By Emily Agee

“And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded and yet there is room. And the Lord said unto the servant, go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, that none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper. And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned and said unto them, If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him. Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what ring, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first and consulteth whether to be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill: but men cast it out, he that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” Luke 14:14–35.

Announcements

Holly Grove Baptist Church in Jemison will celebrate Family and Friends Day on Sunday, Sept. 29 at 1 p.m. The guest speaker will be the Rev. George Brown of Greenleaf Baptist Church in Marion. Frances Allison will be emcee, and the Rev. Kenneth Dukes is pastor. Everyone is invited.

Worship service at Holly Grove Baptist Church in Jemison began with praise service by the senior choir.

Songs sung were “Let It Be Real,” “God Is Able” and “There’s a Leak in This Old Building.”

The scripture was read by Charles Arrington with prayer by Pastor Dukes, Minister S.T. Brown and Robert Callen.

Pastor Dukes brought the message with his theme, “Make beginnings special; how you start sets the tone for everything else.”

Determine to be successful. You earn success, then you celebrate your accomplishments.

You celebrate the process to be successful. Go and show you know where your help comes from. Go and touch and know what you need to do. Know who you need to go to. Know where your help comes from.

It took the woman 12 years to know what she needed to do. What decision do you make? Success is not simple; it’s organized. Find a need and meet it.

You can’t buy it. Success means helping and encouraging others. Life is better when you share it. Know where your help comes from.

Go out in order to get what you need. She needed to calm her fear and get to Jesus. Don’t be afraid of failure. You can’t get to Jesus by sitting in the living room—get courage and go.

Be determined and press your way through. Do you go to church and don’t come to Jesus?

You must come to Jesus. The woman with the issue did. Keep pressing; people will look at your past and discourage you, but keep pressing. The secret to success is Jesus Christ. Benediction by Pastor Dukes.

On our sick list this week, we ask you to remember in your prayers: James Singleterry, Lee Anna Worthy, Martha Binion, Robertha Lee, Von Harris, Janice Floyd, Harold Frazier, Sam and Vivian Hicks, Ella Faye Nunn and Dorothy Sims. May God heal, strengthen and keep them in his care is our prayer.

Thought for the week: ‘God’s love is like a haven in the storms of life’

“God’s love is like an island in life’s ocean vast and wide – a peaceful, quiet shelter from the restless, rising tide. God’s love is life, a fortress, and we seek protection there when the waves of tribulation seem to drown us in despair. God’s love is life a sanctuary where our souls can find sweet rest from the struggle and the tension of life’s fast and futile guest. God’s love is like a tower rising far above the crowd, and God’s smile is like the sunshine breaking through the threatening cloud. God’s love is like a beacon burning bright with faith and prayer, and through all the changing scenes of life we can find a haven there. For God’s love is fashioned after something enduring and it is endless and unfailing like his character above.”

—Emily Agee is a religion columnist for The Clanton Advertiser. Her column appears each Thursday.