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tKIje Cljarlotte THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 1996 11A RELIGION Choosing the right one Sunday School Lesson Devotional Reading: Matthew 19:23-30 Lesson Scripture: Matthew 19:27-20:16. "You must leave your home within the hour and take with you only what you can carry!" Faced with that ultimatum, what would you take? Thousands of American families have had to make that choice in recent years as they have been faced with hurricanes, floods or fires. What have these families carried away with them? Usually not "big ticket" items, such as entertainment centers, though these may have occupied much of their time and attention. Instead, the number one item was frequently the family photo album - not very expensive, but priceless because it never could be replaced and it was personally treasured. When it comes time to make ultimate deci sions, amazing changes may take place regarding one’s priorites. Then what is usually first suddenly becomes last, and what is usually last suddenly becomes first. Jesus was always dealing ulti mate values in His teachings about the kingdom of Heaven, where moth and rust do not corrupt, and where tornado, flood or fire do not destroy. That kingdom has its own set of values, which is often con trast sharply with those recognized in this world. The parable in today's text was spoken by Jesus after the one in last Sunday's lesson. Both illus trate the grace of God. Last week we learned of God's mercy, expressed in forgiveness: this week God’s mercy is seen in generosity to the poor. In both, our minds are stretched to see the dimensions of the divine kingdom. Today's story was told during a stressful time in Perea shortly before Jesus’ death. The religious leaders did not like his rebukes of their pretensions to superior wisdom, character, and authority. His own disciples were still displaying some selfish ambi tions. Matthew 19 records a series of related events. Verses 13-15 tell of the Lord's blessing little children as examples of humility that should characterize his followers. Verses 16-26 tell of the rich young ruler who desired eternal life, but not enough to make it his first pri ority. Verses 27-30 relate a con versation in which Peter wanted to know what reward, would be com ing to him and others because, in leaving all to follow Christ, they had done as the rich young man had not. The Lord assured them of rewards on earth and in Heaven, but warned that "many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first" (verse 30). If we find the Parable of the Vineyard Workers a bit difficult to understand and apply, we are in very good company, beginning with the disciples to whom it was first delivered. It warned against presumptions of importnace, but shortly afterward the apostles James and John were applying for positions of preference in the com ing kingdom. The other apostles objected and Jesus had to remind them all that "whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant." Demonstration came in time; as Paul, last to become an apostle, came to labor "more abun dantly than they all." Let the charter member of a church learn to welcome earnestly the newest member. Let the one who has labored fruitfully in for mer years seek out and encourage the one whose fruitful labors lie mostly in the future. And let every Christian build on that number one priority that will not be reversed, because it comes from God in the first place:. "Seek ye first the king dom of God and his righteousness; and all things shall be added to you." (Matthew 6:33) By Tammie Tolbert THE CHARLOTTE POST 44 I saw the tears of a woman crying who's husband had been killed in her face, I knew then that something had to be done," said the Rev. Thomas L. Rodgers of Mt. Zion Church of God. Liberia is a country that is undergo ing some troubling times. Tens of thousands of people are suffering on'a large scale from the lack of food, water, shelter, and inadequate medical supplies. Americans can assist by participanting in the international fast that will take place from 12 a.m. until 6 p.m. through April 12. Although orga nizations are sending tons of grain and rice based meals to Liberfa, people are dying because food is not supplying their malnourished bodies with the proper nutritients. The people aren't being taught how to farm their land so that they can become self-sufficient. "We have fed people day and night; people who haven't eaten in days or weeks at a time," Rogers said. “The people who are suffering the most are the women and children. The women have to sleep on the ground because they have nowhere else to go. The women are also unarmed and unprotected and they are being raped by the same rebels who have killed their husbands. The women also face the problem of not having an ade quate place to deliver their babies nor having enough food to nurture themselves or their child.” The John F. Kennedy Hospital in Liberia is an inadequate facility and is not capable of handling the medical needs of Liberians. "The doctors are doing the best they can, but they don't have run ning water, electricity, medical supplies, clean linen, medicine, or even the proper equipment for surgery. They do not even have an ambulance to transport the people to the hospital," Rodgers said. Rodgers said that after the war ended, the John F. Kennedy Hospital received less support. Poverty has intensified the bloodshed among men, women, and children in Liberia. "Survival of the fittest" is more than a cliche to the people there. During the Reagan administration, the United States sent $250 million to Liberia, but much of this money went into the hands of dictators and they invested the money in more weapons. "These people are reaching out to us and it is up to us to take their hands and help," said Rodgers. Rodgers and his members realize that giving relief is only temporary, so they have organized a relief organization. Unison Liberia, a non-profit group that has organized a collection of willing and able-bodied people to give some relief to the people in Liberia. Rodgers, Unison’s president, is calling on all Christians, missionaries, pastors, deacons, Liberians and church members to assist in the effort. "Please do not let this international call for fasting fall on deaf ears. These people are in a desperate situation and we need to help them," Rodgers said. African Americans can really help because they are respected in Liberia. "I have been going to Liberia since 1987,” Rogers said. “On my first mission the Liberian people gave me 600 acres of land because they were happy to see that I, an African American had overcome slavery in the United States. "On this land we have a house where we fee^l and take in the homeless and we have a ware- See LIBERIA page 13A Eye On Gospel Blacks skip church; Coley to in Tulsa appear Daryl Coley will be featured in a concert with other artists inciuding CeCe Winans,Bishop Noei Jones, Bishop Charies Biake, Andrae Crouch, Angeio and Veronica, and O'ianda Draper. The great revival: A new survey conducted by a reli gious research group has found that church attendance is at an 11-year low, following a five-year slide. This is in direct contradiction to the widespread belief that the country is on the verge of a national revival. The report revealed that the biggest drop in attendance was among baby boomers. Most disturbing was summa tion that there was no increase in the number of peo ple becoming Christians. However, black religious experts have all the while con tended that the revival being spoken of is indeed taking place in the black church. What's more, national tele- vangalist and recording artist Carlton Pearson said that Oral Roberts revealed to him in a conversation that such a revival would be coming through the black church. Pearson reports that the proof of the revival is in an upsurge of larger non-denominational conference settings generating accelerated attendance num bers of anywhere from 10,000 to 60,000. "There's a new generation of voices God has begun to raise up in churches of color," reports Clarence McClendon, who pastors the LA-based Church of the Harvest and has been called "the brightest rising star to hit the national evangelistic circuit. "People are moving away from the tra ditional trappings of religion and instead want a relation ship with God. It no longer matters what denomination, people just want God. And wherever they find him - in line with the truth of his word - is where they're willing to go." And go, they are, in record numbers to Carlton Pearson's Azuza Convention, Bishop T.D. Jake's Back to the Bible Conference, as African American churches - particu larly in urban areas - experi ence record growth, and reli gious events^onferences are fast becoming big-ticket items and big business. The statis tics are more than impressive. Last year. Bishop Paul Morton's Full Gosppl Baptist Church Fellowship Conference drew more than 60,000 to the New Orleans Superdome for a five-day long outpouring of spiritual enlightenment, and a lineup that included the' nation's top African American evangelists. Jakes' Manpower Conference in Atlanta drew more than 20,000. Those numbers are expected to rise with the growing popularity of key names on the nation's Afiican American evangelistic circuit. Among the most popular and requested are Bishop Jakes, Rev. Carlton Pearson, Dr. Myles Monroe, Evangelist Jackie McCullogh, Dr. E.V. Hill, Bishop Paul Morton, Bishop Noel Jones, Dr. Tonny Evans, Ernestine Reems and Marvin Winans. While television is a major factor in determining who the key players are, the average audience for those on the cir cuit is around 2,000 and is usually found in churches just outside of the larger urban areas. Key events average in ' attendance anywhere from 5,000 to 60,000, with most of the circuit's highly paid top names speaking to assemblies of the like at least 10 times a year. Briefly: At the invitation of Carlton Pearson, former tele vangelist Jim Bakker will be speaking at Pearson's Azuza Conference next month in Tulsa. More than 10,000 are expected to turn out. Speakers and performers include Bishop Noel Jones, Bishop Charles Blake, Andrae Crouch, Angelo and Veronica, Daryl Coley, CeCe Winans and O'ianda Draper... This week's scripture: "Take: heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them ^ that hear thee" -1 Timothy 4:16.
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