Samaria Baptist Church

By the time this column reaches your home, our pastor, Bro. Charles will have had surgery on his back. Please pray for his recovery and healing, and Ms. Patty also, as she attends to him faithfully.

Our anniversary couple is Jeannie and Bobby Mims. We wish Happy Birthday to Pauline Harris.

In our Sunday service, Jeannie Mims sang “I’ll Trust the Potter’s Hands.” Bro. Charles’ text came from Hebrews 2:1-4. The emphasis was “Things We Have Heard.”

We cannot trust in mankind for salvation because man is not capable of saving us. A man has no capability to change a person’s life, but a devoted servant of God can be used as a vessel to accomplish much in the Kingdom of God. People who are outside of God’s will are in an arid land. It is a dry and worrisome place to be. Doubts and fears overcome an individual who doesn’t stay within the framework of God’s plan for our lives.

The Holy Spirit draws us in and we can respond to the drawing of God’s power that is extended to us. He makes that happen; we have no chance if it is up to us to save ourselves.  He is our hope, and the only answer to the perplexing dilemmas that life sends our way.

When a soul goes to hell, there is no returning. This is not a question that can be answered. John 3:16 is not just a verse; it is the entire plan in one single verse. God loved us even when we are so unlovable. God invites us to become his child, not just his creation. The Bible is the word of God. Through this book, we are given direction for all of life’s questions. If the Bible were only a collection of stories, it would not have stood the test of 2,000 years time. Read your Bible, and pray for understanding.

May God bless your life today and every day.

Our speaker for Sunday, June 9, will be Bro. Larry Felkins.

Our prayer list today includes, Gale Cleckler, Linda Silas and family, Bruce Moore, Ronnie Lockhart and family, Oklahoma storm victims and families, and Anna Marie, the baby in Warrior in need of serious surgery.

Mars Hill Baptist Church

It is my firm belief that if you go looking for something, you will usually find it. So get up, and go to church looking for a blessing from God every Sunday, Sunday night and Wednesday. Count your blessings daily. There is always something to be thankful for, so give God the glory, honor and praise he deserves. You, our families, our church families and I will all benefit from this way of living. We were thankful this Sunday to have Bro. Larry Felkins to fill in for our pastor. We appreciate you and love you, and wish you and your family the best God has to offer you.

Bro. Felkins took the message from John 14:1-6: Don’t let your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in me. In this passage, Jesus is preparing his disciples for his coming death, burial and resurrection. He is talking to them about heaven and how to get there. There are three things we need to know about heaven. Heaven is real. Jesus said that in his Father’s house are many mansions (dwelling places); if it were not so, he would have told us. He went to prepare a place for us, and he is coming back to receive us to himself, that where he is, we will be there too. We can know where he goes and the way to get there. Heaven is a real place, with real mansions for the children of the living God. We may never be able to scientifically prove that heaven exists, but Jesus said it, and that settles it.

So where is heaven? Don’t worry; we don’t need a GPS to get there. Jesus is coming back to take us with him. In verse 6, Jesus is telling Thomas, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Praise God, he not only prepared a place for us, but he is coming back to take us there! No doubt about it, Thomas, heaven is real.

Next, we learn that heaven is ready. Yes, it’s ready for us, the children of God, the ones who are looking for his return just any day now. Jesus is called by many names in the Bible: the Prince of Peace, Lamb of God, Immanuel and Son of God. In Hebrews 6:20, there is another name that we don’t always associate with Jesus: that of “forerunner;” yet it is probably the most accurately descriptive title for Jesus in the Bible. Just as the army sends a scout to search out the land before entering, so Jesus came to earth to show us the best way to heaven. Heaven is ready for us, friend. Jesus tells us that he went away to prepare a place for us. That place is heaven, and it’s a real and ready place.

Then we learn that heaven is a restrictive place; not everyone can, or will, go there. You can’t get to heaven by being good, with good works, being the richest person in the land or being the best-looking person in the world. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” There is no other way to heaven except through the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Some say Jesus is the best way; some may say there are “other ways” to heaven, but Jesus says he is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. In this life, we can disagree on many things, but friend, on one thing we cannot disagree: Jesus is the only way to heaven; it’s Jesus, or nothing.

But there is good news: You can go to heaven through Jesus Christ. You can make a reservation today; there are still tickets available. Heaven is not “full up.” A dwelling place will be there for you. You won’t have to worry about finding somewhere to live there; your mansion is already built and waiting for your arrival. Give your heart and life to him today. Amen.

Please make your plans to attend VBS with us June 9-14 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. each night.

Please pray for our church, the lost, the sick, the hurting, our country, our troops, our children and our government. God is great, all the time!