Jackson Chapel Church

Bro. Gary Fant got the morning worship service started off with “Just A Little Talk With Jesus” and “There Is Power In The Blood.” Luke Wilson and Julie Solis blessed us by singing “Jesus Loves Me,” and Bro. Dennis blessed us with a beautiful song, “Sail On Old Ship of Zion.”

Bro. Dennis’ text came from Mark 9:42-48 with a message titled “Things We Ignore.” We, as Christians, need to learn to fear God, and we also need to learn to live by his commandments in the Word of God. God wants us to live by the word of God and follow him even when things get tough. We need to follow God and do the work that God has called us to do.

We need to follow in the ways of God because, if we’re not careful, Satan will lead us down a road of destruction. We’ve got to stop ignoring what the Bible says and commit ourselves to Jesus Christ because we will stand before him one day, and we will be held accountable for every idle word that comes out of our mouth, so we need to live every day like it is our last one. The service ended with several coming to pray.

Bro. Gary Fant got our evening service started off with “Oh, the Glory Did Roll,” “I Am Blessed” and “The Glory Land Way.” Luke Wilson blessed us with “This Is the Day,” and Bro. Dennis Smith blessed us with “Glory Road.” Bro. Dennis’ text came from 1 John 2:1-6. We, as Christians, need to realize that if we sin we have an advocate with the father. All we have to do is ask for forgiveness, and he will forgive us of our sins. We also need to keep his commandments, because if God thought it important to put these commandments in the Bible, then we need to think it important enough to follow them. The service ended with several coming to pray.

Happy birthday to Janice Cobb. Please remember these as you pray this week: Kathy Waites, the Rhodes family, James and Marie Johnson, Janet Castleberry, Glenda Hill, Lilianna Thompson, Glen Riley, Pearline Davenport, Dearl Hilyer, Faye Baker, Betty Maddox, Sue Martin, our service men and women and our lost loved ones. We are located at 4020 Yellow Leaf Road, Clanton. Sunday School at 10 a.m., Sunday worship at 11 a.m., Sunday evening worship at 6 p.m. and Wednesday Bible study at 7 p.m.

Bethany Baptist Church

On Sunday morning, Bro. Steve preached a sermon “I Sat Where They Sat,” taken from Ezekiel 3. Ezekiel was a prophet to the exiles, telling forth the messages God had for them. God told Ezekiel to hear the words he had for him and to make it a part of him. God assured Ezekiel that the words he was to speak to the house of Israel would not be accepted. God told him that the people would not listen to him, but to not be disappointed or discouraged because they would not be rejecting him (Ezekiel) but God himself. God told him not to compromise, but to be strong.

Then God took Ezekiel to a place where he learned compassion. (He empathized with the people. In verse 15, “He sat where they sat.”) The apostle Paul said that he had learned to “become all things to all men” so that he might be able to lead some to be saved (1 Corinthians 9:22.) We are not to compromise our values and doctrines, but we should cultivate Christian sympathy and empathy for others who are hurting and need the Lord.

Prayer list: Betty Biggs, James Bixler, Doris and Verdie Glenn, Hubert Griffin, Mildred Griffin, Ernestine Hatch, Ethel Kelly, Billie Neeley and Skipper Wallace.

See you Sunday!

Christ Independent Methodist Church

The yards and trees I observed on my way to church this morning appear to be putting on the last riot of color before the coming frost. Chief among them is the goldenrod. This plant, native to American soil, was carried to England and given its name by the king because it reminded him of a royal scepter. Today, it grows unbridled in English flower gardens as a domestic plant.

Our worship service began with three of my favorite hymns: “Stand Up, Stand Up For Jesus,” “No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus” and “Rock of Ages.”

I did not hear Dr. Stinson announce his sermon title, but if I may proceed with unwarranted boldness and name one, I would say “Can’t We All Get Along?” would be appropriate. His scripture was taken from the Gospel of Mark 9:38-50. He began by saying that, in his opinion, “We are at a crucial point in our nation.” I would add that anyone who disagrees with his assessment is out of touch with obvious reality. We live in what we revere as a Christian nation based on principles set forth in the Holy Bible. It teaches that God is love and tells us to pray for those who persecute and disrespectfully use us. Otherwise, what separates us from our non-Christian brothers and sisters?

In Dr. Stinson’s scripture for today, Jesus condemns sectarianism. In Mark 9:40-42, Jesus says, “For he that is not against us is on our part. For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward. And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.”

Jesus had a way of speaking very explicit words when he chose to make himself understood. When he chose to be a bit mysterious, he would use a short allegorical story designed to convey some truth or moral lesson. If you believe that sectarianism is not alive and well in the U.S., consider that there are 33,000 Christian denominations in our country today.

Sunday, Oct. 24, will be our One Dish Dinner. Continue to pray for our nation and the upcoming election, which is only one month away. Continue to pray for Dr. Mac Stinson, Carl Glass, Shea Simms in Kuwait, Robbie Houston in the Middle East, Cathy Lufta. Ask God to bless each one with a touch of his hand for the names I do not know. Ask that he bless our country, our leaders, our community, our church, little Israel and Christians worldwide. Pray for each other.

I want to share this note from the church bulletin: “No one is more secure than those who are in God’s hands.” There will be no Wednesday night services during the month of October. Have a blessed week.