The
Sunday
chool
Lesson
by John R Bray hoy
Sai km Missionary
Baptist Church
Never Alone (Psalm 139:114,
23-24)
Outline
I God Knows Us (Psalm 119 If>)
II God Accompanies Us (Psalm
119 7-12)
III God Made Us (Psalm 119:
11-14)
IV God PuriUcs Us (Psalm
11'? 21 24)
/ tiod Knows Us
(Psalm 139:1-6)
The wriicr of (his passage of
scriplurc recognizes the knowledge
oflhcall know ing God He realizes
thai he has examined him and
knows his ups and downs God is
aware of our shortcomings as well
as the positive things about us
God even knows what we arc
thinking even before we think it
Think about it! Nothing ever
occurred to God because He is all
knowing
The writer acknowledges that
the places he goes, and even when
he sleeps God knows all about him.
It would do all of God's children
good to come to his knowledge
God even knows w hat we arc gong
to sax before we say it. Whatever a
. jjcrson docs or w herever he may
go God know sit beforehand This
might not sound good, an
acquaintance knew everything
about you because he might use it
to briiig harm to you God. on the
other hand uses His knowledge of
us to make us belter people
The infinite niina or man has
trouble giasping how great God is
in His~ know ledge of him The
writer here is appalled all things
God knows about him: it is just
bey ond am (lung that our mind can
comprehend
II. find Accompanies Us
Psalm 139:7-12) '
The writer recognizes his
inability to escape from the
presence of God or from His spirit,
whatever direction that he goes.
God is there If he goes to heaven
or by contrast to hell. He is there
he realizes that he cannot get away
from1 God A person who goes to
hell will hni c a constant reminder
that he could have been spending
eternity in heaven with God Even
in hell a person will not gel away
from God but He w ill not take him
out of there
Even though darkness may
come and one cannot sec the writer
reminds us that darkness docs not
provide a cov er from God Many
people do wrong under the cov cr ol
darl vness to hid from people, but
while they may hide from people,
they cannot hide from God because
He can see in the dark, as well as
He can in the dav We need not
worry about w hat man sees us do
but wc need to be concerned about
what wc do because God is the
final authority that wc have to
answer to Many I imcswc complain
about drug dealers crooked
dealings etc but God is keeping
perfect records and all those who
do wrong w ill face an accounting
dav.
Ill (mil Mailc I'%
(Psalm I IV: I 1-11}
The v* nlcr mm cs from I lie awe
of Ihcall knowing God to I lie Mine
God lh.il made him Here he
niarvclsat lite fatl thai God was in
control of his emotions and even
protected huiic* en before hisbirlh
That tells me that life of an unborn
begins with conception
There is reason to gi\c honor
and Draisc to the almighty He
made, us in his own image and
likeness I Ic Ion es us and know sail
about us Think about it. brethren
the human bod) is mnrvclously
made and only (he almighl) could
has c made a body that functions in
such harmony Not onl) thai, but
He gi\ cs us the Holv Spirit to bear
witness to our soul that we could
k now
II '. (ioil Purijies I'.s
(Psalm 119:23-2-1)
The w ritcr now makes a request
to God to do what has already been
done In other words he is saying
God examine my life and show me
what is lacking in my life God
looks on the heart of man and He
alone knows a man's heart Most
of us do not want God to test us or
know our thoughts This needs to
be c\ cry Christian's request so that
God could make us better
Christ inns and soldiers of the cross
Too many times we want to keep
the unfavorable things about
oursclv cs hid. e> en from oursclv cs
When we allow God to show us
where we need to improve and
allow Him to lead us. then we w ill
follow him in the path of
righteousness We need to let C d
show us the wickedness that is
lurking in our hearts so that He can
remove it
There arc two paths in life for
mam to chodsc to follow (I) the
patliofrightcousncssorlhcpalhof
w ickcdiicss If you arc on the path
of wickedness you need to seek
Godand His forgiveness and follow
after righteousness. God wants to
save you for Christ 's sake Get on
the right path today Jesus is soon
coming after his own. Will you be
rcadv'' \
God blcssypu until next week
Pembroke Kiwanis Report
The weekly meeting was held
Tuesday evening at the Town and
Country Restuaniantat 7:OOPM Program
ChairmanFurnieLambcrt presented
Miss Rebeka Revels. Miss
Lumbcc for 1997 and her mother
Dccna Revels. Miss Lumbce will be
accompanied by her mother to the
Miss Indian Nation Pagent.in. the
near future. Miss. Lumbcc performed
in her beautiful soprano voice " This
Is My Beloved" and also "The 23rd
Psalm". The Kiwanisand theLRDA
arc helping Miss Lumbcc in her endeavors
of speaking to groups and
schools. Her at these functions arc "
Respect for the Elderly "the value of
prayer and the value of a good Christian
Family The audience was
throughly impressed with Miss
Lumbcc's talent and speaking abili
lies We believe and hope that she
wins the Miss Indian USA.
Lt. GovenorDick Fisher inducted
new members- Elaine Nance,
Burnese Branch and Todd Jones..
Miss Nance is a classmate of Miss.
Lumbcc's mother Deena Revels. Both
are graduates of UNCP Miss. Branch
and Mr. Jones arc also UNCP graduates
Mr Jones is also the proud
' ftuhgrof a.four year old son "We
welcome was sponsored by Bob
Lowry. Govenor Fisher cited the
goals of the Kiwanis and stressed the
value of gelling involved as the responsibilities
of Kiwanis Fred West
accompanied Gov. Fisher. Invocation
was lead by Garth Locklcar.
Presiding- Furnic Lambert: Song
Leader- Ray Lowry . Reporter-Ken
Johnson.
r
Max E. Lowry's
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Rt 3 Box 113 D D (910)521 9538
Maxton. NC 28364 (910)521-2275
A Need for Reform of General Statues
of State and Federal Wildlife Agency
There is a GREAT NEED for all
people to understand the reverence,
respect, and connection that Indian
Tradiuonalistsfcel towards the Earth,
mankind, and animals
The American Indian does not
believe in the taking of a bird's life or
fur-bearing animals simply to obtain
its garment or parts. The taking of
such has alway sbeen done in order to
provide food for our people. We believe
in and support regulations that
protect endangered species, birds of
prey, and yes especially our nation's
symbol, the Eagle. We do not condone
the w illful killing ofthese birds
When we find a bird of prey (road
kill) along the road side, traditionalists
believe it is proper to extend its
life through the takingand respectful
use of its feathers and other parts
Traditionalists also believe in reverencing
a moment to reunite its body
to the Earth, that its spirit may forever
soar the skies with descendants
that follow This is a traditional custom
of the American Indian and has
been for thousands of Jears long
before the arrival of the white man
The current law forbids most Indians
the right to possess the reverenced
feathers a nd claw s of the bi rds of prey
and migratory birds
The current law allows one to
hunt the deer, turkey, and dove, and
to possess its meat and eat thereof
But it is illegal to sell its antlers on a
knife handle or to sell a bow quiver
made from its hide. It isalso illegal to
use or sell thedove feather ina dream
catcher. It isevenillcgal to possess or
sell the feather of a turkey. And. in
regards to the eagle
feather...according to the laws administered
by the "Department Of
Interior" via the "United StatesFish
And Wildlife Agency", no American
Indian can legale Dossess an
Indian Voice.
To subscribe
eagle feather or an> part of the eagle
thereof unless he or she arc members
of a Federal!) rccogm/ed Tribe, and
then the fcathcr(s) are to be inventoried
with the "Federal Fish And
Wildlife Agency". This regulation
has been in place for nearly 50 years
and is in direct contradiction to the
"American Indian Religious Freedom
Act,42-USC 1996". And to top
that. Fedtral Agents may audit your
inventory of Eagle fcathcr(s) (should
you have any) to determine your compliance
or non-compliance The
"Federal Fish And Wildlife Agency"
isn't the only agency that needs reform.
The "North Carolina
Wildlife's" Regulations arc just as
much out-dated and contradictory to
the "American Indian Religious
Freedom Acl" In fact, many believe
that both the current Federal and
State Regulations discriminate
against the American Indians, their
freedom, and pursuant of happiness
in the observance of their heritage,
spiritual gatherings, and culture The
time is at hand for a change in both *
the State and Federal Wildlife Regulations
There is a great need for a
change!!
The need of reform to the "General
Statutes" of the "State and Federal
Wildlife Agency" will provide
state rccogni/ed tribes. Native American
Organizations, communities, and
public officials an opportunity to interact
with "one another to achieve
greater freedom for all our American
Indian citi/cnshfp
The current "General Statutes"
are well over half-a-ccnturv old! It is
time for changes!
We as an indigenous People, and
as the 7th largest State in Indian
population should envision a collaborative
effort that will provide
freedom and opportunity in tne God
given right to possess, own, and use
feathers and furs in our traditional
celebrations, religious events, and
other everyday life activities.
The accomplishment of a reform
will not be an easy or short-termed
task. A cooperative partnership must
be initiated by Local, State, and Federal
Agencies.
A statewide set or rules that revises
and defines current regulations
on the use of migratory birds, birds of
prey, and fur-bearing animals is long
past due.
Such an act would enable the Indians
of North Carolina, as well as.
all other Stales the opportunity to
legally wear any feather or any part
tthcreof ofitubifd of prey, migratory
birds, and/or fur-bearing animals
without fear of incarceration due to
the current and outdated Stale and
Federal Regulations
The Statewide set of rules and
Federal rules must not contradict one
another, thus, again a cooperative
partnership must be initiated b> all
entities in order to accomplish this
task
This enactment would ease the
current stringent regulations while
casing discrimination and unfair
regulations afTccling the American
Indian. A revised enactment would
strengthen the traditional, spiritual
values held by the American Indians,
and permit us a greater freedom.
The organizational development
of the enactment would consist of a
staff of Native American Organizations.
Tribal Bodies. State Agencies.
Federal Agencies, and public input
as a part of the cooperative process of
developing and promulgating new
regulations pertaining to feather, furs,
and parts thereof
In order to maximize the public's
response, the State'sapplicablc agencies
should lead in developing and
administering a survey that will lead
in developing a new enactment. All
Indian Communities and Organizations'should
also targeted in this
survey.
There is a great need to ease the
current State and Federal Regulations
as how they discriminate against
the traditional values and religious
beliefs of the American Indian.
There is a great need to siniplif>
current Federal Regulations as pertaining
to the taking, possession, and
use of leathers, furs, and parts thereof
There is a great need to simplv
and case stringent regulations, i c .
salvage permits, documentation
forms, reports, etc
There is a great need to rev ise
State and Federal Wildlife Regulations
so as they arc not contradictors
to the American Indian Religious
Freedom Law 95-341" enacted b\
the 95th Congress on August I i.
1978 and revised in 1996
There isagrcat need for all American
Indians and Indian Organizations
to rail) together, nationw ide. to
fix that which has been so wrong for
so long We as American Citizens
have the right to celebrate our heritage
and to preserve our traditional
values and customs, after all. arc we
not the "First Americans"?
Your silence will be vour acceptance
to the status quo
I urge you not to sit idle and wait
for someone else to so something
Take action today in contacting your
State Tribal Leaders and the "North
Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs"./
AHO!!
by John " Tall Rird" Marshall
Looking for a Horse?
Why Not Adopt a Mustang.
Call 1-800-417-9647 for details.
Say you read
it ijn Carolina
I.Indian Voice.
To subscribe
call 521-2826
*
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707 C-2 Union Chapel Road
Pembroke, NC 28372 J
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