About The Georgia post. (Knoxville, Crawford County, Ga.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (June 6, 2013)
Why Did Jesus Have To Die? The scriptures teach that Christ died for the sins of mankind, but the question that naturally arises is “Why did Jesus have to die?” Why couldn’t God simply issue a heavenly fiat granting blanket immunity from the penalty of sin? The answer is “Yes, God could,” but that would not be in keeping with God’s holy nature which demands that sin be punished. Sin entered the world through Adam and Eve. After their creation, God placed them in a virtual paradise, the Garden of Eden. God commanded them not to eat of the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil. He warned they “would surely die” if they did. Being created with free will, Adam and Eve disobeyed God. They succumbed to Satan’s enticements and ate of the forbidden fruit. Being true to His word, God sentenced the once immortal twosome to die a mortal death, saying: “From dust you came, and to dust you shall return.” According to Romans 5:12, Adam’s sin spread to the entire human race: “Sin entered the world through one man (Adam), and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.” As sin increased, “God saw that the wickedness of man was great on earth, and that every thought of his heart was continually evil.” (Gen 6:5). Being “grieved to His heart and sorry He had made man,” God declared “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the earth.” (Gen 6:6-7). So God sent a flood and destroyed all human life except eight people: Noah, his wife, their three sons (Shem, Japheth, Canaan), and their respective wives. As Noah’s descendants repopulated the earth, sin spread to alarming proportions. The human experiment had failed so God send a Redeemer from heaven to atone for man’s sins. Since “without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin” (Hebrew 9:22), the Redeemer would pay the penalty for sin with His own precious blood. So “God sent His only begotten Son that whoever believeth in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16). In coming to earth, the sinless Jesus “gave his life a ransom for many.” (Matt 20:28). In effect, “God made Him (Christ), who knew no sin, to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (II Cor 5:21). Jesus clearly understood it was His Father’s will for him to die a sacrificial death for the sins of mankind. Jesus’ foreknowledge of his mission is confirmed by Mark 8:31: “Then Jesus began to tell them I was tricked and I thought I was trick proof I was minding my own business last week, which is the only business I am concerned about, when the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage posed a question. It is in the area of questions I feel the most inadequate. Maybe it is because I have not heard all the questions yet, but I think I have come close. I should know that any question that comes from my wife has a hidden agenda. Usually, she asks questions that have no answers. “Let’s go out for lunch today,” she said rather chipperly. Experience should have taught me that when she is chipper, I am in trouble, because I am always the chippee. “We have,” she explained, “some gift cards for a restaurant across town.” Then she smiled and that should have been a giveaway for me. When you mention lunch, and when you add the word “free” to it, I lose all sense of proportion and sanity, if I had any. Actually, to be honest about everything, it does not take much to scratch between my ears and get me purring. Then she threw in a perk that sold me completely on the idea. I love perks. “I’ll drive.” When you think you have heard every trick in the book, somebody writes a new book. Usually, I forget some old trick that she has played, and here was an old one she was playing on me again. On the way to the restaurant, I had a little uneasy feeling, but as we sat down and began ordering, all suspicion faded into thin air. It was a scrumptious lunch and we both enjoyed being together, carefree and enjoying the ambiance. When the check came I casually said, “You know, we ought to do this more often.” She smiled and nodded her head. When we got into the car, she said somewhat nonchalantly, “Oh, by the way, since we’re here I need to run into the mall and pick up an item.” When I heard those words, I froze. Not the mall! I hate shopping, especially at the mall. In my mind, the word “mall” is the acronym for May All Lose their Loot. Since I do not have that much loot to lose, I do not like going into a place designed to relieve me of my loot. Every time I walk down the center of the mall, I feel eyes glaring at me and piercing to the core of my wallet trying to suck out all my money. And, by the way, they take credit cards. Boy, do they “take” credit cards. When we parked at the mall parking lot, I indicated I would stay in the car and wait for her. “Oh, no,” she exclaimed, “come on in, you need the exercise. I’m just going to run in and run out.” Here is where the language differential between husbands and wives shows itself. Unless you are familiar with English with a feminine twist, you are going to get trapped every time. For example: when a husband says the word “run,” he is referring to speed. When his wife uses the same word it means she is going to run into every store in sight within the mall with one agenda, and that is to buy. For which I can say bye-bye to my money. Why don’t local universities offer a degree in wifeology? They have degrees in everything else, why not here where it would be most useful. By the time I reach the equivalent of a doctorate in wifeology, I would be too old to do any good with it. Those who insist there is no difference between a man and a woman have never been married to a woman. Husbands get into trouble assuming their wife is just like them and thinks just like them. Exiting the shopping mall my wife looked at me, smiled and said, “Now, wasn’t that good exercise.” I nodded as I walked to the car with both my hands filled with recently purchased items from the shopping mall. Now I know my part of the exercise was hauling her purchases to the car. Half way to the car I had to stop and catch my breath and wondered if I would really make it to the car. “Come on, we’re done shopping for the day. Let’s get to the car.” While driving home I was afraid my wife was Maximum strength analgesic creme for temporary relief from: • Joint and Muscle soreness • Arthritis • Back aches McLeighton Funeral Service view obituaries at www.mcleightonfuneralservice.coin 375 S. Dugger Avenue Roberta, Georgia 478-836-3336 David & Donna McLeighton - owners ’Our Family Serving Your Family PAGE 6 - THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013 Billy Powell Columnist www.billypowellbooks.com (his disciples) that he, the Son of Man, would suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the leaders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, and three days later he would rise again.” Not only was Jesus without sin, but being divine, one drop of His holy blood would cover the sins of the entire human race. Jesus’s voluntary death on the cross allowed us to escape God’s wrath, but in a larger sense, demonstrated God’s love: “God showed his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8). Out to Pastor Rev. James L. Snyder jamessnyder2@att.net or whatafellowship.com going to wear out her smile. “This has been a great day. We’ll have to do this more often.” Then she began humming a song, “We’ve only just begun.” I think this is her theme song; in fact, I am afraid it is. About half way home, I had a wonderful thought. It was a good day. I can always earn more money, but I can never get another wife quite as nice as the one I have. Then I began humming, “We’ve only just begun.” A verse of Scripture began playing in my mind as we continued our journey home. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:3 KJV). Driving into the driveway, I realized this was not our final destination. God has a wonderful place prepared for those who have put their trust and faith in Him. No tricks about it. Something happening at your Church? Let us know! email your church happening to gapost@ pstel.net ourFears Fear of failure, fear of man, fear of rejection are some of the strongest tools satan uses to hinder us from making progress. But no matter what kind of fear the enemy sends against us, the important thing is to overcome it. When we are faced with fear, we must not give in to it. We must not ran from it. We must learn to face our fears, stand our ground and know that we are more than conquerors. (Rom 8:37). We fear what people will think about us if we fail. If we step out and fail, some people may hear about it but realize they have a skeleton in their closet. It is better to try something and 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 them 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. The Marshall Family will hold their 15 th family reunion on Saturday, June 29, 2013, at Lizella United Methodist Church Family Life Center, 2920 South Lizella Road, Lizella, beginning at 10 a.m. with covered dish lunch at noon. Bring photos and other memorabilia that you would like to share.Descendants and friends of Joseph and Nancy Layfield Marshall’s children and spouses: James Franklin (Adaline Kitchens), Rebecca Frances (William Edwards), Sarah Ann (Anderson Arnold), John Loudy ( Sarah Walker & Martha Tharp), Mary Elizabeth (Columbus Madison Newberry), Cicero Harrison (Mary Ann Eubanks & Susie A. Hamlin),Martha Ann (Thomas Calvin Arnold), Henry Doss (Rosannah Hunnicutt), Amelia (Jones Washington Arnold), Joseph, Jr. (Sarah Hunnicutt) are invited. Everyone is also invited to join the family Friday, June 28, at 6 p.m. at S&S Cafeteria, Eisenhower Parkway, Macon, for dinner. Call (478)935-8364 or e-mail joyce.mosely@cox. net. Roberta Baptist Church will hold Vacation Bible School the fail than to try nothing and succeed. For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Fear of people can hinder everything we try to do. Let me ask you a question? Why fear people who can do no eternal harm? Instead, we ought to fear God who can turn the harm intended by others into good when we trust Him. To overcome fear, we must think more about God’s love for us. I John 4:18 says, “Perfect love casteth out fear.” We have to make up our minds, we will not fear and approach life with boldness, determining that fear will not rule our life. Fear will torment us if we don’t take control of it. When we fear, we are not operating in faith, which is the only way to truly please God. Fear will prevent us from going forward with whatever we need to do. We don’t need to fear difficult things, new things, challenging things or even unpleasant things. We can face life with a confident attitude, knowing that where God guides, He provides. He gives us grace one day at a time. In times of fear and uncertainties, it is calming to know that Christ is always with us. Be blessed! week of June 10, 6-9 p.m.. This year’s theme is ’’under the Big Top”. Call the church for more information. Cool Spring Baptist 153rd Anniversary/Family and Friends Day The Cool Spring Baptist Church members would like to extend an invitation to you and your church family to attend the 153rd Church Anniversary and Family and Friends Day on Sunday, June 16,2013 at 11 a.m. They will be pleased to have you gather to celebrate our rich heritage. The speaker for this occasion will be the dynamic ’’Reverend Colby McKenzie” of The Shade Arnold Baptist Church of Montezuma, Georgia. They look forward to worshiping with you. Cool Spring Baptist will have a three night Summer Revival, June 10-12, beginning nightly at 7:30 p.m. A different man of God will bring the word of God. Mon., June 10th, Rev. Morris Hillmans & Shiloh Baptist Church (choir), Tues., June 11th, Rev. Dexter Jordan & Stone Creek Baptist Church Wed., June 12th, Rev. MacArthur Childs & Mary Lizzie and Mt. Gillard Baptist Church; Springhill Baptist Church, Gordon Chapel A.M.E. Church, Gillard Church of Christ, Tessie Hall Baptist Church, Pleasant Grive Church (Musella), Musella Lodge #381. Special Needs Ministry Event - June 14, 2013, 7-9 p.m. Fitness is Fun! Lizella Baptist Church, 2950 South Lizella Road, Lizella, GA 31052. For more information call, 478- 935-8632. Church Happenings Granite • Marble • Bronze • Coping • Monument Cleaning • Sandblasting ”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
