Newspaper Page Text
THURSDAY MAY 14, 2020
THE GEORGIA POST 3
The devil always
speaks first
Harley Bowers, the great
southern sports writer, was my
close friend. We talked often and
enjoyed each other’s company.
Harley told me that he always
slept overnight on every col
umn before releasing it for
newspaper publication.
Such is the case for life’s
problems. We must guard
against instant reactions
to given situations. Those
who shoot from the hip
usually put their feet in
their mouths and make
improper decisions that
plague them for years.
In most human en
counters, the Devil always
speaks first. With fanciful
words, he tempted Christ three
times in the wilderness. He
employed lies that caused Adam
and Eve to disobey God and
suffer eviction from Eden. The
devil influenced Cain to murder
his brother Abel. Based on scrip
ture, the devil has been tripping
up the descendants of Adam
and Eve since the days of Eden.
During Noah’s age, the wicked
ness of mankind, influenced by
demonic influence, prompted
God to destroy all life except
Noah and his family.
When King David looked from
his roof and spotted the beauti
ful Bathsheba, his ‘first impulse’
was to pursue her. You know
the rest of the story. Bathsheba
was married to a soldier named
Uriah. David sent Uriah into
battle and certain death. After
Bathsheba gave birth to Da
vid’s son, the Prophet Nathan
chastised David for adultery.
Soon the child by this unholy
union died. Had David taken the
matter to God and not reacted
so quickly to enticements of the
flesh, he could have avoided
much anguish and grief.
PONDERINGS
Billy Powell
My mother always told me
that the Devil visits you every
day. Margaret Powell was
right. “The Screwtape
Letters” by C.S. Lewis
narrates accounts of
how the Devil causes
people to sin. In Lewis’
book, Uncle Screw-
tape, a senior demon,
instructs his nephew,
Wormwood, a novice
demon to “appeal to the
sinner’s emotions to
keep him from using
reason.” A prime ex
ample was King David
who listened first to his lust and
cast aside his better judgment.
Lack of reasoning guarantees
failure. Leading examples are
those who react first and think
later. Such reactive individuals
alienate family and friends, suf
fer divorce, get into disputes, go
to prison, and fail in all aspects
of life. Just as Harley Bowers
critiqued his articles overnight,
we must be diligent to call “tim
eout” before reacting to every
matter that arises, regardless
how small.
Think through every situ
ation and pray before acting,
speaking, or taking a position.
Proverbs implores: “Let every
person be quick to hear, slow to
speak, slow to anger.” The devil
is the instigator of sin and the
cheerleader for those sending
themselves to self-made hells.
The devil’s fate is revealed by
Rev20: to.
BILLY POWELL Is an author and a
contributing columnist. His six books are
available on amazon.com.
24/7 SERVICE • 478-836-3195
Anytime.
Anywhere.
Any Weather.
Tri-Sport
Towing & Carrier
Two Locations: S. Dugger Ave. & Hicks Road,
Roberta, GA OFFICE: 478-836-3195
Crossword Solution
Read again, for the first time
(NOTE: This was not written
by me, but worth sharing.)
This past week I was on a
four and half hour, non-stop
flight from Seattle, Washing
ton to Atlanta, Georgia. In
all my years of travelling, I
have learned that each time a
plane has the opportunity to
stop, there is the potential for
unexpected challenge. Flight
delays, weather, and airline
crews can create unantici
pated challenges on any trip.
I always try to fly non-stop
between my destinations.
About an hour on this
particular flight, the Captain’s
voice rang over the inter
com. He asked if there was
a physician or nurse on the
plane, Is so, he asked them
to identify themselves by
ringing the flight attendant
call button beside the seat. I
listened carefully but heard no
one ring their bell. I began to
wonder what was happening.
In a few minutes the Captain
informed us that there was a
medical emergency on board
and asked again if their was
a physician or a nurse who
could help. When there was
no response, we were told
that we were going to make
an emergency stop in
Denver,
Colorado. He apolo
gized but told us there
would be a medical
emergency team waiting
to meet us at the gate,
and that we would prob
ably only be delayed by
delay. He said that since the
stop had taken longer
than expected, those
passengers who
needed connections
in Atlanta would
miss their flights,
but would automat
ically be booked on
the next flight out.
thirty minutes. ‘G' Factor You could almost
Though it was neces- Daniel hear the moans and
sary, we knew we would yy Gatly n § roans through-
-ii i- - • • J ou t th e airplane
all be inconvenienced
by the extra stop. About
half hour later, we landed at
Denver International, and the
medical crew came aboard.
However, everything took
longer than had previously
been expected. An elderly
gentleman, about 85 years of
age, has suddenly taken ill. It
was not clear whether he had
experienced stroke or heart
attack. Even after the gentle
man was carried off the plane,
we still sat there for quite a
while. The original “short”
stop turned into about an
hour and a half.
When we finally pushed
back from the gate, and were
in the air, the pilot apologized
profusely for the unavoidable
of everyone who was being
terribly inconvenienced by the
unexpected stop.
Then the pilot did one of the
classiest things I have person
ally ever seen or heard anyone
do. He spoke into the inter
com and said, “Ladies and
gentle, I thought you might
be interested in one bit of
information. The gentleman
who was taken off the plane
was a Marine in World War
11! I am holding in my hand
a copy of the Congressional
Medal of Honor awarded to
him and signed by President
Truman in i945.The pilot
went on to say, “I realize we
have all been inconvenienced
today. However, in the light
of the fact that this gentleman
was a war hero and was in
convenienced for four years of
his life, in order that we might
experience the freedoms we
enjoy today, I thought you all
should know that”.
Immediately, the airplane
was filled with applause.
Everyone was cheering and so
pleased to know the gentle
man had been cared for in
a way that was fitting and
appropriate. As we continued
to fly, I thought to myself,
“isn’t that interesting? We
were concerned that we were
inconvenienced for a couple
of hours and yet, this gentle
man’s entire life was inter
rupted and inconvenienced
for four years while he went
and fought in a war to protect
the freedoms and values that
we love and hold dear in this
country today.” I breathed
a prayer for the gentleman
and asked God to bless him
for all he had done to help us
understand what freedom is
all about.
DANGATLYN is a USN retired/
minister/joumalist and contributing
columnist. Contact him at: dangat-
lyn@juno.com
CHURCH EVENTS
NEW EAST STAR BAPTIST
CHURCH OUTREACH CENTER,
at the corner of Hwy. 42 and 80,
Courthouse Lane, Knoxville, GA
adjacent to old Knoxville Courthouse
will have their bible study session
every Friday 6-7:30 p.m., currently
studying the book of Revelation.
Weekly prayer meeting is held 6:30
p.m. - 7 p.m.; Sunday service 10 a.m.
-11 a.m.; Praise and Worship service
every Sunday at 11 a.m.
Ministries, S. Dugger Ave., Roberta.
Call 478- 836-3912
ZION TRAVELERS BAPTIST
CHURCH invites everyone to
worship with them on 3rd and 4th
Sundays at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel
of Bentley Montford Mortuary, 133
Railroad Street Butler, GA31006.
Bishop E.G. Hale, Jr.-Pastor
JACOB’S WELL MINISTRIES
Jesus said for where two or three are
gathered together in my name, there
am I in the midst of them. Come
join us. Church services: Sunday
10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Share time
and counseling, Wednesday, 7 p.m.,
Bible Study. 1st Friday of the month
- Family movie and refreshments
7 p.m. 2nd Friday of the month -
Counseling and prayer 7 p.m.
3rd Friday of the month - Family
movie and refreshments 7 p.m.
4th Friday of the month - Counseling
and prayer 7 p.m. 5th Friday of the
month - Counseling and share time
7 p.m. Location: 1740 Giles Road,
Byron, GA. 31008 Church: 478-822-
7587 www.jacobswellbyron.com
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
7:00p.m.; Friday Prayer at 9:00 a.m.
Everyone is invited. Pastor Frank
Martin, Sr.
ST. LUKES EPISCOPAL 1000
State University Dr, Fort Valley,
offers FREE ARTS AND CRAFTS
lessons 1st and 3rd Saturdays of
the month. Doll making, Crocheting,
Knitting, Quilting, Soap, Candle,
Jewelery making and more. Contact
kariba911@hotmail.com or 770-262-
7163 for more information.
PRAYER LINE, Tuesdays and
Thursdays, Christ Abundant Life
2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is
able to bless you
abundantly, so
that in all things at
all times, having
all that you need,
you will abound in
every good work.
CROSSROAD BIBLE CHURCH on
Marshall Mill Road now has a Food
Pantry available for those in need of
a helping hand. Only staple items are
available at this time. Distributions
are being made on the last Thursday
of each month between 11:00
a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Donations are
accepted. For any questions, please
call Karen at 478-213-1011.
BIBLE STUDY OPPORTUNITIES:
Wednesdays, 2 p.m., at The Georgia
Post office (Revelations); Thursdays
6 p.m. in Kathleen at Joyful Life
Church (Proverbs). Everyone
welcome.
LIZELLA BAPTIST CHURCH
has a Food & Clothing pantry to
serve the community weekdays
by appointment. Please call
478.935.8632 to schedule a visit.
2950 S. Lizella Road (5 mi. west of
I-475 on Hwy. 80).
Wade Yoder Storage Buildings, etc.
110 Commercial Heights - Fort Valley, GA
— Hwy. 341 Across from Subway —
Call or Text
(478)955-1999
WadeYoder.com
LIZELLA BAPTIST CHURCH
invites you to join our community!
Search Lizella Baptist Church on FB,
LizellaLife on InstaTwitter, and Lizella
Life on Youtube. We hope to ‘see’
you soon! More info at lizellabaptist.
net.
Storage
•Cabins
•Gazebos
•Carports
•Playhouses
•Greenhouses
Metal Buildings
k RENT-TO-
Be sure and check with the
hosting organization to make
sure events are still on during
this time.
Items for the church
page mast be
submitted by 5p.m.
Fridays.
E-mail:
gapost@pstel.net
The opinions of the columnists featured on this page are the sole
creations of the writers themselves and do not necessarily reflect
the opinion of The Georgia Post management.
(DBrtuarp
William Randolph “Randy”Dukes
Wrens, GA - William Randolph “Randy” Dukes, 80,
loving husband to Hilda Nell Moncrief Dean Dukes, entered
into his eternal rest Friday night, May 1, 2020 at his resi
dence. Graveside services, offi
ciated by Rev. Ed Chance, will
be held at 2:00p.m. Saturday
afternoon, May 16, 2020 in the
Ways Baptist Church Cemetery.
Because of the current ordi
nances regarding COVTD-19
and the family’s respect and
concern for public health and
safety, the family has chosen to
hold a celebration of life service
at a later date in Roberta GA,
Randy’s second home. They
ask that you acknowledge his
passing with your thoughts and |
prayers for the family.
Born and raised in Wrens,
Randy was the youngest of ten
born to the late Alma Wren
Dukes and the late Dorsey
Dukes. After graduating from
Randy Dukes
Wrens High School, he attended South Georgia Tech in
Americus, earning a degree in auto mechanics. A renowned
mechanic, he worked for many years at Lloyds Auto Parts
in Wrens and for Duke Motor Company in Augusta before
retiring. While attending school in Americus, he met life
long friends, Ronnie and Hilda Dean—they vacationed and
travelled together all over the U.S.; was god-father to their
children; and was considered part of the family. Two years
after Ronnie passed, he and Hilda married and honeymooned
in Alaska. Randy accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior
as a young man and was baptized at Ways Baptist Church.
Having a laid-back personality, Randy was a happy-go-lucky
guy who was very congenial, considerate and generous. He
would help anyone had a need. Shying away from conflict, he
always tried to see the positive side of situations and people.
He was very close to his family, especially his mother, loving
them unconditionally. Randy loved and was loved, and even
though he is no longer here on earth, he is in the hearts of
those who remain.
Randy is also preceded in death by his siblings, Glen
Dukes, John Dukes, Judson Dukes, Jimmy Dukes, Dora
Dukes Bell, Ruth Eastus, and Natalie Pittman; and step son,
Scott Dean. Other survivors include sisters, Annette Usry and
Jean Johnson; step son, Christopher Stuckey; and a multi
tude of nieces, nephews and friends.
The family wishes to express their gratitude for the kind
nesses evidenced in thought, deed and prayer.
Visit www.JamesFHWrens.com to sign the guestbook and
to post condolences. Check our website and our Facebook
page for updates on the services honoring Randy.
<( Our Family Serving Your Family”
McLeighton
Funeral Service
David & Donna
McLeighton - owners
375 S. Dugger Avenue Roberta,
Georgia
478-836-3336
View Obituaries at
www.mcleightonfuneralservice.com