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Paje 4B - THE CHABLOTTE POST - Ttrarsday, September 29, 1988 Sunday ScfiooC Lesson By Bessie Wllbon INTRODUCTION Our lessons for October form a group that deals with "Interpreting a Nation's Suffering." LESSON BACKGROUND Generally speaking, Uzzlah and Jotham were good kings. They strengthened their country greatly. In their concern with foreign relations, however, It seems that they failed to stop the corruption of religion and morals hi their own land. Ahaz was a bad king. He actively promoted false worship and evU living hi Judah. Elverythhig he did "transgressed sore against the Lord." ^Hezeklah was a good khig. He did his best to restore both mo- i^lty and true worship. God therefore defended Judah agahist the Assyrians, who destroyed north Israel. Evil was firmly ^trenched, however, and was very hard to eradicate. The book of Isaiah collects many prophecies along with sbme historical data. Some of the prophecies are not dated, ^r are all of them arranged hi chronological order. However, Isaiah’s song shows that It came at a time when the people of Judah were very far from being what they ought to have been atS God's people." J THE LESSON The Song of the Vineyard "Listen while I shig you this song, as song of my friend and his vineyard: My friend had a vine yard on a very fertile hill. He dug the soil and cleared It of stones: he planted the finest vines. He built a tower to guard them, dug a pit for treading the grapes. He waited for the grapes to ripen, but every grape was sour. So now my friend says. You people who live hi Jerusalem and Judah judge be tween my vineyard and me. Is there anything I faded to do for It? Then why did It produce sour grapes and not the good grapes I expected?' Here Is what I am going to do to my vine yard: I wdl take away the hedge around It, break down the wall that protects It and let wdd animals eat it and trample It down. I wdl let It be overgrown with weeds. I wdl not trim the vines or hoe the ground; Instead, I will let briars and thorns cover it. I wdl even forbid the clouds to let rain fall on it." Is rael Is the vineyard of the Lord Almighty; the people of Judah are the vines he planted. He expected them to do what Is good, but Instead they committed murder. He expected them to do what is right, but their victims cried out for justice. 'You are doomed! Heroes of the wine battle! Brave and fearless when It comes to mixing drinks. But for just a bribe you let gudty men go free, and you keep the Innocent from getting justice." (Isaiah 5:1-7, 22, 23) A love song and a vineyard song! How well It was designed to catch the ears of revelers at a vintage festival! The hearers did not know It yet but Isaiah's well-beloved was the Lord. To them Isaiah would sing . The song was not Isal2ih's own. It was the Lord's own song, for he gave It to Isaiah by Inspiration. It was a song about the vineyard belonging to the beloved. With the best of soil, the best vines, and the best of care, what could a vineyard do but produce the best of grapes? But It brought forth wild grapes. What a let down! Anyone who has sampled wild grapes can feel It. They are tiny, full of seeds, and Incredibly sour! There was nothing lacking in the owner's care for his vine yard. The vineyard had evety possible advantage, eveiy rea son to bear the best fruit. Why didn't the vineyard do what it ought to do, what it could have done? That was not so east to answer, but It was plain that the fault was in the vineyard it self. The owner was blameless. After reading v.7. It becomes plain that the whole vineyard song Is a parable. The Lord of hosts Is the owner; Israel and Judah are the vineyard. From Egypt the Lord brought choice vines, the descendants of His friend Abraham, a man famous for his faith and obedience. God planted those people In the land of promise, which was a rich and fruitful land. He gave them cities that were already buUt by the people who had lived there before, vines and fruit trees already mature and beating fruit. He gave them fertile soU for their grain fields and pastures of green grass for their sheep and cattle. He pro tected them from heathen tribes as a wall and hedge protect a vineyard. He gave them His laws to guide them In dealing with one another and with Him. What was lacking In His care? Nothing! God's provision for them was complete. What was wrong with the people of Israel and Judah? They ignored the first and great commandment that God gave them. Isaiah’s beloved was not their beloved. They loved them selves, and with the self-love went all the horrible sins that Paul ascribed to lovers of self hi the latter days: "Men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphe mous, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, fierce, de- splsers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God." (2 Timothy 3:2- 4) We live In the latter days. Looking at the world around us, we can see every Item of that ugly list. King James said that kings sit on God's throne hi the earth and must answer to Him for their administration. At the same time, some members of Parliament held that the voice of the people is as the voice of God. But king and Parliament agreed that God Is supreme. There is trouble ahead for any nation that loses Its con sciousness of God, the owner, the supreme ruler. Romans 1:28- 32 gives a horrid picture of the state of people who "did not like to retain God In their knowledge." Second Timothy 3:1-8 gives a similar picture of those who are lovers of self and money and pleasure rather than lovers of God. When a nation fits such a picture It can expect God will take away the fence and let that nation be devoured and trampled. Lord, help us to do Your will and produce the fruit for which You created us. Amen. S. C.’s First Black United Methodist Bishop COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The first black United Methodist bishop in South Carolina says his installation confirms that blacks are part of the church. The Rev. Joseph Bethea, who was superintendent of the Ra leigh, N.C., district before his election, was Installed Sunday during a packed worship service in Columbia. He preached about "The Church We Want to Be," us ing 1 Corinthians 12 as the basis for his text. Since Sept. 1, Bethea has led the state's 244,000 United Meth odists in 1,080 churches. Many of the hundreds who came to his installation belong to black con gregations. During a news conference, Be thea said his new position "speaks a very relevant and needed word to the black mem bers, the black United Metho dists in South Carolina. It says to that constituency that they Actively Waiting For Jesus Christ To Return are part of the church; they have ownership of the church." He added, "I would hope all United Methodists in South Car olina will have a new sense of healing and wholeness as a re sult of my assignment as episco pal leader I hope I have some skills and graces that can serve all the people." Bethea recalled a sermon he preached years ago at a white church in the Rocldngham, N.C., district. Afterward, an elderly parishioner came up to him emd said, 'Thank God for sending you our way. It makes us whole. It makes us one," Bethea said, Bethea, 56, said the direction of the South Carolina Annual Con ference will be determined by its Council on Ministries, a pro gram agency led by the Rev. James Gadsden. By J. M. Llttie "And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which de livered us from the wrath to come," (I Thess. 1:10), Every born-again believer is waiting for- the Lord Jesus Christ to come from the third Heaven and take them home with Him. I'm waiting for Him, Are you? It is not a passive waiting, but an active waiting. That is, I anx iously look and long for His re turn. This message grew out of a statement a young woman made to me as I was preparing to leave Lenoir where I had been stationed for four moriths. I told her that it may be the last time she would ever see me since I was leaving, She replied, "We may never meet here again, but we'll meet in Heaven." Yes, to all of you who know Christ, I’ll meet you in Heaven when Christ comes. If you know Christ you'll be taken when He comes. Do you know Him? If you do then you, too, are waiting for Him, longing for Him, and you know that any moment the Lord could come. Yes, He is near, even at the doors, (Matt. 24). 1 also went by Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church and told the folks there; "This may be the last time you'U see my face on this earth, you may never see me again until that time in the Word of God where a thousand years is one day, and a day is a thousand years, the time of the GREAT 'WHITE THRONE JUDG MENT." I warned them closely: if you don't come to know Christ, I'll have to witness against you that day. At that great and final Judg ment of Rev. 20:11-12 every hu man being born on the face of the earth will be there, both the elect and fallen. Every lost per son will be there to be Judged. Most of you think "witnessing" as going out and telling others about Christ. That is good and right. But the word "witness" is a legal term, a court term, mean ing that someone is going to be tried. At the GREAT WHITE TTfRONE JUDGMENT every lost person will be brought forth and tried for all his sins while on this earth. You didn't know that, did you? Like it or not, you are going to this judgment. Every saint will be there to help Judge the lost by witnessing against those who would not come to Christ. "Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world?..." (I Cor. 6:2). This is what the beloved Apostle Paul was talking about. How will you fare at the final Judgment? I praise the Lord that one day He opened my heart and revealed my lost condition to me and then re vealed Christ to me. I'll be present at this judgment to witness against all those who fought the Gospel that I knew and all those who fought me. Just as certain as God Is on His Throne Christ Is coming back for His own.. And if you know Him as your Lord and your Saviour you'll be taken when He comes and rU meet you in Heav en with our Lord. You may tell me that you will be there. But I'U be there, too. Salvation in Christ is so per sonal until I feel as though I am the only one saved. I cannot live In your light. I can only live in the light the Lord has given me. As I told the folks there at Mt. Pilgrim: "The greatest thing in all this life, in aS this world, in all this universe, is Just to know Christ as your Lord and your Sa viour. I, also, told the folks that over at Olive Grove Baptist Church there near Lake Gaston on the Virginia border one Sun day. They had never heard that before. My friends, if you ever come to know Christ as your Lord and your Saviour, you, too, will know that great truth. Salvation's a Person, Christ Himself, a living reality to my heart. Is He a living reality to your heart? If He is then you and 1 will meet in Heaven. Do you know Christ? Think on your ways, where are you going? tVhat if you died in your present state? I would hate to go out Into eternity on the mud flat our church members live on and stake the destiny of their souls. Do you know Christ? It is my prayer that you will turn to Him, who alone can be your salvation. I leave this simple message with you The greatest thing in all this universe Is just to know Christ as your Lord and your Saviour. Listen to our last pastor, L.R. Shelton, with THE VOICE OF TRUTH BROADCAST each Sun day morning at 7:30 over WAGI FM and at 8:00 over WAGL AM. The Prophet's Column is a paid advertisement. Dick Gregory's SLIM SAFE BAHAMIAN DIET A NAME YOU CAN TRUST Correction Connection Is proud to bring you the first safe, natural, nutritio nal way to reduce weight: Dick Gregory's Slim-Safe Bahamian Diet. To learn about the complete program, contact your local distributor: Distributed by: Local Distributor •Mrs. Onetta Boyton-392-1849 cci CORRECTION CONNECTION BEASLEY FUNERAL HOME Mrs. Minnie Barbara Foust, 87, of 4820-C Daybreak Dr. died Sept. 19,1988, at Charlotte Me morial Hospital. Funeral was Sunday, Sept. 25 at Union Mis sionary Baptist Church. Burial was in Beasley Memorial Gar dens. Survivors are her daughters, Mrs. Louella Thompson, Mrs. Patricia Crawford, Mrs. Kath leen Truesdale; 15 grandchil dren: 25 great-grapdcMdren; 10 great-great grandchildren. Mr. Willie James Owens, 70, of 2976 Shady Ln. died Sept. 19, 1988, at Charlotte Memorial Hospital. Funeral was Sunday, Sept. 25 at Union Baptist Church, Enoree, SC. Burial was in the church cemetery. Survivors are his wife, Eliza beth of Brooklyn, NY; sons, James Owens, Alton Owens, John Owens, all of Brooklyn; daughter, Mrs. Brenda Martin; brothers, Garfield Owens, Claude Owens, both of Fountain: sisters, Mrs. Lydia Sullivan, Mrs. Allean Sullivan, both of Slmp- sonvllle, SC; 14 grandchildren: four great-grandchildren. Mr. CuTsoe Higglna, 78, of 1024 Ehrerette PI. died Sept. 19, 1988, at Charlotte Memorial Hospital. Funeral was at Bea- verdam Baptist Church, Enoree, SC. Burial was In the church ce metery. Survivors are his son, Thomas Sanders of West Germany; daughter,' Ms. Stephania Hig gins; sisters, Mrs. Ruth Thomp son of Philadelphia, Mrs. Carrie Snead of Washington, Mrs. Ber nice Goode of Charleston. Mrs. Deborah Williams of Woodruff, Mrs. Geneva Glenn; one grand- son. LONG & SON MORTART SERVICE Ms. Alice Matha Stewart, of 5015 Farm Pond Lane formerly of Washington, DC died Sept. 19, 1988, at Presbyterian Hospital. Funeral service was held Sep tember 22, at Little Rock A.M.E. Zion Church. Burial was in Ru therford Memorial Park Concord, NC. Memorials can be made to Little Rock AM.E. Zion Church. Survivors are her sister, Ms. Jane Reid of Charlotte, NC. Shontelle "Sharee" Moore, of 936 Wlndover Dr. died Saturday, Sept. 24, 1988. Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1 at Greater Bethel AM.E. Church. Survivors are father, Jeffery Cathey; mother, Mrs. Charlene D. Smith stepfather, Robert D. Smith;, stepbrother, Darryl Donnta Westmoreland, mater nal grandparents, Arthur J. Moore, III: Mr. Leon Caldwell; Mrs. Andea Wiley; paternal grandparents, William & Thelma Cathey: great grandparents, Mrs. Willie Mae Boyd, Mrs. Thel ma Wallace, Mrs. Geneva Cleve land: great grandfather, Alfred Boyd. The family will be at the home of Mrs. Willie Mae Boyd, 317 Walnut St., Charlotte, NC Goodies ICE CREAM PARLOR Lunch Special $-199 Dogs, Chips^L 2 Hot Dogs, Chips, and 12oz. Coke GREAT FLAVORS Open: Tue-Thur. 11:30AM-8PM 7ri & Sat. 11:30AM-9PM 1501-A W, Blvd. Leola Plaza REGISTER > To Win A 35mm Camera Drawing to be held Oct, 15,1988 372-3462 SOMEONE Mcdi^^Wiconc new can be exciting, as ioilQft it is the result of an automobileaccident The "Whip lash" injury takesjonly a split second to occur, in tl^ moi||^t, the injury may las Headaches, *StifflKSS a fe vement Left untreated, the resB disastrous. If you have 'j one New” caU now to i appointment with or premier Neck anc iaiists. ibe For All You've Ever Wanted In BLACK NEWS "The Charlotte Post" Is For YOU! KEITH CLINIC OF CHIROPRACTIC,P.A. WEST Freedom Mall 392-1338 SOUTH Carmel Commmons Shopping Center 541-711 1 EAST Eastland Mail 568-4195 4016 7523 5344 Triangle Ave. Little Ave. Central Ave We Have 3 Locations To Serve You. Stop By And See Us Today For Your Neck and Back problems. '
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Sept. 29, 1988, edition 1
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