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PAGE 8A
‘Mercy there was, and grace was free’
The Bible never mentions then
names or gives us any details re
garding the crimes they commit
ted. They were common crimi
nals who received a sentence of
death by crucifixion for their of
fenses. And their punishment
was carried out one Friday on a
hill outside Jerusalem known as
“the place of the skull” -
Golgotha.
We would have no knowledge
of them had it not been for the
man who hung on a cross be
tween them that day. But, their
destined encounter with Jesus of
Nazareth became part of the per
manent Gospel record. And the
eternal choice that each man
made that day serves as a lesson
for all of us.
Luke 23:32-43 provides the de
tails of the amazing story that
Political viewpoints can vary
It was a rather heated argu
ment about a social issue. The
matter seemed impossible to re
solve. Finally, it ended as one said
with a note of finality, “If you
believe in God, you cannot think
that way!” Such attitudes are
dangerous not only because they
infringe on anothers freedom of
speech, but also because of the
narrow mindedness explicit in
the attitude, “A failure to see
something as I see it makes you
un-Christian.”
One of the worst things that
can happen to a society or a
church is to foster the type think
ing which results in polarization.
There should be room within our
Perry PraiSing
set for Aug. 27
The Annual Perry PraiSing
will be held Aug. 27 at 7 p.m. at
First Baptist Church. Everyone
is invited to attend. The evening
will include a combined choir and
full orchestra presenting the gos
pel in song. A love offering will
be taken to benefit the Transient
Fund of Perry Ministerial Asso
ciation, the sponsor of this an
nual event.
If you have any questions,
please call Mark Gentry at Sec
ond Memorial Baptist Church at
987-4803.
Alpha Course to begin
Wednesday, August 30
the Alpha Course, a 10 week
practical introduction to the
Christian faith, which has been
taught in thousands of churches
of all denominations, will be of
fered at Crossroads United Meth
odist Church, beginning Wednes
day, August. 30. Each session will
begin at 6:30 p.m. with dinner,w
which will be followed by a les
son and group discussion. A nurs
ery is provided. A $lO sign-up fee
covers the course book and the
meals. There will be a weekend
Arnold's Auto Service
1202 Main St.
Perry, Ga. 31069
Complete Car Maintenance
Pick-up & Delivery **Road Service
Call Thomas Call Chris
987-9439 Nights/Weekends 988-2404
U.S. 341 N. • Perry
987-2411
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Dealer since 1983.
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unfolded on the hill we know as
Calvary. Amid the catcalls of the
religious leaders and the mock
ery of the Roman soldiers, Jesus
offered up his famous prayer of
compassion and forgiveness for
the very ones who crucified him:
“Father, forgive them, for they do
not know what they are doing.”
As the criticism from below
continued, one of the criminals
who hung beside Jesus joined in
the insults.
“Aren’t you the Christ? Save
yourself and us!”
Even with death drawing ever
closer, this man remained unre
pentant of his crime and unwill
ing to seek mercy.
From the other side of the hill
came a rebuke from the most
unlikely of places. The other
criminal spoke up and said,
understanding of brotherhood
for those who disagree with us.
While it is true that our political
or social viewpoint can be incom
patible with a Christian lifestyle,
our personal political persuasion
does not determine our Chris
tianity.
Nowhere in scripture are we
told that every person of faith
will have the same political, so
cial, or economic viewpoint. Mat
ter of fact, if we look at the dis
ciples and the people of the early
church we see great diversity in
accepted lifestyles. The thing
which joined them together was
their individual faith and their
willingness to make room within
retreat in October. To learn more,
or to sign up, call 987-3721,
church office, or call Kevin
Clotfelter at 988-0051.
Favorite Anthems Concert
planned by Perry UMC
The Perry United Methodist
Church Sanctuary Choir, under
the direction of Marc A. Foster,
will present a Favorite Anthems
Concert on Sunday, Aug. 20, at 3
p.m. and 7 p.m. The anthems to
be sung were selected by a vote
of the congregation, and include
many all-time favorites, such as
Amazing Grace, the Hallelujah
Chorus, Surely the Presence, and
Majesty. Because the church
sanctuary is being remodeled, the
two performances of the concerts
will be held in the auditorium of
the Houston County Board of
Education Building (old Perry
High School). Admission is free,
but seating is limited. Call the
church office, 987-1852, today to
reserve your seat.
New Beginnings Baptist
to hold Homecoming
New Beginnings Baptist
Church, located between Perry
and Ft. Valley on Hwy. 341, will
VICTORY
Christian Fellowship
Sunday Services
10:30 am & 7 pm
504 Marshallville Rd.
Perry, GA
912-987-9826
Wednesday - 7 pm
email: vcf@netzero.net
www.members.tripod.com/VCFPerryGs
Quality Inn
1-75 at U.S. 341 - Perry*
987-1345
Charles "Chick" Evans
Vice President & General Manager
“Don’t you fear God since you are
under the same sentence? We are
punished justly, for we are get
ting what our deeds deserve. But
this man has done nothing
wrong.”
This criminal became keenly
aware that a horrible injustice
was taking place before their very
eyes, he recognized that while
their punishment was just and
deserved, the man they called
“The King of the Jews” was be
ing crucified unjustly.
Perhaps it was a look of com
passion he saw in Jesus’ eyes or
the words of forgiveness that
Jesus spoke for those who de
spised and ridiculed him. maybe
as he herd some in the crowd
mock him as the Messiah, he con
sidered in his own heart the pos
sibility that Jesus was indeed the
wi^M
A Different Perspective
Rev. Bill Strickland
Perry United Methodist
the Christian community for
those of contrasting opinions.
focal Qhunck
hold Homecoming on Sunday,
August 27. Services will begin at
11 a.m.. with a covered dish meal
to follow. Child care will be pro
vided. Following the meal, there
will be special singing with The
Redeemed. The congregation and
pastor invite all members, formpr
members and friends to join
them on Homecoming for wor
ship and fellowship.
New Life of Perry
plans golf tournament
New Life of Perry Church of
Pentecost will sponsor the
“Sheaves for Christ “4 man
scramble golf tournament on Sat
urday, August 19, 8:30 a.m., at
the Southern Hills Golf Club in
Hawkinsville. For more informa
tion, call the church office, 987-
5816.
The church will also hold “Cel
ebration of Pentecost III” on
Sunday, August 20 at 10 a.m. and
6 pm., with additional services at
7 pm. on August 21 and August
22. The guest speaker will be Rev.
Kenneth Dyson of Memphis,
Tennessee.
New Life of Perry is located at
2089 U.S. Hwy. 41 South, a half
mile past Westfield School. For
1812 U.S. 41 N.
Perry, GA
987-1112
CONNER’S
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Sewing Houston County
Perry • Warner Robins
Member FDIC
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savior of the world.
Whatever God used to break
through to his soul, a criminal
who was only hours away from
the end of his life, turned to Jesus
and offered him the only thing he
had left - a prayer of faith.
Vocalizing differing political
viewpoints is healthy for our so
ciety. Yet, when we demand that
all see things according to what
we understand as the only
proper Christian perspective, we
do a damaging thing to our soci
ety in general and the Kingdom
of God as a whole. Not only do
we infringe on personal right,
but we also deny the uniqueness
of the individual when led by the
Holy Spirit. God chooses to re
veal Himself in different ways.
We were all created in such a
way as to have different person
alities. He only asks for our
faith. Should we demand more
of one another?
information, call 987-5816.
Young Women’s Bible
Study at Perry
Presbyterian Church
Bible study for young women
will be held in the morning and
the evening at Perry Presbyte
rian Church. The morning Bible
study will be on Thursdays, at 9
a.m., beginning September 14.
The group will study the second
half of “The Excellent Wife” by
Martha Peace. Contact Christy
Wojohn for further information.
The evening study will be at 7
p.m.on Tuesdays, beginning Sep
tember 5. Call Kristen Epperson
for further information. The
church is located at llllSecond
Street. The telephone number is
987-1403.
New Hope Church of God
plans camp meeting
New Hope Church of God, 2440
Hwy. 127, Kathleen, is holding
“Harvest Camp Meeting”, Au
gust 6-11 at 7 p.m. each evening.
The speakers are as follows: Mon
day and Tuesday, Pastor Tony
Cooper, Lexington, Kentucky;
Wednesday, pastor Markus
Where’s the
PRIME
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tawfinjMsri
1-75 Exit 43
(912) 987-3313 PLhuY
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A Light for Your Path
Phil Lambert
Columnist
I \ THE
llbank of PERRY)!
The Bank of Perry
Pleas* worship at the
church of your choice
1006 Main St. • Parry
987-2554 • Member
FDIC
“Jesus, remember me when you
come into your kingdom.”
And on that hill of death and
despair, Jesus spoke to him
words of life and hope. “I tell you
the truth, today you will be with
me in paradise”
Two men looked upon the face
of Jesus that day and considered
the same question he once asked
his disciples: “Who do you say
that I am?”
One joined in with the cries of
the mob and saw a false Messiah
hanging helplessly on a cross.
The other confessed his sin
and sought forgiveness from the
One he believed to be the Son of
Rev. Jay Hawkins to
minister in Perry
Pastor Glenn Clower and the
congregation of Victory Chris
tian Fellowship invite everyone
to attend a special service on
Sunday, August 20, with Evan
gelist Joel Hawkins, better
known as “Brother Jay”, as
speaker.
According to a spokesman for
his ministry, he was ‘raised by a
praying mother and a
prophecying grandmother and
has been nurtured in the Pen
tecostal experience virtually all
of his life.”
“Saved at the age of seven, he
began to serve the Lord under
a special anointing in music,
and by his teen years, he was
heavily involved in revival/mu
sic settings all over his home
Bishop, Panama City, Florida;
Thursday, Pastor Clint Brown,
Orlando, Florida; and Friday,
Pastor Mike Cowart, Hinesville,
Georgia. For more information,
call 987-7893.
First Baptist Perry
Ladies’ Aerobics are held Mon
day, Wednesday and Friday from
8;45 a.m. to 10 a.m. Child care is
provided. $1 per class. $1 per
child for child care, night classes
have been canceled until further
notice.
PraiSing 2000 will be held at
FBP on August 27 at 7 p.m.
Books and tapes are available for
purchase by area churches that
plan to participate. Cal the
church office, 987-2002, for de
tails.
Lighthouse Baptist events
Lighthouse Baptist Church ac
tivities include:
•Light Force-youth group has
an active schedule of Bible study
Wednesday night at 7 p.m. mid
Sunday night at 6 p.m. Light
Force also enjoys activities and
outings.
Lighthouse Baptist church is
located at 128 Hwy. 247 Spur in
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912-987-/823
(Jameson Dnn
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I If you find ns,
You ’ll Like Us.^
Charles F. Linn, CHSE. General Manager
200 Market Place Dr. * Perry, GA 31069
(912)987-5060 or Toll Free 1-800-
JAMESON www.jamesoninns.com
AUGUST 17, 2000
God. And in so doing, each se
cured their eternal destination.
One of the greatest hymns
written about the power of God’s
ultimate sacrifice is “At Cal
vary.”
The refrain of that hymn
states,’’Mercy there was and
grace was free. Pardon there was
multiplied to me. There my bur
dened soul found liberty. At Cal
vary.”
And walking along the streets
of paradise is a former criminal
dressed in a spotless robe who
can sing that song with perhaps
more conviction than all of God’s
saints put together.
town, as well as in missionary
outreaches and radio minis
try.”
He moved toOklahoma in
1984, and met his wife Lucy
there, which completing four
years of Bible School. Since
that time, Brother Jay has con
tinued a church-building min
istry through evangelistic
meetings, radio, prison minis
try and over lOyears pastoral
work in the local church.
Brother Jay will be minister
ing at 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. at
Victory Christian Fellowship,
504 Marshallville Raod, perry.
A nursery will e provided for
the services. For more informa
tion, call the church at 987-
9826.
Kathleen. Pastor is R. Keith
Kersey.
Greater Word services
The Greater Word of Deliver
ance Church invites you to wor
ship with them.
On Tuesdays, a prayer service
is held at 7 p.m.; Wednesdays,
Christian Education begins at 7
p.m.; Sunday school begins at
9:30 a.m. each week; Sunday
morning service begins at 10:30
a.m. and Sunday evening services
at 6 p.m. On each first Sunday of
the month the evening service is
held at Summerhill Nursing
Home at 6 p.m.
The church is located at 2234
U.S. 41 N.
Faith Bible Fellowship
Faith Bible Fellowship, located
at 517 Martin Luther King Jr.
Drive in Perry, invites you to at
tend their services.
Each Sunday, Sunday School
begins at 9:00 a.m., morning wor
ship begins at 10:00 a.m. and
evening worship begins at 5:45
p.m.
Bible study is held each
Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.
The church adult choir meets
Thursday nights at 7:00 p.m. and
the youth choir meets Saturdays
at noon. Pastor is Willie King.
New Pentecostal services
New Pentecostal Church lo
cated at 604 Elm St., Perry, in
vites everyone to come worship
with them.
Sunday School classes begin at
10 a.m. with the morning service
starting at 11:30. Bible Study is
held each Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Children’s’ Bible Study is held
Tuesday from 7 until 8 p.m.
Thursday midweek service is at
7:30 p.m. The pastor is Elder
John Scott Sr.
Full Gospel Lighthouse
Full Gospel Lighthouse
Church .located at 1122 Gaines
Drive welcomes visitors. Those
who need transportation to at
tend services can call 987-3126.
Services are held Sunday
morning at 10 a.m., Sunday
evening at 6 p.m. and Wednesday
evening at 7 p.m. The pastor is
Dewey Stout.