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8B
Wtft Cliarlotte ^oieet
RELIGION
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2005
Life IB
Syrian
plight
2 Kings 5:1-4
Naaman’s Situation (v.l)
Now Naaman, captain of
the host of the king of Syria,
was a great man with his
master and honorable,
because by him the Lord had
given deliverence unto Syria;
he was also a mighty man in
valor, but he was a leeper.
Naaman is introduced to us
as captain of the host of the
king of Syria. This means
that he is a high-ranking offi
cer in the army of that coim-
try. He has distinguished
himself in this capacity as
indicated by the descriptions
that he is a great man, honor
able and a mighty man in
valoi'
But while Naaman is
unquestionably a capable
leader, he is in truth an
instrument in the greater,
more honorable and mightier
hands of the Lord. It is
through Naaman that the
Lord had given deliverence
unto Syria.
When we study the Old Tbs-
tament history, we usually
think of God’s activity in
dehvering His people from
their oppressors ( as in exodus
or in the days of the judges).
But Jod is the Lord of all
nations (Isaiah 14;26, 27). He
is as capable of aiding them as
He is of aiding the Israelites.
In this case His deliverence of
Syria may refer to a victory
that the nation achieved over
the Assyrians around the
middle of the ninth century
B.C., the time in which the
events in today’s lesson take
place.
One might think that the
fact that Naamam is a leper
would prevent him from car
rying out any kind of military
activity. However, the
Hebrew word often translated
leprosy in our Bible does not
always indicate the severe,
debilitating affliction
(“Hansen’s Disease”) that we
often associate with that
term, It can also describe less
serious skin conditions, such
as psoriasis or eczema.
Naaman’s condition, what
ever it may be is, most likdy
in its earliest stages. Note
Naaman’s reference to “the
place” in verse 11, as if there
is a speciftc spot on his skin
that is particulariy trouble
some.
Expanding faith, vision
University Park's latest acquisition consolidates ejforts
ILLUSTHATIONA.UQUIRE GEORGE ANDREWS
University Park Baptist Church is moving to the Chariotte Merchandise Mart in 2007.
By Herbert L. White
herb .wkUe^ thecharloaepostcom
One of Charlotte’s
laigest megachurches is
growing again.
University Park Baptist
Cliurch’s deal to buy the
Charlotte Merchandise
Mart on Independence
Boulevard will give UPBC
the room it needs to
expand its ministry. The
church’s main campus, to
be called Park Place, will
feature a 100,000-square-
foot worship cent^ seating
6,000 as well
as capacity to
^e the
g i o n
through
business
incubation
and devel-
o p m e n t,
education
and training, conferences,
meetings and receptions.
Alexander
“The Scriptimes com
mand us to evangelize the
world and carry out our
ministry fully” said the
Rev Claude Alexander Jr.
“Our church continues to
be blessed
by growth, and the
acquisition of this wonda*-
ful facility will allow us to
better serve our family of
faith and also work for the
good of the community at
large.”
The Merchandise Mart,
now home to 72 trade
shows, expos and special
events, is owned and oper
ated by the D.L. Phillips
Company UPBC will sub
contract with D.L. Phillips
to manage events through
2008.
University Park has
grown into one of the
largest churches in the
Carolinas, averaging near-
Please see EXPANDING/7B
Adult video store evicted by church owner
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MILFORD, C^nn. —Two years after
buying a building that houses an
adult video store, the Kingdom Life
diristian Cliurch is moving to evict
its tenant.
The church bou^t the building in
2003 for $245,000 in an effort to force
Wdeo Pleasures to dose. But owner
Michael Friend remained in the
building by exercising a three-year
lease agreement he had with the pre
vious owners.
That lease expires in December
2006, but the church has dedded not
to wait.
Bishop Jay Ramirez said Friend
owes more than $4,800 in back rent,
and he plans to start eviction proceed
ings this month.
“Were trying to have a little bit of
grace,” Ramirez told the New Haven
Register. “We want to do things in a
responsible business manner. One
way or another, they will be gone
before next December. I hope they
choose to leave before we throw them
out.”
Friend declined to comment on the
status of his business, but said he is
“not surprised” that church leaders
are confident his store will not be
aroimd much longer.
“The whole effort has been to drive
me out of business,” he said.
City offidals hope the diurch can do
just that.
“The sooner that business is not
there the better,” said Mayor James
L. RicheteUi Jr.
Kingdom life offidals have raised
Friend’s rent tiie past two years fiom
$1,886 a month to $2,486. Ramirez
said that wasn’t to force Friend out.
The church has spent $100,000 to
install a new roof, and new heating
and electrical system in the building
as preparation for when it will have a
new tenant and the rent reflects fair
market value, he said.
Ramirez said the church has no
plans to buy other adult businesses.
He noted that Video Pleasures is the
only such business located in a resi
dential zone.
“I don’t intend to make this a dty-
wide crusade,” Ramirez said.
Critics make shopping a religious question
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Critics of Wal-Mart, the
retailing giant based at
Bentonville, Ark., are ask
ing a question that’s a twist
cm a popular C^iristian slo
gan.
Some Cliristians say they
operate on the prindpal of
“What Would Jesus Do?”
and the initials W.WJ.D.
on la^celets or headbands
or tee-shirts are a symbol of
that stand. Now the Wal-
Mart critics are asking
WW.J.S.-”Where would
Jesus shop?”
According to the union-
backed critics of Wal-Mart
Stores Inc., not at the
world’s largest retailer.
WakeUpWalMart.com on
Ihursday unveiled a reli
gious-themed campaign
Thursday asking shoppers
whether (k)d wants them
to buy things fium the com
pany
The group, funded by the
United Fcxxl and Commer
cial Workers imion,
laimched a TV ad and
released a letter signed by
65 clergy members and
religious figures. The group
says Wal-Marfs policy over
wages, health benefits and
other issues harm families
WAUMART
PHOTOS/WADE NASH
Would Jesus shop here? One group says no.
and communities.
Wal-Mart accused the
group of using union dues
to esqjloit religion and said
it would give nearly $200
million in cash contribu
tions to charities this year.
The 30-second TV spot,
starting Fridayin Alabama,
Arkansas, Georgia, Ken
tucky, Oklahoma and
Tbxas, is part of the latest
seasonal-themed campaign
Please see WAL-MART/7B
‘Project’:
Praise full,
stunning at
times
william Murphy Project
All Day
William Murphy, produc
er
Sony Urban/Epic
Lots of gospel fans know
Shekinah Gloly Ministries’
“Praise Is WhatT Do,” but few
know of its writer, William
Murphy He’s the minister of
worship at Eddie Long’s New
Birth Missionary Baptist
Church in Atlanta and break
up into the business with his
own recording.
Murphy combines choirs
fiom New Birth, Hope & Life
Fellowship, Free Chapel Wor
ship Center, Church In The
Now, Full Harvester and
Cathedral Of The Holy Spirit —
all Atlanta area megachurches
— to record this CD. Most of
the work was recorded live at
New Birth last year in fiont of
what seems to be an enthusi
astic ccmgregation. The choir
isn’t as full sounding as I like,
but there are times when the
results are stunning. Murphy
combines a number of genres
to get his message across but
this is generally praise and
worship. It’s not as repetitive
as most praise and worship
and tiiere’s a lot of life to the
songs without digressing into
disco gospel.
Murphy does his own take
on “Praise Is What I Do” with
great results. It’s a powerful
song that almost sings itself
Once the coi^regation kicks in
with the choir on the chorus,
it’s a wrap. He displays his
knowledge of the secular by
using the Drifts’ “On Broad
way” in the energy-charged
“(jood.” It’s unsettling at first,
but Murphy makes the song
into gospel witii little trouble.
“Let It Rise” is getting great
airplay but pales in compari
son to the rousing ‘Hear My
Prayer” or the mqjestic “I
Know Why I’m Here.” It’s
these kind of songs which
make tiiis choir shine.
Murphy proves himself to be
a fine songwriter and decent
singer on this debut. There are
no weak songs and all the per
formances are soUd. He could
n’t ask for better.
Ratiiiigs
OaaEic.
ElxceUiait
Good
Fair
Why? -it
No stars—A meoB
Church News
The deadline fca* announcement in the calen
dar is 5 p.m. on Fridays. Fax your announce
ments to (704) 342-2160 or e-mail your
announcement to cheris.hodges(§thecharlot-
tepost.com.
Ongoing
New Outreach/Hoskins Community is seek
ing donations of turkeys for Christmas Din
ners. Donations are being accepted at 3900
(joesett Ave. For more information caU Pastor
Brenda Stevenson at (704) 398-1777.
December 18
The United for Christ Inspirational Mass
Choir will be in concert at 5 p.m. The concert
will be hdd at the Haven of Rest Baptist
Church, located at 2435 Tbomey Ave.
• University Park Baptist Church presents
“Christmas; It’s All About Love,” a dramatic
jaesentation at The Paik South 13733 Lan
caster Hi^way PineviUe. Show times are 3:30
and 7 p.m Admission is free.
• The Haynes Schofield Missionary will
sponsor Christmas around the Worid at 1;30
p.m at Greater Bethel AME Church, located
at 201 Grandin Road. Admission is $7 for
adults and $3 for children.
' • New High Springs Baptist Church, lcx:ated
at 811 South Dalton St. in Gastonia, will hold
its Christmas prc^am at 2;30 p.m.
December 24
United Christian Fellowship Church will
host “Christmas E^losion” beginning at 6
p.m The event will feature the production “No
Christmas without Christ.” As well as Face 2
Face ^fime Mnistry Perfect Praise Dancers
and Voices of Triumph. The church is located
at 118 ^filler Chapel Road, Salisbury
December 25
New Hi^ Springs Baptist Church, located
at 811 South Dalton St. in Gastonia, will hold
its Christmas Day service at 8:30 a.m
Sunday School will be held at 7:45 a.m.
G#0