BERTIE LEDGER-ADVANCE
MAY 1,20191B3
The fabric of Bertie County since 1832
Faith
A few years ago I crossed an
item off of my bucket list, and
it is an item that has been on
the list for probably 30 years or
more -1 am now a certified scuba
diver.
Even in the dark waters of the
quarry, it was amazingly inter
esting to see a Volkswagen Bug,
bounce a bowling ball on a metal
platform 30 feet deep, and reach
out and touch fish who are so
used to humans that they are
not at all afraid. 1 am looking
forward now to going into some
warm, clear blue waters to swim
around coral reefs and with salt
water creatures in their habitat.
1 learned, though, that Scuba
is not at all like it is portrayed in
the movies.
For starters, it is hard to sim
ply dive down or sink down into
the water. You actually have to
weight yourself down to make
yourself able to sink.
But 1 learned that air in the
lungs is compressed at depth,
and expands as you rise to the
top. Thus, a person doing what
is seen on the movies would
have the unfortunate problem of
having his lungs literally expand
and explode if he tried that.
And that brings me to the first
rule of scuba diving: never stop
breathing.
My wife, Dana, and 1 actually
got Scuba certified together.
And while 1 love water, she is
a bit claustrophobic, and the
depths seemed to close in on
her. She survived by holding my
hand very tightly and repeating
to herself, “All 1 need is air, and 1
have that. Just keep breathing.”
As long as a person breathes,
he or she will be fine. It is in
stinctive to hold your breath
once you go under water, but fol
lowing that instinct will kill you.
Just keep breathing
Rev. Bo
Wagner
The Word of
His Mouth
This knowledge leads to a begin
ning scuba diver repeating to
himself over and over “just keep
breathing, just keep breathing.”
And that brings me to a very
important, maybe
even life-saving
thought.
In the book of
Job we find a man
in utter, suicidal
despair. In Job
3:20-22 he said
“Wherefore is light
given to him that
is in misery, and
life unto the bit-
ter in soul; Which
long for death, but
it cometh not; and dig for it more
than for hid treasures; Which re
joice exceedingly, and are glad,
when they can find the grave?”
Job was as despondent and
hopeless as a human could ever
be. He lost his children, his
wealth, his health, his reputa
tion, his closeness with his wife,
he lost most everything.
But though he himself claimed
that he wanted to die, look at how
the story ended in Job 42:12-17:
“So the LORD blessed the latter
end of Job more than his begin
ning: for he had fourteen thou
sand sheep, and six thousand
camels,, and a thousand yoke of
oxen, and a thousand she asses.
He had also seven sons and three
daughters... After this lived Job
an hundred and forty years, and
saw his sons, and his sons’ sons,
even four generations. So Job
died, being old and full of days.”
Job, in his lifetime, went from
despair to delight. And though
there are many spiritual reasons
given in the book as to why,
there is also one very practical
reason: he just kept breathing.
Many times we have helped
people through divorce and oth
er gut-wrenching events. Many
times dear members of our
church have experienced the
sudden, unexpected, tragic loss
of a loved one. Each time we
have held them tightly in a hos
pital conference room, and in
answer to their question “What
am 1 going to do?” we have an
swered, “Just keep breathing.”
When you are going through
unspeakable darkness and an
guish, just keep breathing. When
your world is caving in, just keep
breathing. When your heart is
shattered into a million shards
of glass, just keep breathing.
You see, if you are still here, then
God still has a purpose for you,
and you still have a future. You
may not be able to see it, but Job
could not see it either.
There are still people that you
can help, there are still days of
happiness ahead of you. One of
the dear people that we held in
the hospital went on to welcome
a precious grandchild into the
world, and now she has almost
too many to count, and they are
her world. She just kept breath
ing.
If you need some help, get it.
Talk to a pastor, a counselor, a
friend, someone. But whatever
you do, just keep breathing.
Good things eventually happen
when you breathe for one more
day, then another, then anoth
er...
Bo Wagner is pastor of the Cor
nerstone Baptist Church ofMoores-
boro a widely traveled evangelist,
and the author of several books.
His books are available on Ama
zon and at www.wordofhismouth.
com. Pastor Wagner can be con
tacted by email at 2knowhim@
cbc-web.org.
Bring on the mess
Spring is a wonderful time of
the year.
Winter’s frigged grip has been
broken and it signals a renewed
cycle of growth. Blooms and
blossoms begin to paint a beau
tifully-colored portrait to what
has otherwise been a colorless
muted pallet of bleakness for
the preceding months.
As the spring temperatures
rise, so do our spirits and the
anticipation of outdoor fun, ac
tivities and hobbies. However,
along with all of the practical
and perceived benefits of spring,
also comes a significant draw
back. For several days many
people lament the onset of pol
len season.
The pesky yellowish dust
seems to blanket everything. At
tempts to clean it off seem futile.
Washing your vehicle during
this time of year will only lead
to frustration. The moment you
finish cleaning your car, the pol
len immediately begins to reap
pear. It is relentless in its efforts
to reach everything outside, in
cluding your car.
Others dread this time of year
for a different reason. Many suf
fer significantly form the adverse
effects that pollen has on their
bodies. Allergic, reactions are
very common and can pose nu
merous discomforts that range
from mild to severe. Despite the
irritations and inconveniences,
it is imperative to understand
the critical role
pollen plays in
our lives.
Without pollen,
we have no repro
duction of flow
ers, fruits, vegeta
bles, plants, trees
and the list goes
Rev. Jay on and on. The
Rivenbark few days of the
Be pollen invasion
Still are an absolute
necessity for the
survival, sustain
ability and longevity of the plan
et, including mankind.
Pollen, like other irritants
in our lives, are not only bet
ter tolerated, but can actually
be appreciated when put into
proper perspective. The things
that seem to be such a tempo
rary hassle, often are working a
much bigger and better purpose
in our lives.
The passage of scripture in
Proverbs 14:4 gives some prac
tical insight to this issue. Prov
erbs 14:4 (NLT) says, “without
oxen a stable stays clean, but
you need a strong ox for a large
harvest.”
THE ILLUSTRATED BIBLE
jr-
Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard,
planted by the waters;
it was fruitful and full of branches
by reason of many waters.
It had strong rods for the scepters
of those who rule.
And its stature was exalted
above the clouds,
so it appeared in its height
with the multitude of its branches, EZEKIEL 19
yj.A A j
) 2019 by King Features Syndicate, Inc. World rights reserved.
BIBLE
I
1. Is the book of Judges in the Old or
New Testament or neither?
2. From 2 Corinthians 3:17, “Now
the Lord is that Spirit: and where
the Spirit of the Lord is, there is ...”?
Independence, Freedom, Patriotism,
Liberty
3. Which scripture contains, “Yea,
though 1 walk through the valley of
the shadow of death”? Ruth 4:10, Job
7:2, Psalm 23:4, Amos 1:1
4. Though lame on both feet, what
descendant of Saul continually ate
at King David’s table? Mareshah,
Methusael, Micah, Mephibosheth
5. Under what type of tree would the
children of Israel come to Deborah
for judging? Palm, Sycamore, Fig,
Cypress
6. From Matthew 8, who was the
first woman that Jesus healed? Paul's
sister, Naomi, Peter’s mother-in-law.
Deborah
ANSWERS: 1) Old; 2) Liberty;
3) Psalm 23:4; 4) Mephibosheth; 5)
Palm; 6) Peter’s mother-in-law
Visit Wilson Casey's Trivia Fan Site
at www.patreon.comitriviaguy.
© 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.
We would love for all the ar
eas of our lives to stay tidy,
clean and in order. However, as
the verse points out, oxen were
necessary to work the ground
in order to reap a large harvest.
Better to have a messy oxen
stall that has to be periodically
cleaned out than to keep a clean
stall without an ox. No oxen
equals no harvest.
Pollen is an example of a mod
ern-day application to this oxen
principal. Occasional messes are
necessary for a large harvest.
Relationships, whether it be
friendships, marriage or raising
children, can all be messy but
well worth it when we consider
the great harvest associated
with the process.
The next time something or
someone seems to be a messy
irritant in your life, think of the
potential good that can come
from the situation and focus on
the future harvest rather than
the current mess and the oc
casional irritant. Remember, no
oxen, no mess but no harvest.
With that in mind, bring on the
mess and the pollen.
Pastor Jay Rivenbark is Pas
tor of Open Door Church - Bertie
Campus. He can be reached via
email at jay@visitopendoor.com.
Special Events
Church announcements are published each week in the
Bertie Ledger-Advance. The deadline to submit news items
for this iisting is 10a.m. each Monday. Submissions may
be emailed to twhite@ncweeklies.com.
May 1-2
Revival Services
WINDSOR - Revival Services continue May 1-2 at St. Luke
Missionary Baptist Church.
The services will begin nightly at 7 p.m.
The guest speakers include the Rev. Purcell Whitaker of
Peterson Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Merry Hill
(Wednesday) and the Rev. Samuel Fields (Thursday).
The Pastor, the Rev. Kennedy L. Barber, and congregation
invite the public to attend.
May 2
National Day of Prayer
COLERAIN-There will be a National Day of Prayer gather
ing at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, May 2 at Colerain Elementary
School.
The gathering will be at the flag pole, and will serve as a
time of prayer for the country and schools.
The event is sponsored by Colerain Baptist Church.
May 3
Plate Sale
WINDSOR - A plate sale consisting of chicken or fish and
sides will be available from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Friday, May
3 in the old Dominos parking lot.
The plates, which are $8, are sponsored by St. Luke Mis
sionary Baptist Church.
May 5
Deacon, Deaconess and Trustee Day
MERRY HILL-The annual Deacon, Deaconess and Trustee
Day will be observed at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 5 at Peterson
Chapel Missionary Baptist Church.
The guest speaker will be the Rev. David E. Moore of In
dian Woods Missionary Baptist Church. His congregation
will accompany him.
Women’s Day
LEWISTON WOODVILLE - Women’s Day will be observed
at 11 a.m. Sunday, May 5 at Mount Olive Missionary Baptist
Church.
The theme is “The Spirit Filled Phenomenal Woman.”
The guest speaker will be the Rev. Margaret Barber, Pas
tor of St. Elmo Missionary Baptist Church in Windsor.
A tribute to the women will be given by Trustee Muriel
B. Hoggard of Cedar Landing Missionary Baptist Church,
and a musical tribute will be offered by Penelope Powell of
Koinonia Christian Church in Greenville.
Breakfast will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 4
as well. The church is located on Governor’s Road between
Lewiston Woodville and Windsor.
The Pastor, the Rev. Samuel K. Shaw, and congregation
invite the public to attend.
Youth Day
WINDSOR - The annual Youth Day Program is planned
for 11 a.m. Sunday, May 5 at St. Luke Missionary Baptist
Church.
The guest speaker will be Javlan McMillian of Roberson-
ville.
The Pastor, the Rev. Kennedy L. Barber, and congregation
invite the public to attend.
May 7-9
Revival Services Planned
AHOSKIE - Revival Services are planned May 7-9 at Cal
vary Missionary Baptist Church.
Services begin nightly at 7 p.m.
The Pastor, the Rev. Dr. Jerryl V. Moody, will be the
speaker on Tuesday. On Wednesday and Thursday the
guest speaker will be the Rev. Taurean Walston of Oxley Hill
Baptist Church in Merry Hill.
Special music includes the PIney Wood Chapel Male
Chorus (Tuesday), Calvary Male Chorus (Wednesday) and
Oxley Hill Choir (Thursday). The church is located at 600
Catherine St. in Ahoskie.
Pastor Moody and the congregation invite the public to
attend.
May 11
j Rescheduled Concert
WINDSOR - The Four Stars of Ahoskie and The Gospei
; Five of Oak City will be in concert at 6 p.m. Saturday, May
j 11 at St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church.
The Pastor, the Rev. Kennedy L. Barber, and congregation
; invite the public to attend.
: Youth Fundraiser
AHOSKIE - The youth of Carpenter’s Shop International
■ Church will host a fine arts fundraiser Saturday, May 11 at
Hwy 55.
Tickets for a pancake and sausage breakfast are availabie
oniine at www.csicministries.com. They are $7 each.
Breakfast wili be served by the youth from 7:30-10 a.m.
PUBLIC NOTICE
Notice of Availability of the 2018 Collection
Performance Annual Report
The Collection Performance Annual Report is
available for public viewing at the Office of the
Town Clerk, in the Town Offices Building, 119
S. Commerce Street, Aulander, North Carolina.
The public is welcome to stop by the Town
Hall during temporary business hours (which
are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday -Friday) to
review the report.
Renee’ B. Benton
Town Clerk .