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PAGE 6 - THURSDAY,
FEBRUARY 21. 2013
Mans Expiration Date & Declining Lifespan
Many products have an
expiration date. When reached,
the product is no longer
usable. Examples are light
bulbs whose filaments bum
out and can no longer conduct
electricity, batteries whose cells
lose electrolytes and can no
longer crank automobiles, and
medicines that lose potency
and become pharmaceutically
ineffective. Humans also have
expiration dates. The human
body, consisting of perishable
flesh, bones and blood,
succumbs to the ravages of
time until it wears out and dies.
Many years ago, an elderly
gentleman and exemplary
Christian, Mr. Ralph Barnett,
regularly attended Wednesday
night prayer services. One night
Mr. Barnett didn’t show up.
His friend and contemporary,
Morris McDaniel, reported
that Barnett had passed away.
I asked McDaniel what
happened. McDaniel replied,
“Billy, there was no particular
cause of death; Ralph simply
wore out.”
God originally created
Adam and Eve in the Garden
of Eden to be immortal. God
forbad them from eating of the
Tree of Knowledge, warning
them that disobedience would
bring death. But Adam and
Eve succumbed to Satan’s
enticements and consumed the
forbidden fruit. For violating
His command, God issued
a terse ten-word judgment
that stripped Adam and Eve
of immortality and relegated
them to the realm of humanity:
“From dust thou came, and
unto dust thou shalt return.”
Thus, by God’s decree,
man dropped from the perch
of immortality to grow old
and die. Adam lived 930
years followed by his son,
Seth- 912 years, Enosh-905,
Kenan-910, Mahalalel-895,
Jared-962, Enoch-300
(translated), Methusaleh-969,
Lamech-777, and Noah-950.
Excluding Enoch, who was
translated, the average age of
the ten generations of Adam
was 912 years. This seems
like an extraordinarily long
life, but compared to God’s
original plan for man to live
forever, such a lifespan doesn’t
constitute a plot point on the
scale of eternity.
Before the flood in Noah’s
day, God issued a sharp
reduction in man’s lifespan,
declaring: “My Spirit will not
always remain with mankind,
because they are corrupt.
Their days will be 120 years.”
We see God’s edict gaining
traction in the ten generations
of Noah. Shem, Noah’s son,
lived 600 years followed by
Arpachshad-438, Shelah-433,
Eber-464, Peleg-239, Reu-
239, Serug-230, Nahor-148,
Terah-205, and Abraham-175.
Noah’s ten generations
averaged 317 years. This
constitutes a decline of
595 years from Adam’s ten
generations (912-317=595).
Therefore, from God’s decree
before the flood to Abraham’s
era, man’s lifespan dropped
from the 900 level to the 200
level. The 120-year level was
reached in the successive
generations from Abraham’s
son, Isaac, to Moses. Isaac
lived 180 years, followed by
Jacob-147, Joseph-110, Levi,
137, Kohath-133, Amram
Billy Powell
Columnist
www.billypowellbooks.com
(Moses’ father)-137, Aaron
(Moses’ brother)-123, and
Moses-120. Moses’ successor,
Joshua, who led the invasion
and conquest of Canaan, lived
110 years.
Thereafter, afurtherreduction
occurred when Psalms 90:10
promulgated: “The days of our
years are threescore years and
ten; and if by reason of strength
they be fourscore years.” King
David attained the new age
standard, living to be 70 years
old. Today, life expectancy in
the United States is 78 years.
In Japan, it’s 83. How can we
extend our lifespan? Exodus
20:12 prescribes the formula:
“Honor your father and your
mother, that your days may be
long.”
As Brilliant Schemes Go, Mine Didn't
Throughout the years, I have
come up with a few schemes.
None of which has ever done
me anything good, and yet I
still spend the energy to try to
come up with one that will.
It all began quite innocently
enough as a Christmas present.
When it comes to shopping
for Christmas presents I just
flop triumphantly. I was not
made to go shopping. When
I get into a mall, I begin to
feel the walls closing in on
me. I develop a panic, begin
sweating profusely and then
head for my car without
looking back.
About the Christmas present.
Aha, that was the solution to
my Christmas shopping and
a brilliant scheme that would
benefit both of us.
This past Christmas I
purchased for my lovely wife a
round-trip ticket to New York
to visit her family for a week.
A week of her enjoying her
family and they reciprocating
the enjoyment. I did mention
it was a “round-trip ticket.” I
do not mind sending her away
as long as it includes a plan to
return.
Now, the brilliant side of my
scheme.
While she is in New York
visiting with her relatives, I
would be king of the castle. I
have been looking forward to
this for a long time. She gets
to have fun with her relatives,
and I get to have fun with
myself.
For the week, I will turn our
rather pleasant little domicile
into a rip, snorting man cave.
Ah, the thought of it was
wonderful. The house would
be mine for a week, and
nobody would be supervising
me. Nothing I like more than
a week of no supervision. Oh
sure, I could get into a lot of
trouble, but what’s life for if
we cannot sample a wee bit of
trouble occasionally.
For one, I would be in charge
of the menu for the week. I
was really looking forward to
this.
Before she left, my wife
made me promise that I would
eat my fruits and vegetables
and I would have a balanced
diet every day. With a twinkle
in my eye, more twinklely
than normal, I agreed to her
stipulations. I had my diet
already planned in my head.
For a whole week, there
would be no such things as
salads for every meal. How
she can come up with the
variety of salads she serves is
beyond my aching head. She
honestly believes that a salad
makes the world go round.
Now, no salads in this house,
correction, man cave, for a
whole week. I love it when a
plan comes together.
I shall be faithful to the
fruits and vegetable regimen
she made me promise. After
all, one woman’s vegetable is
another man’s speculation.
My main vegetable of the
week would be [drum roll]
carrot cake. Don’t try to tell
me carrot is not a vegetable. I
will sick Bugs Bunny on you if
you do. I plan to have a carrot
every day of the week.
And for fruit? You guessed
it. Apple fritters. You know the
old saying, “An Apple fritter a
day makes any man happy.”
I have made every plan to be
happy this week. I am not sure
if the bakery is going to be
able to keep up with my orders
this week. A man has to have
his fruit.
My basic philosophy during
this week is summed up in the
old saying, ’’The world could
end at any minute. Eat dessert
first!” My dessert of course is
fruit by nature. A banana split.
Any meal that begins with a
banana split is going to be an
awesome meal to be sure.
It was only Thursday when
I became aware of something.
There was this smell in the
house. I looked into the
kitchen area and dishes were
piled upon the counter. The
table where I usually sit down
to eat was filled with all kinds
of stuff. I do not want to know
what it was. I looked in the
bedroom, the laundry basket
was full and overflowing and
I could not see the bed.
I thought to myself, why are
these things piling up? They
would not do that if my wife
were here. Are they trying to
embarrass me or what?
I stood in the kitchen with
my hands on my hips and I was
about to give this man cave a
good piece of my mind. Then
Betty Jean Harvey
Atlanta , GA- Mrs. Betty Jean Harvey
passed on February 3, 2013 . Services
were held on Saturday, February 9 at
Pine Grove Baptist Church with burial
in Gatlin Cemetery. Survivors: husband,
Thaddeus Harvey Sr., Roberta; sons, Dr.
Thaddeus Harvey Jr., Atlanta, Thomas
Tavadous Harvey, Lawrenceville, GA;
daughters, Shenica King, Marietta, Qua-
jula DeShawn Harvey, Clarkston; sisters,
Severa Lovelace, Bamesville, Ethel Mae
Moore, Macon; 9 grandchildren. Services
were entrusted to Bentley & Sons Funeral
Home, Macon.
Thank You
Our ’’Thankful List” is
more than just a way to keep
track of the special people
God has brought into our
life to love. It is a treasured
love scrapbook filled with
pleasant memories of all
the times God answered
through friends and family.
Every name is a touch
stone that leads to a place and time where
God has used another’s heart to reach
out and touch ours. It may have hap
pened years ago or yesterday, our list has
changed over time, but every person on
our list has changed our life in some way.
Through simple conversation, a warm
hug, a flower or shared meal,
every person on our list has
helped us grow, heal, laugh,
love, leam or even smile.
The blessings never end as
God allowed our paths to
cross as family and friends.
So it’s a Thank You to God
for putting each name on our
list. We hold each and ev
eryone whose name we’ve
come to hold so dear, those
who have shown us joy throughout the
years.
Appreciately,
The Family of the Late Betty
Jean Stembridge Harvey
What
Manner Of
Man
What manner of man
knows how many hairs
of us have on our heads?
Think about it; No man
can know this; but God. He
knows everything about us;
the good and the bad. One
thing for sure; we might
can fool everyone else
but we can’t fool God. He
knows our hidden agendas.
He knows whether we re
ally love Him or not; for
this is the first command
ment. God wants to be our
first love. I must admit I am
guilty because I sometimes
find myself putting other
things first and I openly re
pent, “Lord, please forgive
me and help me to love you
with all my heart mind and
soul. You see, there’s noth
ing about us he doesn’t
know.
What manner of man
is this? That can love us
unconditionally; despite
of our faults, our sins and
wrong doings. And do you
know what God wants? He
wants us to know and love
Him; to know all we can
about Him and to love Him
as He loves us. His desire is
that we love, worship and
obey Him. We cannot say
that we have it all together
because we lie if we say we
do. There is nothing about
us that God doesn’t know.
What manner of man is
this? Be Blessed.
Church Happenings
Out to Pastor
Rev. James L. Snyder
jamessnyder2@att.net or
whatafellowship.com
I stopped. At that moment,
I realized I had become my
wife.
Perhaps, and I am just
making a suggestion here, I
have gained anew appreciation
for my better half. Things just
do not happen around the
house. Somebody has to make
them happen.
By Friday, I had come to
my senses and realized the
old saying I did not quite
appreciate until this week.
“Two can live cheaper than
one.” I am not sure about the
cheaper part of it, but I know
two can live cleaner than one,
especially if that one is Yours
Truly.
I thought of a Bible
verse throughout the week,
“Likewise, ye husbands,
dwell with them according
to knowledge, giving honor
unto the wife, as unto the
weaker vessel, and as being
heirs together of the grace of
life; that your prayers be not
hindered” (1 Peter 3:7).
After all these years, I am
just beginning to understand
what it means to “dwell” with
my wife.
McLeighton Funeral Service
View Obituaries at
375 S. Dugger Avenue
Roberta, Georgia
478-836-3336
www.mcleightonfuneralservice.com
David & Donna
McLeighton - owners
’Our Family Serving
Your Family
Prayer Line, Tuesdays and
Thursdays, Christ Abundant
Life Ministries, S. Dugger Ave.,
Roberta. Call 478- 836-3912.
Word of God Tabernacle
invites you to join us for the
following weekly services:
Sunday Prayer at 9:00 a.m.,
Sunday School at 10:00 a.m.,
Sunday Service at 11:00 a.m.;
Monday Prayer at 9:00 a.m.;
Wednesday Prayer at 9:00 a.m.,
Wednesday Bible Study at 7:00
p.m.; Friday Prayer at 9:00 a.m.
Everyone is invited. Pastor
Frank Martin, Sr.
Springhill Baptist Church is
providing free Tutoring Service
every Monday at 5:30- 6:30
p.m. 71, Springhill Church Rd.,
Roberta.
Pop-Tops For Kade:
Christopher Smtih a member
of the Fellowship Church and
Sunday School Teacher wants
your pop-tops! For each 1,000
tabs from drink cans St. Jude’s
will give a free treatment.
Kade Howard, a local little
boy who is receiving treatment
at St. Jude’s in Tennessee for
medulloblastoma will benefit
from the tabs being collected.
To find out how to help and
where to drop off your tabs call
Christopher Smith at 478-365-
0441.
The Lighthouse Church
Movie Day: Saturday Feb.
23rd. Bring the kids and their
friends too for a free and fun
Saturday movie morning
including popcorn and drinks
beginning at 10 a.m. They will
be showing the ’’Veggie Tales”
movie ’’Robin Good” at 10:30
a.m. In keeping with the motto
of the movie they ask that you
bring one item to donate to the
local food bank.
The Lamb’s Well: Vacation
Bible School Preview February
21,2013 come to a free preview
of 2013 Vacation Bible School
programs. An great opportunity
for VBS Directors, Children’s
Church headers, Pastors and
other who work with children.
Refreshments and door prizes.
Two sessions offered 2-4 p.m.
or 6-8 p.m. RSVP early- space
is limited 478-971-2677.
Livingstone Baptist Church
will be having a morning of
’’Praise and Worship” with
Tammie Klima in concert
Sunday, Feb. 24th at 11:00
a.m. For more info contact Mr.
Shelnutt at 478-825-5706.
Evangelistic House of Prayer:
Revival services starting Sunday,
Feb. 24 at 11:00 a.m. and 6:00
p.m. and Mon.- Fri. at 7:00
p.m. each night. Pastor Delmar
Stillwell from West Virginia
will be bringing the messages.
Special music Sun.- Wed. from
their very own EHOP Family.
For more info call Pastor Ronnie
Hollis Jr. at 478-719-7204.
Special Youth services Thurs.
and Fri. ’’Highly Favoured,”
from West Virginia in concert!
AFF YOUTH welcome! Hie
Nelons ’’Come On Home Tour,”
Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at
7:00 p.m. For more information
call: Jessica at 478-955-0761 or
Ronnie at 478-719-7204.
St. James Baptist Church will
be celebrating Rev. Charles
French and his wife’s second
year as pastor and first lady,
second Sunday March 10, 2013
at 11:30 a.m. Hie guest speaker
for this special occassion will be
Tawanda Walker from Eastman,
GA.
Word of God Tabernacle:
2013 Men’s Conference- ’’Men
Determined to Move Forward
Collectively”- Pliilhpians 3:13.
The men of WOGT invites
you and your church family to
their annual Men’s Conference
on Wednesday, February 27
and Friday, March 1, 2013.
The speakers will be: Pastor
Oliver Feaks from Fresh Manna
Ministries, Bamesville, GA on
2/27 and Pastor Calvin Minter
from Ross Chapel, Roberta, GA
on 3/1. Services will begin at
7:30 p.m. each night.
Deadline
for Church
Happenings:
Friday 5 p.m.
(Shrist
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gM
1641 Peach Pkwy.,Hwy
49 N. Fort Valley, GA
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”Serving all Middle Georgia cemeteries 33
Kade E. Rooks
P. O. Box 1711, Fort Valley, GA 31030 *478-825-2424 or 478-951-1571 *Fax: 478-825-3794