Newspaper Page Text
Page 6A, The Lee County Ledger, Wednesday, July 28,2021
I Ain’t 16 Anymore
Special to the Ledger
Dr. James L. Snyder
I’ve had so many birth
days in my life that I re
ally don’t know how old
I am. All I know is that
I’m one year older than
I was last year. I would
not be able to remember
when my life began if it
wasn’t for paperwork..
To many people, num
bers are very important,
but in my opinion, a
number is just a number.
As I look forward to
another birthday, I would
like to go back to being
16 again. Those were the
good old days, as they
say.
When I was 16,1 was
rather oblivious of things
that were happening in
the world. We didn’t have
TV back then and only
got a TV when President
J. F. Kennedy was assas
sinated. Dad had to get a
TV to keep up with what
was going on.
I had no internet, com
puter, cell phone, video
games or anything of the
like. So in all actuality, I
was on my own.
One thing that really
impressed me about
being 16 was that I could
get a driver’s license and
drive a car. The disap
pointing aspect about
this was, I didn’t
have enough
money to buy
a car and so
had to borrow
my father’s car
when it was con
venient for him.
Oh boy, those
were the days.
At 16,1 be
lieved I had be
come a certified
adult. I was at the stage
now where nobody could
tell me what to do. I was
my own boss.
At least I thought I was
my own boss. However,
I still was in high school,
and for some reason, my
teachers thought they
were in charge of the
class. How little did they
know?
It took being sent to
the principal’s office five
times before realizing I
was not really in charge
of my class.
I also began to realize
that being in charge of
your life is very expen
sive. Before I was 16, my
James L.
Snyder
This sweet lovable boy is Marty a male Lab
Mix about 2 yrs old. He is the sweetest boy.
He will make someone a great addition to their
family. Marty did test positive for heartworms
but that is easily treated. He weighs 52 lbs.
Marty’s adoption fee is $120, this covers
getting him neutered, rabies shot, heartworm
test, microchip and he has had his yearly
distemper and kennel cough vaccines.
parents paid for every
thing for me. But now
that I’m 16, that income
stream dried up.
I remember
my father
saying to me,
“Son, you’re 16
now, and you
are in charge
of your life.”
My smile
flashed all
over my face,
I was now set
free, and I can
do whatever I
wanted to do.
My father wasn’t quite
done with me yet, “Now
that you are 16, you’re
going to have to pay for
your things.”
At the time, I didn’t
know what he meant,
but I shook my head
energetically and smiled,
and was now ready to go
out into the world and be
my own boss. I was so
anxious to get started in
this lifestyle of being in
control.
The next day as I was
ready to go to school, I
stopped and asked my
father, “Dad, I need some
money for lunch today.”
My father looked at me
and said, “I thought you
were in control of your
life?”
“Yes, dad, I’m in con
trol of my life; I’m my
own boss.”
“Then,” my father said,
“that means you have to
pay for your own lunch.
If you’re in charge, that
means you have to pay
for what you have.”
He turned around and
walked away, and I stood
there glaring at him. I
did not know that being
in charge meant I had
to pay for everything.
He should’ve explained
that to me a little more
clearly.
One Saturday, I needed
to borrow my father’s car
to go to a baseball game.
“Dad, can I borrow your
car so I can go to my
baseball game this after
noon?”
“You sure can,” my
father said, “and by the
way, the car is low on
gas, so you’ll have to put
gas in the car.”
I began to have differ
ent feelings about being
in charge of my life. I
had no idea that my life
was so expensive. Now, I
had to get a job so that I
could pay for everything
and be my own boss.
It took me a long time
to realize how great my
life was before I turned
16. If I would have
known that, I think I
would’ve lived more ex
travagantly on my dad’s
credit card.
After celebrating my
16th birthday, I cooled
down a little bit to realize
that life really is hard,
and getting old is not for
sissies. Plus, it’s very
costly.
Before I was 16,1
thought everything was
free, I could do whatever
I please, and there would
be no accountability.
Turning 16 turned my
life completely around.
Another thing I expe
rienced when I turned
16 is that I did not know
all that I thought I knew.
When a person thinks
they know everything,
they don’t know exactly
what they don’t know.
One of the most im
portant lessons I have
learned since I turned
16 was that it is essential
to know what you don’t
know. If you think you
know everything, you’re
missing out on a lot of
life.
Right after turning 16,
I ran across what has
become my life verse
from the Bible. “Trust in
the Lord with all thine
heart; and lean not unto
thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowl
edge him, and he shall
direct thy paths.” (Prov
erbs 3:5-6).
Looking back, I can see
that it serves no purpose
not to trust in the Lord.
However, I experience
things that are beyond
my experience and
understanding, and that’s
when God steps in.
Dr. James L. Snyder is
pastor of the Family of
God Fellowship, 1471
Pine Road, Ocala, FL
34472. He lives with his
wife in Silver Springs
Shores. Call him at
352-216-3025 or e-mail
j amessnyder2@att.net.
The church web site is
www.whatafellowship.
com.
From The Bible
By Jerry Kingery
Darius made a decree
Then the prophets,
Haggai the prophet,
and Zechariah the son
of Iddo, prophesied
unto the Jews that were
in Judah and Jerusalem
in the name of the God
of Israel, even unto
them. Then rose up
Zerubbabel the son of
Shealtiel, and Jeshua
the son of Jozadak,
and began to build the
house of God which is
at Jerusalem: and with
them were the prophets
of God helping them.
At the same time
came to them Tatnai,
governor on this side
the river, and Sheth-
arboznai, and their
companions, and said
thus unto them, Who
hath commanded you
to build this house, and
to make up this wall?
Then said we unto
them after this manner,
What are the names of
the men that make this
building? But the eye
of their God was upon
the elders of the Jews,
that they could not
cause them to cease,
till the matter came to
Darius: and then they
returned answer by
letter concerning this
matter. The copy of the
letter that Tatnai, gov
ernor on this side the
river, and Shetharboz-
nai, and his compan
ions the Apharsachites,
which were on this
side the river, sent unto
Darius the king: They
sent a letter unto him
Then Darius the king
made a decree, and
search was made in
the house of the rolls,
where the treasures
were laid up in Bab
ylon. And there was
found at Achmetha, in
the palace that is in the
province of the Medes,
a roll, and therein was
a record thus written:
In the first year of
Cyrus the king the
same Cyrus the king
made a decree con
cerning the house of
God at Jerusalem, Let
the house be budded,
the place where they
offered sacrifices, and
let the foundations
thereof be strongly
laid; the height thereof
threescore cubits, and
the breadth thereof
threescore cubits; With
three rows of great
stones, and a row of
new timber: and let the
expenses be given out
of the king’s house:
And also let the golden
and silver vessels of
the house of God,
which Nebuchadnez
zar took forth out of
the temple which is at
Jerusalem, and brought
unto Babylon, be
restored, and brought
again unto the temple
which is at Jerusalem,
every one to his place,
and place them in the
house of God.
from Ezra 5 and 6
For a free Scripture
packet, please write
From the Bible, BIBLE
FOUNDATION, PO
Box 908, Newberg,
Oregon 97132. email:
bf@bf.org
Lee County
Church Of Christ
Eddie Garcia, Minister
Bible Study 9:30 AM
Worship..10:30 AM & 6:00 PM
Smithville Baptist
Lance Fendley, Pastor
Sunday School ...10:00 AM
Worship...11 AM & 7 PM
Philema Road Baptist
Sunday School 9:45 AM
Morning Worship 11:00 AM
Evening Worship ..6:00 PM
Alpha Baptist
Les Reed, Pastor
Sunday School 9:45 AM
Morning Worship 11:00 AM
1st Sunday of the Month
Evening Worship ..6:00 PM
Antioch Baptist Church
Rev. Lem Wright
1st and 3rd Sunday
Sunday School 9:00 AM
4th Sunday
Worship Service. 10:00 AM
Friendship Baptist
Church of Lee County
Mark Spraggins, Pastor
Sunday School 9:45 AM
Morning Service.. 11:00 AM
Phillip Grove Baptist
Pastor Jenkins
Sunday School ...10:00 AM
1 st & 3rd Sunday 11:00 AM
Mt. Pleasant Baptist
Pastor E B Washington
Sunday School 8:00 AM
Worship Service ...,9:15AM
Albany Bible Church
Pastor Pete Daughtry,
Sun. Bible Class...9:30 & 11:00
Christ’s Sanctified
Holy Church
Rev. Gary Collier
Sunday School ...10:00 AM
Worship Service.. 11:00AM
Life Church
Pastor Matthew
Schluckebier
Sr. Adult SS 9:30AM
Sunday Service....10:45AM
Westview Baptist Church
Rev. Grady Morey
Sunday School. ...9:45 AM
Worship Service...11:00 AM
Evening Worship...5:00 PM
Attend The House of Worship of Your Choice This Sunday
Kinchafoonee Baptist
Rev. Melvin Slappy
Sunday School 9:45 AM
Morning Worship 11:00 AM
Evening Worship ..7:00 PM
Smithville United
Methodist
Rev. Duane Whittaker
Worship 9:30 AM
Sunday School ...10:45 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 ...10:00 AM
Worship 11:00 AM
Second & Fourth Sundays
Sunday School 8:00 AM
Worship 9:00 AM
Macadonia Baptist Church
Sunday School ...10:30 AM
First Sunday
Morning Worship 11:45 AM
Third Sunday
Evening Worship .6:00 PM
Jordan Grove Baptist
Rev. Rod Hubbard
Sunday School 9:45 AM
Worship Service. 11:00 AM
The Pointe
Carl Barnhardt
Sunday Worship...9:00 am
Children’s Ministry
(Infants-3yr old)
Sunday Worship...10:30 am
Children’s Ministry
(Infants - 5th grade)
Leesburg Church
Of Christ
Bro. Howard Bouldin
Sunday School 9:30 AM
Morning Worship 10:45 PM
Evening Worship .5:00 PM
Greater Zion Hope
Apostle Henry L Hosley
Every 1 st, 4th, 5th Sunday
Sunday School...8:00 a.m.
Sunday Worship..9:00 a.m.
Albany Community
Seventh-day
Adventist Church
Pastor Steve Rose
Saturdays
Bible Study 9:30 AM
Worship 10:40 AM
Unity Church of Christianity
Rev. Joanna Gabriel
Morning Worship ...,11:00 AM
New Hope AME
Rev. E.X. King
Every 1st and third Sunday
Sunday School 10:00 AM
Sunday Worship 11:00 AM
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
For any corrections or additions to the Church Page, Contact The Lee County Ledger at 759-2413
The Church at
the Groves
Worship 9:30 AM
Worship 11:00 AM
Wooden Grove Baptist
Joe Jones, Pastor
1st, 3rd, & 5th Sunday
Sunday School ...,9:45AM
Worship 11:00 AM
2nd & 4th Sunday
Sunday School 7:45 AM
Worship 9:00 AM
Lifegate Church
Sunday Service...10:00 AM
Thundering Springs
Baptist Church
Sunday School 9.45 AM
Morning Worship 11:00 AM
Evening Worship .6:00 PM
Leesburg United
Methodist Church
Pastor Lee Smith
Worship 8:30 AM
Sunday School ...,9:30 AM
Worship 10:30 AM
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
Sunday School... 10:00 AM
Sunday Worship. 11:15 AM
Heritage Full
Gospel Church
Hickory Grove Road
Sunday School 9:45 AM
Sunday Service.... 10:45 AM
Sunday Evening.. 6:00 PM
Colony
bank
Member FDIC f=T Equal Housing Lender
Located on
Robert B. Lee Drive
in Leesburg - 759-2800
2609 LedO Rd - 430-8080
and
113 North Westover Blvd. -
229-317-2157
XmkM-Stm,
FUNERAL DIRECTORS
Crematory and Memorials
Crown Hill Cemetery
1503 Dawson Road • PO. Box 92
Albany, Georgia 31702-0092
Phone: (229) 883-4152
“Service Since 1880”
GEORGIA’S OWN
CREDIT UNION
239 Cedric Street, Leesburg, GA
For more information call 229-435-1715
non® t=i \m\
Jlatfjetos
Funeral Home
Crematory/Memorials
Mike Mathews - Gary Mathews
3206 Gillionville Rd.
Albany, GA 31707
435-5657
Leesburg Cemetery
Leesburg First Baptist
Sunday School 9:00 AM
Worship 10:15 AM
Evening Worship ..6:00 PM
Greater United Pleasant
Green Baptist Church
Rev. Andrew E.
McDowell, Jr.
Sunday School 9:45 AM
Worship 11:15 AM
Sovereign Grace
Baptist Church
Steven Youngblood,
Pastor
Morning Worship.10:30 AM
Evening Worship..6:00 PM
Amazing Grace
Baptist Church
Dr. Johnny Nixon
Sunday School 9:45 AM
Morning Worship..10:45AM
Evening Worship...6:00 PM
Mt. Hope Baptist Church
Services 1st Sunday
Church 8:00 AM
Sunday School 9:00 AM
Piney Grove #3
Charles Carr, Pastor
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
Shady Grove
Baptist Church
Rev. Sterlie Calhoun,
Pastor
1st and 2nd Sunday
Worship Service . 11:00 AM
Every Sunday
Sunday School ..10:00 AM
St. Matthew Missionary
Baptist Church
Rev. Dr. H. C. Wilson,
Pastor
Sunday School... 10:00 AM
2nd. Sun. Worship..11:00 AM
4th Sunday 7:00 PM
Church Family of
Prayer Ministry
Pastor Norbert Ingram
Sunday 11:00
New Hope Baptist Church
Jonathan LaBarge Pastor
Sunday School 10AM
Service 11 a.m. & 6 p.m.