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http://www.thechar1ottepost.com Cliarlotte $0Kt TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2005 8B RELIGION Life 1B Leaving for the last time Acts 20:17-28 Our text opens with the apostle Paul preparing him self and the church in Eph esus for his departure to Jerusalem. Additionally, Paul probably was calling on peo ple along the way, greetii^ friends or making new con verts while taking advantage of the time to talk with God. There is nothing like time alone with God to regain peace and confidence in the midst of uncertainty. Paul knew what his fate would be once he reached Jerusalem, yet he hastened. He intended to be there by Pentecost, a time when he could witness to many people who would have traveled there to observe the holy day. This would have been an opportune and strate gic time to save souls for God’s kingdom. Paul arrived in Miletus, sending for the elders of the Ephesian church to come to him there, for if he had gone to Ephesus, he would have struggled to leave. Paul called them that he might instruct and encourage them for the benefit of those under their leadership. Paul, who had been accused of waf fling and' criticized by those who opposed him, was very logical in his exhortation to the Ephesians. Paul remind ed them of hid conduct, encouraging th^n to look not only at evidence they could see in him but also at God’s consistent character. Paul never did anything to cause anyone to question his intent or jeopardize the kingdom of God. Paul reminded the elders of his humble service to God, despite the persecution inflict ed on him, evai by his on peo ple. Refusing to seek his own comfort or benefit, he did not compromise truth for his own self-preservation. Rather, he spoke openly, p'aying all who heard would believe and receive the Christ he knew. Paul went to synagogues and spoke openly in the markets, even while working at his trade when opportunities were given. He also became personal and visited private dwellings, ‘labouring night and day” that all might come to know Christ (1 Ihess. 2:9, KJV). Paul was sensitive to the Spirit’s leading and com passionate toward all people. Throughout the Book of Acts, Luke reported Paul giv ing messages to various groups of people. However, this address differed fix)m the others in that it was a farewell message to people very dear to the apostle’s heart. His previous message Please see LEAVING/7B Homosexuality and religion was the topic of discussion at a recent town hall meeting in Charlotte at the Lesbian and Gay Community Center. Gay rights group rejects N.C. Baptist stance on homosexuality Expulsion ejforts enrage Human Rights Campaign THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WINSTON-SALEM- The nation’s largest gay- ri^ts organization has condemned efforts of the state’s Baptist convention to expel any church that ‘loiowingly affirms, approves or endorses homosexual behavior.” “The church should be a beacon, not a barricade,” Harry Knox, director of the Washington, D.C.-based Human R^jhts Campaign Foundation’s religion and faith programs, said Wednesday in a state ment. “Gay parishioners contribute in meaningfiil ways to their local church es and communities and the convention should focus on love and compas sion, not finding ways to demean and marginalize the faithful.” On TUesday, delegates at a meeting of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina asked the group’s board of directors to gauge the stance of individual churches on homosexuali ty The decision would add that standard to the ques tion of whether a church is “in friendly cooperation” with the convention. Existing policy only puts the convention at odds with churches that fail to contribute financially to the association, said con vention spokesman Nor man Jameson. With 1.2 million members, the North Carolina convention is the second lai^est asso ciation of Baptist diurches in the nation. The convention has sanc tioned churches for having openly gay inembers, but has never had a written policy The organization ©cpelled a Cabarrus Coun ty church in 2003 for accepting two gay men as members and later baptiz ing them. ‘T hope (the public) will take it to mean that North Carolina Baptists are voic ing our biblical conviction ... (but also) that God offers Please see GAY f7B ACLU sues to expand Bible tax to all books THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ATLANTA — Acting on behalf of the owner of a metaphysical bookstore, the American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit arguing that a (Georgia law exempting only the Bible fix)m sale taxes is discriminatory and should be extended to all publications dealing with the meaning of life. ‘Tf they’re not taxing someone’s holy scriptures, they shouldn’t be taxing an>'one’s,” said Candace Apple, who owns the Phoenix and Dragon Book store in the Atlanta subuih of Sandy Springs. T’m not willing to stand at the counter and teU someone, ‘Oh sorry, your religion is wrong.’” Apple and Thomas Budlong, former president of the Georgia Library Asso ciation, sued Georgia Revenue Com missioner Bart Graham in federal court Monday, arguing the tax break is unconstitutional and should be sus pended until the 1950s-era law can be reconsidered by state lawmakers. Graham had no commit with liti gation pending, Revenue Department spokesman C^harles Wiley said Tues day The law exempts from sale taxes the Bible as well as “similar books com monly recognized as being Holy Scrip ture regardless of by or to whom sold.” Apple argues that the phrasing is too vague to be restricted to Judeo- Cluistian publications, or even to books reflecting mqjor religions. “What about ‘A Wtches’ Bible?” Apple said, referring to a book she sells for Wccans, practitioners of a fast-growing polytheistic religion. “There’s nothing wrong with exempting the Bible, but they need to broaden the law for it to be constitu tional,” said Budlong’s attorney Mag gie Garrett, with the ACTU’s Atlanta office. Apple said that defining which books would fall into a broader cate gory could turn out to be impossible, so the easiest way might be to elimi- nate the tax break. Similar exemption laws have recently been struck down in Penn sylvania, Rhode Island and the Car- olinas, Garrett said. Pastor collects 500 turkeys from church roof THE ASSOCIATED PRESS PITCAIRN, Pa. —A pas tor who had been camping on his church roof came down after surpassing his goal of collecting 500 tmkeys for needy families. Pastor David Martin of the Pitcairn Assembly of God had been on the roof, camping in a tent, since Monday He had 255 tuikeyS) as of noon Wednes day Someone promised him more' than 100 turkeys. which with other donations, surpassed his goal. ‘Tt just an idea that dropped in my head,” he said. “I wanted to bless the community And you figure if you do something a little strange, people will show up, and they did. They have given over and ever more than I could have imagined.” Martin said he reached his goal sooner than expected He had planned to stay on the roof until Friday I Winfred Cross i^Soum Najiyah’s technique, emotions, need work N^jiyah Threatt It’s Just Me Nona Hendryx, executive pix>ducer Rhythm Bank Entertain ment Nqjiyah (pronounced Na-gee- ah) Threatt is but a child but she’s got a near-adult voice. It’s a good voice, one with a bit of range and depth. All she needs is to get her technique down and tap into some more emotion and she’ll be phenome nal. Until then, Threatt is OK, maybe a bit better than that. Most of the original composi tions come off quite well. “His Name Is Jesus” lets Threatt rumble and run with some ejq)ression. She sounds con nected to the song. Even some of the standsirds are com piling. Threatt combines with Michael McElroy on “His Eye Is On The Sparrow.” It’s the best this CD has to offer as far potential. Threatt is near awe some. She gets past her youth and sings like a veteran. McEl- • roy pushes her to near perfec- • tion. Threatt also holds her own with Jennifer HoUiday on “Through The Storm.” But more often than not this • CD sounds a lot like a kid* singing gospel music. That’s not • necessarily a bad thing, but cute can take you but so far. Threatt’s handling of Donnie McClurkm’s “Stand” is almost robotic. Never have I heard such a bland rendering of such an inspiring song. She does bet ter on “Home” fi*om “The Wuz” (which seems out of place on this CD) but it comes off sound ing like something fixjm a tal-' ent show. “It’s |Just Me” is a fine start, for such a young singer. It’s not perfect, but Ihere is loads of potential fix)m this young Ratings Classic; ETrpiWit Good Fair Why? No stare- - Amess Church News Tlw deadline for announcements is 5 p.m. on Fridays. Fax your announcements to (704) 342-2160 or e-mail to cheris.hodges^thediar- lottepo8t.com. Ongoing New (Dutreach/Hoskins Community is seek ing donations of tuikeys for Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinners. Donations are being accepted at 3900 Gossett Ave. For more infor mation call Pastor Brenda Stevenson at (704) 398-1777. November 22 Mecklenbuig Ministries will host an inter faith worship celebration The Rev. Clifford Jones of FriCTidship Mis- aicnary Baptist Church will be the speaker. The Rev. Thomas Moore will lead the inter faith chcnr. Rabtd Judy Schindler and Tfem{Je Beth El will host the worship service. Tb accommodate holiday travel schedules, the service will be held on TYiesday at 7p.m, at Ttemple Beth EH, 5105 Ifrovidence Road. November 24 Greater Cjethseman4 AME Zion Church, Memorial Presbyterian Church and Mt. Carmel Baptist Church will host a joint Thanksgiving concert at Greater Gethsemane, 531 Campus St. The event b^;ins at 10 a.m. November 27 The St. PhiUip Missionary Baptist (lurch’s Deacon Board will host a concert titled “Prais ing (jod Thru Song” at 3 p.m at the church, located at 400 Dellwood Drive. December 3 Pineville Church of the Nazarene Students Ministries present the seventh annual Bethle hem Revisited from 6-9 p.m throu^ Sunday The outdoor exp«ience recreates an ancient Bethlehem marketplace. The church is located at 8614 Ehieville-Matthews Road. For more information call (704) 542-3618. • The congregation of Peace Moravian Church will hold its annual Candle Tfea and CHiristmas Bazaar on its campus at the comer of Rea Road and Colony Road fiiom 9 a.m-2 p.m. The event will include demonstrations of Moravian Christmas traditions, including can dle tea served by church members in colonial Moravian costume, a display of nativity sets and the presentation of the Christmas Stcny For more information call Peace Moravian Church at (704) 759-9939. December 6 Liberty Baptist Church, 3000 Sam Wlson Road, will host Jon Jenkins through Ttiesday ni^t. Jenkins is fiom Grace Baptist in Gay lord, hfich Services begin each night at 7 p.m. • December 9 The Hickory Grove North Worship Depart ment presents “An Angel’s Story” a cosmic Christmas. The production centers around best-selling author Max Lucado, who imagines the spiritual conflict surrounding the coming of Christ. Tickets are $15 and include dinner. Show times are 7 p.m. Friday and 6 p.m on; Sunday For more information call (704) 531- 5333. December 11 | Our Children’s Memorisil Walkway will hold its annual memorial service at Frazier Park,'. 1201 West Fourth St., to remember children who have departed fix>m this life. This service; is specifically aimed at giving grieving pec^le of aU faiths and races the chance to come ti^ether in a place of life rather than at a cemetery to remember their loved ones. ; o©o r mt
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