Keep the faith in good times and bad
Lesson Scripture:
Psalm 42
Lesson Aims: to
acknowledge a yearning for
God, to realize that He is
always near, and to exercise
unfailing trust in God.
Background: There are
150 Psalms with several
writers: David pens 73 of
them. Two Levitical clans,
Asaph and Korah contribute
some and 43 of them are
anonymous. Last week I
mentioned that the hymns
were divided into five
books. They are: Book I - 1
through 41; Book II - 42
72; Book 111 - 73-89; Book
IV - 90-106; and book V -
107-150.
"Those Scriptures are
also classified by types,
praise, historical, lament,
royal, messianic and wis
dom" ("The New Jerome
Bible Commentary").
Book II was probably
added during the time of
Solomon. Our lesson today
is the first division of^this
book. Most scholars agree
that 42 and 43 were origi
nally together. The
unknown author experi
enced many emotions
before his spirit was lifted.
Let's follow along to see if
we could walk in his shoes.
divided into several emo
tional states. First, there is
longing (despair). As a deer
searches for water, the
psalmist's soul thirsts for
God. Observe animals pant
ing in the heat for water;
they need that nourishment
right now, not later. The
soul pants for God in the
same manner. The question
at the end of verse 2 sug- t
gests that the longing exists
in order to worship Him.
Worship can occur at any
time and in any place.
The second emotion is
grief. Apparently there is
some harassment about his
religion.
Very often believers are
taunted and encouraged '"to
make God show up." The
writer is lamenting (deep
sorrow) over his current sit
uation. He remembers the
times when the presence of
God was with him. Verses
4-6 refer to
worship in
the temple.
Those were
the good
times, and
the taunts
make him
remember.
During our
times of
longing, we
too remem
ber and that encourages the
spirit.
The third emotion is
hope. The psalmist's misery
resurfaces but not for long.
Hope springs forth when he
has a surge of faith. He
knows that God is faithful
and unchanging.
There is renewed
strength to face whatever "
the future holds for him
because he is not alone. He
puts restraints on himself by
telling his soul to praise
God the Savior. Psalm 43
goes on to plead for vindi
cation (punish the enemy).
By the end. the refrain is the
same as the ending of Psalm
42: "Put your hope in God,
for 1 will yet praise Him, my
Savior and my God."
Application: There have
been times on this journey
that we've felt forsaken.
The enemy taunts' us,
"Where is your God?" The
emotions conveyed today
are not new. Some of us, if
not all of us, have been
there, done that. Yet our
faith doesn't erase the
obstacles before us but will
get us through them.
This brings up an impor
tant point. Let's rear our
children in the knowledge
of God. This helps them to
remember. As we grow spir
itually, our faith gets deeper
and deeper while we
become more focused on
Him.
Life's storms have a way
of making us think that God
has deserted us. How many
times have our memories
revitalized our faith? When
things aren't going well,
take the time to reflect on
the past. Remember being
in His presence and His
deliverance. Look at how
He has blessed others. This
will remove some of the
uncertainly.
Study the Bible and it
reveals God's faithfulness
to humanity. Faith sparks
hope for the days ahead.
Hope is positive and it
anticipates the blessing. Our
hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus' blood and right
eousness. Keep the faith in
good times and bad times.
God loves us and He cares.
Take someone to Sunday
school with you.
' -fl
Mildred
Peppers
Sunday
School Lesson
?. *
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Religion Calendar
from pane B6
Hope Baptist Church is at 1201
New Hope Lane. Rev. John C.
Parks is host pastor.
June 28
Clemmons church will hold fish
supper
Centenary United Methodist
Church. 5280 Hampton Road in
Clemmons, will hold a fish sup
per on June 28 from 4-8 p.m. It's
all you can eat for $8 (under 6
free). You can pay at the door.
To-go orders are $8.50. The
church is taking advance ticket
sales. Proceeds from the fish
supper will go to Centenary
Child Care.
For information, call 766
5660.
' Other
Dreamland Park Baptist will
hold early services
June 2 through Aug. 30;
Dreamland Park Baptist Church
will hold early services. Sunday
school will convene at 8 a.m..
followed by at 9 a.m. worship
service. The public is invited.
The Rev. Ronald C. Fisher is
pastor. The church is at 2340
Dunbar Street.
Christian Charm
Christian Charm is a pro
gram to teach young ladies aged
12-18 to be virtuous in the new
millennium using biblical princi
ples. Christian Charm desires to
educate and empower young
ladies to strive for excellence in
every area of their lives. After
completion, each participant will
be motivated to be a young lady
of integrity, purpose, and des
tiny.
For more information, call
(336)721-3333.
Interested in being a foster or
adoptive family?
An interest meeting for
prospective foster and adoptive
families will be held the first and
third Thursdays each month at
the Forsyth County Department
of Social Services, 710 Carl
Russell Ave., room 206, from 6
7 p.m. Contact Brigitte Lindsay
at 727-2023 or 727-2446.
Summer worship at Grace
Presbyterian
The regular Sunday worship
for the Lord's Day at Grace
Presbyterian Church will be
changed from 11 a.m. to 10 a.m.
from May 2002 through August
2002. For this same period,
church school will begin at 8:45
a.m.
This seasonally adjusted
schedule is offered in considera
tion of those w ho desire an earli
er Lord's Day worship experi
ence during the warm months. In
addition, Grace is mindful of
persons whose work schedules
are more adaptable to an earlier
hour of worship. Everyone is
invited. ?
Grace is at 3901 Carver
School Road. Rev. Samuel
Stevenson is the pastor.
Judah Praise and Worship
Center
Elder Ricky A. Pouncey and
the Judah Praise and Worship
Center invite you to worship
with them in their new home.
The Sunday morning worship
service begins at II; Monday
night prayer service, at 7; and
full Wednesday night worship
service, at 7.
The church is at 2411 Urban
Street. Pouncey is the pastor, and
Bishop Claude C. Turner is the
general overseer. For more infor
mation, call (336) 721-3290.
Beulah Baptist holds Wednes
day night Bible study
Bored and looking for some
thing productive to do on
Wednesday nights? Pastor L.
Bruce Ford and the Beulah Bap
tist Church congregation, 1352
N. Trade Street, invite you to fel
lowship with us during our
Wednesday night Bible study
from 7-8. The first and third
Wednesdays of the month from
6 to 8 p.m.. dinner will be served
and various groups will be on
the program. For more informa
tion. call (336) 722-2907.
Calvary Hill Church of
Greater Deliverance is holding
Wednesday programs
Calvary Hill Church of
Greater Deliverance holds
"Super Wednesday" each
Wednesday, except for the sec
ond Wednesday of each month.
On "Super Wednesday" dinner
is served from 5:45-6:45 p.m.
immediately after dinner, a full
worship service is held. The
public is invited. The church is
at 4951 Manning Street. Bishop
Claude C. Turner is the pastor.
For more information, call 721 -
3290.
Bible study class for women at
Oak Grove Baptist
A Bible study class for
women is being held at Oak
Grove Baptist Church every first
Thursday and third Thursday of
the month at 7 p.m. All interest
ed women are encouraged to
attend.
The church is at 3978 Pine
Hall Road, Walkertown. Rev.
I.L. Anthony is the pastor.
Macedonia will celebrate the
35th ministerial pre-anniversary
celebration of Apostle Sylvester
Davis Johnson on June 12
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE.
Macedonia TVPH Church
of God
Inc.,
5 0 0
Kinard
Drive*
invites
you to
attend
the 35th
ministe
rial pre
anniver
sary celebration of Apostle
Sylvester Davis Johnson on
June 12 at 7:30 p.m. Bishop
Larry D. Trotter will be the
keynote messenger
Trotter is the pastor of
Sweet P
Holy!
Spirit I
F u i 1 I
Gospel B
Baptist ?
Church
i n
Chica
go. 111.,
and
third presiding bishop of Full
Gospel Baptist Church Fel
lowship International.
All clergy are asked to
RSVP by Friday for a recep
tion/dinner after the worship.
For more information, con
tact the church office at (336)
725-2190.
Apostle Johnson
Bishop Trotter
The
Chronicle
The Choice for
African
American News
and Information
Lift Your Voice
In The Chronicle
Phone: 722-8624
Men of Honour Conference II
Galilee Missionary Baptist Church
Pastor: Robert E. Lee McGowens, Sr.
Friday, June 14, 2002 at 6:00 p.m.
and Saturday, June 15, 2002 at 9:00 a.m.
Theme: Understanding and Upholding the Standards of God
Friday, June 14. 2002
Presenter: Pastor John Mendez,
Emmanuel Baptist Church
Topic: Understanding the life of a Christian
Messenger: Dr. Sir Walter Mack. Jr.,
Union Baptist Church
Saturday, June 15, 2002
Presenter: Pastor James l.inville,
Piney Grove Baptist Church
Topic: How to live right in a sinful world
Messenger: Pastor Sheldon McCarter.
Greater Cleveland Avenue Christian Church
You are invited to come and share in this time of fellowship and growth
in the word and things of God.
I^J^TVOUKVoice:
THE REOxTrawlf^DLiNE
IS 5 P.lVfTlVfONDAV.
Vlt Olive Baptist Church
1301 E. Betews Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
336-724-5842 or 721-1959
lusting of Services
Sunday School 9:30 A.M.
Worship Service 11:00 A.M.
Wednesday 12:00 Noon &
Bible Study 7:00 P.M.
j Pastor & Mrs. C. E. Gray "Let God Be God"
Goodwill
Baptist Church
548 Goodwill Rd., Clemmons, NC
Arcadia Community
764-3930 Phone
764-3975 Pastor's Office
764-5658 Fax
Pastor & First Lady Samuels
"<4 full senice ministry
Meet inn the Needs of the Peo
ple, Spirit, Soul & Body."
Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church
1905 N. Jackson Avenue ? Phone 761-1351
Rev. Mack H. L. McConnel
Sunday School 9:45 a.m.
Morning Worship 11:00 a.m.
Tuesday Morning Prayer 11:00 a.m.
Bible Study Wednesday 7:00 p.m.
"A Church seeking to strengthen
the household of Faith in Christ Jesus"
Macedonia Holiness Church Of God
-air? Of The Apostolic Faith, Inc.
Sunday Services
Sunday School 9:45 a.m.
Morning Worship 11:00 a.m.
M.Y.P.U 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday Services
Prayer & Bible Study 7:30 p.m.
4111 Whitfield Drive
Phone: 336-767-3700
Fax: 336-767-7006
Bishop R.L. Wise. Sr.
D.D.; S.T.D. ? Pastor
Pentecostal Lighthouse Baptist Church of W-S, Inc.
4J4V Nernersvnie Koau
Kernersville, NC 27284
336-650-0033
Schedule Ot Worship Servlcw ~
Sunday Morning Worship 8:00a.m.
Sunday Evening Worship 6:00 p.m.
Monday Study Class 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday Bible Study 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday Children's Choir Rehersal 5:30 p.m.
Thursday: Bible Study and Preach Night 7:00 p.m.
Dr. A. Thomas Griffey. III
Pastor/ Teacher
"To Love. To Know. To Serve and To Grow God's Kingdom!"
Piney Grove Bmlist Church
4715 Indiana Ave. ? Winston-Salem. AC 27106 ? 1336) 767-4044
Sunday School 9:30 a.m.
? Morning Worship 11:00 a.m.
? Evening Services 4:00 p.m.
ible Study Every Wednesday 10:00 a.m. & 6:30 p.m.
Mission Statement: "A Saving Station for Lost Souls and
Enrichment Center for Christians"
Website: w w w.pinevgroveinc.org ? E-mail: pgbc2005@bellsouth.net
James F. I.inville
Pastor
? I
Father's Day Special
leather Shoes $19.99 with many to
choose from ... sizes up to 15!
MENZ Fashion
* liny any suit get dress shirt, silk tie &
leather shoes, for an extra $50.00
Tuxedo rentals. Alterations & Monograms
?nision-csaiem location:
Northside Shopping Center
3565 N. Patterson Ave, Win
ston-Salem. NC 27105
(336) 767-3455
i.reensDoro location:
Food Lion Plaza
1015 Alamance Church Rd.,
Greensboro. NC 27407
(336) 370-4052
Tuesday - Thursday 10:00 am - 7:00 pm
Friday & Saturday 10:00 am - 8:00 pm
Closed Mondays
Special Croup Rales ... Big & Tall Suits Available!
Upcoming Events
New Hope Missionary Baptist Church
1201 New Hope Lane ? Winston-Salem. NC 27105
Rev. John C. Parks. Pastor
(336) 724-5401
Church Events For June
?June 6th at 7;3V p.m.
Joy Night Service - "Blessed"
Women Fellowship Service
June 10th at 4;W p.m.
Gospel Explosion - Pastor Leak
Solid Rock Baptist Church
C oming Soon
"Empowered To Win" Conference 20p2
The Word & You 9:30 a.m.
C Devotional Service 10:45 a.m.
Morning Worship 11:15 a.m.
Morning Sen'ice - Videos & Tapes Available ? Van Service Available
Website: w?w.\Qitest>fiitnlnmt.org
"A Church Striving To Make A Difference"
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