What's Your Excuse, Now?

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Pray For America!

Keep the families of our citizens that have been and still is in harm's way, in your prayers.  The enemy is doing everything possible to destroy our morale and believe in this nation.  We all know about the families and loved ones lost in Colorado, Connecticut, Texas, college campuses and know Boston.  We can not forget the other tragedies that do not get the media's attention such as war, domestic violence, traffic deaths, suicides, and health issues.  We have a lot to pray for!  Prayer does move things.  “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”  (Matthew 18:19-20 NIV)

Keeping It Simple!!!

I can’t speak for anyone else except myself but for some reason in my early years, I thought reading the Bible was complicated.  When I followed some of the readings, I saw some complex issues that I wondered if I was able to do what The Word said.  How can I be born again?  Why should I turn my cheek is someone hits me?  How can I be slow to speak and quick to hear?  As I got older, I realized after asking the Holy Spirit to reveal the readings to me that, The Word is a lot simpler than I thought.  After talking to Rev. Ben Colley, who I credit a lot of enlightenment to, and many others, who follow The Word, that God wants to save all of us, even to the point of giving up His Son.  Jesus was willing to die for us by obeying His Father.  We forget that as a God, Jesus denied himself and took the mortal form.  But we can’t forget that He was born without sin and that He could only be conceived by a sinless woman.  But a sinless man defeated death.  Christ broke death’s hold on us!  Death held that fear over us since the Garden of Evil where God gave dominion over all that He created.  “And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.  And the Lord God commanded man, saying, of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Genesis 2:15-17). “Thou shalt surely die.”  The introduction of man’s knowledge of death and we have been grieving since then.  We grieve for lost loves, family members, and anything else that we lost.  I know, I’ve been there.  On the cross, Christ said,”It is finished.” What was finished?  His mission? His death as a man?  Or overcoming death’s hold over man?  “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:55).  Christ had to go places where mortal men could not.  More importantly, He returned with victory!  What an amazing example of what happens when we obey God!  Can we ever comprehend the love and mercy of God the Father?  We must humbly bow down to a greater power with obedience, praise, and love.  We must strengthen ourselves with love and forgiveness towards each other adding patience, perseverance, and understanding.  It won’t be easy and it is never easy doing the right thing.  But if we try, who knows how much we can accomplish.  Let us continue to pray for each other.  Let’s keep it simple!

Friday, March 22, 2013

Rest in Peace, Mr. Jackson!

Anderson - William "Bill" Jackson was born August 2, 1928 in Easley, SC to the late "B" and Ethel Jackson. He passed away on March 18, 2013 at Rainey Hospice House. He was a member of Saint Mary of the Angels Catholic Church and an Army Veteran. Bill is survived by his wife, Yvonne Jackson and several grandchildren. The funeral mass will be held 11:00AM, Thursday at Saint Mary of the Angels Catholic Church. The interment will follow at M.J. "Dolly" Cooper Veterans Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Saint Mary of the Angels Catholic Church (1821 White Street Anderson, SC 29624)

I Feel Like Going On - Bishop Marvin Winans

Rest in Peace, Ms. Brown!

Nettie Catherian Kenley Brown, WEST COLUMBIA.  Funeral service for Mrs. Nettie Catherian Kenley Brown, 85, of 121 Worlin Drive, West Columbia, will be held Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at St. James Baptist Church, West Columbia, with burial to follow in the church cemetery. Born in Lexington County, she was a daughter of Annie Elizabeth West and Richard Kenley. Viewing will be held on Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Pearson's Funeral Home Chapel. Body will be placed in the church at noon Saturday. She was a member of St. James Baptist Church, leader of the Missionary Society, secretary of the church and secretary of the Sunday School union. Surviving are her daughters, Denise Brown and Iris Catherine Brown; sons, James Brown and Rev. Thomas Brown; stepson, Minister Ronald Gamble; 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; sister, Thelma Kenley O'Neal. Pearson's Funeral Home has been entrusted with these services.

Gorillas & Rhinos