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From A Pastor’s Heart Page 6A - The Lee County Ledger, Thursday, November 22,2001 What the Bible Teaches By Frank Taylor Looking back on a life of empty materialism, Solomon probably longed for the true treasure of friendship. In his pensive journal, Ecclesiastes, he gives us three reasons why “two are better than one.” 1. A Friend Gives Encourage ment When we’re Weak: “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.”(Eccles. 4:9-10) We need to steady ourselves on the strong arm of a friend when we stumble. When we're ready to throw in the towel on Christianity because the “abundant life” seems scarce. When the impersonal pink slip appears in our “in” box after thirty years of dedicated service. When we strain to see a light in the dark, dank dungeon of depression. When we fall, we need a friend. A true friend is there to help us up, not put us down. There’s no greater blessing than a friend’s encouragement to us when we’re weak. But “woe” to those who don’t have such a friend (Eccles. 4:10). How frightening, how perilous, how lonely to reach out when we’ve fallen and find no one there. Who catches you when you fall? Who knows you well enough to sense when you’re slipping and loves you enough to pull you up? Such relation ships usually don’t crop up overnight. They’re cultivated over time. But cultivating deep friendships can be tough plowing, especially for men. Why? “Real men stand alone. Real men don’t cry. Real men don't share their feelings. So suck it up and move on.” There’s a sophisticated Greek word for that attitude: “Hog- wash!” More men need to open up and admit their frustrations, weaknesses, and fears. That’s how friends are made. And relationships are one of the ways God sustains every- one- including men. 2. A Friend Lends Support When We’re Vulnerable: “Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone?” (Eccles. 4:11) When we feel vulnerable and exposed, God often brings His caring touch through the tenderness of a friend. Maybe the cruel hand of divorce has suddenly yanked the security blanket from your life. Maybe your soul still shivers from the doctor's icy prognosis (“Its cancer.”) And now your life, your dreams, your family... are all a huge question mark. Or what about the news from your teenage daughter that hit like the winter storm (“Mom, Dad, I’m pregnant.”). At times like these, we need the warmth of a friend. Someone who will toss the dry log on the fire and pull his or her soul up close to ours. And wait with us until the night passes. 3. A Friend Provides Protec tion When We're Attacked: “And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him.” (Eccles. 4:12) Lone Ranger Christians make easy targets for Satan’s arrows. Don’t be fooled. We’re never out of Satan’s sights. He’s always ready to pick off unguarded believers (IPet. 5:8). Whether attacked from within or without, we need the protection of faithful friends. When everyone else is poised to throw stones, friends will stand between the judgmental crowd and us. Friends won’t lie to protect us or refuse to confront us when we’re wrong, but they will stand with us when the assaults come. (Rev 21:1-5 KJV) "Andlsawa new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. {2} And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. {3} And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. {4} And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, nei ther sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. {5} And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful." Everyone I know likes to hear comforting words from time to time, and the scriptures quoted above are perhaps some of the best examples in all the Bible. Can you imagine a world without sin, hatred, killing, doubt, despair, crying, and so many other things that bring us sorrow? My mind can scarcely imagine a world like that, but the Bible tells us there is coming a time when the world and all things in it will be ruled fairly and justly by God Himself. It has been only two months since the world stood in shock as thousands of people were mur dered by religious fanatics. Many survivors of those tragic events are still having trouble sleeping and putting their lives in order. The anthrax scare is fuel added to a fire already burning, and now another plane crashed in a com munity already rocked by recent events. Countless people are won dering if good sense will ever rule the day. The truth is, our world is not getting better. Granted, there are seasons of great revival and God is still working in places He is welcome, but hatred and sinful living are still very real. I love our nation and respect our govern ment, but we have come a long rs Ronald E. Parish way from the values our found ing fathers intended this nation to possess. They weren't perfect and neither are we. This whole world needs a savior, and God has pro vided Him - Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God. If you missed our homecoming on November 4, you missed a wonderful time in the Lord. Many people visited us from other churches, and we all had wonder ful fellowship together. It's good to come back home after being away for so long. By the way, if you are looking for a church home, please come by to see us. You would be welcome. We are still looking for a piano player. If you are interested, please get in touch with me. Our desire is to find someone who can play some of the contemporary worship music as well as some of the old hymns of the church. Thank you for your consideration. If you have any questions, sug gestions, or comments, please contact me at (229)888-2588 or send e-mail to eacog@mindspring.com. You are most welcome to visit us at East Albany Church of God, 216 Pine Bluff Road, Albany, Georgia. Drop by to see us on the web at the following address: www. eacog.home.mindspring.com Sincerely RONALD E. PARISH Pastor, East Albany Church of God The “Word” For The Week By Dr. Dennis Prutow Take Time for Thanksgiving Thanksgiving is upon us. For most Americans it’s just another holiday. Kids get off from school. Some businesses give four-day weekends. Many high schools still have their big football game on Thanksgiving Day. College football stadiums are packed. This is also the traditional beginning of the Christmas shop ping season. Children visit their parents. Retired folks visit their grandchildren. Families gather around sumptuous meals of tur key, ham, dressing, gravy, salads and all the trimmings. It’s a fun and festive time. Thanksgiving Day is also an opportunity for much more. Thanksgiving Day is a time to pause from the hustle and bustle of daily life and thank God for the blessings of life, happiness, fam ily, food, work, and shelter. Thanksgiving Day is a day to recognize God as the great Pro vider. He is the One who gives life. He is the One who provides food. He is the One who enables us to work. He is the One who gives us homes and families. He is the One placing us in the midst of freedom and opportunity in a wealthy na tion. He gave us the ingenuity, strength of mind, courage, and fortitude to carve out a life in a sometimes-hostile world. All these things are manifestations of His love. “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting” (Psalm 136:1). For a free audiotape on this sub ject, call 1-800-777-0389; e-mail free_tape@juno.com; or visit www.sterlingpulpit.org From The Bible By Jerry Kingery Cease from anger Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast. How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light. O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart. Fret not thyself because of evil doers. neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abun dance of peace. The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. from Psalms 36 and 37 For a free Scripture packet, please write From the Bible, BIBLE FOUNDATION. PO Box 908, Newberg, Oregon 97132. email: bf@bf.org Attend The House of Worship of Your Choice This Sunday ^ountu Churrh Of Christ Kinchafoonee BaDtist Leesbura Church of God Leesburg First Bapt Lee County Church Of Christ Maurice Johnson, Jr. Minister Bible Study 9:30 AM Worship 10:30 AM Evening Worship 6:00 PM Mid-Week Bible Study 7:30 PM Smithville Baptist Lance Fendley, Pastor Sunday School 10:00 AM Morning Worship.... 11:00 AM Evening Worship 7:00 PM Wed. Prayer Service. 7:00 PM Leesburg Presbyterian Sunday School 10:00 AM Morning Worship.... 11:00 AM Women of the Ch 3:30 PM 3rd Sun & 3rd Wed .. 6:30 PM Union Wors. Service 7:30 PM Every 6 weeks Lords’s Supper 11:00 AM Philema Road Baptist Dan Harris, Pastor Sunday School 9:45 AM Morning Worship.... 11:00 AM Evening Worship 6:00 PM Wed Bible Study 7:00 AM Alpha Baptist Rev. Joe Jenkins Sunday School 10:00 AM Morning Worship.... 11:00 AM Discipleship Training 6:00 PM Evening Worship 7:00 PM Wed. Prayer Service 7:30 PM Antioch Baptist Church Rev. Lem Wright 1st and 3rd Sunday Sunday School 9:00 AM 4th Sunday Worship Service 10:00 AM Zion Hope Baptist Rev. H. L. Holsey Sunday School 10:30 AM Sunday Worship 11:30 AM Phillip Grove Baptist Rev. Solomom Loud Jr. Highway 195 Leesburg Sunday School 10:30 AM 1st Sunday 12:00 PM Mt. Pleasant Baptist Pastor Levi Robinson Sunday School 10:00 AM Worship Service 11:15AM Tuesday Tuturial Service . 5:30-7:00pm Prayer and Bible Study 7-8 pm Kinchafoonee Baptist Rev. Charles (Chuck) Smith Sunday School 9:45 AM Morning Worship.... 11:00 AM Training Union 6:00 PM Evening Worship 7:00 PM Wed. Services 7:30 PM Smithville United Methodist Pastor - Randy Carnley Worship 10:00 AM Sunday School 11:00 AM Palmyra Baptist J. D. Bolden Sunday School 10:00 AM Morning Worship .... 12:00 PM Bible Study (1st Sun) 5:00 PM Eve. Wor. (1st Sun) ..7:00 PM McAfee Grove Missionary Baptist Minister Robert Lewis Morgan First & Third Sundays Sunday School 10:30 AM Morning worship 11:30 AM Second & Fourth Sundays Sunday School 10:00 AM New Hope AME Rev. Alfreda Williams every 1st and third Sunday Sunday School 10:00 AM Sunday Worship 11:00 AM Macadonia Baptist Church Sunday School 10:30 AM Wed. Bible Study 7:00 PM First Sunday Morning Worship.... 11:45 AM Third Sunday Evening Worship 6:00 PM Jordan Grove Baptist Rev. R. O. Calhoun Sunday School 9:45 AM Worship Service 11:00 AM Unity Church of Christianity Rev. Joanna Gabriel Dial-A-Prayer 435-7077 Comer of Ledo & Hugh Roads Morning Worship.... 11:00 AM Leesburg United Methodist Church Leesburg Church Of Christ Sunday School 10:00 AM Morning Worship.... 11:00 PM Evening Worship 6:00 PM Wednesday Evening 7:30 PM St. Stephen’s Episcopal Father Ron Davidson 298 Leslie Hwy 759-1506 Sunday School 10:00 AM Morning Worship.... 11:00 AM Living Hope Fellowship Four Square Gospel Church Highway 19 S. Leesburg 1/2 mile north of 19 Bypass Worship Service 10:00 AM Evening Service 6:00 PM Wednesday Evening 7:00 PM Children Church during both Sunday Services New Piney Grove Baptist Pastor Henry L. Holsey Third Sunday Services Sunday School 11:30 AM Worship 12:30 PM First Sunday Sen/ices Sunday School 11:00 AM Mt. Hope Baptist Church Pastor: Rev. M. W. Willis Services 1st Sunday Sunday School 5:00 PM Church 6:00 PM Services 4th Sunday Sunday School 10:00 AM Church 11:00 AM For any corrections or additions to the Church Page, Contact The Lee County Ledger at 759-2413 Leesburg Church of God Rev. Sean Faircloth Sunday School 9:45 AM Morning Worship 10:40 AM Evening Worship 6:00 PM Wed. Fam. Training 7:00 PM Wooden Grove Baptist 1st & 3rd Sunday Services Worship 11:00 AM Weekly Sunday School 10:00 AM Tuesday Night Bible Study 7:00 PM Thundering Springs Baptist Church Sunday School 9.45 AM Morning Worship 11:00 AM Church Training 5:00 PM Evening Worship 6:00 PM Wed. Prayer Services7:00 PM Leesburg United Methodist Church Pastor Russ Elkins Worship.... 8:45 and 11:00 AM Sunday School 10:00 AM Adult Choir 5:30 PM Youth Fellowship 5:45 PM Evening Worship 7:00 PM Wed. Supper/Bible Study 6:00 Green Grove Baptist Smithville, GA Rev. H. Waters Sunday School 11:00 AM Every First Sunday Morning Worship 11:45 AM Kingdom Vision Christian Center Rev. Earl S. Harrison, Pastor 1027 N. Philema Road N. Sunday School 10:00 AM Sunday Worship 11:15AM Wed. Bible Study 7:00 PM Lutherian Church of Our Savior Rev. Bill Behrend 101 Hickory Grove Road Sunday School 9:30 AM Worship 11:00 AM The Lee County Ledger Your Source of Local News 759-2414 dm Member FDIC located on Robert B. Lee Drive in Leesburg - 759-2800 and 2609 Ledo Rd 430-8080 Member FDIC The Future of Banking is Here. Clyde’s Auto Part Turner Field Industrial Park 1507 Rodgers Street Albany, Georgia 31705 Clyde Massey (912) 436-1502 We Buy Wrecked Cars CraigoSS 1 . Mathis Attorney At Law 124 Fourth Street 759-2243 Funeral Home Crematory/Memorials Mike Mathews - Gary Mathews 3206 Gillionville Rd. Albany, GA 31707 435-5657 Leesburg Cemetery Jnmj/a£ut Hughes Hardware 1497 S. Hwy. 19 432-0037 Worrell Paint and Body Shop Would like to thank you for the support you have given us. U.S. 19 - South of Leesburg 439-1555 Jack; Fo it FUNERAL DIRECTORS Crematory and Memorials Crown Hill Cemetery 1503 Dawson Road • P.O. Box 92 Albany, Georgia 31702-0092 Phone: (912) 883-4152 “Sevice Since 1880” BUMPER BUMPER 759-6561 759-6482 Walnut St., Leesburg Leesburg First Baptist Rev. Bobby Harrell Sunday School I 8:15 AM Worship I 9:30 AM Sunday School II 9:30 AM Worship II 11:00 AM Evening Worship 7:00 PM Wednesday Church Supper 5:30 PM AWANA 6:20 PM Prayer Meeting 6:30 PM Youth Meeting 7:00 PM Sovereign Grace Baptist Church Steven Youngblood, Pastor 121 Creekside Dr. - Lees. Morning Worship.... 10:30 AM Evening Worship 6:00 PM Wednesday Awana .. 6:30 PM Amazing Grace Baptist Church Pastor, Dr. Ron Baxley 2217 Ledo Rd., Albany Morning Worship & Sunday School ... 10:45 AM Evening Worship & Youth Choir 6:00 PM Wednesday 6:30 to (Youth only) 8:00 PM House Of God Saints In Christ Elder A.F. Caldwell, Pastor Sunday School 10:30 AM 1st, 2nd, & 4th Sundays Morning Worship.... 11:45 AM 2nd & 4th Sunday Evening Service 6:30 PM Wed. Bible Study 7:30 PM Fri. Sharing Ser 7:30 PM Piney Grove #3 Pastor W. G. Groover Every Sunday Sunday School 10:00 AM 2nd and 4th Sunday Worship 11:00 Noon Emmanuel Community Baptist Church Al Bryant, Pastor Sunday School 10:00 AM Morning Worship.... 11:00 AM Every Wednesday Bible Study 6:30 PM Shady Grove Baptist Church Rev. Marcus Glass, Pastor 1st and 2nd Sunday Worship Service 11:00 AM Every Sunday Sunday School 9:50 AM Wed. Bible Study 7:00 PM Fourth Sunday Evening Service 6:00 PM Liberty Primitive Baptist Morning Worship.... 10:30 AM 2nd and 4th Sunday Evening Worship 6:00 PM IBANK An affiliate of Synovus Financial Corn. Member FDIC 430-5383 1531 U.S. 19 South Leesburg in front of Winn-Dixie