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##o MiM mm http7/www.thechar1ottepost.com ■I Cfjarlotte ^os(t THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2005 8B RELIGION Life IB, PhilUp obeyed Acts 8:26-28 As mentioned in the previ ous lesson, Phillip was one of the seven men chosen to oi^a- nize and distribute food in the early Church. His ministry, like Stephen’s, was character ized by compassion and ser vice to the body of Christ and the lost. In his ministry, God provided Phillip with opportu nities to share the Gospel, for he had been taught by the apostles in Jerusalem. While he and six other specifically had been chosen to minister to the needs of early believere, Philip’s min istry extended beyond the boundaries of Jerusalem to include Samaria. Persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, so many of the believers began to scatter (Acts 8:1). The bible informs us, “Those who had been scat tered preached the word wherever they went. Phillip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed Christ there” (Acts 8:4-5, NIV). During his evangelistic efforts in Samaria, ' PhiUip imparted the Word, and many were saved. It is only logical to conclude Phillip drew crowds wherever he went. After all God used him to preach salvation and per form many wonders and signs. While evar^elists today may eiyoy the perks of being a central figure in a large crowd, our text reveals such a desire did not taint PMUip’s heart and mind. God first sent Phillip to a city where many accepted him and the mes sage he preached. In stark contrast, an angel of the Lord then led Phillip away fi*om the crowded city to the desert. Perhaps Phillip had been curious about his new assignment that was leading him to a place where there possibly would be little or no interaction with people. The fact that God directed Phillip to share the (jospel with a single pei%on shows how significant individuals are to God. Successful min istry develops through obedi ence to (jod’s leadership and is not characterized necessari ly by a laige number of follow ers. Ibo often, the success associated with ministering to large crowds can cloud the vision and dull the hearing of (jod’s servants, leading to dis astrous results. Phillip, how ever, obeyai (jod and began his southward travel fiom Jerusalem toward Gaza. After obeying the angel of the Lord, Phillip encoimtered an Ethiopian eunuch who had gone to Jerusalem to worship. The man was reading fix^m the Book of Isaiah, regarding the Messiah. Phillip joined him at the urging of the holy spirit. PHOTO/STOCK MARKET Religion or spirituality? People of all backgrounds wrestle with age-old question By Cheri.s F. Flodges cherisJwdges^thecharlottepostrom Some people call them selves religious, while oth ers say they’re spiritual. Is there a difference? Spirituality is defined as of the soul or of the spirit. Religion is defined as a belief in and worship of God. . According to Fellowship Journal, a (Christian mag azine, religious living can lead to zealousness and exclusion of others who don’t follow a specific doc trine. “Religion is in our blood. We are religious people by nature and we must be very careful. It is easy for us to think, we see the truth and no one else does,” the magazine stat ed. In the dark ages, Clmst- ian crusades left thou sands dead in their wake. Some religious funda mentalists believe their cause to have grave and even cosmic importance. Ihey see themselves as protecting not only a dis tinctive doctrine, but also a vital principle, and a way of life and salvation. Com munity, comprehensively centered upon a clearly defined religious way of life in aH of its aspects, is the promise of fundamen talist mov^ents, and it therefore appeals to those adherents of religion who find littie that is distinc tive, or authentically vital in their previous religious identity, according to Wikipedia.com. Psychologist Paschal Baute wrote that “Spiritu ality is Hvtng one’s life fi*om the realization that the bodyAuind/ego person ality we have been taught to identify with is just the tip of our iceberg, our little head sticking through the window of the senses into this world, whereas our true body is the universe. It is recognizing that our perceived world is mostly an illusion, a shared dream we are asleep in, and that the goal of life is to awake to our real Self which is vast and multidi mensional - already inti mately connected with all of creation, with a twin shadow self that is already scripted, mostly primitive, and hidden fixjm us, but that this whole Self is already One with this mystery we call God/dess whose essence can hardly be understood, but to which we give names as See THE GREAT/7B Air Force sued for religious intolerance THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - A Jew ish military veteran sued the Air Force, claiming senior Air Force Acad emy officers harassed and forced evangelical Christian views on cadets. The suit was filed last week by Mikey Weinstein, an academy gradu ate and outspoken critic of the school’s handling of religion. Weinstein, who is Jewish, has one son who graduated fiom the academy in 2004 and anoth er who is a junior there. Both were subjected to anti-Semitic slurs fixDm evangelical Christian cadets, Wein stein said in an interview. Over the past decade or more, the suit claims, academy leaders have fos tered an environment of religious intolerance at the school, in violation of the U.S. constitution. According to Weinstein, evangelical Christians have coerced attendance at religious services and prayers at ofl&cial events. ‘Ttfs a shocking disgrace that I had to file this thing,” Weinstein told The Associated Press. Lt. Cbl. Frank Smolinsl^, an Air Force spokesman, responded by saying: “The United States' Air Force is committed to defending the Please see AIR FORCE/7B Black, white congregations share churches THE ASSOCIATED PRESS EUCLID, Ohio-Black and white worshippers share three churches on the east side of Euclid, but that does not mean the city has found religion when it comes to integra tion. Three predominantly white congregations — Master’s United Methodist, Euclid Luther an and Lake Shore Christ ian - rent their churches to congregations that are all-black or mostly so. But services are at separate times, and mingling, while fiiendly is minimal These are marriages of convenience. Reflecting the inner-ring suburb where they gather, the white congregations are aging and depleted by sprawl. The rent money helps .pay the bills. The black churches are young, just getting started. They hope to grow with the city’s minority population and find their own homes. Church-sharing is com mon in regions that expe rience racial and cultural change, said the Rev. Ralph Chrtin, a Southern Baptist pastor in Florida who wrote a book on the subject. The practice has expanded in the last 15 years because of immigra tion, the spread of minori ty groups into new areas and white flight, he said Master’s United Methodist Church peaked at 600 to 700 members in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Tbday, the number is around 100. New Free dom Ministries, which has rented fix)m Master’s for the last year, is three times as large. Master’s Pastor Jeff Branche says his church could not survive without a tenant. ‘T hate to see these beau tiful church structures not be used,” Branche said. "New Freedom Mnistries was a blessing, not only in the sense that they were able to help financially” "They were a blessing in that they use the build- ing,” Branche said. Euclid Lutheran began renting to Ambassadors Please see BLACK /7B Church News Adams scores with some new inspirations Yolanda Adams Day By Day James Harris III, Terry Lewis and others, producers Atlantic Records Adams Many may scoff* at Yolanda Adams’ new CD as a gospel record, but they need not be so critical. This is more inspira tional than anything else but it rivals Adams’ best work. Adams seems to be singing with a renewed vigor. Iriie, it’s more gospel lite, but she still packs a wallop when she digs into this material. Jimmy Jam and Tferry Lewis have really gotten this gospel thing right, off'ering some of the CD’s best songs. “Alwaysness” isn’t a real word, but it’s an amaring state ment on God’s grace and vmder- standing. Then of course there’s “Be Blessed,” the radio I smash that j laimched the j coming of this CD I earlier this year. I Adams tears into j the song with full fervor. She believes every word she’s singing. The message is simple: turn your problems over to (jod and live with a peaceful mind. There’s lots else to like. ‘Mc- tory” is a rousing exhortation. The chorus is delivered in a staccato fashion that accentu ates each word. These folks feel this song. Donnie McCTurkin and Mary Mary guest on “Lift Him Up.” What? Did you think McClurkin wouldn’t make an appearance. It nearly comes to a screamfest, but each party keeps a lid on things. “I’m Grateful” is nearly an of skool jam session. Adams closes with “This Tbo Shall Pass,” a big, rousing number that allows her to use most of her ^orious voice. She soars on the big sweeping pas sages with little effort but lots of gusto. Ilfs a great way to close on a high note. Most of this may not work in a church service, but it’s well suited for everyday listening. Radio needs more positive songs. Adams offers a dozen to choose. Ratings dasaic; Excellent Good Fair Why? No stars — A m^s The deadline for church announcements to be added to the calendar is 5 p.m. on Fridays. Fax your announcements to (704) 342-2160 or e-mail your announcement to cheris.hodges§’lhecharlottepostcom. Ongoing Chappell MemcMial Baptist Church will open its Qothing Closet to families in need every first and third Saturday of the month. Families can ccwne to the church, which is located at 110 Bradford Drive, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. For mcMC infcMination. call (704) 394-5615. There is no charge for the clothes. • Plaza Baptist Church. 3321 The Plaza, will host an eight-week video study by Bruce Wilkinson designed to show how the Prayer of Jabez can release God's favor. The series begins nightly at 7 p.m. For more information, call (704) 334-3913. October 15 Gospel Music pay is back in the second year at Paramount’s (2arowinds. This year's festival includes artists Tcmex, J Moss and Stephen Hurd. Grammy nominated artist and gospel sensation Tonex will headline this fall's event. Tonex’s latest release “Out of the Box” has garnered a Grammy nomination as well as six 2005 Stellar Awards. Appearing before Tonex is Detroit-raised artist J Moss whose album The J Moss Project garnered him several Dove award and Soul Train nominations. Also aRjearing on the lineup is music minister and Integrity Gospel recwding artist Stephen Hurd. Paramount’s (3arowinds will be open from 10am to 8pm. Go^l Music Day performances will begin in the eariy evening. The combination ccm- cert ticket includes admission to Paramount's C!arowinds and all the concerts in the Paladium Amphitheater plaza. Seating is limited, so early tick et purcha.ses are suggested. Seating is reserved. ♦ The Bethany Bapti.st Church will host its first “Let ting Your Light Shine” fashicm showcase. Tickets are $5. The church is located at 4700 Willard St. For more information, call (704) 277-2139. October 16 Galilee Baptist (Thurch, located at 2933 Shady Lane, will host its annual revival service through Oct. 20. Savices begin nightly at 7 p.m. October 17 University Park B^tist CTiurch will host its fall revival through Wednesday. Services begin nightly at 6:30 p.m. The guest speaker is Charles Booth, .senior pastor at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, Columbus, Ohio. The church is located at 6029 Beatties Fcwd Road. For mwe information call (704) 369-7736. October 23 The Women’s Ministry of Tabernacle Baptist Church presents “Making the Shift: Moving from self-confidence to God-confidence.” Sunday, the Rev. Richetta Daniels will lead the Woman's day service. The women’s revival begins Monday at 6:30 p.m. For more infOTmation call (704) 568-2374. October 29 The Greater Mount Moriah Primitive Baptist Church will host its sixth annual golf tournament at Renaissance Golf Course, 1525 West Tyvola Road. Fot more infonnation, call (704) 376-8806. November 4 Reeder Memorial Women’s Ministry will present an evening of pampering featuring a facial-nails and fashion show. Registration is required and the cost is $10. The church is located at 3725 Beatties Ford Road. November 5 Kneville Church of the Nazarene will host its fourth annual Christmas Arts & Crafts Festival from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. The church is located at 8614 Pineville- Matthews Road. For more inftxmation, call (704) 542-3618. • Reeder Memorial Women’s Ministry will present “A CelelM^tion in the Midst of Womanhood” work shop beginning at 9 a.m. The church is located at 3725 Rease see THRIVE/7B
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