Stop blaming others because the buck stops with you
Lesson Scripture: Ezekiel
18:1-4, 20-21, 25-32
Lesson aims: to
explain the faulty excuse
for captivity, to under
stand the principle of
personal responsibility,
and to recognize that
God's arms are always
open to the repentant.
Background: Our
journey this quarter ends
in yet another Old Testa
ment book, Ezekiel.
Named for its author, it
is directed to the exiles
in Babylon.
The five dominant
themes are "God is transcendent,
Israel (both kingdoms) is sinful,
judgment is sure, individuals are
responsible, and restoration is
ahead" ("Richard's Complete
Bible Handbook").
tzeiuei oegan nis
ministry around 593
B.C. and lasted 20
years. Like Daniel and
the Apostle John.
Ezekiel prophesied out-,
side of the Promised
Land. This prophet, the
son of a priest whose
name meant "God will
strengthen," was
deported to Babylon
after Nebuchadnezzar's
second attack 1597
B.C.).
He held a prominent
position among the eld
ers and was consulted
often (Ezekiel 8:1; 11:25; 14:1;
and 20:1). Called "the captive
prophet" ("N1V Standard Lesson
Commentary"), he affirmed Jere
miah's prophecy and offered
hope to the exiles. You must
remember that God's judgments
are not complete. People were
given the opportunity to repent
and avoid judgment. They
refused.
What is known about this
prophet is contained within the
book. Considered an eccentric,
he was obedient to God in shar
ing his revelations.
Lesson: The second deporta
tion of Jews to Babylon has
occurred. There are 10,000 plus
captives looking for an explana
tion for their current predica
ment. They use an aiiage (old
saying accepted as truth) to fix
things in their minds. Found in
Exodus 20:5 and 34:7. they take
no responsibility for being in
Babylon. Their fatalistic (fate
brought them to this end) attitude
does not impress God. Yes, their
foreparents set the judgment in
motion, but they are given the
opportunity to repent because
they did evil in the sight of the
Lord. Ezekiel addresses their
irresponsibility.
Soul here refers to the person
before physical death not after
ward. Simply put, this verse
means "the one who sins is the'
one who dies." God says that all
souls are His and He judges
accordingly. There is no room for
fatalism. The Almighty holds
each individual responsible for
her/his actions. God is just and
righteous! His love is so com
plete that He offers repentance to
all. This is the message of hope
for the exiles.
Application: We have a
tremendous story to tell! Our
backgrounds may have been
tainted, our religious education
may not exist, and our silver
spoons were lost during the Mid
dle Passage, hut God saw fit to
allow us to be here. Stop making
excuses for your current situa
tion. Yes, racism, sexism and the
like have impeded progress but
God is with you.
Our lesson today encourages
us to take responsibility. This also
includes the judgment when we
reject God. We have done it or we
are in the process of doing it. Gold
isn't pleased but He offers repen
tance with open arms. We are as
arrogant as the Jews (both king
doms). We believe that we are
chosen and that God doesn't care
about anybody but us. God lovas
us but He will chastise when thie
need arises. Anytime evil is prac
ticed over and over without
repentance judgment is comings
A loving parent (God), He |s
always paving the way for our
return. Our decision to keep Him
first must be a deliberate on?.
Stop blaming because the buck r ,
stops here!
Take someone with you tb
Sunday School.
Mildred
Peppers
Sunday
School Lesson
Church to hold annual Family and Friends Day
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
United Cornerstone Mission
ary Baptist Church will hold its
annual Family and Friends Day
Nov. 17. At 9:30 a.m. Sunday
School, the guest teacher will be
Jannie Pass Stewart of Phillips
Chapel Baptist Churph. At the 11
a.m. worship service. Dr. Joshua J.
Hairs Jr. and the congregation of
First Missionary Baptist Church
of Southern Pines will be the spe
cial guests.
Hairs if a native of Fort Bragg
and was
raised in
Fayet
teville. He
is the son
of a
preacher,
school
teacher,
and the
grandson
of an
evangelist, so the word of God is
no mystery to this man of God.
Hairs completed his under
graduate studies at A&T State
University. He has also studied at
Shaw Divinity School and C.B.S.
Theological. He has received sev
eral awards and honors for his
work in youth development and
human resources. Among these
are the doctor of ministry degree,
doctor of divinity degree, and the
Army Commendation Medal, o
He is married to the former
L'Tanya Holmes, and they have
nine children.
The theme of this year's occa
sion is "Let All the Families of the
Earth Receive God's Promised
Blessings" (Genesis 12:2-3). The
church is at 2745 Patria Street at
Wright Street. Dr. J. Ray Butler is
host pastor. Dinner will be served
immediately after the morning
worship service. The public is
invited.
Or. Butler
St. Stephen will have Gospel Jamboree
. SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
St. Stephen Missionary
Baptist Church, 5000 Noble
Street, will have its second
annual Gospel Jamboree Cele
bration Nov. 16 at 6 p.m. at
', the church.
The All Women's Confab,
the sponsor of this program,
has invited choirs and soloists
to provide a diverse selection
of music and songs. Some of
the guests will include New
Trinity Baptist Church Male
Chorus of Winston-Salem;
Quintenna McMuhan of
Cooleemee. N.C.; Triumphant
Ministries of Charlotte; Bro.
Jimmy Wright Jr. and Singers
of Winston-Salem; and the
Gospel Warriors of Winston
Salem.
The program will begin
with the St. Stephen Mission
ary Baptist Church Gospel
Choir, under the leadership of
Deacon James Diggs, singing
old Negro spirituals, such as
"Trouble Don't Last Always,"
"I'm Gonna Hide Behind the
Mountain" and "What Are
They Doing Up in Heaven
Today." Along with the
Gospel Choir, other in-house
choirs will participate in this
program.
Everyone is invited to
come and help celebrate
Gospel Jamboree.
Emmanuel prepares for Revival of Hope
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
The times in which we live are
filled with a great deal of anxiety,
fear and despair. Media reports
are often filled with bad news and
sad news that take the bounce out
of our
steps, the
joy out of
our hearts
and the
peace out
of our
spirits.
But there
will be
good
news
C U III I II g
out of Emmanuel Baptist Church
Nov. 18-22 when the church
observes a week of revival servic
es, which begin each night ai 7
o'clock.
These special services will
focus on hope and the renewing of
the human spirit in these times of
uncertainty. The goal is to
empower God's 'people to be
refreshed, revitalized, reinvigorat
ed and restored.
The guest evangelist for the
week will be the Rev. Dr. Carroll
A. Baltimore Sr., pastor of First
Evangelistic International Baptist
Temple of Alexandria. Va.
Baltimore has a passion for
evangelism. He has planted more
than 18 churches in the United
States, Africa. Philippines. India.
Korea and Jamaica. He has also
developed models for training and
equipping young and new pastors
to serve in these newly planted
churches.
Baltimore has been a leader in
evangelism, missions, education,
social-economic development and
human rights for more than 30
years. He is also the president of
C.A.B. Outreach Ministries Inc., a
nonprofit organization that reach
es across cultural and religious
barriers to preach the Gospel. He
has broadcast in the Philippines
and Africa and his Christmas ser
mon was heard in 135 countries.
He is an international evangel
ist who-had traveled to more than
40 nations. He organized more
than 31 crusades and conducted
more than 40 crusades in Asia,
Africa, Europe and the West
Indies.
Baltimore was recently elect
ed second vice president of the
Progressive National Baptist Con
vention.
As an activist, Baltimore
served as an at-large delegate for
Virginia to the National Summit
on Africa, where he introduced
the Child Labor and Slavery Poli
cy to Congress to influence U.S.
foreign policy for Africa. He also
serves as a member of the Black
Church Advisory Committee of
the "Stand for Children" program
of the Children's Defense Fund.
Emmanuel Baptist Church
encourages the community to
come to the revival. Certified
Christian counselors will be avail
able to talk to anyone who may
wish to share. Transportation will
be provided by calling 788-7023,
and nursery care will be provided
for children.
Dr. Baltimore
Calendar
from page B6
Chris Chapman of Knollwood
Baptist Church, and Dr. Jack
Noffsinger, pastor emeritus at
Knollwood Baptist Church. The
three ministers will share stories
demonstrating what is working
in racial relations in the Triad,
followed by dinner and topic dis
cussion group.
Conversations of Hope is a
forum for discussion of positive
solutions to various challenges in
our community.
Nov. 23
Abused Women Break
Through Explosion
Greater Faith Holy Temple in
God's Hand Ministry Inc. will
sponsor an Abused Women
Break-Through Explosion Nov.
23 at 6 p.m. If you're in an abu
sive relationship or you know of
someone who is, or if you are
confused, depressed, fearful or
afraid, you are invited to come.
There is help for you. There is an
answer. For more information
call Evangelist Betty Kinzer
(336) 391-6205 or 661-7761.
The church is at 4698 Indiana
Ave.
Nov. 24
Choir anniversary
The Youth Choir of Greater
St. Matthew Baptist Church. 149
Wheeler Street, will celebrate its
first anniversary Nov. 24 at 3
p.m. William J. Purvis Sr. is pas
tor. The public is invited.
Nov. 27
Feeding the hungry for
Thanksgiving
Support God's Mt. Calvary
Power House of Deliverance and
House of Mercy's 12th annual
feeding ministry. The ministry
will feed the hungry for Thanks
giving at Emmanuel Baptist
Church Nov. 27 from noon to 3
p.m.
Nov. 28-30
Women's conference
The women's department
(Heart-To-Heart) of Restoration
Christian Fellowship invites you
to its women's conference Nov.
28-30. Evening sessions will
begin at 7. There will be two ses
sions on Saturday beginning at
10 a.m., with lunch included.
This Holy Ghost-filled event will
take place at the Adam's Mark
Winston Hotel, in downtown
Winston-Salem.
Speakers will be Pastor
Maria Smith of Detroit. Mich.;
Pastor Sarah Hauser of Winston
Salem; Prophetess Cheryl Fra
zier of Charlotte; and the host for
the event, Co-Pastor Rochelle
Richardson of Winston-Salem.
There is a small registration
fee of $25 for all sessions, which
include lunch.
For more information call
771-0717 or 771-2299.
True Temple Holiness Church of
God will host Holy Convocation
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
The True Temple Holiness
Church of God will host its first
Independent Holy Convoca
tion, titled "A Time for
Refreshing," Nov. 14-16.
On Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m. the
anointed and powerful speaker
will be Bishop Chris Brinson of
Impact Ministry, Kemersville.
Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m. the pastor
and founder of True Temple
Holiness Church. Apostle Wal
lace Gaither. will bring the
anointed word. On Nov. 16 at
10 a.m. there will be baptizing
and an ordination service. Bish
op R.L. Linder, pastor of Mt.
Sinai Glorious Church of God,
Danville. Va.. will be in charge
of the ordination service. Every
church can baptize in its own
faith and beliefs. No doctrine
will be taught. Various choirs i
and soloists will sing.
Everyone is invited to
attend. Apostle Wallace Gaither
is host pastor. For information,
call 748-0965.
Apostle Wallace Gaither and
wife Shirley Gaither
t Galilee Missionary Baptist Church
575 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Pastor Robert L. McGowens Sr.
Annual Homecoming
November 17. 2002
8:00 am Service
Pastor Kmeritus Juanita 'latum
and
Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church
Pinnacle, NC
c>
10:30 am Service
Pastor Talmadge Thomas
and
Mt. Zion Baptist Church
Toledo, OH
For information please call the church office at 724-3857
Tapes of these services and other services are av ailable
Pastor Emeritus
Juanita latum
Pastor Talmadge
Thomas
Macedonia Holiness Church Of God
Of The Apostolic Faith, Inc.
Sunday Services
Sunday School 9:45 a.mi
Morning Worship 11 :(X) a.m|
M.Y.P.U 6j30 p.mj
Wednesday Services
Prayer & Bible Study 7:30 p.mj
4111 Whitfield Drive
Phone: 336-767-3700
Fax: 336-767-7006
Bishop R.L. Wise, Sr.
D.D.; S.TJ). ? Pastor
Piney Grove Baptist Churdi
4715 Indiana Ave. ? Winston-Salem. WC 27106 ? (336) 767-4044",
? Sunday School 9:30 a.m.
? Morning Worship 11:00 a.m.
? Evening Services 4:00 p.m.
libit? Study Every Wednesday 10:00 a.m. & 6:30 p.m. 1
Mission Statement: "A Saving Station for Lost Souls and
Enrichment Center for Christians"
Website: www.pinevgroveinc.org ? E-mail: pj>bc2l)05<? beUsouth.net
James F. Linville
Pastor
/" X Ml Olive Baptist Church I
1301 E. Relews Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
"Let God Be God" 1
724-5842 or 721-1959 . | ?
Sunday Morning Broadcast 6 - 6:30 A.M. I
WUFN 48
Sunday School 9:30 A.M.
Worship Service 11:00 A.M.
Wednesday 12:00 Noon
Bible Study 7:00 P.M.
www.letgodbegod.org
j Pastor & Mrs. C. E. Gray
New Hope Missionary Baptist Church
1201 New Hope Lane ? Winston-Salem. NC 27105
Bishop John C. Parks
(336) 724-5401
The Word & You 9:30 a.m.
Devotional Service 1^:45 a.m.
Morning Worship 11:15 a.m.
Morning Service ? Videos & Tapes Available ? Van Service Available
A Cathedral of Hope
"Building New Hope; Changing Lives"
www.vokesofnewhoiK.org ? Kmail address: voicesofnewhopeC" aol.com
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Tuxedo Rentals, Alterations & Monograms
*Buy any suit and get dress shirt, silk tie &
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3 pairs leather shoes
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3565 N. ParfaV?of. Ate. FrK,?> & S"t,urda] '0:0? am * 8:00 Pm
Winston-Salem. NC 27105 Ck?c'1 Mondays
(3361 767-3455
Special Group Kates ... Big <? Tall Suits Available!
400 Thanksgiving
Basket Give Away
First Come First Served
Saturday, November 23, 2002
12:00 Noon
Mt. Olive Baptist Church
1301 E. Belews St.
Winston-Salem
C.E. Gray, Pastor
721-1959
One Basket Per family
Free Hot Dogs, Sodas <& Chips fll