By Emily Agee

“God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.  How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the person of the wicked?  Defend the poor and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and needy.  Deliver the poor and needy; rid them out of the hand of the wicked.  They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness:  all the foundations of the earth are out of course.  I have said, ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.  But ye shall die like me, and fall like one of the princes.  Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations” (Psalms 82:1-8).

Thought for the week: “Am I My Brother’s Keeper?”

“‘Am I my brother’s keeper?’ a man often replies, should I be concerned whether he laughs or cries? Am I my brother’s keeper, when he is all alone and lost?  Should I reach out to help him, no matter what the cost?  Or am I like so many, whose problems are all solved? And say like all the others, ‘I don’t want to get involved.’ We travel down life’s highway, the rich man and the poor, the famous and the rejected, will all meet at judgment’s door.  So listen to me, loved ones, and hear my earnest plea — if we are not our brother’s keeper, then who will our keeper be?”

New Life District Fellowship will have their annual meeting Sunday, Jan. 30 at Shiloh Baptist Church in Jemison at 3 p.m.  The Rev. Ivan Williams is pastor and the Rev. Billie Cabbill is moderator.  Everyone is invited.

Worship service at Holly Grove Baptist Church in Jemison began with praise service of songs, scripture and prayer.  The scripture was read by Perry Nunn with prayer by Pastor Dukes and Steven Nunn.  Songs sung included, “Things Have Got To Get Better,” “I Am Free,” “A New Day” and “Lord, Don’t Do It Without Me.”

The morning message was given by Pastor Dukes with his theme, “Don’t Let Bad Situations Hinder Your Service.”  People can make it hard for you with wrong attitudes, but don’t stop; God wants your service. Jonah was angry at the people of Nineveh; he did not want them saved and would not obey God.

Don’t try to get revenge; instead, pray for your enemies. Do you have a Jonah spirit?  Was Jonah saved? Yes, he was because he eventually went to Nineveh.  He had a problem but he knew God heard his prayer in the fish belly.  God caused the fish to release him, then he obeyed him.

Don’t allow personal views to cloud your vision.  Jonah had to be reminded God was in control.  What did anyone do to you to make you not want to serve God?  To sit down on him and make you not serve? Nineveh deserved an opportunity to change because the Lord came to save those which were lost. Everybody deserves an opportunity to be saved and to hear the name Jesus.  Don’t make folks feel useless; everybody is somebody.  Nothing should stop you from serving God.  Don’t allow your emotions to guide your attitude; share Christ with others.  Work while it’s day, for at night no man can work.  Remarks were given by Pastor Dukes.

On our sick list this week we ask you to remember in your prayers: Jerry Wilson, Lee Anna Worthey, Joseph McCall, Flora Franklin, Sam and Vivian Hicks, Robert Spence, Joe Frank Allison and Milton Bryant.  May God heal, strengthen and keep them in His care is our prayer.