Christmas Candles in the Windows

I went to a church service last night at Edgefield Baptist Church in Fayetteville(http://www.edgefield-zion.org/) [Pastor Eddie Thomas] for their Tribe of Judah (choir) Gala. I came home to find that my wife, Jane, had put the Christmas candles in the windows. She tries to surprise me every year because she knows how much I like it. I tell her "It's the best night of the year!" because the candles remind me that the Christ Child is coming! Indeed, He has already come.

In this time where busy schedules and the Christmas "rush" can cause us to get distracted, I pray that something will cause you to remember Jesus often during this Advent season. We all need the Prince of Peace to help keep everything in perspective.

Happy Thanksgiving!

This proclamation of the first Thanksgiving observance by President George Washington seems to making the rounds on the internet this year, and when you read it you will understand why.

The First Thanksgiving Proclamation,

November 26, 1789

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and
Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted' for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have show kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the third of October, in the year of our Lord 1789.

(signed) G. Washington

As Evangelist Billy Kim has said, God has blessed the United States of America like no other nation in the world. The question for us, especially as authentic believers, is "What are we going to do about it?"

I hope that you, like me, are most thankful for the the salvation received through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May we remember that we "are not our own" and that we were "bought with a price." Doesn't that give God the "right" to to come get us and use us to further His kingdom?

What, me sing in public?

The Fellowship of Christian Churches and Friends (FCCF) will hold its regular "Fifth Sunday" service on November 29, 2009 at 2:30 PM at True Love Christian Ministries in Fayette County. Yours truly will be singing a solo (really!) during the service, which is worth the price of admission (which, of course, is free...)

True Love Christian Ministries is located at 192 Graves Road, just off of Gingercake Road. The Senior Pastor at True Love is Elder Nathaniel Livingston. For more information, contact Elder Carl Golden at goldenltn49@gmail.com.

MAP:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Fayetteville&state=GA&address=192+Graves+Rd&zipcode=30214-3697&country=US&latitude=33.486254&longitude=-84.489649&geocode=ADDRESS

Please join us for this celebration of Christian Unity!

Are You Afraid?

As if life wasn't challenging enough sometimes, I recently learned that I may be suffering from Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia. Perhaps, without you realizing it, this condition affects you, too. Maybe, like me, you too have a fear of long words!

For more things you might be afraid of, see http://www.phobialist.com/.

2009 Summer Revivals

It's Revival Season for many African-American churches in this area. I have worshiped at and been warmly welcomed by each of the churches listed here. I highly recommend that you attend as many of these services as possible to help us continue to Build Biblical Bridges of Brotherhood!

True Love Christian Ministries

True Love Christian Ministries will hold a Revival Wednesday-Friday, August 12th, 13th, and 14th at 7:15 PM, nightly. Pastor Eddie Thomas of Edgefield Baptist Church in Fayetteville, is the Revivalist for the 12th and 13th. Reverend Melvin Ware, Senior Pastor of Mt. Olive Baptist Church, will be the Revivalist on Friday night.

The Senior Pastor of True Love Christian Ministries is Elder Nathaniel Livingston. True Love is located just off of Gingercake Road at 192 Graves Road, Fayetteville, GA 30214-3697.

MAP for True Love: http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Fayetteville&state=GA&address=192+Graves+Road&zipcode=30214



New Hope United Methodist Church

New Hope United Methodist Church’s summer revival is Wednesday through Friday, August 12th-14th, starting at 7:30 PM. The guest minister is Rev. James E. Harris, Pastor of Dixon Grove Baptist Church, located in Jonesboro, GA. The Senior Pastor at New Hope UMC is Rev. Belinda McCastle. New Hope is located at 272 Weldon Road in the Inman area of Fayette County (Fayetteville, GA 30215-5500.)

MAP for New Hope UMC: http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Fayeteville&state=GA&address=272+Weldon+Road+&zipcode=30215


Bethlehem Baptist Church

Bethlehem Baptist Church’s Homecoming Service will be held Sunday, August 16th during the morning worship service at 11:00 AM. Reverend Dwight Elder is the speaker. Revival Services will be held Wednesday, August 19th through Friday, August 21st at 7:30 PM, nightly. The Guest Revivalist is Reverend Steven Coleman of True Vine Baptist Church of Tyrone.

Bethlehem is located in Peachtree City at 475 Dividend Drive, 30269-1940. The church phone is (770) 631-0267.

MAP for Bethlehem BC: http://www.mapquest.com/maps/mapaol.adp?city=Peachtre+City&state=GA&address=475+Dividend+Drive&zip=30269-1940


Flint Ridge Baptist Church

Flint Ridge Baptist Church will be in Revival from Aug 19th-21st, starting at 7:00 PM each night. Thursday Night is designated as "Youth Night." The theme for this Revival is: "Being Filled to Do His Will" (EPHESIANS 5:18-20).

The Speakers are as follows:

Wed. Night: Pastor Roosevelt Loveless (Grace Baptist Church in Morrow, GA),
Thur. Night: Min. Dekendell Young (Central Baptist Church in Prichard, Alabama), &
Fri. Night: Pastor Carlton Huff (Emmanuel Baptist Church in Riverdale, GA).

Flint Ridge is located just off GA Hwy 85 in north Fayette County at 104 Old Road, Fayetteville, GA, 30214-3954.

MAP for Flint Ridge BC: http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Fayetteville&state=GA&address=104+Old+Road&zipcode=30214


Holly Grove African Methodist Episcopal Church

Holly Grove African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church invites you to help them celebrate their upcoming Revival Services. The Senior Pastor at Holly Grove AME Church is Reverend Eyvonne Whitman.

Revival Services will be Monday through Wednesday, August 24-26, 2009 - 7:00 PM

Holly Grove AMEC is located at 400 Holly Grove Church Road, Peachtree City, GA, 30269, off the southern end of Robinson Road, between Oakdale Avenue and Aston Park. Look for the Historical Marker, the church sign, and the white fence.

MAP to Holly Grove AMEC: http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Peachtree+City&state=GA&address=400+Holly+Grove+Church+Road&zipcode=30269

Merrill Chapel United Methodist Church

Merrill Chapel United Methodist Church will hold their REVIVAL Monday, August 24 through Wednesday, August 26, 2009 at 7:30 PM, nightly.

Rev. Otis L. Pickett, Pastor of Destiny Faith Church in Atlanta, Georgia, will be the Revivalist.

Merrill Chapel is located at 430 South Davis Drive in Fayetteville.

MAP for Merrill Chapel: http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Fayetteville&state=GA&address=430+South+Jeff+Davis+Drive&zipcode=30215

Edgefield Baptist Church

Edgefield Baptist Church in Fayetteville will hold their Summer Revival on Monday and Tuesday, August 24-25, 2009 at 7:00 PM, nightly. The Senior Pastor of Edgefield Baptist Church is Pastor Eddie Thomas. The Guest Revivalist for both nights will be Pastor Wendy Smith of Greater Victory Christian Center in East Point, Georgia. Edgefield is located at 140 Church Street. Edgefield web site: http://www.edgefield-zion.org.

MAP for Edgefield Baptist Church: http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Fayetteville&state=GA&address=140+Church+Street&zipcode=30214


Liberty Hill African Methodist Episcopal Church

Liberty Hill African Methodist Episcopal Church will have their Homecoming on Sunday, 8/23/09. Rev. H. E. Terrell, retired Presiding Elder, will bring the message during the morning service at 11:00 AM. Dinner follows the morning service. Rev. David Trott and Greater Mt. Zion AMEC-Newnan will be special guests at the 2:30 PM service.

Liberty Hill’s Revival runs from Wednesday-Friday, 8/26 - 8/28/09, 7:30 PM nightly.

The Guest Preachers are as follows:

Wednesday: Pastor Phillip Bannamon of Knights Monumental AMEC, Stockbridge, GA.

Thursday: Pastor Ed Johnson of Flat Rock AMEC, Fayetteville.

Friday: Pastor Robert Homes of Hickory Log Missionary Baptist Church, Canton.

Liberty Hill is located in eastern Coweta County. The address is 210 Minix Road (off Fisher Road), Sharpsburg, GA, 30277-1735.

MAP for Liberty Hill AMEC: http://www.mapquest.com/maps/mapaol.adp?city=Sharpsburg&state=GA&address=210+Minix+Road&zip=30277-1735

The Declaration of Independence (emphasis added)

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies.

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

My Country 'Tis of Theee

As we celebrate the 4th of July (commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776, I thought you might like to see the 4th verse of America (My Country 'Tis of Thee), written by Samuel Francis Smith while he was a seminary student. The song was first performed publicly in 1831. It served as our de facto national anthem until the Star Spangled Banner (though written in 1814) was officially made our national anthem in 1931.

[emphasis added]

Our fathers' God, to Thee,

author of liberty, to Thee we sing;

long may our land be bright

with freedom's holy light;

protect us by thy might, great God, our King. (Amen!)

PS Widely used, though little remembered, was the rallying cry used by many colonialists during the Revolutionary War: "NO king but JESUS!"

Remembering America's Creed

Check out Chuck Colson's commentary on the "American Creed."

http://www.breakpoint.org/listingarticle.asp?ID=11976

142 Anniversary at Bethlehem Baptist Church

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! PSALM 133.1


Pastor Dwight Elder and the Bethlehem Baptist Church family would be honored to have you join them to help celebrate their 142nd Church Anniversary program on Sunday, June 7th at 2:30 PM.

The guest speaker will be Reverend Edward Cochran of the Floyd Chapel Baptist Church in Stockbridge.

Here is their invitation to all, "Please come out and fellowship with us as we celebrate another year in Christ!"

Dinner will be served from 1:00-2:00 PM.

Bethlehem Baptist Church is located at 475 Dividend Drive, Peachtree City, GA 30269-1940, just north of and opposite the entrance to Falcon Field.

Dress for this service is casual. Many people will be dressed in bib overalls, reflecting the dress of some of the earlier years of the church. However, you may come as you are.

We are building biblical bridges of brotherhood. Won't you join us?

65th Anniversary of D-Day

As the world celebrates the 65th Anniversary of D-Day, I thought you might like to read the fourth verse of the Star Spangled Banner:


O! thus be it ever, when free men shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: 'In God is our trust.'
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Holly Grove AME Church Anniversary and FUN FEST

As part of their 112th Anniversary observance entitled Preserving Our Past, Building Our Future, Holly Grove African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church will hold a Fun Fest on Saturday, May 30, 2009, from 11:00 AM- 3:00 PM. The Pastor at Holly Grove AME Church is Reverend Eyvonne Whitman.

Bring the entire family!

Join us for food, games, and entertainment, including “note singers," chorus groups, and dance teams.

Visit the Historical Room in the church to learn more about the rich heritage of Holly Grove AME Church and of African-Americans in Fayette County.

LOCATION: 400 Holly Grove Church Road
Peachtree City, GA 30269

DIRECTIONS: South on Peachtree Parkway.
Right on Robinson Road .
Left on Holly Grove Church Road.
(Look for the historical marker, the white fence and the church sign.)

CONTACT: Holly Grove AME Church at (770) 631-7650.

On a personal note, a number of us have been fellowshiping with Holly Grove for several years now and am delighted to tell you that they have been active in the area-wide effort to Build Biblical Bridges of Brotherhood. Come share in the fun and meet some faithful brothers and sisters in Christ!

New Life Ministries' Dedication Services this week

New Life Ministries in Fayetteville is moving to a new, larger location at 182 N. Glynn Street (behind Captain D’s). They are holding Dedication Services this week Tuesday through Thursday at 7:00 PM, nightly. The pastor is Pastor Glenn B. Allen, Sr.


TUESDAY: The guest preacher will be Dr. Jonathan Carter of Siloam Church International in College Park.


WEDNESDAY: The message will be brought by Reverend T. Gerry Anderson of New Macedonia Baptist Church in Riverdale.


THURSDAY: Dr. Howard Creecy, Jr. of The Olivet Church in Fayetteville will preach.


The web site for New Life Ministries (under construction) is http://www.nlm1.org/. The Phone Number is (770)-719-8522; E-mail -- info@nlm1.org.

If your schedule permits, I urge you to step boldly out in faith and attend one or more of these services to encourage Pastor Allen and his congregation and to help us build biblical bridge of brotherhood right here in Fayette County.

A Promise Keeper is committed to reaching beyond any racial and denominational barriers to demonstrate the power of biblical unity!

Happy Resurrection Sunday!

You may have noticed that a number of churches and ministries refer to today as Resurrection Sunday.

According to Wikipedia:

The modern English term Easter developed from the old English word Ēastre or Ēostre or Eoaster, which itself developed prior to 899. The name refers to Eostur-monath, a month of the Germanic calendar attested by Bede as named after the goddess Eostre of Anglo-Saxon Paganism.

So it would appear that some folks are eager to distance themselves form a name that has pagan roots. Now, I'm not going to get all legalistic about this, but I personally like the change. Some churches have even given up Easter Egg Hunts, recognizing that the egg has been part of pagan
Spring and fertility celebrations for millennia. (To be fair, the boiled egg is also a part of the Jewish Passover meal, the Seder.) Now, I'm not going to get all legalistic about this, but personally, I like the change. After all, the term Resurrection Sunday puts the emphasis right back where it belongs, on Jesus Christ and on what is arguably the single most important event in history, His resurrection!

By the way, did you ever wonder how the day for the holiday (formerly, Holy Day) is set on the calendar each year? Again, according to Wikipedia:

Easter is the first Sunday after the Pascal Full Moon, which is the first moon whose 14th day (the ecclesiastic "full moon") is on or after March 21(the ecclesiastic "vernal equinox").

Got that?

FCCF Fifth Sunday Celebration

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! PSALM 133:1 (NIV)

The Fellowship of Christian Churches and Friends (FCCF) will hold their regular Fifth Sunday Celebration this Sunday, March 29, 2009 at 2:30 PM at Flint Ridge Baptist Church (Rev. Jerome Drakeford, Pastor). The FCCF schedules these celebrations as a way to build unity in the local body of Christ. Current participating churches include Bethlehem Baptist Church, Grace Evangelical Church, Flat Rock African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, Flint Ridge Baptist Church, Mount Olive Baptist Church, and True Love Ministries. All members of the Christian community in the South Metro area are invited to attend!

The Guest Preacher for this event is Reverend Gerry Anderson, Senior Pastor of New Macedonia Baptist Church in Riverdale.

Flint Ridge Baptist Church is located in northern Fayette County at 104 Old Road, just off of GA Highway 85, just south of GA Highway 279. The phone number at Flint Ridge is 770-461-8742.

MAP: http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Fayeteville&state=GA&address=104+Old+Road&zipcode=30214

Please join us as we continue to Build Biblical Bridges of Brotherhood! I believe that this is one of the best opportunities for unity among churches in this area. I can't begin to tell you how blessed I have been personally by getting to know the pastors and congregations of the churches participating in the FCCF. One of the most amazing discoveries is how God has already prepared their hearts for unity, also. For those of you who are undecided about this, I urge you to consider moving out of whatever congregational, denominational, and/or racial comfort zone you may be in and get involved!

Future FCCF Celebrations in 2009 wil be held May 31st, August 30th, and November29th. Details will follow.

Government Spending in Perspective

According to National Republican Senatorial Committee, "... over the course of only seven weeks of the current Congressional session, Senate Democrats have passed more spending than the previous Administration spent on Iraq, Afghanistan, and Katrina recovery combined. "

Yikes! A long time ago I was an Economics major, so I probably only remember enough to be dangerous, but this level of spending really concerns me.

When some people see a problem in America they often assert that "the government ought to do something." One of the problems with government spending is that government does not have any money of it's own.

There are basically three ways the government gets money:

1. It taxes its citizens
2. It borrow money (through mechanisms like government bonds)
3. It prints money

Here's the problem with each of these approaches:

1. Taxes take money out of the "private sector" which needs money to produce and grow.
2. Borrowed money has to be paid back eventually, at least the interest on the debt.
3. Printing money to pay for government programs leads to inflation ("the cruelest tax of all"), which is just what happened during the Carter administration when it tried this approach.

I'm not trying to debate whether the government should spend money, I'm just saying that this level of spending comes with some very significant risks. If you're thinking that we'll pay for all this by increasing income taxes on the "wealthy," keep in in mind that there are NOT enough of them to cover the costs. Most of the burden, then, will have to be shouldered by the bulk of American taxpayers.

MLK Day 2009: Have you been to the mountaintop?

Many Christians have had "mountaintop experiences," time with God that has the effect of changing their lives forever.

Today, as we celebrate the anniversary of the birth of Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr., I want to invite you to use the following link to hear and/or read the "I've Been to the Mountaintop" speech that Dr. King gave in Memphis, TN on April 3, 1968. Dr. King was assassinated the following day.

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkivebeentothemountaintop.htm

I, personally, have been to the mountaintop of racial reconciliation and, for me, there is no going back, only forward. My prayer for all of us today is that God would get us alone with him on this issue and lead us toward unity in the local body of Christ.

In his speech, Dr King told the audience, "But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land!" Part of that Promise Land will be reached tomorrow when President -elect Barack Obama is sworn in as the 44th President of the United States. A possibility that most could only dare to dream about 40 years ago, is about to become reality.

MLK Birthday Celebration

The Fayette County 2009 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration is Saturday, January 17th.

Here's the schedule of events:

Pre-Parade Breakfast Buffet ~ 9:30 - 10:30 AM
Lafayette Center Cafeteria (next door to the Joseph A. Sam's Auditorium)
COST: $5.00 (Cash or Check only)

Parade ~ 10:00 AM - 11 :45 AM

Commemorative Program ~ 11:45 AM - 12:45 PM
Joseph A. Sam's Auditorium


My thoughts:

I urge you to attend all or part of this celebration. These are historic times as November's election and next Tuesday's inauguration of President-elect Obama indicate. I've been told that there are 26 African-American pastors in Fayette county. I expect most of them, along with members of their congregations, to be there for Saturday's events. You can help build unity in the local body of Christ just by showing up. Believe me, your attendance will make a powerful statement. It will not mean that you agree with every thing that Dr. King and the NAACP ever did or said, but it will mean that you are willing to recognize and identify with the struggle of the people they represent. I have come to know many African-Americans in Fayette County as true brothers and sisters in Christ.

I strongly recommend that you "Google" Dr. King and learn more about him and what he really stood and worked for. In particular, search for his "I Have a Dream" speech and his "Letter From a Birmingham Jail."

Don't miss this opportunity! We are Building Biblical Bridges of Brotherhood!

DRESS WARMLY! Temperatures early Saturday morning may be in the single digits! It should "warm up" into the 30's by parade time. (I'm wearing my ski jacket and a wool cap!)