The South Gibson Star-Times serves the towns of Haubstadt, Owensville and Fort Branch.
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South Gibson Star-Times A-8 Tuesday, October 11, 2022 CHURCH Have you ever considered care- fully the opening words of the Bible? "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." Why doesn't it simply say that God created the Universe? Why the heaven and the earth? As we go on reading we find the answer to this question, for the Bible clearly teaches that God has a two-fold purpose; one having to do with the earth and the other with heaven. The former is the subject of prophecy, while the latter is the subject of the "mystery", or secret, revealed to and through St. Paul. (See Acts 3:21; and cf. Romans 16:25). The former concerns Israel and the nations; the latter "the Body of Christ", the Church of the heav- enly calling. Some people are surprised to learn that there is not one promise in the whole Old Testament about going to heaven. There the whole outlook is earthly, with Messiah reigning as King ( Jer.23:5; et al). When our Lord appeared in the flesh the angels cried: "Peace on earth" (Luke 2:14). He Himself said that "the meek" shall "inherit the earth" (Matt.5:5). He taught His disciples to pray: "Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven" (Matt.6:10). Even at Pentecost Peter declared that after "the restitution of all things" God would send Jesus back to earth and the times of refreshing would "come from the presence of the Lord" (Acts 3:19 -21). Not until the raising up of Paul do we learn that now all believers in Christ are "baptized into one body" (ICor.12:13), and Colossians 1:5 and many other Pauline passages, speak of "the hope which is laid up for you IN HEAVEN". Indeed, before God, believers are already given a posi- tion "in heavenly places" and are blessed with all spiritual blessings IN [THE] HEAVENLIES in Christ (Eph.1:3; 2:4-7). The prophecies regarding the Kingdom, however, will still be fulfilled and Christ will reign on earth and bring the promised "times of refreshing". Thank God, this world will not forever be a place of war and bloodshed, sickness and death, misery and woe. Indeed, at that time, heaven and earth will be opened to each other, and thus will be fulfilled God's two-fold purpose: "That in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ…" (Eph.1:10). Appreciating bad pastors This is clergy appreciation month. Denominations, sects, and the Cath- olic church are feeling the effects of a shortage of clergy. Across the board, young people are not entering the ministry in sufficient numbers to replace clergy. Churches are feeling the pinch. Many churches must share a pastor. I've had three churches under my charge. There are some clergy who have four. Retired pastors serve some churches. Some churches have supply pastors. A supply pastor is usually someone who wants to help lead a church but does not feel called to pastoral ministry. If you are blessed with a good pastor, pray for them. Pray for their physical, spiritual, and emotional well being. There is a possibility that when they move on, there may not be someone to fill their shoes. But what about bad pastors? Yes, there are bad clergy. Jesus said there are wolves in sheep's cloth- ing hiding among the flock. Paul warned the church at Ephesus that wolves were among the flock, ready to devour the flock; and men were ready to draw away a following for themselves. John, in his Third Epis- tle, wrote of a bad clergy who loved to have preeminence and threw people out of the church. I bet you could add a few names to this list. Most congregants realize their pastors have feet of clay. They have faults and difficulties. They will grant them some latitude. However, they expect them to walk the talk, living by example, and walk by faith while dispensing grace. There is no such thing as an infallible minister save Jesus. What makes a bad pastor? Jesus said you will know a tree by the fruit it bears. This standard applies to clergy. When John the Baptist asked Jesus if he was "the one" or do we look for someone else, Jesus didn't say "trust me, I'm from God." Instead, he pointed to Isaiah 61. He pointed to the scripture as the lens we look through to judge the tree and its fruit. When the Corinthi- ans challenged Paul, he didn't go on a tirade and yell, "Do not touch My anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm," or "who do you think you are challenging me? " He pointed to the fruit of his ministry. One answer is you cannot know what is good until you know what is bad? When I was learning to play the guitar, a music instructor told me to learn on a good one. He said if you learn on an excellent instrument, you will immediately recognize an infe- rior one. Makes good sense to me. If we harken unto the words in the scriptures, we will not err or be misled. Jesus said IF you continue in my word… you will know the truth and the truth will make you free. A bad minister is not someone whose sermons can put you to sleep. By his own account, Paul was a poor speaker. But his ministry showed God was with him. There are two important aspects 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 (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 provided for preschool age and under. Youth Groups for grades 4-12 meet at 6 p.m. on Sunday evenings, Sept. through May. Details at 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 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-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 service; 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. reflections From the Page By Cleoramae G. Stunkel See CHURCH on page 9 South Gibson church Services The opening lines of the New Testa- ment Letter to the Hebrews tells us, "In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son .... " To this writer, the "last days" would be the time of Jesus' earthly sojourn. In earlier times, God had spoken in many and various ways, but Jesus was the ultimate revelation. The fact that the Christ had come to earth in what was to this writer "these last days" does not mean, however, that the promise of his presence had not been there all along. The writers of the old Evangelical Catechism understood this, and so they asked, in Question #30, "How did God prepare mankind for the coming of the Saviour? " In answer, they stated, "God prepared mankind for the coming of the Saviour by the promises given in Paradise and to the patriarchs of Israel, by the Law delivered to Moses, by forms of worship in the Old Cove- nant, and by the preaching of the prophets." So let's unpack that a bit. What promises came to the Patri- archs? When Abraham had been called to leave Haran and journey to the land that the Lord would show him, but before he had even set out,· he was promised property, progeny numer- ous as the stars of the heavens, and that he would be the one by whom all the families of the earth would bless themselves. It would be from the family of Abraham that the Messiah would come forth. It was many generations later, when Abraham's descendants, newly-freed from slavery in Egypt, were on their way to the land of the Promise by way of Moab, that the Lord employed a pagan seer, one Balaam, to pronounce the oracle, "I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not nigh: a star shall come forth out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel." "Not nigh" by a long chalk, but in time, a star would travel to Bethlehem, and a King, but not one bearing any earthly scepter, would arise out of Israel. But what has the Law to do with this person? He was the one who would perfectly fulfill it, thereby becoming the perfect Sacrifice able to atone for the sin of the world. For make no mistake, the "forms of worship in the Old Covenant," while sometimes involving the sacrifice of grain and oil, quite often required the bringing to the altar to be slain animals such as bulls and oxen, goats and lambs, turtledoves and pigeons — all of them to be, it was noted, with- out blemish. So that when John the Baptist saw Jesus coming towards him and exclaimed, "Behold, the lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! " he was recognizing the connection to the sin committed by disobeying God's Law and the neces- sity of sacrifice to atone for having done so. It is especially through the great prophets of the seventh century B.C. that we are given promises of the Messiah's coming, such as the one brought by Isaiah that a virgin should conceive and bear the Son Imman- uel, or Jeremiah's message that "The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time, I will cause a righteous Branch to spring forth for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land," or Micah's localization of the Messi- ah's arrival in Bethlehem. But long before those prophets, long before Moses, long before Abra- ham, there was a promise given in Paradise. Why was this necessary? Because, our First Parents, by their disobedience, had disrupted the harmony that God had intended should exist between Himself and his children. Hardly, however, had they sinned, that God stepped in to heal the breach. Its full working-out might be rather a long time coming, but a plan had been put into place. God's word to the tempting, mislead- ing Serpent was, "I will put enmity between you and the woman,and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." And in the fullness of time, that Stamper of the serpent's head, that Lamb of God without blemish, would take on human flesh and come to dwell among us, full of grace and truth. In the Christ's exemplary life,. sacri- ficial death,. and justifying Resurrec- tion, we have been gifted with the ulti- mate revelation of who God is,. what he does, and what is his will for us. Insight By Dave Ingler A message of faith and hope "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28) What a chaotic and uncer- tain world we live in. In one cata- strophic day, the residents of our Western Florida Coast found them- selves homeless, unemployed, torn from the roots of their upbringing and facing a future that is unknown. And because of the total devasta- tion and sheer number of individu- als that were affected, millions are now aware of their plight. As we reach out to those in Flor- ida, we as Christians must remain aware that many people in our local communities are hurting and view their lives as tumultuous as the survivors of Hurricane Ian. This statement should not be inter- preted to belittle the disaster which has brought thousands of people to the most difficult circumstances one can face. It is simply a reminder that on any given day and in any given community, countless individuals also find themselves in situations where their future is unknown and any promise of a secure and happy Points to Ponder By Curtis Bond See POINTS on page 9 See INSIGHT on page 9 Two Minutes With the bible By Pastor Cornelius R. Stam God's eternal purpose