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http://www.thecharlottepost.com Cliarlottc ^osit THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2006 RELIGION Life 1B EUjah triumphs with God Printed Tfext: 1 Kings 18:20- 24, 30-35, 38, 39 Background Scripture: 1 Kings 18:20-39 Devotional Reading: Psalm 86:9-13 The Prophet Elijah was a rugged individualist who served as a foretype for John the Baptist (cf. Matt. 3:1-4; 17:10-13). We first read of him in 1 Kings 17:1. God revealed to him that there would be no dew or rain in Israel until the Lord declared otherwise. The king of the northern kingdom of Israel, Ahab, blamed Elijah for the famine that resulted from the drought. The prophet placed the blame on Ahab and his household for having forsaken the com mandments of the Lord and or following Baalim (the Baal gods). He challenged the king to send the false prophets to Mount Carmel for a contest (18:1,17-19). Elijah had his emotional ups and downs. In this lesson we see him at his best, brave ly meeting Satan’s emissaries and proving them wrong. In 1 Kings 19:1-18 we see him at his worst, afraid, exhausted, and despairing after he was threatened by Queen Jezebel. It is interesting to leam that Elijah thought he was God’s only prophet in Israel, but he was told that there were 7,000 people who had not bowed the knee to Baal (1 Kings 18:22; 19:18). God always has His faithful rem nant to carry on His work. People addressed (1 Kings 18:20-24) 1. Why did King Ahab gath er his prophets of Baal to Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:20)? King Ahab accepted Elijah’s challenge to send his false prophets to Moimt Carmel-at least, he sent ' the 450 prophets of Baal. We see no mention of the 400 prophets of Asherah who were fed fix)m Jezebel’s table following a ref erees to them in verse 19 (“prophets of the groves”). Ahab also ordered others fi’om Israel, probably elders, to go to Moimt Carmel to represent the nation. Mount Carmel is located at the end of a mountain range that runs toward the Great (Mediterranean) Sea. Follow ers of Baal believed Carmel was his dwelling place. The Carmel range formed the bor der between Israel and Phoenicia to the north. A plateau halfway up the moun tain would have provided a place for a large audience to gather and view the spectacle that was about to unfold. 2. What did Elijah ask the people when he arrived (v. 21)? Carmel Elijah appeared before the crowd and asked them how long they planned to waver between two opin ions. He wanted them to Change not always easy By Wanda Pendegrass SPECIAL TO THE POST Everyone responds to change in their own-way. Some people tend to fear it, fight it, avoid it or embrace it. It just depends on the individual personality, the risks involved and the motiva tion factor. The New Tfestament Pendergrass entire speaks about change, from being alienated from God to being reconciled to him from Uving in the flesh to living in the sprit - from mortality to immortality - change. The definition of change is “to alter.” God requires that as bom again believers, we allow the Holy Spirit to alter or change our lives. Change our mindset as we meditate on his word. Change our behavior as we change our mindset, so that our lives will bear witness of his lord- ship. This change is neces sary, but is not ^ways easy. Nevertheless, because we want to “bear much fruit” of the Spirit, we embrace God change. As parents, we must come to a place where we recog nize and accept the fact that we must make some changes in the way we think, parent and love our children. The word of God sa3^ that “If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold new things have come (2 Corinthians, 5:17). We do not “throw the baby out with the bathwater,” so to speak, but we must be hon est and open enough to admit when what we are doing is not working. Our mindset of parenting that was influenced by our par ents, other family members, or society must pass away if that mindset does not line up lyith the standard and ordinances that God has set for us. God’s word is truth and it is effective. He watch es over his word to perform Please see CHANGE/7B Book highlights black gays’ struggle to confirm spirituality By Cheris F. Hodges c/ieris.tiodges@fhechartottepostcom Please see ELIJAH/6B In Spirited: Affirming the Soul and Black Gay/Lesbian Identity, more than 40 writers address the question of how same-gender-loving black people, affirm themselves as sexual and spiri tual people. The editors of this book will host a book signing at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 1900 The Plaza on Saturday from 3-5 p.m. “The need to confront the unsettling homophobia of most black churches toward.queer African-Americans resi dent aliens in a black religious cul ture,” Rev. Irene Monroe writes in her introduction, “is the thread that ties together this meaty, spirited celebra tion of religion and the self.” Lisa Moore, one of the co-editors, said “Spirited” is the first book to pull together stories of black gays and les bians and their struggle to find spiritu ality. “A lot of black gays and lesbians were reared in church homes,” Moore said. “So many of them grew up with that false belief that God didn’t care for them so why should they care for themselves.” Moore seiid this is why so many peo ple eng^e in improtected sex, drug use and drinking because they were taught Please see BOOK/6B Church News Woods at best with emotions Inlroducing DeWayne Woods & When Singers Meet Max Siegel & Donald Lawrence, executive producers Crystal Rose/ Verity Records Same sex. Same faith Promoted as a new discov ery, DeWayne Woods has actually been on the music scene for a while. Woods has done backing vocals for Donald Lawrence and released a CD on a minor label. It’s Lawrence who’s promot ing Woods as the next voice in praise and worship. But this CD goes far beyond the genre. Woods and producers have selected songs that do more than hammer to lines of scripture for several minutes. These songs tell stories of faith, hope and determina tion. Even when Woods offers a standard praise and worship song such as “Strong Tbwer,” he puts as much emotion into the repetitive verses as he does the conventionally con structed songs. Woods is not a great sing , but he is an emotional singt who knows how to use his. voice. He’s extremely moving on “God Still Heals” which has a preceding testimony that’s as powerful as any thing this CD has to offer. “God Is” lets him get churchy with the Tri-City Singers while “Made A Way’ is more contemporary but still fiery. ‘Tou Shall Reap” and ‘You Mean The World 'lb Me” are melodic lilting. Each lets Woods show subtlety and restraint while building a quiet, yet powerful emotional release. This CD’s showpiece is “Let Go,” which speaks volumes about many of our current relationships with (Sod. We tend to let worry and doubt rule us instead of letting go, letting God. Woods is off to a great start. With Lawrence and a host of great producers and writers backing him, this should be one of the best-received gospel CDs of the year. v-T- f-' JSS>rtM4l-AflSSSSI The deadline to have your church announce ments added to the calendar is noon on Fri days. Fax your announcements to (704) 342- 2160 or e-mail your announcement to cheris.hodges@thecharlottepost.com. Please put “church news” in the subject line. Ongoing We Empower Women For Life At Women of The Harvest Bible Study Wednesdays at 6 p.m. at 6636 Suite L Hickoiy Grove Business Park. • Steele Creek AME Zion Church, located at 1500 Shopton Road, will have noon day Bible study from 12p.m. to 1 p.m. November 3 Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 3001 Beaties Ford Road,The Women’s Missionary League will host a fish fry, from 6 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. On Saturday, the annual Bazaar and yard sale will begin at 8 a.m. and last until 1 p.m. Items on sale will be household goods, chil dren’s clothes, baked goods, as well as fish plates, fish sandwiches and hot dogs/plates for sale. November 4 Women of Real Destiny will host its annuel prayer retreat. The event will be held at Wood man of the World, located at 1331 Oakdale Road, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. For more informa tion, call (704) 777-1144. • The Pastor’s Aide Board of Logan Chapel CME Church presents in concert - the Mt. Zion Universal Sound Mass Choir at 6 p.m. at Logan Chapel CME Church, 9505 Parkton Road. Call Harriett Mendinghall at (704) 575- 2451 for directions. November 5 The Gospel Choir of Steele Creek AME Zion Church, 1500 Shopton Road, will have their annual fall concert. The tlieme this year is “I Need A Church.” The concert will begin at 5 p.m. Minister of music is Stanley McCollough. o#o 3 see RED BRANCH/6B
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