships, we lost contact of one another. I caught a glimpse of him as he waited at the counter but I was not sure it was actually him. It wasn't until both of us were staring eye to eye that the confirmation of who we were was made. I don't think either of us could explain how years could pass without seeing each other. But they did. For hours we sat at a table laugh- ing and rebuilding the bridge that somehow got removed between us. From grade school to high school we relived the memories and sit- uations we got ourselves into. We even shook hands and apologized for the fist-fight we had over the same girlfriend. And then we talked about the church—the one we grew up in. It Points to Ponder By Curtis Bond See POINTS on page 9 See INSIGHT on page 9 See REFLECTIONS on page 9 Two Minutes With the Bible By Pastor Cornelius R. Stam Simple as can be