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■ http:/Avww,thechai1ottepost,com Cfjarlotte ^osit THURSDAY MAY 20, 2004 8B RELIGION Ascent of praise I. Everlasting Gospel (Pievelations 14:6-8) A. Message to eveiyone (w .6,7) Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth-to every nation, trihe, language and people. The scene focuses on a series of angels and their messages. We need not tty to identify these angels concerning whether or not they already have had a ministry in connection with the Revelation of Jesus Chri.st. After all, god has a great host of angels to assist in his purposes. Remember that Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, said that he could call on “twelve legions” of angels. (Matthew 26:53) The series of angelic messages has to do with the eternal gospel. In Rev elation 14:3, 4, just before our text begins we can see what this gospel means for those who have been redeemed “from the earth” and “from among men.” These are the ones who sing the “new song,” know ing the quahty of life with the Lamb. Their faithful ness is one side of the gospel. The flip side is the judgment of the unfaith ful. This is something of a repeat of the opening of the fifth seal in Revelation 6:9-11. There we see the protected position of the slain servants under the altar, calling out for the judgment of the wicked.(See also Matthew 12:41, 42 and 2 Thessalo- nians 1:4-10) The gospel message of the glorified Christ is a two-edge sword (Revela tion 1:16; 2:12), even for Christians; the gospel cor responds with the mes sages of “the little scroll” that John was both sweet and sour (10:9-11). Throughout the book of Revelation we have occa sion to see both sides of the gospel in the fives of the faithful: it means both pro tection and suffering for God’s people. The suffering is brought by sin, which comes from various direc tions. But the gospel requires also that this suffering not go unavenged. This mes sage before us shows the just recompense in the eternal gospel. This is a message to all who live on earth. He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.” Those hearing the mes sage must worship God. They must fear God and give him glory. He is Almighty god, the power- fijl Creator (Exodus 20:11; Psalm 146:6). Christians gladly worship him. God’s enemies, however, prefer to worship “the beast” of Revelation 13. They stubbornly resist the truth, even though they must be aware of the cer tainty of the judgment of God for their evil deeds. Growing allure of Christian fiction By Cheris F. Hodges cheris. hedges® thecharlotlejMst. com It’s fiction of a higher power and it is on the rise. Christian fiction has become one of the best sell ing type of black fiction on the market. The genre is defined as a celebration of God’s presence in life and does not contain profanity or explicit sexual activity. It is often a genre of gen tle reads, according to the Uni versity of Tennessee. Warner Books has devoted an imprint to the novels, as weU as BET Books. Vanessa Davis Griggs, author of the BET/New Spirit novel “Promises Beyond Jordan,” said Christian fiction is who African Americans are. Griggs “For so long we had people teUing us who we are. They said you had to have this in your book or you couldn’t have this in your book,” she said. Griggs will appear at the Freedom Regional Library, located at 1230 Alleghany St., today at Griggs, who is from Alabama, said when she first started trying to get published, she tried not to write Christian fiction. But it came through in the work anyway. “I’ve always been a Christian,” she said. “It is a part of me.” And it’s a part of her novel, which she self-pub- fished before it landed at BET Books. Griggs’ novel centers around pastor George Lan- dris, who is preparing for his wedding to There sa Jordan when he gets news that will reverber ate through many fives. His friend Johnnie Mae Taylor has been in a ear wreck, and her husband . and child are fighting for svnvival. Theresa has her own dilemmas to contend with. Seeing her fiance rushing to another woman’s side increases Theresa’s doubts about George’s com mitment to her. She knows George has always loved Johnnie Mae, even if their relationship is platonic, but his devotion and concern puts a seri ous strain on their upcoming nuptials. An unforeseen tragedy and a shocking revela tion reopen painful scars - and create fresh wounds that could change four lives. As accusa- Please see CHRISTIAN/7B Houghton OK on ‘Lever Israel & New Breed Live Prom Another Level Israel Hoi^(hton & Alex W. Lindsey, producers Integrity Gospel 12 “p -is Israel Houghton and New Breed are the hottest thing going in praise & worship. The group’s debut CD “New Season” had gospel buyers buzzing music stores trying to find the nearly obscure release. “Live From Another Level,” the group’s second release, is nearly a carbon copy of the first. It features lots of dance- oriented songs and weepy bal lads that sort of wander around. , Houghton spreads 21 songs over two CDs, splitting the genres by CD. Neither is com pelling or memorable. CD one contains the radio hit “Again I Say Rejoice,” which packs a wallop of a beat but not much else. The rest of the disc sounds like stuff from any cur rent urban radio station’s playlist. The second disc is a bit bet ter. New Breed’s tight har monies are heavenly and enhance the songs’ melodies. The “Awesome Medley” is the standout. New Breed com bines ‘T Stand In Awe” and “Awesome Is This Place,” both better known in Contempo rary Christian circles. Neither song has sounded better. The group does an equally good job with “Here I Am Tb Worship.” Houghton closes the set with a disco-funk song called “Going Tb Another Level.” If this CD actually did that, the song would have been perfect to close. Instead, it merely points out how mundane these songs are. Not my cup of tea. Ratings Classic; Excellent PPP Good Fair PP Why? P No stars - A mess Church-sponsored car wash gives hope to convicts, dropouts THE ASSOCIATED PRESS GARY, Ind. -Antione Sparks is 25 years old, and already, he says, “I’ve seen 25 of my friends killed.” “I just pretend that they are out of town and haven’t come back yet,” he said. AU were homicides. He concedes few were innocent vic tims, and not that long ago realized he was following the same path that led to their destruction. At 21, Sparks “hadn’t graduated from high school and had no desire to seek employment. He said he preferred the taste of alcohol and the euphoric high that comes from the use of marijuana. He said the most important change in his fife came when an uncle urged him to apply at a car wash that needed help _ Diplomat Car Care Center across the street from Embassies of Christ Church on Ridge Road in Gary. “I was at home watching cartoons all day, so I figured it was worth a try.” Tbday, Sparks is assistant manager at Diplomat, an outreach program of the church that reaches out to ex-con victs and hardcore unemployed to prove there is no such thing as some one who can’t be a benefit to society. Sparks credits the program with his turnaround in life, his discipline as an employee and his bright out look on the future. His goal is to become an entrepreneur, owning his own business. His co-worker Eric Thomas ajso got off to a bad start. Please see CHURCH/5B Church News White Dove Chapel pro vides a fi^ lunch to anyone in need every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at their 993 Summers Road location between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Doors open at 9 a.m. for coffee and fellowship. May 20 Tbrnmy Ford, co-star of the long-running sitcom “ Mar tin,” will be the special guest for the youth at University Park Baptist Church, as part of the Holy Hype Night presented by the Young Kingdom Citizens. From 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. May 21 Faith Community Chirrch will celebrate it 32nd anniversary Friday and Sat urday at 7:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., at 701 Howie Mine Road in Waxhaw. May 22 District III ushers vrill hold their quarterly meeting on Sat. May 22 at 10 a.m. in the Macedonia Baptist Church at 1300 Hateras Ave., all youth ushers and youth supervisors are asked to attend. • St. Matthew Catholic Church will be hosting the Christian Coffee house at their parish center, located at 8015 Ballantyne Commons Parkway. The coffeehouse opens at 7:30 p.m. May 23 The Tfemple of Tbtal Deliv erance Ministries at 5521 Cannon Drive in Monroe is hosting a pre pastor’s anniversary celebration at 6 p.m. The guest minister will be Carl Turner of Faith Sol diers Word Ministries. May 24 Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, located at 517 Bald win Ave., vrill host a city wide revival through May 27. The revival starts at 7 p.m. each night. May 29 The Mecklenburg General Baptist Association Usher Ministry will host a work shop from 8:45 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Chappell Memorial Baptist Church, 110 Brad ford Dr. May 30 Don Lewis will headline Friendship Baptist Church’s Fifth Sunday Hymn Sing. The event begins at 5 p.m. at the church located at 3301 Beatties Ford Road. June 4 The Temple of Tbtal Deliv erance Ministries at 5521 Cannon Drive in Monroe will hold First Lady’s Night, beginning at 7:30 p.m. The Please see NAZARETH’S/7B
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