Christ Independent Methodist Church

On this sunny but cold Sabbath Day, it was great to go to a warm church and meet with fellow church members and visitors.

Our reward was a wonderful message from our pastor, Dr. Mac Stinson. His sermon title was “Baptism of the Lord.” His scripture was taken from Mark 1:7-11.

As I listened to him preach, my mind went back a few years to when I visited Israel and the area where the baptism of Jesus is supposed to have occurred. Busloads of people visit that area today and are baptized in that part of the Jordan River. I just observed what great numbers of people were doing but did not participate in a second baptism.

Jesus was a man whose baptism marked the beginning of a ministry that changed the world for all time. Remember that John was Jesus’ cousin. Mary stayed with John’s mother and father for a while before both boys were born. The two boys probably had contact over the years. Maybe they played together as children. Maybe they hung out together as teenagers. Whatever their relationship, it is evident that John held his younger cousin in awe. It would only be later when John was facing death that he would ask Jesus if he was the Messiah, but John knew that Jesus was closer to God than he was. “I need to be baptized by you,” he said to Jesus.

Have you ever wished that you could start over? Sometimes you hear people say, “I wish I could live my life over and know what I know now.” How about you? Have you ever quoted those words about your own life? That is probably good (that we can’t live our lives over) because we might make worse choices the second time around. Our fear of a new life may be that we will fall. That fear of failure has caused many people not to even try. We are often hesitant to commit ourselves a second time.

Remember to pray for Annelle Smith, Katrina Brown, and Anna Adams as she returns to college in Kentucky.

On Sunday, Jan. 19, we will hold our “One Dish Dinner.” We welcome our visitors and invite you to join us any time.

Have a blessed week.

Mount Carmel No. 1

Our service began with a welcome and fellowship time following our Sunday morning prayer time. We thank God for answered prayer on behalf of some of our members.

It was good to have Donald Liveoak back to worship with us this Sunday.

Bro. Derrell’s message was taken from Romans 2:17-29. His title was “When to Lose Your Religion.”

Paul’s teaching to the Roman Church was that God declares people righteous based simply on their belief in Jesus, but they changed the truth of God into a lie. They worshipped the creature more than the Creator. God does not ask you to change your ways. He wants you to be obedient to him, to be happy to serve and to worship the Lord. Obedience will take care of itself if your heart belongs to the Lord. When your testimony has lost its power, it has become a religion, not a relationship. If you seek personal praise and favors, your testimony is a religion, not a God relationship. Don’t seek praise from man, but seek God and he will reward you for your works. Attend church and listen to how your life can be transformed into Christ-likeness. You may be the only Bible some people read.

On Sunday evening, Bro. Nolin Maudlin brought our message from Matthew 24:34-39. Sings of the end: Heaven and earth shall pass away. As the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.

Have you been to Calvary? Are you ready to meet Jesus? We need to humble ourselves at the foot of the cross. Wear a smile because Jesus loves you. Do you love Jesus?

The service ended with an altar circle of our people praying for each other, the sick and other prayer requests. Remember to join us in daily prayer. Pray for us and we will be praying for you.

We extend our sympathy to the family of J. R. Lowery. Our hearts are deeply saddened by his death and our prayers are with his family.

On Wednesday night, our congregation will join the youth of our church in going to Hatley Nursing Home for service. Come and join us. We will leave the church at 6 p.m.

The baby shower for Abby and Geoffrey Lockhart’s baby boy will be Saturday, Jan. 18 at 2 p.m. in the fellowship hall.

We are thankful for our joys and our concerns as we welcome our visitor Natalie Littleton on Sunday morning. Natalie will talk about the mission trip she is taking in June, along with the Alabama College of Nursing, to Tanzania, Africa. Remember to pray for her in this adventure of her life.

Have a blessed week. God is so good. Come worship with us on Sunday and get connected with us. Tell somebody about Jesus this week.