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http://wvvw.thechariottepost.com CFje Cljarlotte THURSDAY MAY 27, 2004 8B RELIGION Bibk |l.mon' In a new situation Revelation 21:1-7 A. New Creation (vv. /, 2) 1. Then 1 saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. The transitional phrase then I saw juts forth in the text. This phrase extends as a point to hang our hope upon as nails fastened in a sure place. Throughout the book of Revelation we have been alert both to what is seen and what is heard, for the message is the combi nation of these two. This scene here is that of a new heaven and a new earth in contrast to the first heaven and first earth. In John’s vision of the future, the old situation has passed away. This is the realization of Isaiah 65:17. This present world has been good, but it is not suf ficient for the eternal struc ture. It groans under the weight of sin. In 2 Peter 3:10, 12, the apostle tell us how this physical world will be destroyed. Even the Garden of Eden was not complete enough to provide the fuUness of relationship that God has in view for his people. The word new emphasizes quality. We see another contrast between the old and the new creations with the image there is no more sea. The sea was a figure if great threat in the minds of ancient people. The sea separates John from his loved ones as he is exiled on the island of Patmos. It is the sea that the beast of Revelation 13:1 comes with the purpose to overcome the saints. For John and his contemporaries, the sea is the epitome of evil, of all things bad and harmful. Thus the situation that John pictures is one in which aU opposition is gone- anything that would trou ble the servants of God or anything that would sepa rate them finm God. The relationship “in a new heav en and a new earth” is real ized in the its fullness with out sea. 2.1 saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as beautiful ly as a bride dressed for her husband. The scene of “renewal” continues in such a mar velous way. John’s first- century readers know about old Jerusalem, of course, with all its unholi ness and injustice. Even now in the 21st Century we can see that earthly Jerusalem is a place tom by violence and fear. What a refreshing contrast it is then to anticipate a New Jerusalem. Abraham also hoped to see this city. Not only is he city new, it is also holy and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. The text express es the rejoicing there is in the climax of marriage. Faithfulness has been pledged and tested. The beautiful result is that bride and husband are thus to dwell together for ever. The resulting fellow ship is worth all earthly struggles. #•0 A different kind of initiation THE URBANBESTQRATION OUTREACH Kl GOD'S 01 TY CHURCH CHOOL CHILDREN & F/ 2ND CHANCE’ PHOTO/WADE NASH Derrick Newman, Lavar Kelly and Jamarr Morris have left a violent past behind and dedicated their lives to Christ with the help of The Urban Restoration. By Cheris F. Hodges cheris.hodges@ihccburloitepost.com Former gang members have turned their lives from gangs to God with the help of a local ministry. Derrick Newman, Lavar Kelly and Jamarr Morris have all been in gangs or were approached to join. Looking at the three boys, they look like average teens dressed in baggy jeans, white tee shirts and sneakers. But unlike many of their contemporaries, these three have turned their lives over to God. They spend afternoons at the Urban Restoration Ministry, working with other kids, making music and stay ing away from the gangs that they were once members of “People were making up stories about what they do in the gang. They said I didn’t have to do anything to join,” said 15-year-old Newman. But what he wasn’t told was that to join the Bloods - a street gang - he was going to have to be jumped in. In other words, he was violently beaten. It didn’t take long for the then 13-year-old to real ize gang life wasn’t for him. Newman watched as his friends committed crimes like carjacking, robberies and even shootings. One day he was invited to play basket ball at Urban Restoration, which changed his that’s hfe. Newman got out of the gang; again he was beaten violent ly in a ritual called jumping out. New man’s time at the center opened his eyes to a new hfe. “In my time here, I finally reahzed what Jesus has done for me in my life,” he said. Please see MINISTRY/7B Winfred Cross ^ounda Bishop Eddie Long presents The New Birth Total Praise Choir Spirit & Truth Kevin Bond, producer EMI Gospel Kevin Bond is an extraordinar ily gifted writer and producer. He’s been Grammy nominated a number of times and I think he’s even won a couple. So naturally aspirations are high for his home church choir’s debut project. Maybe that’s why this project is a bit of a letdown. There’s noth ing wrong. Several of the songs are as strong as anything Bond has produced or written. But something’s missing and I can’t put my finger on that some thing. Is the choir not singing with passion. Are the soloists just going through the motions? Are the songs a bit too generic? Maybe it’s a combination of all of the above. Why would you have Vanessa Bell Armstrong lead a song and basically sing the vamp. “Suddenly” kicks, but where’s the solo? Ifed Wynn is wonderful on “Thank You For Your Grace” but tbe song sounds suspiciously like another. “We Worship Christ The King” is majestic but sounds too patriotic. Maybe tbis songs too much like a T.D. Jakes CD. It’s certainly set up as such. There a big picture of Bishop Eddie Long on the cover and he renders not a word of song or message. At least Jakes speaks on his choir’s CDs. 'This CD is good but should be great. The choir has a nice bright soimd but come across as a bit stifif Subsequent CDs will loosen them up. Maybe then Bond will save his best material for his own folks. Ratings Classic; “vX "iX Excellent Good Fan- Why? No stars — A mess HEZEKIAH WALKER, VIRTUE, FRED HAMMOND 3 gospel giants at Carowinds By Amanda Ward THE CHARLOTTE POST Hezekiah Walker, Fred Hammond and Virtue all sing gospel and are Stellar Award winners. They will be singing praises unto the Lord on one night, on one stage at Paramount’s Carowinds Joyfest 2004 Saturday at 6 p.m. Walker has released many hit albums, such as “Focus on Glory,” “Live in Ibronto” and “Love is Live!” Through his music Walker is credited for getting teens and young adults interested in gospel music. “I have a heart 'for young people,”Walker said. “I listen to what they are listening to and I follow what keeps them going and motivated. I like to bring Gospel and R&B togeth er.” Walker is known to create songs that are lively, positive and full of praises. The Brooklyn, N.Y.-based Love Fel lowship Crusade Choir was the first group Walker created. He renamed the group and now it is one of the most popular choral groups in contempo rary gospel. Hammond, who is the CEO of Face to Face Productions, is suc cessful in many more ways. Not only is he a gospel singer but he is also a bassist, producer and song writer. If Hammond has many accomplish ments such as three Stellar Awards, four Gospel Music Association Dove Awards and was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2001. He is known for energetic and live- Please see GOSPEL76B Heziklah Walker Church News White Dove Chapel pro vides a free 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. ford Dr. MavSO Don Lewis will headline Friendship Baptist Church’s Fifth Sunday Hymn Sing. The event begins at 5 p.m. at tbe church located at 3301 Beatties Ford Road. Tb register, call (704) 639- 1022. Mat 29 The Mecklenburg General Baptist Association Usher Ministiy will host a work shop from 8:45 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Chappell Memorial Baptist Church, 110 Brad- JUNE 1 Acclaim Summer Camp 2004 will run through July 30. This bible based camp features arts and crafts, bible/prayer classes, field trips and other activities. June 4 The Tbmple of Total Deliv erance Ministries at 5521 Cannon Drive in Monroe will hold First Lady’s Night, beginning at 7:30 p.m. The guest minister will be the Rev. Dekota McCullough. Demonstrating Good in Your Life” from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. During this workshop, participants vsill create their own treasure map as a spiri tual tool for claiming then- desires and dreams. erance Ministries at 5521 Cannon Drive in Monroe wfil celebrate its second annual church anniversary at 6 p.m. June 5 Unity of Charlotte will host a workshop titled “Treasure Mapping: A Spiritual Tbol for The Temple of 'Ibtal Dehv- erance Ministries at 5521 Caimon Drive in Momoe will hold a gala to honor the Rev. Emell T. Bryant. The gala begins at 6 p.m. Jl-ne 6 The Temple of Ibtal Deliv- June 7 Weeping WUlow AME Zion Church, located at 2220 Mil- ton Road will hold Vacation Bible School through Jime 11. Classes are available for all ages. Transportation wfil be provided in the Barring ton, Sunridge and Milton Road areas. Call (704) 532- Please see USHERS/7B
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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May 27, 2004, edition 1
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