Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / Jan. 10, 1985, edition 1 / Page 7
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I By Mrs. Bessie Wilbon INTRODUCTION In the spring of 1865 a traveler along a lonely road to western Virginia was approached by a gaunt, gun-weilding man in a tattered gray uniform. Seizing the bridle of the horse, he demanded bread, "I don’t want to hurt you,” he cried, “blit I’m starving. Give me bread!” “If bread is all you want, then, why don’t you go into town and get bread?” asked the rider. “But I don't dare,” answered the solider, “they’d shoot me as a deserter.” Then he blurted out the story Of how he had deserted the ranks of the retreating Cohfederate Army. He had tried to cross over to the Union lines, but the pickets had turned him back. For several days he had wandered around in the woods, scrounging for food, living on whatever roots and nuts and vegetatioq he could find. “You poor man,” said the rider, now sympathetic, “don’t you know the war is over and that the Confederate soldiers have been pardoned? All the food you want is yours for the asking in the next town.” ' Weren’t we all at one time like this run-away soldier? In our rebellion we ran away from God, the source of our spiritual nourishment. How comforting it is to realize that He still offers us and offers Himself, the bread of life; to all who will come to Him! This bread is ours for the asking LESSON BACKGROUND Just prior to the basis for today’s lesson, Jesus had fed the 5,000 on the shore of The Sea of Galilee. Jesus then retreated up into the mountains to avoid the crowds. At Jesus’ suggestion, the disciples had ottered a boat and were rowing to file western shore of the sea when a furious storm arose. It was night and Jesus, walking on the water, came to His disciples. The discussion on the bread of life followed on the next'day in Capernaum, where the people had gone following the feeding of the 5.000. THE LESSON ‘‘I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “He who comes to me will never be hungry ; he who believes in me will never be thirsty,” (John 6:35). Jesus affirmed that He was the bread of life. We are so familiar with this expression that we take it for granted without appreciating what a shocking statement this was. The crowds came seeking bread; He offered Himself instead. In verse 27 of this same chapter, Jesus offers Himself as the giver. In this verse He presents Himself as the gift. No other mortal could ever hope to back up such a ait. In this verse the blessings are expressed in il terms - never hunger - never thirst. It is obvious, i that Jesus had in mind spiritual rather fhwn physical hunger and thirst. ‘‘The people started grumbling about him because he breadths! cagiedown from Heaven.”, So ., they said, This man is Jesus, son of Joseph, isn't he? We know his father and mother. How, then, does he now say he came down from Heaven?” Jesus answered, ‘‘Stop grumbling among yourselves. No one can Come to pie unless the Father who sent me draws him to pie; and I Will raise him to life on the last day. The prophets wrote, ‘Everyone will be taught by God.’ Anyone Who hears the Father and learns from Him comes to pie. This does not mean that anyone has seen the Father; he who is fropi God is the only one who has seen the Father. I am telling you the truth; lie who believes has eternal life,” (John 6:41-47). John frequently used the term, The Jews, when referring to those Jews, especially the leaders, who so bitterly opposed Jesus. In this case they murmured,' the sound that runs through a crowd when it is confused and angry. Their resentment was aroused because cif His stupendous claim to be the life imparting bread of God that came down from Heaven. Their asking if Jesus was not the son of Joseph indicated that at least some in the crowd knew Jesus' well enough to know about His earlier life in Nazareth. His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit would hot have been common knowledge among them so it is hot'surprising that they named Joseph as His father. Their big problem was that they could not accept such claims from one of such humble origins. Jesus had already observed how difficult it was for a prophet to be honored in his owii country, (John 4:44). For emphasis, Jesus repeated the statement He made in verses 39 and 40. For those who would come to Him Jesus promised two things: their spiritual hunger and Udrat would be banished and they would be raised up to life eternal. . Jesus anticipated the Jews’ objections that since they had never seen God, they could Aot be taught ef Him. Jesus granted the first part of their objection: Not that any man hath seen the Father. True, no man had ever seen God with the physical eye, but the Father didn’t have to be physically visible or audible in order for men to learn of Him. One who had seen the Father and had been commissioned by Him could teach men about Him. Jesus undoubtedly Shocked His hearers when He claimed to be that one who had seen God and had come from Him. GOd is thus made visible through the incarnation. (See John 14:9.) Missionaries in many fields have to deal with the problem of nationals who are “converted” to Christ because of the material blessings - food, clothing, money - supplied by the missionaries. In the Orient such “converts” are sometimes called “rice Christians,” a terra of obvious contempt. i ‘ *T Many or me persons who shared in the feeding of the 5,000, which had occurred the day before the events of today’s lesson, Were obviously attracted to Jesus because of the prospect of frequent and bountiful handouts they expected from Him. Orte purpose of Jesus’ discourse on the bread Of life was to lead those people to a fuller understanding of what His ministry was really all about. A majority of those who shared in this discourse failed this / test and “went back, and walked no more with him,”' (John 5:66) Before we point our fingers too readily at these, wp need to examine our own motives. Have we at tipis* been guilty of following our Savior for less than noble motived? Few of us WoOM be lo materialistic as to become chUrCh members Just ror the physical benefits that such membership might bring. DEACON AND MRS. CARL DIXON ...Mem berg of Second Calvary But Not From God’s Work! Carl Dixon Retires From FP&E By Teresa Simmons Poet Managing Editor At first thought it may seem like retirement for Carl Dixon...last Friday was his last day as a supervisor in the Receiving Depart ment of Federal Pacific and Elec tric (FPAE). He has worked at FPAE for 15 years and received three pens for service. But retiring from his Job is only a fragment of Dixon’s life. Retirement will give him more leisure time, more time with his family as well as completing his calling from God. At Second Calvary Baptist Church, Dixon is a Deacon, Leader of the Vocal Choir and Sunday School Superintendent. At 63 years of age, he admits he hasn’t been an “angel” all of his life, but he has The Sugar Creek Road School Of Religion To Open The Sugar Creek Road School of Religion will open for the second semester for the 1964-85 school year on Tuesday, January 15, at 6 p.m. The school, beginning its fifth semester of operations, offers courses and degrees in religious SrSl5Uand the0l°iy M weU M Hie school was begun because of the apparent need for ministers and Christian workers to be trained who could not attend a school of reli gion in day time or as a full time student. The hours are arranged that persons working in day time can attend and matriculate in the school. All instructors are qualified per sons who have graduated from schools of religion with no less than a master’s of divinity degree from seminaries with “A” ratings or seminaries that have associate status with the Association of Theo logical Schools. The Sugar Creek Road School of Religion is being held on the third floor of the educational building of the Mayfield Memorial Baptist Church, located at the corner of Sugar Creek Road and Argyle St. For further information, call 704 596-7935 or come by the office be tween the hours of 9 a.m and 5 p.m. Cancer Continued From Page (A mograms, low-dose X-rays of the breast, which can detect cancer before it can be felt. ACS recom mendations for mammograms are Hated. Though uterine cancer is fourth in the number of new cancer cases in ‘ women, the PAP test, which dstects cancer of the uterine cervix early, has been largely responsible for a dramatic drop in cervical cancer deaths The digital rectal exam, used to detect colon and rectum cancer, is the beet means of checking the prostate gland, according to “Can cer Facts for Men.” Prostate can cer, the third moot common cancer in men (as well as third in cancer mortality), is generally found In men over 60 The leaflet for men maintains thpt testicular cancer is one of the moot of age, though it is rare irvother age groups Young men are Advised to atioo (TSe7 to check for any bard tamps or nodules. me neat defense against akin can cer, according to both leaflets, is to avoid overexposure to the sun, sod to report any ehangs in a mole or other growth to a physician canw *^atooflwT^fHnl!?* °*h leaflet. Following the precautionary mea aureo diacusaed in "Cancer Facta for Women" and "Cancer Facta for Men" can help detect cancer early - when chances for cure are beet. To receive copioo of the Cancer Facta leaflets, or for other infor mation concerning cancer or what services the Cancer Society offers, call 37S-1M9 come to realize the importance of developing both physically and spiritually. He attributes his physical well being to taking care of himself. “I've tried to take care of myself by getting enough rest and sleep,” he commented. Spiritually, Dixon advises one to be try to thine ownself. “You must be true to yourself first and to those around you, treat them right...The Lord will give you a long life.” Church plays a special part in the life of Dixon and his wife and family. “It’s like working on your job. You are always looking forward to pay day. By working in church you can look forward to a greater pay day... This pay day will not be from man, but from God.” His family includes his wife, daughters, Brenda Boston and Frances Dale Dixon, son-in-law, James , Boston, and two grand children: James Boston Jr. and Demond Boston. Leisure time will be enhanced, Dixon conveyed as he plans more visits to the local fishing waters. “I'll also be spending my time doing more yard work and picking up cardboard for sale.” Those days of rising and report ing to Federal Pacific and Electric are over for Dixon. “But I’ve en joyed those years very much. I had to work and anything I have to do 1 try to do my best.” Dixon was bom in Gastonia and moved to Charlotte at the age of 16 with his family. Today people know Dixon as a man with a sense of I humor and a human being with a big | heart for children's welfare. Upon retirement from his job he has fulfilled his tenure require ments. But his call from God... being a Deacon, Vocal Choir leader, arranging the Halloween and Christmas parties at church for the children or just playing the part of a shepherd in a seasonal church play, | are hopefully all parts of Carl Dixon which will never retire. /' Tony Brown reveals the man behind the entertainer in his exclusive two-part interview with Richard Pryor—considered by some to be the heavyweight cham pion of the world of comedy Rap I In this rare and emotionally frank interview with Tony Brown. Pryor talks about his near fatal acci dent, his drug problem, his difficult relationship with his father, and more. ' I ' For on »»tue of the I feotonng Block historical foci* and J ; containing program fronjcript* ond i bockgroonoinformohon, pleas* enclose S3 00 ond send ta . flHEUflBBKJePPHKflflli ^ * ^ ISOlBroodwor Suite ?0W.N.~ York. N Y 10034 *•** md fwCM* art aomi "Knani o> knot, *ureftm» Hr ‘ ‘f & I , ‘ 7*^‘i Rap II In this episode. Brown focuses on the aspects of Pryor's life that have brought him happiness. He discusses his rise to stardom, how it's affected his life, and his current quest for serenity Don’t miss this intimate por trayal—as only Tony Brown brings it to you. WTVI-TV. CH. 41, SUNDAY . JANUARY »,S:WP.M WUNO-TV.CHJS, SUNDAY JANUARY &.■ . X. ll \ ’’ CHARLOTTE POST FOOD ADS OFFER THE VERY BEST IN BARGAINS 1ND IN THESE TIME EVERY PENNY COUNTS < i * Before You Buy! V*"* ffTf f f stt ■ OPEN 'TO THE PUBLIC! PAPERTOWN Food Service - Tissues - Towels - Office Supplies - Moving A Sto rage Boxes - Janitorial - Cater ing Supplies - Bags - Can Liners - Buffet A Party Supplies - Tape - Copy Papers - Waxes - Cleaners - Strippers. INSTITUTIONAL COMMERCIAL ACCOUNTS INVITED No Minimum - We Break Cases 4426 East Indep. 568-6663 The Late Firm of MARTEN, HEMPHILL & MILLER One Charlottetown Center 1300 Baxter Street Suite 307 __(704) 332-3118 General Practice Including: Bankruptcies - Personal Injury - Traffic Violations Divorce — Separation — Child Support — Custody Adoption - Name Change - Wills & Estate Workmans Compensation - Social Security Deeds - Real Estate Closing - Criminal Law_ James A. Martin Randy L. Miller Paul E. HemphiU Nehcyn J. McDuffie
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Jan. 10, 1985, edition 1
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