r, _ ■■ ■■■■■■* » Hter* are many variations in the translation of the great verse Ro '*■ ®'ans 8i28. However, in all of them there is one word that remains ~ ™n'tantly pr®**nt-the word. KNOW. It is a statement of common Christian agreement which Paul affirms with verve and gladness. It HT Hflt something that might be or could be or is expected to be. It is * what Christians are sine is a fact. L. How do we know that all things fall into a pattern for good for r* *hose who love Him? Hus is what Paul seeks to develop in the text. But it may also be said that Paul could see this from his own life. His encounter with Jesus on the Damascus Road, his blindness, his years in the Arabian desert, his tent-making,his sufferings, hiB friendships, his meeting of opposition—all had been “working out“ for good to him and the work of His Lord. Can we say the same from our own experience? How many dark things had bright sides to them, how many difficult days we look T hack on as formative of some of our best work. its • • *: THE LESSON *■ ^now ^at >n things God works for good with those who • • love him, those whom he has called according to his purpose. Those .• whom God had already chosen he also set apart to become like his • • Son, so that the Son would be the first among many brothers. And so . those whom God set apart he called; and those he called, he put right .. with himself, andhe shared his glory with them. In view of all of this, ,, what can we say? If God is for us, who can be against us? Certainly, ; not God, who did not even keep back his own Son, but offered him for ;, us all! He gave us his Son-will he not also freely give us all things? I: wll accuse God s chosen people? God himself declares them not - - guilty! Who, then will condemn them? Not Christ Jesus, who died, or rather, who was raised to life and is at the right side of God, pleading with him for us! Who, then, can separate us from th* love of Christ? Can trouble do it, or hardship or persecution or hunger or poverty, or ... danger or death?—No, in all these things we have complete victory £ through him who loved us!-Romans 8:28-37 ~ UCKl rias been shown to be for us, not only now but from eternity, or .V fro™ that moment wben our decision to freely accept the offer of Je * bus' redemption was foreseen. God is not a stern, unbiased, inflexible * autocrat, but a loving Father who Is "on our side! who is most desir 2 ®UB bleBain8 UB arid who proposes to grant us unimaginable splen - ■ dor and glory if we just keep on doing His will. Who, then, can effectively overcome us as long as our Lord is with "■ UB w^b Ml* mighty power? To the extent that our resources in God become apparent to us, by faith, the oppositions and obstacles so ap parent to sight become less ominous and overpowering. • Many of the troubles Paul mentions can separate us from much “ tbat blesses and benefits life. Various troubles can cause us anxiety J and tension. Persecution can sever us from family ties and, perhaps, even from our homes and country. Famine can cut ofT normal nutri tion and harm our health. Nakedness might take away our outward 2 respectability or tokens of worth among men. The sword of execu tion may threaten our death, or that of those we love dearly. Yet, none of these things can take from us our Savior's love. His love is unceasing, always available in good times and bad. m Paul asserts that not only can we surviveqr bear the mftny adverse - realities he has been describing, but that we can be victorious in the '^idBt of to*®- In all these we achieve a great conquest. To be more than conquerors means to experience joy, exuberance, and power. Christians can know this in the face of every obstacle. While there may be trials and problems , even loneliness and death f?r 8°me °f K* followers, the Lord's presence, power and compas sionate companionship will never leave them. God's love surrounds us, it sustains us, it buoys us up in deep and troubled waters, and it - shields us in every confrontation. ... >-—-^a-, _ Smith To Host Youth Ministry Throughout the summer John son C. Smith University has been the site for youth programs. Up ward Bound, AACT Theatre Camp and the National Youth Sports Program were a few of the outstanding events er\joyed this year by kids 5 to 17 years of age. Later this summer, July 30 through August 2, 1987 H youngsters from Puerto Rico to Maine will come to Johnson C. Smith for the Eastern Regional Presbyterian Youth Ministry. Oth er similar events for Presbyterian youth will be held at Lake Forest College, Lake Forest, Illinois, and at Snow Mountain Ranch Gram by, Colorado. Organizers of the Eastern Re gional Presbyterian Youth mini stry say Charlotte, with Johnson C. Smith, is the ideal location for this year's program because of its central location along the Eastern Seaboard, and because of its wealth of Presbyterian history. In fact Johnson C. Smith shares a prominent part of that story too. JCSU, as an independent, pri vate college, was founded under the auspices of the Committee on Freedmen of the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. The original pur pose of the Historically Black Col lege was to provide an institution of training of men for the ministry, for catechist) and for teachers. Johnson C. Smith's role has ex panded since those early years and now offers varied fields of study for everyone. So, when youngster^ from many states ar rive nere to develop leadership skills and be introduced to direc tions and guidelines for youth ministry, they can feel right at home on the JCSU campus which has played a significant role in the Presbyterian Church. For more information contact the Catawba Administrative Unit at 372-9360. Take A Bite ] of the Black Press! ■ ^ .. tr&e Charlotte ?to0t Subscribe Now! CaU 376-0496 i Or Send Your Reply Card $17.85 Yr. $15.75 Sr. Citizens ✓ • I » __ [when f i:THE ■ i TIME “ \,S I* l RIGHT, | I SUCH #' IS *i \ THE #’ \ i RIGHT { TIME ! TO ! SUBSCRIBE ■ ITO THE * POST • v. I 2k r ' -a*-—■ : WE PAY CASH FOR GLASS BOTTLES JARS ESr iJxsxzy ,n reasonably clean glass containers to: * * ’ '* ■ ■ * *i S Dr. Paula Newsome Optometrist 1028gy gliggg^Su,te B r^OUCANLOOK-1 SENSATIONAL, TOO I || @E' .jo -0W PRICES ' * USDA CHOICE GRAIN FED BEEF 9-11 LB. AVG. WGT. WHOLE UNTRIMMED . Boneless/ f Sirloin Tip s*39 WEEKLY SPECIAL SLICEP F"EE USDA GOV T INSPECTED Genuine Ground Chuck KROGER GRADE A BROWN-Do*. 59° BONUS BUY HOLLY FARMS CUT UP MIXED FRYER PARTS OR GRADE A’ \ Whole j Fryers I WEEKLY SPECIAL KROGER Orange Juice i NEVER FROZEN Fresh Ocean Perch Fillets ASSORTED Ruffles or Lays REGULAR, DIET, CHERRY, CAFFEINE FREE OR Coke Classic WEEKLY SPECIAL JUMBO Sweet Nectarines 58" REGULAR OR Coors Light r’ —_ FRESH, CRISP CALIFORNIA Head Lettuce . 58° ASSORTED VARIETIES PREMIUM Gallo Wines I I LORRAINE Swiss Cheese " -—-Ji