Septembers, 1998
Religion
The Perquimans Weekly Page 5
5
Disobeying God has consequences
By T.P. ALEXANDER
Central Newspaper Services
God’s creation marred by
sin
(Genesis 3:1-13)
With today’s lesson we
begin the fall quarter of stud
ies given under the title, “God
Calls a People to Faithful
Living.”
The first unit of four
lessons, beginning with this
week’s lesson, is entitled, “God
Fashions a People,” the text
given from the book of Genesis
- (means “Beginnings.”)
After God had created the
heavens and the earth. He cre
ated man and woman - named
Adam and Eve - to inhibit His
earth and to procreate other
human beings. Earth, and all
that God had created, was per
fect.
I personally do not know the
approximate date when God
created the heavens and the
earth. Scholars estimate that it
occurred about 6,000 years ago.
His crowning achievement
in creation was when He creat
ed human beings. He charged
them to procreate more people
to inhabit the earth that He
had created.
All was weU and wonderful
so long as the people lived
according to Godly precepts.
But Satan entered upon the
scene and his expressed pur
pose was to thwart God’s will
and purpose and to turn the
beauty of God’s creation into
deceit and sin.
Adam and Eve were Satan’s
first targets and he set about to
tempt them away from
Godliness and to use them in
his evU plan.
Have you ever wondered
what living on earth would be
like if Satan was not present to
work his sinful and evU ways
among people?
When God created Adam
and Eve, He envisioned their
lives without the constraints
of sin and evil.
Temptation
(Genesis 3:1-5)
"And the woman said unto
the serpent, we may eat of the
fruit of the trees of the garden:
but of the fruit of the tree which
is in the midst of the garden,
God hath said, ye shall not eat
of it, neither shall ye touch it,
lest ye die. ” (Verses 2 and 3)
One scholar noted the fol
lowing concerning these five
verses of our lesson text:
“Subtile is a word that
reminds us of human nature.
Like each of us, it has a good
side and a bad side. In a good
sense, it means wise, saga
cious or perceptive. In a bad
sense, it means, “cunning, sly
ness or trickery.” Here, in
these verses, the word was
used in it’s bad sense - the ser
pent was the trickiest creature
in Eden.”
He took Eve in with the
common, everyday variety lie,
furthermore, he flatly accused
God of lying. He accused God
of wanting to keep something
good from His creatures and
that the forbidden fruit of the
garden would make Adam and
Eve as gods - or as God,
Himself, actually.
Sin
(Verses 3:6)
“And when the woman saw
that the tree was good for food -
she took of the fruit thereof and
did eat - and gave also unto her
husband, and he did eat.
(Verse 6)
Scripturally speaking, sin is
disobedience to God. Adam
and Eve, and their garden of
Eden experience, on the sur
face, doesn’t seem to be a big
thing, humanly speaking.
The core of their experience
in Eden was “disobedience to
God.”
Whether it is an apple, or a
stolen million dollars, the spir
itual principle is the same.
The principle is transgression
of God’s law, or command.
Consequences
(Genesis 3:7-13)
“And the eyes of them both
were opened, and they knew
that they were naked; and they
sewed fig leaves together,and
made themselves aprons. ”
(Verse 9)
Sin has consequences.
Adam and Eve had been naked
before, and in their innocence
such a state had seemed nor
mal and proper, but now they
were ashamed.
Something was abnormal
and improper about their
nakedness, for sin had entered
their lives.
First, there was shame.
Secondly, they heard the voice
of God and they were fearful
and attempted to hid their
nakedness. Thirdly, they
attempted to hide their guilt
by making excuses.
The kernel of today’s lesson
is this: “The word of God firm
ly rejects any and all excuses -
we are responsible for our mis
deeds.”
(Lesson based on the
International Sunday School
Lessons)
ALL TOWN OFFICES
will be closed for
LABOR DAY
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7,1998
King grants available
Services
Programs that
foster legacy,
philosophy of
King may apply
The N.C. Martin Luther
King Jr. Commission has
announced that mini-grant
applications are available.
Grants, ranging from $500 to
$2,500, will be awarded to orga
nizations that wish to develop
or continue year-round activi
ties which foster the legacy
and philosophy of Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr.
Applications will be mailed
upon request by calling Diane
Ward, staff liaison for the
Martin Luther King Jr.
Commission, at the N.C.
Human Relations Commission
in Raleigh, (919) 733-7996.
Applications forms may be
downloaded from the Internet
at the following address:
http://www.doa.state.nc.us/do
a/hrc/welcome.htm.
Applications must be deliv
ered by certified maU, Federal
Express or receipted mail,
postmarked by Oct. 1, or may
be hand delivered to the
Human Relations
Commission, 217 W. Jones St.,
Raleigh, by 5 p.m., Oct. 1.
Faxed copies will not be
accepted.
Only proposals from non
profit, church and/or religious
organizations with tax-exempt
status will be considered.
Martin Luther King Jr. com
mittees or groups without
authorized tax-exempt status
will be considered only if they
operate under the auspices of a
non-profit community-based
organization, church or local
governmental agency.
The Martin Luther King Jr.
Commission is housed in the
N.C. Department of
Administration’s Human
Relations Commission. The
commission encourages appro
priate ceremonies and activi
ties throughout the state relat
ing to the observance of the
legal holiday honoring Dr.
King’s birthday: provides
assistance to local govern
ments and private organiza
tions across the state with
respect to the observance of
the holiday; and promotes an
awareness and appreciation of
the life and work of Dr. King.
❖ Bethlehem
Church of Christ
Bethlehem Church of Christ
will hold revival Sept. 6-9, at
7:30 p.m. Sunday morning wor
ship service starts at 11 a.m.
Ronnie Woolard will be bring
ing the message. The church is
located on Pender Road. Call
the church office at 426-1555
for more information.
❖ Bay Branch
A.M.E. Zion
Bay Branch A.M.E. Zion
Church Sunday School will be
held at 10 a.m. Morning wor
ship will be held at 11 a.m.
Music will be rendered by the
senior choir. At 2:30 p.m.
Homecoming will be observed.
Rev. Larry Cherry and the
Mt.Sinai Baptist Church fami
ly of Virginia Beach, Va. will
be the guests. Dinner will be
served. These services will be
held Sept. 6.
❖ First Baptist
Missionary
The First Baptist
Missionary Church will hold
Pre Men’s Day and a celebra
tion and prayer breakfast,
Saturday, Sept. 5 at 7:30 a.m. at
the church fellowship hall.
Cost will be $3 each, take out
will be available for pick-up
starting at 6:50 a.m.. A pro
gram is planned by Deacon
Zack White.
The Final Program will be
Sunday, Sept. 6 at 2:30 p.m. at
the First Baptist Missionary
Church. Rev. Joseph
Thompson and the Open Door
Fellowship Church of South
MUls will be special guest. Bro
Rodney Lyons is chairman,
Bro Arthur Mitchell co-chair
man, and Rev. J.H. London is
pastor. Dinner will be served
by the women of the church.
Donations will be excepted.
^ The Family of
Lawrence Corprew
wishes to express our thanks for all the visits,
cards, prayers, food; anyway your Love was
shown to him during his illness. The different
churches, groups. Bethel Fire Department, etc.
You’ve all been so kind to all of us, both before
and since our loss. May God Bless each of you.
f ^ 206917 „
I ^ - — ^
TOWN OF HERTFORD
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
The Town of Hertford will hold a public
hearing on September 14, 1998 at
7:00 p.m. in the Municipal Building at
114 W. Grubb Street. The purpose of
the public hearing is to hear comments
on the Town of Hertford entering into a
Installment Purchase Contract for the
purpose of funding the upgrade of
Hertford’s electric system.
O^en Letter
^, Dear Friends,
Labor Day weekend has come to represent the
, ^ end of summer to many Americans. It’s that
one last chance to get in some sun or some
,, fishing before autumn sets in. It is important
to remember that the mental and physical labor of many
generations has given us the inheritance of this great
nation.
,, Respectfully,
- #tutniieU iFuneral luttie
426-7311
509 Dobbs Street
Hertford
To get the
Daily Advance
call Teri today!
335-0841
It’s the perfect
companion to
The Perquimans Weekly
^twiniell iinnument dnmpang
&
426-7311
509 Dobb St.
Hertford
^iakthome
anBc^iome @4ccmoties
SUMMER CLEARANCE SALE
All Summer Florals 20% OFF
Take An Additional 10% OFF
ALREADY REDUCED PRICES!
SEE NEW FLORALS, BUFFET LAMPS, OLIO GLYCERINE SOAPS, PRINTS,ITALIAN
PORCELAIN ROOSTERS, SWAN CREEK CANDLES, ARAIS WINDCHIMES,
"OLD SALTS" COLLECTIBLES, SALAD & PASTA GIFT SETS AND MUCH MORE!
Christmas items of garland, wreaths, & Christmas trees now available
Open Mon. - Fri.
9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sat. 9 - 5
LAMPS, LAMP SHADES AND REPAIRS
BROAD STREET CENTER, EDENTON
(Across from Tennis Courts)
482-7593
The:
/hr the: Weefe
From My Heart
S. Keith Vaughan, Pastor
The Hertford Baptist Church
I heard an amusing but pointed story about an unsaved man who was on
his way to attend a costume ball on Sunday evening. He was wearing a red
suit with a tail and a skintight mask with horns. He looked like Satan - that is,
he conformed to the widely accepted picture of the devil. As he hurried along,
he was caught in a sudden rainstorm, so he took shelter in a church where the
service was just ending. Rushing into the building, he shocked the members,
who thought he was the real thing. A flash of lightening and a clap of thunder
added to the illusion. The congregation panicked and rushed for the rear exits.
The intruder thought the church had been struck and was on fire, so he raced
after them. Everyone got out except an elderly lady. Turning in fear, she
stretched out her hands and pleaded for mercy, “Oh devil, please don’t hurt
me. I know I’ve been a member of this church for 30 years, but I’ve been on
your side all the time!”
We smile at this story, but regrettably it applies to many professing
Christians who attend God’s house just out of habit or to maintain social status in the community.
They’ve never known the life-changing reality of receiving Christ as their personal Savior. Like that lady,
they’d have to admit they are not really on the Lord’s side.
Is your “Christianity” a sham? Is it merely a mental joyride that leaves your heart empty and
dissatisfied, and with no assurance of Heaven? Remember, you’re either a child of the devil or the King.
Joshua 24:15 says “...choose you this day whom ye will serve... but as for me and my house, we will serve
the Lord.” Whose side are you on?
Worship in the church of your choice this week with your family. Your life will be richly blessed.
The Weekly Message is brought to you by the following merchants:
Smith’s
Jewelry
& Fine Gifts
426-7404
139 N. Church Street
Hertford 3
Dozier’s Florist
426-5721
Be-Lo Shopping Center
Hertford
Member FTD
HOLLOWELL OIL CO.
SUPPLIERS OF
PROPANE GAS & OIL PRODUCTS
PHONE: 426-5745
WOODARD'S
PHARMACY
For All Your Pharmaceutical Needs
Third Party Insurance „
426-5527 Hertford
Charies H. Ward, Inc
Ace Hardware Dixie Auto Parts
Wards Shopping Ctr.
Hertford
4S6-5716
Michelle's Family Hair Care
•Michelle Brown - Owner/Stylist
•Brenda Mills - Stylist
426-5312 Hertford
REED OIL CO.
LPGAS
GAS
> Cylinder & Bulk LP Gas EACO
»Quality Gas Appliances aO" JO
Alexander Electrical
Contractor, Inc
of Edenton
•IndustriahCommerciaWResidential
“Serving All Your Hectrical Needs”
Office 482-2400 Highway 17 N. Near the 5 mile Y
Chowan
Hospital
482-8451