" IHIhHHH w
"For the thing which I greatlx feared is come upon me and that which
I was afraid of is come unto me 1 was not in safety. neither had I rest,
neither was 1 quiet, set trouble came ." tJob 3:25-26)
Things were looking good for Job until Satan looked through on Job
Job had just finished his prayers for the das saying. "It mas be that my
sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts, thus Job did continually."
(Job 1:5)
"There was a das when the sons of God came to present thentselses
before the Lord., and Satan came also among them." (Verse 6) Here sse
will see there ssas a meeting in heasen of which Job was unaware of. It
was there that God said unto Satan. "Whence comest thou0 Satan answered
the Lord and said, from going to and fro in the earth and from
walking up and down in it." (Job 1:6-7)
"God said unto Satan, hast thou considered ms servant Job And there
is none like him in the earth, a perfect man. one that feareth Go and
escheweth evil." (Verse 8)
"Satan replied doth Job fear God for naught? Hast not thou made an
hedge about him and about his house? And about all that he hath on
every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hand, and his substance is
increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now and touch all that he
hath and he will curse thee to,thy face." (Job 1:9-11)
Notice Satan said. "Put forth thine hand now." Satan said do it now
while all around him is blessed, while his prasers are being ansssered.
Do it now while all around him is plentiful. The sun ssas shinning, things
were looking up for Job. With 7.000 sheep in the field. 3.000 camels on
hoof, his sons and daughters svere eating and living it up And yet one
day a servant came to Job and said. "The oxen were plosving and the
asses feeding beside them. The Sa'be'ans fell upon them and took them
away. They have lain the servants with the edge of the sword and I only
an escaped alone to tell thee." (Job 1:13-15)
"There came a neat sxind from the svilderness and smote the four corners
of the house and it fell upon the young men and they are dead."
(Verse 19)
When Job finished burying his family., livestock, see Job now standing
on the graves of his loved ones, possibly Job turned and looked up
into heaven and cried out "Naked came I out of my mother's womb and
naked shall I return thither. The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away,
blessed be the name of the Lord... In all this. Job sinned not. nor charged
God foolishly." (Verse 20-22)
God's word tells us that Satan does travel upon this earth, going to an
fro. walking up and down in it looking for those whom God has built a
fence around, those who feared God and eschewed evil. Satan spotted
Job on his way back down, going up in his walk. Satan had been given
permission to destroy Job's substances, now coming back. Satan found
Job still trusting in God.
Job's wife said to Job. "Doth thou still retain thine integrity? Curse
(l God and die."..." He that abideth in me and I in him, the same bringeth
forth much fruit. If ye abide in me. and my words abide in you. ye shall
ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you." (St. John 15:5-7) Job's
wife could not understand Job. He had lost all his substance and family
and Job is still abiding in God. "Curse God. Job, and die," she said.
Satan had come back by and Job was talking words like "Naked came
I out of my mother's womb and naked shall I return."
..."So again there was a day when the sons of God came to present
themselves before the Lord and Satan came also among them.
"The Lord said unto Satan, from whence comest thou and Satan answered
the Lord and said, from gong to and fro in the earth and from
walking up and down in it.
"And the Lord said unto Satan, hast thou considered my servant Job
that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and upright man, one
that feareth God and escheweth evil? And still holdest fast his integrity."
(Job was always abounding in the work of the Lord knowing his labor
was not in vain. He was steadfast. Job was not slipping to and fro but he
was stuck in the work of God.)
"Satan said to God, skin for skin, yea all that a man hath will be give
for his life." (Job 2:4) "You put forth thine hand now, touch his bones
and his flesh and he will curse thee to thy face." (Verse 5) So Job is
smote with sore boils from the sole of his feet unto his crown. Now Job
sat down among the ashes, being cursed by his wife and three friends
who came to moum with him and to comfort him. They looked upon him
and failed to recognize Job. They all rent their mantles, sprinkled dust
upon their heads toward heaven. (Job 2:12) The scripture said that "for
seven days and seven nights and none spoke a word. Soon Job opened
his mouth and cursed his day that he was bom." Now it was skin for skin.
"Let the day perish wherein I was bom and the night which it was said
there is a man child conceived." (Job 3:1-2) "Let that day be darkness:
let not God regard it from above, neither light shine upon it." (Verse 4)
"Let no voice be joyful, let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark. For
the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me and that which I was
afraid of is come unto me. 1 was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither
was 1 quiet yet trouble came." (Job 3:25-26)
Job must have looked back and seen where he knew that his children
were doing things which were not right and he prayed for them, in fear
of death, "O God let my children live."
Job must have felt like Abraham when there seemed to be a failure on
God's part to bring forth a seed from Sarai's womb. Abraham cried out
"O that Ishmael might live before thee." (Genesis 17:18)
Sad to say, many people never bother with God so long as everything
goes well. You and I cannot expect to have a vibrant relationship with
God for nothing. There is a price which must be paid.
Job had many nights which were appointed to him. When I lie down I
say when shall I arise and the night be gone? And I am free of tossing to
and fro until the dawning of the day. (Job 7:3-4)
Job acknowledged God's justice. "If I had called and he had answered
me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice." (Job
9:16) So now Job declared "My days are swifter than a pest, they flee
away, they see no good." (Verse 25) "My good days are now behind me
never to return.
But Job went on to trust God and to search for the ways of God. One
day God appeared to Job and said "Shall he that contended with the
Almighty instruct him? Then Job answered the Lord, behold I am vile,
what shall I thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. Once have I
spoken, but 1 will now answer yea twice, but I proceed no farther. Then
the Lord answered unto Job out of the whirlwind and said, gird up thy
loins now like a man and declare unto me. Hast thou an arm like God?"
(Job 40:1-12)
"Then Job said; I know that thou canst do every thing and that no
thought can be with holden front there, wherefore 1 abhor myself and
repent in dust and ashes. And it was so that after the Lord had spoken
these words unto Job the Lord said to Eliphaz the Tenmanite. my wrath
is kindled against thee and against thy two friends for ye have not spoken
of me the things that are right as my servant Job has. Take these
things to Job and he shall pray for you; for him will I accept, lest I deal
with you after your folly in that ye have not spoken of me the things
which are right like my servant Job."
Now left me say to you who are experiencing those things which you
greatly feared and that which has made you afraid and there seems to be
no way out. Listen, when trouble comes there are those who will sit afar
off and accuse you of sinning against God. Soon, they will come to you in
need of prayer. The Bible tells us to pray for our enemies, bless those
who despitefully use you and say all manner of evil against you. Pray.
When Job prayed the Lord also accepted Job and the Lord turned the
captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends. Also the Lord gave Job
twice as much as he had before. Then came there unto him all his brethren
and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance
before and did eat bread with him in his house and they bemoaned him
and comforted him over all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him.
every man also gave him a piece of money and every one an earring of
gold. So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning.
Listen my friend, it is a dark fog that slyly imprisons a soul and which
allows no easy escape, ft is a silent midst which will cover the sun and
bring darkness. Friend, it is a heavy cloud that will not honor or hear or
respect any person. The further you go, the more depression, discouragement
and disappointment, doubt. Job's friends and Job were under
this dreaded fog. This fog wilt cause broken hearts and will dis orient
your life. My friend, when these things come upon us which we are
afraid of and we know that we are not in safety and despite what you do.
sickness makes it hard for us to see the right path, oh we can read a book,
go see our doctor, take up exercise, jog. run. diet, nothing helps.
Friend, when it comes skin for skin, Satan said a man would give his
life for life. When sickness encircles us our vision is blocked, and it
seems tomorrow will not come. When this sickness of skin for skin comes,
it is like a fog that envelops us with blackness. You can cry and yet no
help comes Some of you know the feeling. You have been betrayed by
>our friend, pastor, some of sou have been dumped by your spouse
Some of sou like Job have prayed for your loved ones and stood over
their graves. You have placed flowers on a friend's casket. Some of you
have sit by the bedside of a sick friend You know a little about Job's
skin for skin. You know the cloud you have seen it make up before. Job
said that he retained God. God in Job and Job in God. He could do
nothing without God. My dear friend, you arc not alone in this fog of
skin for skin. You need to remember the very best warrior has been ahead
of you. God is a very present help in times of trouble. If broken hearts
were commercials, we could all be on television
This past few weeks,, months and years I have witnessed many
wounded spirits face this fog of skin for skin My friend and neighbor.
Tidy Dial passed away this week. There have been several car wrecks,
many funerals There's the attractive wife whose husband has walked
out. a child who has died. O. my friend, these tragedies will blinilour
v ision, destroy our dreams and the mountain is getting higher Thej^here
is that cry. "Oh God help me make it through the night."
Would you come with me for a moment. Let's go to the foggiest of
nights, skin for skin in a garden of bricks, twisted trees, a little stone
fence, a dark, dark night, now look closely through this fog. Can you see
this person, a young man there he is flat on his face on the ground, his
face stained with dirt and tears, his fists pounding the earth, his eyes
filled with tears, his hair matted with tears and salt. Mark 14:32)
In those days of his flesh, he offered up strong crying and tears and it
was heard he feared. (Hebrew s 5:7) Have you ever said. "Stop the w orld
and let me off.. I am tired of going around and round." When it was skin
for skin. Jesus cried. "O father, move this cup." The fog was sitting in
the windshield cover and it was getting dark. Jesus do something. Blow
your hom. Don't give up. keep moving, dim your light. "Abba father,
take this cup from me. nevertheless, not my will be done but thine will
be done." Praise God the fog lifted. My friend.. Christ left us an example
in three great areas: faith, hope and love. His was a path of faith,
walked in obsolete dependence on the father, never exerting self will.
He never once retaliated or threatened for any injustice done to him. His
hope was in God alone. Let me close now. "I will say unto God. do not
condemn me. shew me wherefore thou contendest with me." (Job 10:1*2)
It was when Job's friends went and sought forgiveness and it was
when job prayed for them that the fog lifted up.
Many of you could escape this skin for skin "If ye forgive men their
trespasses your heavenly father will also forgive you. But if ye forgive
not men their trespasses neither will your father forgive your trespass.
(Matthew 6:14-15)
Gathering of the Eastern
Indian Nations at Sunrise
The Indian Education Resource Center and the North Carolina Indian
Cultural Center will sponsor the Gathering of the Eastern Indian Nations
at Sunrise Festival on March 31, 2001. The Festival will begin at 6:30
a.m. with the Sacred Fire Ceremony. The Pow Wow will begin at 10 a.m.
with the First Grand Entry at 11 a.m. at 6 p.m. will be the Second grand
Entry.
An Art Auction will be held at 8 p.m. in the meeting center. There will
be Native American art only.
The event will beheld at the Southeastern Agricultural Center/Farmers
Market.
Support Groups to meet March 6th
Compassionate Friends, a support group for families who have experienced
the death of a child, will meet Tuesday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m. in
the auditorium at Southeastern Regional Rehabilitation Center, located
directly behind Cape Fear valley Medical Center.
The group meets on the first Tuesday of the month at the same time
and location. For more information please call Martha Lynch at 6094481.
The Renal Support Group will meet Tuesday, March 6 at 6 p.m. in the
Observation Waiting Room on the third floor of Cape Fear Valley Medical
Center of Cape Fear Valley Health System.
Parents, family and friends of those with renal disorders as well as
those interested are welcome to attend.
The Renal Support Group meets on the first Tuesday of each month.
For more information, please contact Jeanne Canady at (910) 609-6713.
The Carolina Indian Voice
Published each Thursday in Pembroke, N.C. by
First American Publications
The first issue of the weekly newspaper, The Carolina Indian
Voice was published on January 17, 1973, by then editor,
owner and founder, Bruce Barton with a $500 personal loan.
I It has a proud history of continuous publication, having never
I missed an issue since its inception. Bruce's sister, Connee
I Brayboy, the current editor, is the only person to have
enjoyed full-time employment since the newspaper's inception.
A brother, Garry Lewis Barton came to work Full-time
in 1973 and ended his affiliation with the newspaper in 1985;
its founder, Bruce Barton left to further his education shortly
thereafter. Another brother, Ricky Barton, has been affiliated
on a part-time basis with the newspaper since its inception.
For the first time in years, the four siblings are reunited
and dedicated to publishing the best newspaper humanly
possible.
Connee Brayboy Editor
SOUTH BROADWAY
BAPTIST CHURCH
33rd ANNUAL HOMECOMING
FEBRUARY IT" 2001
9.45 A.M. SUNDAY SCHOOL
11:15 A.M. WORSHIP
Guest Speaker:
Rev. MIKE CUMMINGS
GUEST SINGERS:
THE SYCEMORE SINGERS
from Maxton, N. C.
And other local groups
211 SOUTH BROADWAY
BALTIMORE, MD 21231
? 410-732-8460
Love Koems
If you have written a love poem,
listen up! The New York Poetry
Alliance is sponsoring Poetry
2001, a free contest open to everyone.
A $1000 cash prize will be
awarded to the winner. There are
28 prizes in all. The deadline for
entering is March 3, 2001.
"This is our most challenging
contest to day," says Contest Director
Dr. John Cusack. "With
winter's bite still in the air we'd like 1
to see what poets have to say about
love, whether religious or romantic.
We expect our contest to produce
exciting new discoveries."
To enter, send poem 21 lines or
less: New York Poetry Alliance,
box 1588, Ne York, NY 10H61588.
Or enter online at
www.freecontest.com
I
Gl aucoma
doesn't change
the way
your eyes look.
It changes the way
your eyes see.
If .you're over sixty, or hlach anu
over forty, you are at high risk for
glaucoma I hat's why it's so
important to see your eye care
professional every two years for a
dilated eye exam. Don't take a
chance with glaucoma.
?National
Eye
Institute
miToiui msTituTu o7 huuh
Write: Glaucoma, 2020 Vision Place,
Ml) 20892-V>55 ?
LINDA K. MITCHELL-FRYE, M.D.
Is Now Delivering Obstetrical & Gynecological
Services To
Your Hometown.
. > *.'
IindiK. MitebaD-Frye, MJ)., FAC.O.G.
Michelle S. Cuffison, C.N.M., MSH.
Tparolinas
(^ffomens
(jj2en
Board Certified Physicians and Midwives ^5
Specializing in: ^STREET ADDRESS
Low and high risk obstetrics . T
Perimenopause / Menopause . c
Wellness exams Launnburg, NC 28352
Alternative Medicine:
Options in women's health _ . A 0__ .
Most insurances accepted / "OOol
New patients welcome
SATELLITE OFFICES:
Pembroke OB/GYN, Thursdays, 910-521-3947 Maxton OB/GYN, Fridays, 910-844-9312
Rowland OB/GYN, Wednesdays, 910422-8994
[ . 1
We have experienced local farmers as adjusters.
With weak prices and thin profit margins,
it's more important than ever to have the
right coverage.
Federal Crop Insurance Agency, Inc.
The Sign of an Approved Agent
"The Crop Insurance Industry Leader"
See your Rain and Hail Agent lor details.
"Servicing the area for over 30 years."
Hilda Griffin, Agent
Melissa Agent
215 E. 3rd St
Lumberton, NC 28358
(910) 739-3777