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Letters to the Editor Christianity is very much a part of purNattve culture Dear Brothers andfeisteJk ftv I was reading theCaroina dian Voice a few mocths back and someone wrote in aiid wa|>5Jj|?rv about the fact that Tub ?i||^li Mil was placed on Christianity m Ulll~" newspaper and among our people. He asserted that Christianity was not part of our native culture. I want to address this letter. A few years back, 1 was a college student in the mountains and had a two week break from work and school so 1 hopped in my little red pickup and headed west.. I found myself one Sunday morning in front of the First Crow Indian Baptist Church in Lodgepole, Montana. 1 've always enjoyed the company of fellow believers so I stopped in. The first thing is they had Crow history depicted in picture on the stain glass windows of the church. And elderly Crow gentlemen shared his hymn book with me, and I about swallowed my peppermint candy when 1 saw that the hymns were written in Crow. After we sang those great hymn of Zion (phonetically in Crow) and the pastor delivered God's word to the people. We closed with a parting song holding hands in a circle. I thought in the back of my mind, this reminds me so strongly of the Native churches I was privileged to attend back home in Robeson County. After the service it dawned on me you can hear echoes of our ancient * chants and Native ?ongs in the < h!ymnsiiS?; in pur native churches. When ywrgoio church next Sun?lint f i listen. Isn't vt/rai tjUUi^^Uwtiful? Another thing trirl *" V really opened my eyestoTTS^*iu*/d tied Lumbee Culture and Christianity are. Various historical books and documents state that our Siouan ancestors believe there are twoGreat Spirits-one good and the other evil. Furthermore. the believe that those who accepts the Good Spirit and live good lives will be rewarded by the Warowe (Great Spirit/means "Never Died") with all the joys that could possibly be in the next world, but those people to reject God would live out their eternal afterlife in torment. According to John Lawson, in the early 1700's although " the White Men asked over and over again for an explanation of their thoughts on religion, their Siouan traveling companions never would reply to their questions. One Sunday that silence was broken. While Lawson and his companions were sitting around a campfire one night they asked Ned Bearskin, a Siouan chief, on the significance of Waro'we (God). Bearskins explained their religion was practiced by all the Piedmont tribes which spoke a mutuality intelligible Siouan language. Chief Bearskin told these men that his people believed that there was One Supreme God they called War'we or "Never Die" and that the sun, the moon, and the starts their business in the beginning which they had faithfully performed ever since. Also, after life was over, there were only two places to go and a big flash of lightening separated the good from the bad. The "saved" or good people were directed into a charming, warm country, where spring was everlasting and everyone was always in their youth. In particular, the women were bright as stars and never scolded. In this place there were animals without hunting, flowers, fruits, and vegetables without planting, and the people were never sick and never died. Chief Bearskin went on to say that the other place where the dead so was a dark and barren country where it was always winter, with sun the year round, and nothing to be seen on the trees but icicles. All the people were old and had not teeth. Everyone was hungry and did not have anything to eat except a bitter kind of potato which made everyone sick, in his place, sitting on a huge toadstool, there was a dreadful old woman whose head was covered with rattle snakes instead of hair. After I read this, 1 thought it's no wonder why our people became Christians so quickly. They basically believed in many of the same religious ideologies before the white man ever set foot on these shoes. Haven't you heard something stranger that this in he church * on Sunday morning? Folks, 1 guess many of you wonder why I take time to write these letters. 1 write so you and 1 will be reminded who we are. Who will be here to tell the story if we don't tell it? No one! Barely 250 years ago our forefathers went through and ordeal that would make Kosovo slaughter look lame. Over 80 thousand of our people were murdered or poisoned to death by disease, barely now, a century ago, many of our great grandfathers etc. were forced into slavery and possible death to dig a ditch for the Confederacy in a malaria manifested area called Fort Fisher. We could get angry thinking of all the wrongs perpetrated on us, but the love of Jesus gives us peace. God saw us through "we can forgive, but we cannot forget." I was talking to a friend recently, and we discussed how our Lumbee leaders of the past would not speak publicly until they were sure what God wanted them to say and do. Our present leaders need to following their holly footsteps asking not" what can my people so for me? But How can I work with my brothers and sisters to do for my people". 1 genuinely believe our leaders are beginning to see the truth. A man/woman is never so tall as then he/she humbly prays to god on his/her knees. Let's remember what a great Native American Christian heritage we have been left, and pray for our leaders as they meet and seek God's will for our people. We cannot fail if we put God first and let him lead. In the ??? Lumbee/Cherawtongue, Wo'nai're, Thank you (for listening. Epta Newasin (Creator, I love you) 1 hope you do too. Avis Boughman Revival Underway at Mt. Calvary Brother Duftene Cummings and Bro. Everette Woods are in the revival of the century right now at Mt. Calvary Church in the Union Chapel cominunity. We are praying that the revival will be held over and the first message that was preached was on the sin of covetousness. A covetous Christian is one who has their priorities mixed up. They are doing roe for the things and pleasures of the world than they are for the Lord. Jesus is to be first in a Christian's life. and everything else is supposed to follow. ' The second commandment is to love thy neighbor as thyself. The first commandment is to love the Lord thy God with all thy strength, soul an might. Why is the BOC, the Body of Christ gotten things so turned upside down? My brothers and sisters, could we need to stop a minute and ask God to examine our hearts and bring us back a report? Cold we study that report carefully and prayerfully asking God if he is the tip top tip on our priority list and are we wanting him to femai n here? Is Jesus Christ truly first in the 1 i fe of the body of Christ? Or are our hearts full of covetousness? Joe Red Buffalo Words of Comfort during times of tragedy Dear Editor, This letter is in response to teh letter which appeared in the August 26,1999 issue of the Carolina Indian Voice: So many tragedies have occurred recently such as: the shooting in Colorado, Alabama, Atlanta and even here in North Carolina Sometimes 1 fond it very hard to read the newspaper or even watch the news on television It is so depressing, f don't know just how you feel but Iahink i khow you are going through,! My brother Rev. Earl Oxendine had a son to be killed by a hit and run <$river I know the feeling of that bcc?ise he was so dear to me. Also my husband was allegedly accidentally^killed in 1986. leaving me with two childrcp to raise by myself 1 know the feeling there also To the family 6f MR. Ricky Lane Jacobs ? if y ou know Christ, believe in His word He said that He would put no more on us than we arc able to bear and that He would never forsake us or leave us. So all 1 can say to you is Trust in God He will see you through. 1 am praying for you all If you don't know Him as your personal savior, please don't wait too late He's coming and He is so real. I am so glad that I know Him as my Lord A tiskct. A tasket DRUGS will cause you a casket May God Richly Bless You All !!!!! Sarah O. Locklei. Say you read it in the Carolina Indian Voice ^^^^^ALlAMERICIANBud30^^^^^^ This Friday and Saturday night 7:30 PM Robeson County Fairgrounds Monster Truck on display at Freeman Motors Saptilth thru 10th See 5000 Horsepower Tractors, Modified Two & Four wheel drives Mini Modified and Super Stocks Adults $10, Child 6-12 $5, 5 & Under Free Pull your stock truck Friday and Saturdsy Night Sponsored by Robeson County Firemen's Association Sanctioned By the United Pullers and Nrtonil Tractor Pullers Association Roxie's Cleaning Service Residential and Commercial. Cleaning and Touch-Up Painting 1-800-865-5558 Available (7 days a Week) ROBESON HEALTH CARE offering Family Practice, Pediatrics, Maternity, Women's Wellness, X-Ray, Laboratroy, Substance Abuse Counseling and Eligibility Services. MDs/PAs enrollment open-Carolina Access Provider at both locations Primary A Preventice Care for You and Your Loved Ones NEW PATIENTS WELCOME WE ARE HEALTH CHOICE PROVIDER'S Maxton Medical Clinic 610 E. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive Near R.B. Dean Elementary approaching on Business 74 Weekdays 8:00 am-S:00 p m. & Tuesday Evening till 8:00 pm Tel. 910-844-5253 H e Accept Health Service Julian T. Pierce Health I Clinic 307 East Wardell Drive Across from Pemberton Nursing Home Weekdays 8:00 am-5:00 pm & Monday Evening Till 8:00 pm Tel. 910-521-2816 Medicare. Madicaid BC/BS y CarolinaJndian Voice Close Out Half Price Sale On Children's Sizes, 8-Up Maternity Clothing Children's Clothing KuMiw/j Equipment I Toys Children's Shop Adult Clothing 112 West Fourth Avenue Red Springs, NC 28377 MAROLYN McLEAN (910) 843-2204 Proprietor Hours of. Operation Mon - Tues 10 am - 4 pm Thurs - Sat 10 am - 5 pm Wed - 10 am - 2 pm Sunday Closed Providing leading edge nutritional hcrhs and dietary supplements for 4 weight management, wellness and health maintenance. AUTO ACCIDENTS WRONGFUL DEATH PERSONAL INJURY i i . =?B-aBa DWI & TRAFFIC OFFENSES Of All Kinds I Free Initial Consultation i Call 24 Hours A Day 7 Days a Week RONNIE SUTTON Attorney At Law "PROTECTING YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS" (910)521-4797 208 Union Chapel Road ========_ * Maynor & Maynor Certified Public Accountants * tax preparation & planning business planning personal financial planning cost & investment analysis * Audit engagements 'management consulting bookkeeping and payroll 'estate planning 303 east Third Street- PO Box 1208-Pembroke, NC 28372 Phone: 910-521-1300-fax: 910-521-1350 Lucy Maynor Wall, CPA-Partner E. Kevin Maynor, MBA, CPA-Partner | asa tt?e? r.PA ffrven irnM'r^hrrWi* V The CPA, Never Underestimate The Value* "It's Not Too Late To Be Heart Healthy"! September is National Cholesterol Awareness Month Do you know your cholesterol level? Schedule an appointment to have your blood tested for: total cholesterol HDL ' LDL triglycerides slucose coronary risk factor The cost is $10. Results will be available on September 29, at Community Health Night Out. All blood draws will be done on Scotty, Scotland Memorial Hospital's mobile unit, between 7:30 and 10:00 am. Aug. 31 Harris Teeter parking lot, Laurinburg Septl Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church, Laurinburg Sept 3 Wal-Mart Shopping Center, Laurinburg r Sept 7 Church in the Pines, Laurel Hill Sept 8 McColl Church of God, McColl, SC Sept 14 Springhill Baptist Church, Wagram Sept 15 Scotland Memorial Hospital Call 910-291 -7551. Appointment reaufftf. ^ ^ _ f Community Health Night Out Wednesday, September29, A.B. GibsonnfShter "W 6 pm-7pm Cholesterol results & Interpretation Exhibits on nutrition, recipes, exercise & cardiac care Leam more about cardiac catheterization from Dr. Michael Sketch and the Duke Mobile Catheterization Team Refreshments 7:00-8:30 Guest speaker^^^ LaurinburgCardiovascularMeWme, FA. Cardiologist, Scotland MemorW^>spital Michael O'Quinn, BS Director, Cardiac Rehabilitation Scotland Memorial Hospital Terry Clapsaddle, R.D., L.D.N Registered Dietitian, Cardiac Rehabilitation Scotland Memorial Hospital Sponsored By Scotland Memorial Foundation I ^SCOTLAND ^^^memorial hospital
The Carolina Indian Voice (Pembroke, N.C.)
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Sept. 9, 1999, edition 1
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