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MEDITATION
“What Jesus Says to
the Established Church”
Over the next several
weeks, | plan on writing a
little about the seven
churches mentioned in the
book of Revelation. The
complete list is found in
the second chapter.
One thing about these
churches as we learn about
them: They were real
churches that existed in
real places. They were not
Charlie Wallace
Pastor merely symbols of apoca- -
David Baptist Church lyptic literature. Six of the
seven churches had very
real issues (sins) that were
causing problems in their congregations. Fortunately
for them, Jesus gave them very clear instructions on
how to fix these problems.
That's what so great about God's Word - every an-
swer to life's problems are found in it. However, we
often don’t like hearing what we read in His word. We
simply choose to igriore what God says. However, to
ignore the words that Jesus was saying to these
churches meant extinction. He would remove their
lampstand. Don't ever forget that it is King Jesus who
starts churches, sustains: churches, and eventually
closes down churches.
The first church mentioned is Ephesus. Ephesus was
a doctrinally pure church. It was a church that was spir-
itually mature and filled with good Bible students
whose children probably knew more Bible verses than
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The Kings Mountain Herald | www.kmherald.net
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Visiting Bishop receives key to the city
Kings Mountain Family
Worship Center welcomed
with open arms Ezekiel
Sakala, the Provincial Over-
seer for the Church of God
of Zambia. Ezekiel was in-
vited to be the guest speaker
for the church’s Earthen Ves-
sels Mission’s annual ban-
quet.
He was in the area for
about a week and a half.
Ezekiel was excited to
visit Kings Mountain and
was tickled when presented
with a key to the city by
Mayor Rick Murphrey. He
said he couldn’t wait to tell
about his adventures when
he returns home and is al-
ready planning to return and
bring some friends with him.
Another high spot for
Sakala was visiting the
Church of God Headquarters
in Cleveland, Tennessee,
where he met Jim Hill,
World Missions Director for
the Church of God.
Sakala lives in the city of
Katete and is Bishop over
nine districts in Zambia, a
total of 91 churches and
about 11,000 people.
Zambia is a very poor
country in Africa. Most peo-
ple earn less than a dollar a
day and the average annual
PR
Ezekiel Sakala, left, of the Eastern Province of Katete, Zambia receives a key to the city from
Mayor Rick Murphrey as Pastor Roger Woodard of Kings Mountain Family Worship, looks
on. Sakala was visiting the Woodards and the church congregation.
income is $100 per year.
Jeff Vernon, Administra-
tor of the Earthen Vessels
School of Ministry and As-
sociate Pastor of Kings
Mountain Family Worship
Center, said that the church
has a two-pronged missions
program. Two representa-
tives are sent around
Thanksgiving to Zambia to
minister and baptize. Several
more representatives go in
the summertime to organize
Photo by ELLIS NOELL
and work in Bible schools.
Jeff has been to Zambia on
mission trips, and in 2010 he
took his family along on a
six-month extended mission
trip.
ulmi
you or me. They loved to wave the banner of Jesus
Christ and show everyone around the wicked city of
Ephesus that they were “taking a stand for Jesus” and
that they had His back.
But isn’t it funny to know that God doesn’t really
need us to have his back? He simply wants us to obey
Him. And the Ephesian church wasn’t being completely
obedient to what God had called them to do.
For established churches such as Ephesus, just stick-
ing your flag in the ground and telling everyone that
you are doctrinally pure and that your church preaches
the Bible is great and all, but it's not everything that
Christ has called His church to do.
The Ephesian church had toiled and worked for
many years waving the banner of Christianity. But they
had “abandoned their first love.” (Rev. 2:4). What was
their first love? Loving Christ and doing what He had
commanded: making disciples. Too many churches
simply make disciples by birth. We're content to physi-
cally birth people into the Kingdom of God while ig-
noring our part in seeing spiritual birth take place in the
lives of adults.
Jesus’ prescription for revival of the Ephesian church
was simple: repent and remember your first love. Those
that do so will eat of the tree of life and live in the para-
dise of God.
\
‘The Crucible’ to open July 12
Greater Shelby Commu-
nity Theatre will present the
classic drama, "The Cru-
cible" July 12-14 and July
19-21 at the Keeter Audito-
rium on the campus of Cleve-
land Community College.
Winner of a Tony Award
for Best Play, this Arthur
Miller production tells the
story of the Salem Witch Tri-
als. The play has stood the
test of time, however, be-
cause it addresses the seduc-
tive nature of power. The
play is directed by award-
winning theatre professional,
Frederick Van Patten.
Don't miss it! Friday and
Saturday performances are at
7:30 p.m. and Sunday per-
formances are at 2:30 p.m..
Tickets are $10 for adults and
$8 for seniors/students. Sea-
son ticket holders have re-
served parking. Discount
presale tickets are available
at Arnold's Jewelers, Bad-
cock & More, CC Arts Coun-
cil, Maxwell Hamrick
Insurance, and Neal Senior
Center.
Winter to bring mystery to the Joy
Mentalist, Ronn Winter
will be bringing a night of
mind reading, predictions and
mystery Aug. 10 to The Joy
Performance Center in Kings
Mountain’ and tickets are on
sale.
Ronn Winter has enter-
tained crowds all over the
country and has performed for
many Fortune 500 companies.
After last year’s successful “In
Your Mind”, he is now bring-
ing his brand new show, “Fate
of Mind” to Kings Mountain.
With this latest project, he
brings into ‘question...”is it
It’s time to LC
your pond!
Delivery will be:
Saturday, July 21
Cleveland Feeds; Shelby
10:30 - 11:15am
Southern States Go-op: Waco
11:45 am - 12:30 pm
“LIKE” us on Facebook!
To place an order call the FI SHWAGON
NGDOREAS 200)
mind reading, or simply a
matter of fate?”
It is a completely interactive
show, so come and be pre-
pared to be part of this event
as one of the many audience
members he uses to amaze
and baffle the minds of the
crowd!
Show time is at &
p.m.. Tickets are available on-
line at ronnwinter.
showclix.com or at the door
the night of the event, $15
general admission, $30 VIP
(vip includes front row seat-
ing, signed poster, exclusive
30 minute after show!).
For more info, visit www.ron-
nwinter.com or call
864.916.9442.
*Recommended for ages
13 and up*
“ hd ie
g al for Fi REE!
» Buy 1 large bucket & get a 2nd FREE! -
- Tues & Thurs 11-4
A TERR SY,
Must call for tee times
Offer expires
6/30/13
Must present
ad for offer
Woodbridge Golf Club
Call for tee times!
Pro-Shop 704.482.0353
1007 New Camp Creek Church Rd., Kings Mountain
Violet’s Garden Center opens in KM
Violet Clary, center, has presented a statuary depicting a Kings Mountain Fire Department logo, a fireman, fire hydrant, lad-
der and other symbols that she fashioned in her new shop, Violet's Garden Center at 2004 Shelby Road to city officials. From
left Mayor Rick Murphrey, Clary, City Manager Marilyn Sellers, and Fire Chief Frank Burns.
Violet’s Garden Center, a new busi-
ness at 2004 Shelby Road, features not
only plants and flowers but bird baths
‘and other unique concrete products.
Violet Bream Clay, owner and gar-
den enthusiast, gave one of her unique
creations recently to the Kings Moun-
tain Fire Department. The statuary has
been displayed at Fire Station No. 1
downtown by Fire Chief Frank Burns
and depicts a fireman, fire hydrant, lad-
der and other symbols of firefighting.
City Manager Marilyn Sellers and
Mayor Rick Murphrey were also on
hand to view the unveiling and presen-
tation of the special gift.
Violet and Steven Clay moved from
Orlando, Florida to Cleveland County
in 2005. Mrs. Clay had been in the
landscape and nursery business for a
number of years and Mr. Clay, now re-
tired, worked in underground utilities.
“We decided to return to the Kings
Mountain area because my husband
Photo by ELLIS NOELL
was born here,” said Violet. She said
she wanted to keep her green thumb in
the growing of plants and in mid-May
they opened a new business where she
does just that. Roses, perennials, annu-
als, dahlias are just some’ of the pretty
flowers that bloom profusely.
The shop is open Tuesdays through
Saturdays from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and on
Sundays from noon until 5 p.m: Senior
Day is on Wednesday with a 10% dis-
counts to senior shoppers.
Joseph A. Gray
(0) 704-739-1644
jagraysurvey@gmail.com
Professional Land Surveyor
(C) 704-692-7036
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
«
Acupuncture!
Auailable with or without needles
. Back Pain ~ Arthritis ~ Headaches
AUXILIARY OFFICERS —-
Pictured are the new
officers of American Legion
Auxiliary Unit 155 installed
at a recent meeting.
From left, President Myrtle
Christenson, Vice-President
Beth Brock, Corresponding
Secretary/Treasurer Arlene
Barrett; Historian DeAnn
Burton; and Chaplain Lou
Ballew.
Not pictured: Recording
Secretary Roxie Trammell
and Sergeant-at-Arms
Elizabeth Olmstead.
Dr. George Randall e 704-739-7776
703 W. King St. ® Kings Mountain, NC ’
20 minute stress relief acupuncture sessions for $201
: Fyee Considiigons]
SR He we