come home come hope E A S T E R
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If you’re looking for a church…if you’ve been away from church for a long time…if church has never been your thing…Easter is a beautiful time to renew a faith journey, and Frazer is a place where you are always welcome.
Easter Sunday is March 27, 2016
M O NTG O M ERY Sunrise Worship 6:00AM Blount Cultural Park Contemporary and Traditional Easter Worship 8:00, 9:30 & 11:00AM P I K E R OA D Sunrise Worship 6:00AM Location TBA Easter Worship 9:00 & 10:45AM in the Pike Road School See our other Holy Week events at www.frazer.church
MONTGOMERY | 6000 Atlanta Highway | 334.272.8622 PIKE ROAD | 37 Bridge St. The Waters | 334.801.9080
Volume 17, Issue 10
Feature Articles
MARCH 2 0 1 6 Columns page 2
page 14
Publisher’s Note
Faith @ Work
Jason Watson
Meet Chris King, Director of Bands for Prattville High School. Chris has a unique opportunity to impact the lives of students as he lives out his faith at work...a calling which is very important to him.
page 4
Pastor's Perspective Trip Healey, Ridge Church in Wetumpka
page 13
Pondering the Journey Sam Whatley
page 16
page 18
Women Arising
Who Do You Say That I Am?
Pastor Kemi Searcy
page 29
Counselor’s Corner
by John MacArthur
Nancy Thomas, LPC
Easter is the perfect time to consider Jesus Christ and who you believe Him to be. John MacArthur shares a compelling argument for embracing the Christ of the Bible and making Him Lord of your life.
page 34
The Intersection Bob Crittenden
page 36
Dave $ays
page 22
River Region
Dave Ramsey
Easter Events
Churches across the community would like to invite you to spend Easter with them and our listing has the details.
In Every Issue page 6
page 30
Church at the Barrel by Laura Bell
Not all churches meet on Sundays in a sanctuary or other indoor venue. Laura Bell takes you to a unique church where attendees meet for fellowship, teaching and lunch every Tuesday, around a barrel in west Montgomery. 1
Books to Read page 8
Around Our Community page 14
Faith @ Work page 26
Support Groups March 2016
River Region’s Journey
Our Mission... We believe the Good News concerning the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is worth sharing with our friends and neighbors in the River Region. Each month we deliver this life-changing message to the centers of activity across our community in a user-friendly and relevant way to empower and equip all those seeking to grow closer to God. Join us in this mission by sharing a copy with your neighbor or by becoming an advertising partner starting next month.
Editor DeAnne Watson deanne@readjourneymagazine.com
Publisher
Jason Watson jason@readjourneymagazine.com
Associate Publisher Gena Hill
Research Editor Wendy McCollum
Contributing Writers Tim Challies Lisa Conn Bob Crittenden Pastor Trip Healey John MacArthur Dave Ramsey Kemi Searcy Nancy Thomas, LPC Sam Whatley
Advertising Opportunities Jason Watson ads@readjourneymagazine.com (334) 213-7940 ext 703
Ad Design
Tim Welch, Welch Designs
Distribution Team Wendy McCollum Chris Mitchell, Manager Manzie Moore Richard Ward Lesa Youngblood
River Region’s Journey is published monthly by Keep Sharing, P.O. Box 230367, Montgomery, AL 36123. For information, call 334-213-7940. River Region’s Journey is copyrighted 2016 by KeepSharing. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.
From the Publisher There are some people, even those who’ve attended church at different seasons of their lives, who don’t know what the “Gospel” entails. It’s true. This is a question I’ve posed to various people when discussing Jesus, the Church and our world. More times than not, even though they have lived in the Bible Belt for years, they don’t have a true understanding of the Gospel and why it’s called the Good News. Yet, it’s imperative that all of us know. Of course, you are free to reject the message of the Gospel, but it shouldn’t be ignored. Too much has occurred in history that is due to Jesus and His teachings for you to act like it has no influence on your life or can be tossed aside without any consideration. Those who take this approach are a rare breed here in the River Region. It is more likely in our community to meet people with an inadequate understanding of the Gospel, but completely comfortable in those shoes. They have bought into the notion of what I’ve heard preachers call purchasing “fire insurance” or a “Get Out Of Hell Free” card. They think they’ve said the right prayer to God, saying they believe Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave for their sins (which He did), so now they can escape Hell and get on with living life here on earth as they see fit. That is not the Gospel and that is not good news. As long as you are still the guiding light in your life, you will always be a broken and flawed human living a sub-par life in this age, and even worse in the age to come. The good news of the Gospel is that God, through His Son Jesus, is making all things new. Sin wreaks havoc on all of God’s creation, including you and me. But on the original Easter Sunday, two thousand plus years ago, by his victorious resurrection over death and sin, Jesus has now established a new Kingdom that stands against the kingdom of this age. For the time being both kingdoms exist. The old one is dark, and the new one, under the rule and reign of Jesus Christ, is light. Everyone who places their trust in the life and work of Jesus Christ is born again into this new Kingdom where we live for His honor and not our own. The kingdom of this world is known for sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, envy, drunkenness, and the like. The Kingdom Jesus established and offers those who call on His name is characterized by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:19-25). You can’t be a citizen of the Kingdom of God and continually live independent of God. Jesus rescued us from this type of navel-gazing. Why go back? He offers to bring us into a right relationship with God where we can live rightly and therefore free from the bondage of sin. As citizens of God’s kingdom Christians are finally free to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with their God (Micah 6:8). In which kingdom would you rather live? What Jesus established that first Easter morning has changed everything. Let me encourage you in this month’s issue to look deeper into who Jesus is, what He’s done and how that can change your life for the better. Start with our Easter feature story, “Who Do You Think I Am?” by John MacArthur. Then take a look at our listing of River Region Easter Events on page 22 and attend some of the special services and fun family events offered. Finally, if you’re not sure if you know what the Gospel is you can turn to page 12 to our “Know Your Story” explanation. And, as always, if you have any questions or would like to talk with someone further about the Christian faith, please email me at jwatson@ keepsharing.com. I would love to speak with you! Have a Happy Easter!
The opinions expressed in River Region’s Journey are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the owners, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products or services herein. River Region’s Journey has the right to refuse any content that is not consistent with its statement of faith.
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Invites you to join us for the
GLORY OF HOLY WEEK Maundy Thursday, March 24
Good Friday, March 25
Holy Eucharist with Foot Washing & Stripping of the Altar 7:00 p.m. The Gethsemane Watch 9:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Stations of the Cross 12:00 p.m. Veneration of the Cross 7:00 p.m.
Holy Saturday, March 26 The Great Vigil of Easter with Holy Baptism 8:30 p.m.
Easter Sunday, March 27
Sunrise Eucharist in the Courtyard Garden 6:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist 9:30 a.m. 3
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Pastor’s Perspective Pastor Trip Healey, Ridge Church
Bringing Showy Home
Here I anxiously sit in a hotel room in Guangzhou, China, halfway around the world from everything familiar, waiting to meet my daughter for the first time, and I had this thought, “As Christians, what do we have to fear?” Let’s face it. We struggle with the unknown and unexpected. Even Christians who claim to have a personal relationship with the Creator of the universe are often crippled and controlled by the fear of “what if.” What if the economy tanks? What if guns get “controlled?” What if terrorists attack? What if the border doesn’t get protected? What if social security isn’t so secure? What if healthcare doesn’t get reformed? What if religious freedom comes to an end? For the unbeliever, these are legitimate concerns. But for a person who has placed his faith in Jesus, fear doesn’t make any sense. Fear should not characterize a follower of Jesus, because it neutralizes us from fully living in faith. Consider one of the most familiar passages in all of Scripture. King David wrote the 23rd Psalm as a reflection of his relationship with God. He uses two analogies to paint an incredible picture. In verses 1-4, David describes God as a shepherd who loves and cares for his River Region’s Journey
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sheep. David is saying, “God, you are my provider. You are always with me. What do I have to fear?” Then in verses 5-6, David switches gears as if to say, “But God is more than just a provider, who cares for my needs and keeps me safe. God is like a host who honors me as a guest in his own home! And he has prepared a feast of contentment in the midst of even the darkest circumstances. What do I have to fear?” What’s even more incredible to consider is that David was expressing this kind of unbridled confidence in God more than a thousand years before Jesus came. He was unaware that God would put on flesh, refer to himself as the Good Shepherd, and then make the ultimate sacrifice in order to offer salvation to a broken world. In John 10:11, Jesus himself says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” Jesus was foreshadowing what was about to come to pass. And now you and I have the complete picture when we step into a relationship with Jesus. • He is my provider. • He is always with me. • He has invited me to dine at his table of peace and contentment. • He gave me life by giving up his. 4
So honestly, Christians, what do you have to fear? Better still, can you imagine what would happen if Christians actually began to express their faith in this way and live without fear? When Christians begin to live fearless… • We become extremely generous, because we don’t fear loss. • We share our faith, because we don’t fear humiliation. • We serve in the mission field, because we don’t fear discomfort. • We go into ministry, because we don’t fear inadequacy. • We vote out of responsibility, not because we fear that the wrong person is going to get elected. And then one more, which has been the biggest point of fear for my wife Rebecca and I. When Christians begin to live fearless, we open our homes to those who can’t help themselves, because we don’t fear disrupting our lives. In May of 2015, Rebecca simply texted me a picture of an orphan from China. At that point, we didn’t have any plans of adopting, fostering or growing our family in any way. Yet without hesitation, I wrote back, “What do we have to do to make her ours?” We immediately began the process of adoption through “Lifeline” (www. lifelinechild.org), and now here we are! I am ready to hold my daughter. Her name is Showy. She’s eight years old and has Down syndrome. Our lives are about to get crazy and, even after all the training, we don’t really know what to expect. But I can assure you, we are not going to be controlled by our fear of the unknown. Bringing Showy home is a fearless expression of who God is and what he has already done for us. This Easter, ask yourself this question: What can I do to boldly embrace my faith and live without fear?
Trip Healey is the lead pastor of Ridge Church, a non-denominational church which currently meets at the Wetumpka YMCA (200 Red Eagle Dr) at 9:00am & 10:45am every Sunday. To connect with Ridge Church: Email: info@ridgechurch.com Website: www.ridgechurch.com Twitter: @RidgeChurchAL Facebook: /RidgeChurchAL
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Our Statement of Faith In keeping with Protestant theology, we believe that the Bible, as contained in the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, is fully inspired by God and therefore inerrant in the original manuscripts. The Bible is the only essential and infallible record of God’s self-disclosure to mankind. The Scriptures are the authoritative and normative rule and guide of all Christian life, practice, and doctrine. They are totally sufficient and must not be added to, superseded, or changed by later tradition, extra-biblical revelation, or worldly wisdom. The Bible is perfect in every way and shows us how to become and live as Christians. The way of becoming a Christian is by faith alone in Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, who came to us, born of a virgin, in full human form while remaining fully God. Jesus was, and is, perfect, and was crucified so that others could live. Three days later He rose from the dead, never to die again. He ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God the Father, where He, the only mediator between God and man, continually makes intercession for His own. Those who have faith in Jesus as their Lord in this life, and Savior from damnation in the next life, now live by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, becoming more like Jesus everyday. We believe that God is one God. The one God has three persons: the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Just as God is one, so also, all believers are to be one. We believe in the unity and fellowship of all those that have faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. We are one in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, His Body, which is composed of all men, living and dead, who have been joined to Him through saving faith.
HE ONCE BEAT HIS DAD FOUR STRAIGHT GAMES IN CHESS. AFTERWARD, HE CELEBRATED WITH SOME ORANGE SLICES AND A BOOK ABOUT WIZARDS. and at Children’s of Alabama we want to see every child grow up and live to their fullest potential. That’s why we recruit, train and retain the most inquiring minds, the most skilled hands and the most compassionate hearts in pediatric medicine.
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The Whole Christ by Sinclair Ferguson
If you keep up with Christian publishing for any length of time, you will eventually spot a curious phenomenon. Every now and again a scholarly book will show up and a lot of people will get really excited about it. It will be a book that, under normal circumstances, would be known among only the scholars. And yet this one will be released with accolades assuring the non-scholarly readers (like me!) that they, too, can benefit from it. This year’s first such book is Sinclair Ferguson’s The Whole Christ: Legalism, Antinomianism, and Gospel Assurance— Why the Marrow Controversy Still Matters. It has received those accolades and, just like they say, it is definitely worth the read. The Whole Christ begins more than 250 years ago with a theological controversy that erupted in a small Scottish town—hardly the stuff of your average Christian book. The Marrow Controversy centered on Edward Fisher’s book The Marrow of Modern Divinity and pitted two groups of theologians against one another. The core issue was whether or not a person must first forsake his sins in order to come to Christ. The Marrow Men, those who agreed with Fisher’s book, believed that this demanded works as a precursor to faith and was, in that way, opposed to the free offer of the gospel. Their opponents taught that the gospel should only be offered to those who were beginning to show evidence of being among God’s elect. This syllogism River Region’s Journey
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describing their view may bring clarity: “Major premise: The saving grace of God in Christ is given to the elect alone. Minor premise: The elect are known by the forsaking of sin. Conclusion: Therefore forsaking sin is a prerequisite for saving grace.” Ferguson points to “The subtle movement from seeing forsaking sin as the fruit of grace that is rooted in election, to making the forsaking of sin the necessary precursor for experiencing that grace.” But here’s the problem: “Repentance, which is the fruit of grace, thus becomes a qualification for grace. This puts the cart before the horse. It stands the gospel on its head so that the proclamation of the gospel, with the call to faith in Christ, becomes conditional on something in the hearer. The gospel thus became a message of grace for the credentialed, not an offer of Christ to all with the promise of justification to the ungodly who believes.” This was the starting place for the Marrow Controversy, but as the controversy unfolded it unearthed a whole host of related issues. The Whole Christ navigates them through “an extended reflection on theological and pastoral issues that arose in the early eighteenth century, viewed from the framework of the present day.” In other words, Ferguson looks at this controversy, dissects it, and then applies it to our day. And, as it happens, we, too, are struggling with issues related to legalism and antinomianism. That makes his book perfectly timed and a valuable contribution to the discussion about the role of the law, the role of obedience, in the Christian life. And this is where his book takes off. Now Ferguson is going far beyond church 6
history and bringing clarity to the way we are to live the Christian life. He is moving beyond history to do the work of a pastor. He carefully discusses how we become Christians, how we live as Christians, and how we can have assurance that we are Christians. With great precision he describes legalism and antinomianism, bringing clarity to their definitions and showing that they are not so much opposites of one another as they are “nonidentical twins that emerge from the same womb.” Antinomianism is, in its own way, an expression of legalism. “The antinomian is by nature a person with a legalistic heart. He or she becomes an antinomian in reaction. But this implies only a different view of law, not a more biblical one.” This is a book full of treasures. Some of the treasures are on the surface waiting to be picked up, among them Ferguson’s one-line summaries of great truths: “It is misleading to say that God accepts us the way we are. Rather he accepts us despite the way we are” and “antinomianism and legalism are not so much antithetical to each other as they are both antithetical to grace.” Many of the other treasures yield only to care and effort, and in this way the book demands a fair bit from the reader. I suspect I would need to read it through once or twice more to have an advanced grasp of its subject matter. I would like to go back and do that very thing. Ordinarily, we might assign a book like this to the bookshelves of the scholars and enthusiasts of church history. But The Whole Christ has too much to say to us to allow that to happen. It speaks too clearly and too urgently to issues that are every bit important to us as they were in the seventeenth century. I don’t think Derek Thomas is exaggerating when he says, “For my part, this is one of the most important and definitive books I have read in over four decades.”
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Next Level Men’s Conference
Saint James UMC to Hold Benefit Auction Saint James United Methodist Church will hold an auction to benefit youth and children’s missions on Saturday, April 16. The auction will begin at 4:00 p.m. and last until 6:00 p.m. Visitors may preview items on Friday, April 15, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. There is no cost for admission. Items featured include antique furniture from Pickwick Antiques, original artwork, jewelry, salon and boutique certificates, gift cards from local businesses, and vacation home rentals. Visit www.sjlifeauction.com for a preview of items. This marks the 7th year that the church has held a spring auction benefiting missions. Last year, the auction helped send youth on mission trips to Green Lake, Wisconsin and Chemax, Mexico. They were also able to work with other churches and ministries in the Montgomery area including Brantwood Children’s Home, Wesley Gardens Retirement Community, and Common Ground. Proceeds from this year’s auction will benefit mission projects in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Alabama Rural Ministry in Tuskegee, AL, Georgia Washington Middle School in Montgomery, AL and many other local ministries.
Fresh Anointing House of Worship (FAHOW), one of Montgomery’s fastest growing congregations, led by Bishop Kyle Searcy. author, international speaker and theologian will host its annual Next Level Men’s Conference, March 10-12th, 2016 at 150 E. Fleming Road in Montgomery, AL. The conference speakers include Bishop Kyle Searcy, senior Pastor of the host ministry; Bishop Larry Palmer of Israel Total Life Ministries and Pastor Alan Cross. This conference is designed to empower men to fulfill their roles as leaders in their families, business and community. Next Level Men’s Conference March 10, 2016 7PM March 11, 2016 7PM March 12, 2016 9 AM – 2PM For more information contact Stephanie Provitt – 334-498-1566 or Sandra Jackson- 334-669-1533.
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Ladies Conference and Tea Luncheon The Song in You, Ladies Spring Conference and Tea Luncheon, with speaker/ soloist, LaDonna Gatlin, will be at First Presbyterian Church, 211 S. Chestnut St., Prattville, March 5, from 9-1. Conference and lunch open to all ladies free of charge. Please obtain a free ticket by calling 334-462-4056.
Montgomery Prayer B’fast & Bible Reading Marathon The 2016 Montgomery Prayer Breakfast for the City and County of Montgomery is scheduled for May 5, at 7 am, in downtown Montgomery. Mayor Todd Strange and Commissioner Elton Dean invite local citizens to join them on this day in a spirit of humility and prayer. It is an opportunity to pray and give thanks for the goodness the community experiences. A devoted time of prayer will be offered on this morning as well as special music. Also in conjunction with the National Day of Prayer, the 2nd Annual Montgomery Bible Reading Marathon will begin at the Capitol Steps immediately following the Prayer Breakfast. The 72-hour Bible Reading Marathon is the reading of the Word by local citizens until the entire Bible is read aloud over the city. The Prayer Breakfast will be held at the Alabama Activity Center, located at 201 Dexter Avenue, downtown Montgomery, from 7 am to 8:30 am. A full buffet breakfast will be served. Tickets for the breakfast are $15.00 per person. Individuals may purchase tickets at His Vessel Ministries located at Union Station, 300 Water Street, Suite 100, or the You Name It shop at 5350-A Atlanta Highway in Montgomery. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come first served basis. For more information about the Montgomery Prayer Breakfast, call His Vessel Ministries at 334-356-4478. To participate in the Montgomery Bible Reading Marathon, go to www.hisvessel.org to sign up for a time to read the Bible at the Capitol steps. 9
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Beautiful Offerings Tour
Pathway Support Group For Those Dealing with Same Sex Attraction
The group meets at 6:30 pm every first, third and fifth Tuesday evenings in the Huff Community Ministry Building of First Baptist Church on South Perry Street. For more information about the Pathway call Jane Ferguson at 334 241-5141.
“4th Saturday” Outreach Event River City Church, a United Methodist congregation, invites the entire community to their 4th Saturday Outreach event March 26 from 9am-11am at the church, located at 301 Dexter Avenue. Admission is free. The River Region will have access to blood pressure/glucose screenings, career services, free haircuts, hygiene items and canned goods. Participants can register for a drawing for a weekly bus pass and gasoline gift cards. Volunteers will also provide homework help and a craft for children. For information, please call 263-0549 or visit www.rivercityumc.com.
with Big Daddy Weave, Plumb, Jordan Feliz Saturday, March 12, at 7:00 pm First Baptist Church 138 South Washington Street, Prattville For more information, call 334-365-0606 VIP - 5:00pm Entry $45.00 General Admission $20.00 General Admission Group (15+) $15.00 The VIP ticket includes early entry at 5 pm, pre-show Q&A session and a free poster and tour laminate.
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Common Ground Montgomery Volunteer Interest Meeting Do you want to hear about the different facets of our ministry and how you can get involved? We would love to share with you our story and why we do what we do at CGM. We also want to give you practical ways you can get involved with what we are doing in the West Montgomery Community. Please join us on March 15th at 11:30 for a Volunteer Interest Luncheon at our facility. We will provide free lunch and this event requires absolutely no commitment. When: March 15th at 11:30 Where: Common Ground Montgomery 1516 Mobile Road, Montgomery, Alabama 36108
Email ministry or church news to deanne@readjourneymagazine.com.
We Believe...God’s Not Dead Tour Newsboys, Audio Adrenaline, Ryan Stevenson, OBB Thursday, March 31, at 7:00 pm Garrett Coliseum, 1555 Federal Drive, Montgomery For more information, call 334-356-6866 or visit itickets.com to purchase your ticket today!
Frazer Flea Market The 19th Annual Frazer Flea Market for missions will be held Saturday, May 7 from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the parking lot across S. Burbank Dr. from Frazer. Call now, 334-495-6368 or email singles@frazerumc.org to reserve your booth space.
2600 Bell Road Montgomery, Alabama 334.277.6690
460 McQueen Smith Road Prattville, Alabama 334.358.6411
Dr. John H. Payne IV • Dr. David Stanley • Dr. Davis Denney • Dr. Rob Owen 11
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Passport to Jesus:
An Interactive Journey to the Cross Grace Community Church 3515 Hwy. 14, Millbrook, AL (Next to Food Outlet), will be having Passport to Jesus: an Interactive Journey to the Cross on Saturday, March 19, 2016 at 10:30am. It is an Easter event for the whole family! The Resurrection story will be told through narration and dramatic animated scenes. Following the story will be an interactive obstacle course based on the Resurrection Story! It will be an Easter event like you’ve never experienced before. Come join us for food and fun! Call (334) 285-4655 for information.
Older Adult Ministry at Frazer UMC
Third Day with Steven Curtis Chapman
The Alabama Christian Academy A Capella Chorus recently delighted guests at the monthly Adult Ministry gathering called “SPIRIT”. The choir, made up of students attending ACA, sang several selections as guests enjoyed a delicious meal at tables decorated beautifully for Valentine’s Day. SPIRIT meets on the second Thursday of each month, please stop in for a visit! For more information contact Martha John Allison at martha@ frazerumc.org.
Thursday, April 21, at 7:00 pm Alabama Theatre, 1817 3rd Avenue North, Birmingham For information call 800-745-3000 or visit itickets.com.
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The Word in the Movie I saw a movie recently that illustrates two chapters of the Bible as well as anything I have ever seen. The chapters are Ephesians 5 and 6 and the movie is War Room. This movie is not to be regarded as Scripture, by any means, but it acts out a major foundation of truth found in Scripture. Family strife is spiritual strife. Family harmony is the conquering work of the Holy Spirit. Intercession through prayer is the key to the battle. Let’s consider the movie in a minute. If we look at Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus first, we will see the truth in War Room with deeper understanding. Chapter 5 opens with this sentence: Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Ephesians 5:1-2 NIV). There it is, love and sacrifice. The two are inseparable. If you love someone, you will sacrifice to please them or to make their lives better. A few sentences later we read: Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:21 NIV). That’s where many Christians want to get off the bus and the reason the next few sentences scare folks to death. Wives submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands love you wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy…In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies…. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband (Ephesians 5:22-25, 28 NIV). This was clearly illustrated in the movie. Until the wife was ready to come clean with God and confess the bitterness
she felt toward her husband, she could not submit to him. Until the husband confessed his sins of pride, greed, and lust, he could not love his wife. Then they could confess their sins against each other and peace and love were evident. Chapter 6 talks about children and their parents. Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”…Fathers do not exasperate your children; instead bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:1-2, 4 NIV). The daughter in the movie felt her parents were too busy fighting with each other to care much about her. Once her parents started fighting their true enemy, Satan, (through serious prayer) their love for each other was restored and they spent more time being the parents God intended them to be. That’s the crux of the movie and of these two chapters. The true enemy is not other people and certainly not your spouse. He is that old deceiver, Satan, or the devil. That brings us to another scary thought; there really is a devil. Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10 NIV). Until you face the reality of spiritual warfare, none of this is going to make any sense. But there is a 13
war between God and Satan that underpins the conflicts in our homes, between spouses and between parents and their children. That’s why Paul took the last part of Chapter 6 to talk about putting on the armor of God. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:10-12 NIV). The movie is good. The Book is even better.
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RRJ: A lot of time has passed between then and now. Has your faith changed over time? Yes, I have been able to look back and see how God has used people and situations in my life to teach me His ways. I admit that I haven’t always agreed or understood at the time, but I have grown in faith and in maturity to see how all has worked toward His greater good. RRJ: Based on your experience, what two things would you encourage our readers do in order to grow in their faith, and why?
RRJ: When do you first remember recognizing your need for Christ’s offer of salvation? I first remember knowing I needed a Savior early in life. As a child, I attended Vacation Bible School and church when I visited my grandparents, but didn’t attend church regularly. I started attending church regularly and got involved in campus ministries when I went to college at Auburn. Through the guidance of campus ministers, Christian peers, and the emergence and popularity of the Contemporary Christian Music genre, I recognized my need for a personal relationship with my Savior. RRJ: How did your life compare before and after you placed your faith in Christ? I remember having a sense of hope going forward to the future. I didn’t understand what that might mean exactly, but I had hope that it would be something good. River Region’s Journey
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Know that God loves you and only wants your best. He doesn’t care if you are perfect. His grace and mercy is sufficient for all sinners. Those of you who have children know that just like you want a relationship with your children, God wants that same relationship with His children. He wants us to talk with Him, take walks with Him, and spend time with Him. RRJ: In 2013 you became Director of Bands at Prattville High School, but you have worked musically with kids for many years. What led you to want to teach band students? I was not going to be an educator when I began college. I was pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering. Many had advised me not to be in education because there were other professions in which you could make a better living. After a few years and through my participation in drum and bugle corps and the Auburn Band, I discovered that I wanted to be a music educator. I knew that it was about loving your job and not about the amount on the paycheck. RRJ: For many years now people have discussed the dilemma of faith in public schools. Do you find it difficult to live out your faith as a public school teacher? 14
I feel that as an educator I have an obligation to teach more than a curriculum. I believe we must live our lives according to our own convictions. We can’t force people to believe one way or another. I can only live my life and pray that I can be that positive influence that points them to Jesus. RRJ: How does your faith show up in your classroom and in the school hallways? As a band director, I spend more time with my students than the regular classroom teacher. Much like my family, my students get to see me at my worst and at my best. I believe our faith is determined by knowing that we are imperfect. Kids need to know that teachers don’t see themselves as more than human. They appreciate honesty when things don’t go our way. It is important that they see us living our faith whether times are good or bad. This is where our lives minister to others. RRJ: I was in the school band and still remember fondly our director’s influence on my life. Young people are impressionable. How do you hope to influence your students? I remember how hard it was to be a kid. Life changes rapidly when you are young. Kids need to know first that someone cares about them. Being a part of an organization like the band can be important during these years of change. Band was a family for me as a teenager and I see the positive impact that it has in kids’ development mentally, physically, and emotionally. I want to be a part of giving kids a positive experience that could help them in whatever career that they may pursue. I know that my students will look back on the time they spent in band with fond memories of the relationships made. I can only hope that maybe I taught them a life lesson or two along the way. Chris King is Director of Bands at Prattville High School. Chris & his wife, Kim, reside in Prattville with their three daughters: Ashtyn Grace (14), Emma Claire (11) and Audrey Kate (9). The Kings are active members at First United Methodist Prattville.
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He Rose to Commission You Among the numerous holidays we love and celebrate, my favorite is Easter. As a young girl I looked forward to getting dressed in my new outfit on Resurrection Morning. Mom made us look extra special with ribbons in our styled hair and shoes that matched our outfits. I was excited about being in church and witnessing the reenactment of the crucifixion. The drama brought tears to my eyes and a tender love in my heart for the Savior. Even though I was too young to understand all that took place on Holy Week, my heart seemed to come alive. As I got older, my fondness for this holiday grew as I understood the physical pain and the spiritual agony endured by Jesus. His sacrifice on the cross that ascertained my redemption, gave me a greater appreciation for my salvation and an immense love for Jesus. My favorite account of his burial and resurrection is recorded in John chapter 20. It relates that early on Sunday morning while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Peter and John, telling them that someone had taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb. She worried as to where they could have possibly taken Him. In verses 3-10 Peter and John ran to the tomb to find it empty as Mary had alleged. Not understanding what had happened, they returned to their homes. River Region’s Journey
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A Woman’s Tears
A Woman Commissioned
The sorrow stricken Mary Magdalene remained at the tomb. She looked inside and saw two angels sitting on the stone. They asked why she was crying. She explained that someone had taken away her Lord and she did not know where they had put Him. Just then she saw a man, whom she thought to be the gardener. She gained hope thinking that he might know where Jesus’ body was placed. He asked Mary why she was crying and who she was looking for. She politely said that if the gardener had taken the body away, she would like to know where so she could take Him away. The man was actually Jesus, Himself. He tenderly called her name, “Mary.” She recognized Him immediately and screamed for joy, “Rabboni!” which means “Master.”
After He had revealed Himself to her, Jesus told Mary to go and tell His disciples that He had risen. A woman was the first to proclaim the risen Savior. Mary Magdalene and her company later went about on the hillsides of Judea testifying about His majesty. It does not matter about your choice of politics or the particular doctrine to which you adhere. I am not intending to put you in the pulpit. However, if Jesus has ever done anything for you, you should testify about it. He commissioned you when He saved you. (See John 15:16.) Remember the woman at the well, an outcast from her own people, had but one encounter with the Lord. The result: she who had been ostracized and marked as immoral became a proclaimer of the greatest news ever shared! She was not a scholar; she had not memorized Genesis to Revelation. All she knew was that A Man had told her all that she had ever done! She knew that He must have been the Christ! So she invited her entire town to come and see for themselves. The people came and Jesus did not disappoint her.
Jesus Moved by Love Jesus then made a profound statement, “Touch me not for I am not yet ascended to my Father.” The plan was for Jesus to not be seen or touched until after He showed Himself to His Father, but He could not resist the love-sick heart of Mary Magdalene. Wow! What an amazing response to a love quest! To Mary, Jesus was everything; not just a Savior, He was her Lord! No wonder when others came to the tomb and left, she tarried and mourned. Mary wanted Jesus dead or alive! When she asked where Jesus was so that she could take Him away, where was she proposing to take a three day-old dead body? That to me demonstrated a language of love. In light of Mary’s example, what do you crave the most? Who is the highest focus of your love quest? 16
Easier Than Rolling the Stone Away So women of God, receive your commission! 1. Invite people to church. 2. Testify: tell them of your deliverance. 3. Do acts of kindness in Jesus’ name.
May the resurrection power of Christ, awake in us a greater spiritual force and strength, so that we can passionately pursue our God-given purposes. Lailah Gifty Akita, Think Great: Be Great!
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Consider what the Bible says about Him: Jesus is God While Jesus was on earth there was much confusion about who He was. Some thought He was a wise man or a great prophet. Others thought He was a madman. Still others couldn’t decide or didn’t care. But Jesus said, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). That means He claimed to be nothing less than God in human flesh. Many people today don’t understand that Jesus claimed to be God. They’re content to think of Him as little more than a great moral teacher. But even His enemies understood His claims to deity. That’s why they tried to stone Him to death (John 5:18; 10:33) and eventually had Him crucified (John 19:7). C.S. Lewis observed, “You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come up with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that
open to us. He did not intend to” (Mere Christianity). If the biblical claims of Jesus are true, He is God!
Jesus is Holy God is absolutely and perfectly holy (Isaiah 6:3), therefore He cannot commit or approve of evil (James 1:13). As God, Jesus embodied every element of God’s character. Colossians 2:9 says, “In Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form.” He was perfectly holy (Hebrews 4:15). Even His enemies couldn’t prove any accusation against Him (John 8:46). God requires holiness of us as well. First Peter 1:16 says, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
Jesus is the Savior Our failure to obey God—to be holy—places us in danger of eternal punishment (2 Thessalonians 1:9). The truth is, we cannot obey Him because we have neither the desire nor the ability to do so. We are by nature rebellious toward God (Ephesians 2:1-3). The Bible calls our rebellion “sin.” According to Scrip-
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ture, everyone is guilty of sin: “There is no man who does not sin” (1 Kings 8:46). “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). And we are incapable of changing our sinful condition. Jeremiah 13:23 says, “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil.” That doesn’t mean we’re incapable of performing acts of human kindness. We might even be involved in various religious or humanitarian activities. But we’re utterly incapable of understanding, loving, or pleasing God on our own. The Bible says, “There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; all have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one” (Romans 3:10-12). God’s holiness and justice demand that all sin be punished by death: “The soul who sins will die” (Ezekiel 18:4). That’s hard for us to understand because we tend to evaluate sin on a relative scale, assuming some sins are less serious than others. However, the Bible
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teaches that all acts of sin are the result of sinful thinking and evil desires. That’s why simply changing our patterns of behavior can’t solve our sin problem or eliminate its consequences. We need to be changed inwardly so our thinking and desires are holy. Jesus is the only one who can forgive and transform us, thereby delivering us from the power and penalty of sin: “There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Even though God’s justice demands death for sin, His love has provided a Savior, who paid the penalty and died for sinners: “Christ ... died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). Christ’s death satisfied the demands of God’s justice, thereby enabling Him to forgive and save those who place their faith in Him (Romans 3:26). John 3:16 says, “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” He alone is “our great God and Savior” (Titus 2:13).
Jesus: The Only Acceptable Object of Saving Faith Some people think it doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you’re sincere. But without a valid object your faith is useless. If you take poison— thinking it’s medicine—all the faith in the world won’t restore your life. Similarly, if Jesus is the only source of salvation, and you’re trusting in anyone or anything else for your salvation, your faith is useless. Many people assume there are many paths to God and that each religion represents an aspect of truth. But Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me” (John 14:6). He didn’t claim to be one of many equally legitimate paths to God, or the way to God for His day only. He claimed to be the only way to God— then and forever.
Jesus is Lord Contemporary thinking says man is the product of evolution. But the Bible says we were created by a personal God to
love, serve, and enjoy endless fellowship with Him. The New Testament reveals it was Jesus Himself who created everything (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16). Therefore He also owns and rules everything (Psalm 103:19). That means He has authority over our lives and we owe Him absolute allegiance, obedience, and worship. Romans 10:9 says, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord,Yield and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.” Confessing Jesus as Lord means humbly submitting to His authority (Philippians 2:10-11). Believing that God has raised Him from the dead involves trusting in the historical fact of His resurrection—the pinnacle of Christian faith and the way the Father affirmed the deity and authority of the Son (Romans 1:4; Acts 17:30-31). True faith is always accompanied by repentance from sin. Repentance is more than simply being sorry for sin. It is agreeing with God that you are sinful, confessing your sins to Him, and making a conscious choice to turn from sin and
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pursue holiness (Isaiah 55:7). Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15); and “If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine” (John 8:31). It isn’t enough to believe certain facts about Christ. Even Satan and his demons believe in the true God (James 2:19), but they don’t love and obey Him. Their faith is not genuine. True saving faith always responds in obedience (Ephesians 2:10). Jesus is the sovereign Lord. When you obey Him you are acknowledging His lordship and submitting to His authority. That doesn’t mean your obedience will always be perfect, but that is your goal. There is no area of your life that you withhold from Him.
Jesus is the Judge All who reject Jesus as their Lord and Savior will one day face Him as their Judge: “God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17:3031). Second Thessalonians 1:7-9 says, “The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. And these will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.”
How Will You Respond? Who does the Bible say Jesus is? The living God, the Holy One, the Savior, the only valid object of saving faith, the sovereign Lord, and the righteous Judge. Who do you say Jesus is? That is the inescapable question. He alone can redeem you—free you from the power and penalty of sin. He alone can transform you, restore you to fellowship with God, and give your life eternal purpose. Will you repent and believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?
Contributed by John MacArthur. Reprinted with permission from www.gty.org.
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Capitol Heights Baptist Church 2514 Madison Avenue, 264.6461 Palm Sunday Easter Musical Morning Worship March 20, 10:30 a.m. Easter Worship Service Sunday, March 27, 10:30 a.m.
Christchurch
8800 Vaughn Road, 387.0566 Maundy Thursday March 24, 7 p.m. Stations of the Cross Friday, March 25 at 5:30-7 p.m. with Service from 7-8 p.m. Easter Vigil Saturday, March 26, 8:30 p.m. Son Rise Service Sunday, March 27, at 6 a.m. Easter Sunday Services March 27, 9:30 a.m.
Christ Community Church 8285 Ryan Road, 273.8110 Good Friday Night of Worship March 25th at 6:30 pm Easter Celebration March 27th at 10:00 am
Church of the Brook
2890 Highway 14, Millbrook, 285.5783 Easter Egg Hunt March 20, 4-6 p.m. Easter Services Sunday, March 27, at 10:30 a.m.
Aldersgate UMC
6610 Vaughn Road, 272.6152 Easter Musical by the Chancel Choir, Orchestra and Drama: Never Thirst Again 10:30 a.m., Sunday, March 20 Maundy Thursday Holy Communion Service 7:00 P.M. Thursday, March 24 Good Friday Tenebrae Worship Service 7:00 P.M. Friday, March 25 Easter Eggstranvaganza 9:30 through 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 26 Breakfast, Easter Egg Hunt and activities for Toddlers, Preschoolers and Elementary Age children and their families. Easter Celebration Services Sunday, March 27 8:15 & 10:30 A.M. Traditional Worship 10:30 A.M. Contemporary Worship
Beacon of Hope Church of God 1045 Coliseum Boulevard, 274.0932 Easter Celebration Musical Sunday, March 27 at 10:45 a.m. Nursery Available
Blue Ridge Baptist Church
4471 Jasmine Hill Rd, off Hwy. 231, 567.4325 Sunday, March 20 Children’s Easter Musical lunch following with Trunken Egg Hunt March 27 at 9 a.m. Courtyard service with breakfast following; 11 a.m. with music and Easter message River Region’s Journey
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Eastmont Baptist Church
First Presbyterian Church
9299 Vaughn Rd. Easter Son Rise March 27 Please call for time. Morning Worship – 9:25 For information call the church at 279.1372. Visit www.firstpreschantilly.com.
First UMC, Montgomery
2416 West Cloverdale Park, 834.8990 Palm Sunday Festivities March 20, 9:45 a.m. The Last Supper, Maundy Thursday March 24, 5:30 and 8 p.m. Good Friday Tenebrae Service March 25, 7:00 p.m. Children’s Easter Celebration March 26 from 11 a.m. – 12:30 a.m. Flowers of the Cross March 27, 9:45 a.m. Easter Sunday March 27, 6:30 a.m. Sunrise Service 8:45, 9:45 and 11:00 a.m. Worship Services
Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church
6000 Atlanta Highway, 272.8622 Stations of the Cross Wed. Mar 23- Fri. March 25 Good Friday Service of Darkness 7pm, March 25, Sanctuary Easter Sunrise Service 6am, March 27, Blount Cultural Park Easter Services 8 am, 9:30am, 11am
4505 Atlanta Highway, 277.6300 Passion Play March 19, 5 p.m. and March 20 at 10:30 service Easter Morning Worship March 27, 8:10 and 10:30 a.m.
Frazer United Methodist at Pike Road
Evangel Church
Gateway Baptist Church
3975 Vaughn Road, 272.4882 Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, March 26 Easter Sunday March 27, Worship Service 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.
First Baptist Church, Montgomery 305 S. Perry Street, 834.6310 Palm Sunday Service March 20 at 8:30 and 11 a.m. Lord’s Supper Service March 23, 6:15 p.m. Good Friday Service Friday, March 25, 12 p.m. Easter Sunday Worship Services Sunday, March 27, 8:30 & and 11 a.m.
First Baptist Church, Prattville
138 South Washington Street, 365.0606 Eggcitement Saturday, March 26, 10:00-12 noon Preschool-Second Grade Games, Rides and Prizes! Free admission, popcorn and cotton candy! For more information, visit fbcprattville.org.
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Located in the Pike Road School Easter Sunday, 10am service
3300 Bell Road, 272.9494 Good Friday March 25, Service at 7 p.m. Easter Services March 27 Easter Sunrise Service, 6:30 a.m. In conjunction with Grace @ Bell Road. Regular service, 10:30 a.m. back at Gateway.
Glynwood Baptist Church
376 N. McQueen Smith Rd, Prattville, 361.9180 Easter Sunday March 27, Sunday School 9 a.m., Regular Morning Worship Service 10:15 a.m.
Goodship Missionary Baptist
Easter Egg Hunt March 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Hunt will take place at Village Green Park in Millbrook. For more information please call (334) 538.3961 or (334) 322.1681.
Grace @ Bell Road
5 Bell Road at Atlanta Hwy, 272.4930 Easter Sunrise Service March 27 Easter Sunrise Service, 6:30 a.m. Worship Service, 10:30 a.m.
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Grace Community Church
3515 Hwy. 14, Millbrook Saturday, March 19 at 10:30am Passport to Jesus: An Interactive Journey to the Cross an Easter Obstacle course, Resurrection story, food & fun for the whole family.
GracePointe
1565 Ray Thorington Road, 271.2525 Palm Sunday March 20, 10a.m. Easter Worship Services Sunday, March 27, 10a.m. Easter Egg Hunt following service.
Heritage Baptist Church
1849 Perry Hill Rd, Montgomery, 279.9976 Easter Worship Service March 27, 10:15 a.m. Please visit hbcm.net for more information.
Holy Comforter Episcopal Church
2911 Woodley Road, 281.1337 Palm Sunday March 20 at 10:00 am Holy Eucharist Monday, March 21 - 6:00 pm; Tuesday, March 22 - 10:00 a.m. Stations of the Cross Wednesday, March 23 at 6:00 p.m.
Maundy Thursday, Holy Eucharist March 24 at 6 p.m. Good Friday March 25 at 12 noon Evensong service – 6 p.m. Easter Vigil, Holy Eucharist March 26 – 8 p.m. EASTER SUNDAY March 27, 10 a.m. Family Service w/ Holy Eucharist
Lakeview Baptist Church
9225 Atlanta Highway, 213.3080 Sunrise Service Sunday, March 27, 7 a.m. (on the corner of Atlanta Hwy. and Tech. Center Dr.) Easter Worship Service Sunday, March 27, 10:45 a.m. Choir will be performing a musical.
Memorial Presbyterian Church
2130 Bell Road, 274.1018 Palm Sunday March 20, 9:30 Palm and Passion Scripture and Song Service. Meal following service. Maundy Thursday March 24, dinner at 5 p.m., Worship and Communion at 6 p.m. Easter Sunrise Service Sunday, March 27, 6:30 a.m. Free childcare available through age 5. Easter Celebration Sunday, March 27, 11 a.m.
Morningview Baptist Church 125 Calhoun Road, 272.2304 Maundy Thursday Service Thursday, March 24 , 6:30 p.m. Easter Services Sunday, March 27, 10:30 a.m.
Perry Hill United Methodist Church
910 Perry Hill Road, 272.3174 Maundy Thursday Communion Service March 24, 6 p.m. Sunrise Service Sunday, March 27 at 6:30 a.m., breakfast follows Easter Worship Service Sunday, March 27, 10:30 a.m
The Ridge Church
Meets at Wetumpka YMCA, 200 Red Eagle Drive Easter Sunday Services March 27, 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. For more information, please call 452.3650.
Ridgecrest Baptist Church 5260 Vaughn Road, 277.0011 Easter Cantata “Then Came the Morning” March 20 at 10:45 a.m. Easter Festival March 26, 10:30 until noon
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Games, Crafts and Easter Egg Hunt for babies to 4th grade. Easter Sunday, March 27 10:45 a.m.
Saint James UMC
9045 Vaughn Road, 277-3037 “How Great Thou Art” by David Clydesdale Palm Sunday, March 20 11 a.m., Traditional worship Maundy Thursday Communion Service March 24, 6 p.m. Good Friday Service March 25 at 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. Eggstreme Egg Hunt March 26, 3:00 p.m. Easter Sunday We will celebrate the Resurrection in our Worship Center and our Sanctuary. Contemporary Services: 9:30 and 11 a.m. (Worship Center) Traditional Services: 9:30 and 11 a.m. (Sanctuary)
Saint John’s AME Church 807 Madison Avenue, 265.4136 Holy Week Explosion March 21-25, 7 pm nightly Visit www.stjohnsame.com.
Taylor Road Baptist Church 1685 Taylor Rd., 271.3363 Easter Service March 27, 10:30 a.m.
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Thorington Road Baptist Church 450 Ray Thorington Road, 396.9376 Good Friday March 25 at 6:30 pm Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, March 26 from 2 p.m. until 3 p.m. Easter Service Sunday, March 27 at 10:30 a.m.
Vaughn Forest Church
8660 Vaughn Rd., 279.5433 Good Friday Service March 25 at 6 p.m. Resurrection Run and Spring in the Forest March 26, Resurrection Run at 8 a.m. and Spring in the Forest at 10 a.m. Resurrection Sunday Service March 27, 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
Woodland UMC
4428 Wallahatchie Rd, Pike Road, 272.7230 Choir and Orchestral performance of “O What a Savior” March 20 at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Christian band Surviving the Fall will lead in our 9:15 Contemporary service in the Family Life Center. Easter Egg Hunt and Picnic following the 10:30 a.m. service. Easter Services Easter Sunrise service at 6:30 a.m. in the Courtyard. Easter breakfast will follow the service. Worship service times will be At 8 a.m. (Traditional), 9:15 a.m. (Contemporary) and 10:30 a.m. (Traditional).
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Adoption
Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy and First UMC, Millbrook APAC- Alabama Pre/Post Adoption Connection Support Group This group provides education and social interaction for adoptive families. Montgomery Group meets 3rd Thursdays, 6-7:30 p.m., Room 8114 at Frazer. For information, call Monica Russell at 409-9477 or email mrussell@childrensaid.org. Autauga/Elmore Group meets 4th Tuesdays, 6-7:30 p.m., First UMC, Millbrook. Childcare, children’s group and dinner provided. For info, call Hannah Taylor at 409-9477 or e-mail htaylor@childrensaid.org. Location: Landmark Church, 1800 Halcyon Blvd. Leaders: Chad & Betsy Emerson (334) 201-5241 Wednesday, 6:30pm in Rm. 116. The Orphan Care Group will focus on God’s call to help orphans through adoption, foster care, and missions work. The group will share experiences, study and Biblical themes regarding orphan care, and provide a support and network for individuals who want to support orphans. Location: Millbrook First United Methodist Church, 3350 Edgewood Road Adoption Support- Will meet 4th Tuesday of each month from 6-7:30 p.m.
Alcoholic / Addict
Location: Caring Center of FBC, 52 Adams Avenue CrossRoads Support Group is for addicts/alcoholics and family members. Meets at 6 p.m. Tuesdays and follows a Christ-centered 12-step program. Call 264-4949.
days at 5:30pm (meal-CrossTalk Cafe), 6-6:55 pm (large group), 6:55-7:45 (small group). Childcare available. Call Larry at 334-832-5714 or visit myjourneychurch.com.
Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy An Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregivers’ Support Group meets on the first Thursday of each month at 11 a.m. in Room 3103. Call 272.8622.
Location: Landmark Church, 1800 Halcyon Blvd. RSVPThis is a 12 step spiritual recovery program for overcoming addictions. Using the steps and Bible we help build self-esteem, responsible behavior, the making of amends for our destructive actions, and to fill the void in our hearts in a loving relationship with God. Wednesday @ 6:30pm in Rm. 121 of the Life Center.
Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy A Dementia Daycare is held each Thursday in Rm. 3101 from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Each participant may bring a sack lunch. There is no charge. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Call the LifeCare office at 272-8622.
Location: Prattville Church of Christ, 344 East Main St. RSVP - 12 step (Christians Against Substance Abuse-CASA) spiritual recovery program, for overcoming addictions. Class begins each Wednesday evening @6:30 PM. Please call 334365-4201 for addition information. Location: Santuck Baptist Church, 7250 Central Plank Rd. (Hwy 9), Wetumpka. Celebrate Recovery meets each Thursday evening at 6:15 in the Fellowship Hall. This is a Chrsit centered 12 step-program for anyone struggling with hurts, habits, and hang-ups. Call 567-2364. Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA) is open to all struggling with addictive sexual behavior. If you believe you have a problem with sex addiction (or are wondering if you might) and you want to change your behavior, we recommend you visit our group. For locations, please visit- https://saa-recovery.org/ or please contact – MontgomerySAA@outlook.com. Meetings are held: every Sunday night - 7:45 p.m, men only. Every Monday night - 7:30 p.m, men and women. Location: St. James UMC, 9045 Vaughn Road Celebrate Recovery meets every Thursday night from 6-8 pm in the Youth Room. This is a Christ-centered 12-step group for anyone struggling with an “addiction or lifechallenging issues.” For information, call Chris Henderson at 334-215-0427.
Location: Dalraida UMC, 3817 Atlanta Highway Alcoholics Anonymous meets at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays. 272.2190. Alanon meets at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays.
Location: Trinity Episcopal, Wetumpka (Across from Winn Dixie on HWY 231) Gamblers Anonymous-Saturdays at 7 p.m.
Location: First Baptist Church (Huff Community Ministries Bldg., 200 S. Perry Street) Celebrate Recovery, a Bible-based Christ centered approach to recovery from hurts, habits and hang-ups, meets Friday nights, from 5:30 p.m.- 8 p.m. For more information, contact Jane Ferguson at 241.5141.
Location: Vaughn Forest Church, 8660 Vaughn Road Celebrate Recovery is a 12-step-Christian process to help you cope with hurts, hang-ups, and habits on a weekly basis. Led by Jeff McFarland on Wednesdays from 6-8 pm. Call 279-5433 for more info.
Location: Grace @ Bell Road, Corner of Bell Road and Atlanta Hwy. Alcoholics Anonymous and Alanon meetings are held Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, at 6 p.m. An Open AA Speaker meeting is held on Saturday at 6 p.m. An Alanon & AA held on Sundays at 2 p.m. Location: Grace Point Community Church, 78223 Tallassee Hwy (Hwy 14), Wetumpka Celebrate Recovery- every Tuesday night- 6:15pm. All are welcome! These meetings are a safe and loving environment for individuals seeking to conquer their hurts, habits and hang-ups! gracepoint.info. Location: Journey Church, 2960 East Cobbs Ford Road across from The Catfish House in Millbrook Celebrate Recovery - Christ-centered 12-step for anyone struggling with addiction or life-challenging issues. Mon-
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Location: First United Methodist Church, Wetumpka 306 W. Tuskeena Street ‘Fresh Start’ Recovery meets every Thursday, 6-8pm (meal included). In 2011, Fresh Start Motorcycle Ministry (FSMM) began when God laid it on the heart of a lifetime biker to minister to those with his background. All are welcome, not a requirement to own/ride a motorcycle. Format used is the Holy Bible. For any info contact ministry leader, Paul Henderson, 334-201-5428.
Alzheimer’s / Dementia
Location: First UMC, 2416 W. Cloverdale Park, Wesley Hall Bldg. An Adult Parkinson/Alzheimer’s respite ministry meets from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Lunch is served. Contact Daphne at 834-8990.
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Location: Memorial Presbyterian, 2130 Bell Road A Dementia Morning Out for caregivers is offered each Tuesday from 8:45-noon. There is no charge. Each participant may bring a sack lunch (juice provided). Registration is required by calling 274-1018.
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Cancer
Location: Aldersgate UMC, 6610 Vaughn Rd, Montgomery Cancer Survivors Support Group is sponsored by Samaritan Counseling Center. We would love to have anyone (patient or family member ) join us. Thursdays at 1 pm. Please call before attending just to make sure we are meeting that week. Please call Debbie D at 467-4578 or Ben W at 202-1912. Location: Dalraida Baptist, 3838 Wares Ferry Road. Just for Men -- Faith based cancer support group for men. Meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. in the conference center. Please call 272-2412 email stan.hurst@knology.net.
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Location: ChristChurch, 8800 Vaughn Road Cancer Support Group for general cancer. Tuesday afternoons at 1 pm. For more info, please call Christy Holding at 531-1390 or Debbie at 467-4578. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy. Women of Hope Breast Cancer Support Group, providing education, awareness, and mentoring for breast cancer patients/survivors, family, and friends, meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in Rm 8253. Call 272-8622 or womenofhope@charter.net. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy. The Central Alabama Multiple Myeloma Support Group meets from 10 a.m. to noon the second Saturday of every month in Room 3105. We have guest speakers, video presentations, printed information and a group that welcomes sharing their journey with myeloma in an informal setting. Refreshments are provided.. Contact Lorenzo and Elaine Duncan at 334-281-8158, or at duncan6563@gmail.com.
Depression
Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy A Depression/Bipolar Support Group meets on the 1st Thursday of each month from 7:00-8:30pm in Room 3101. This group also meets on the 3rd Saturday afternoon, 12-2 pm, Dalraida UMC, 3817 Atlanta Hwy in Church Annex. Call 334.652.1431 or email dbsamontgomery@yahoo.com.
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Divorce
Location: First Baptist Church, 305 S. Perry Street Divorce Care is held Wednesdays, 6:30-8 pm. Childcare available. $15 for workbook. Dinner at 4:45 ($5 adults, $3 kids). Call Kathy Cooper at 241-5125.
Gamblers Anonymous Hotline: 334-541-5420 or you can call 2-1-1 and ask for meeting information. Alabama Council on Compulsive Gambling: 277-5100
Grief Location: Eastmont Baptist,
Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy Divorce Care meets each Tuesday from 6-7:30pm. in the Fellowship Hall Lobby. This group will provide support & guidance to assist you in working through the issues, pain & pressures surrounding divorce. Also, Divorce Care for Kids meets each Tuesday from 6-7:30pm. For information, contact 495-6385 or email singles@frazerumc.org.
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Location: Millbrook First UMC, 3350 Edgewood Road DivorceCare- Will meet Sundays from 5-7 p.m. For more information or to sign up, please call the church office at 285-4114 or email churchoffice@mfumc.org.
Location: First UMC, 100 E. Fourth St, Prattville Grief Share, Tuesday evenings at 6:30 pm in the church parlor. Call 365-5977.
Location: Vaughn Forest Church, 8660 Vaughn Road DivorceCare fosters a weekly supportive and caring environment to heal the hurt of separation and divorce. Facilitators are Todd Smith, Wendy Timbie, and Becki Harrison. Call 279-5433.
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Gambling
Location: Cedarwood Community Church, 10286 US HWY 231 in the Wallsboro/ Wetumpka community Gamblers Anonymous, Saturdays at 6 pm. 567-0476
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Location: St Paul’s Lutheran Church, 4475 Atlanta Hwy, Mondays @ 6pm.
4505 Atlanta Hwy. Compassionate Friends is a national self-help support organization for families grieving the death of a child meeting first Tuesdays at 7 pm. Call (334) 284-2721 for info.
Location: Frazer UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy Grief Recovery Support Group meets Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m., Rm 3105, in Fellowship Hall Lobby. 272.8622. Location: Grace Baptist Church, 304 Old Montgomery Highway, Wetumpka Mourning to Morning is a Christian growth group for mothers who have lost a child, from before birth through adulthood. Meets the last Thursday night of each month. For info, contact Alice Scarborough (334) 462-4775 or Gwen Ellis (334) 567-8754 or e-mail mourningtomorning@gmail. com. Join us on Facebook--Mourning to Morning Group. Location: Millbrook FUMC, 3350 Edgewood Rd Grief Share meets Sundays from 5-7 p.m. For more information or to sign up, please call the church office at 285-4114 or email churchoffice@mfumc.org. Location: Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church 1550 E. Washington Street Grief Ministry is a grief recovery support group that meets
every Monday at 6:00 P.M. The ministry is designed to help anyone through the hurt of losing a loved one by successfully traveling the journey from mourning to joy. Alicia Glover is the coordinator. For information contact Glover at 334281-2754. Location: Vaughn Forest Church, 8660 Vaughn Road GriefShare is a support group that meets Wednesdays from 6-8 pm. This program is non-denominational and features biblical concepts for healing your grief. GriefShare will be led by Howard and Carol Payne and Jim Williams. Call 2795433 for more information.
Miscellaneous Location: 5500 Ash Grove Circle, Montgomery. OCD Support Group (obsessive- Compulsive Disorder) Long showers, multiple hand washing, rituals, checking stove, hoarding and symmetry. This support group is open to anyone who has struggled with OCD. You’re not alone anymore. Call Donald: 220-7555. Location: Eastmont Baptist Church, 4505 Atlanta Highway Take Heart is for women dealing with infertility and/or miscarriage. The group meets the first Monday of each month at 6 pm in room 116. Contact Melissa at (205) 9132667 for more information.
Parenting
Location: First Baptist Prattville, 138 S. Washington Moms LIFE (Living In Faith Everyday) meets twice monthly from 8:30 - 11:45 am in the chapel at the Church from Aug May. We offer a time of fellowship, Bible study, musical guest, special guest speakers and a lot of fun!! Cost is $5 per meeting. For moms of all
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River Region’s Journey
stages and ages of life. Childcare provided by reservation. For more info and to reserve your spot, call April Scott at 828-446-6666. Location: First Baptist Church, 305 S. Perry Street MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) Moms, need a little break? MOPS is a place you can share a good meal, make new friends, and find encouragement as you face the everyday challenges of raising your little ones. We have educational speakers, great conversation, and fun activities. Free childcare is provided. Meetings are every 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 9:30-11:30 a.m., September through May. Contact Tiffany Alewine at 241-5165. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy Frazer mom2mom is a playgroup to connect mothers of ages birth to 5 at Frazer United Methodist Church to share fun and inspiration in our journey together, with our children, and with Christ. Email Mom2mom@frazerumc.org for more information. Location: Landmark Church, 1800 Halcyon Blvd. Single Moms Support Group, Wednesday nights at 6:30 p.m. in classroom 118. For more information call 277-5800. Location: Perry Hill UMC, 910 Perry Hill Road Single Moms’ Care and Support Group meets 2nd and 4th Thursdays from 6:15 - 8:00 PM. December meeting will be on the 11th. Free snack supper provided to moms and children. Child care for infants -16 years. Call 272-3174. Location: Redland Baptist, 1266 Dozier Rd, Wetumpka A MOPS group will be held 1st and 3rd Tuesday’s of every month during the school year, and has scheduled play dates and moms nights out through the summer and beyond. While moms are in a MOPS meeting, their children are lovingly cared for in the MOPPETS program. Email Denise Braswell at deniseorscott@yahoo.com for more info.
Location: Vaughn Forest Church, 8660 Vaughn Road Are you in need of a time-out? MOPS joins mothers together by a common bond, to be better wives, moms, and friends along this journey in the trenches of motherhood. We meet the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month from 9:30—11:30 a.m. Childcare is provided. For info e-mail VFCMOPS@gmail.com.
Physical Challenges
Location: Aldersgate UMC, 6610 Vaughn Road Visually Impaired Support Group – Meets monthly on second Thursday 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. The group is called Outward Sight - Inward Vision and is for those with vision loss and their caregivers. Our mission is to assist those experiencing vision loss to maintain their independence by providing access to valuable information and spiritual support. Call 272-6152. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy An MDA/ALS Support Group will meet Tuesday August 10 6:00p.m. – 8:00 p.m. in room 3101. Anyone affected by a neuromuscular disease or family members of those affected. To receive information, call 396-4534. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy The Montgomery Ostomy Support Group is for people who have had or will have urinary or intestinal diversion surgeries such as colostomy, ileostomy and urostomy. Family members are welcome to attend. Meetings are held every other month generally on a Sunday afternoon. For more information, call Paul at 271-3563 or visit www.montgomeryostomy.info.
Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy A Parkinson’s Support Group will meet the 4th Thursday at 6 p.m., in room 8114 at Frazer UMC. Call 272-8622.
Singlehood
Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy Boundaries study for singles meets each Tuesday from 6-7:30pm in the Fellowship Hall Lobby. This study will help singles learn to set boundaries with emotions and help avoid the harmful behavior of others. For more information, call 495-6386 or email singles@frazerumc.org. Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy Single and Parenting! A New Group for Single Mom’s. This group meets every Tuesday from 6-7:30pm for hope & encouragement & guidance & parenting ideas. For information, call 495-6386 or email singles@frazerumc.org. Location: Cornerstone Christian, 301 Dalraida Rd. Unavoidably Single Again (USA) Fellowship, a support group for widows and widowers. Informal meetings for fellowship and fun are held on the third Saturday of each month starting at 10 AM. Contact Lynda at farauthor@aol. com or 354-8869.
Veterans
Location: Frazer Memorial UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy Veterans OEF/OIF Caregivers Support Group meets on the 3rd Wednesday from 11am-1pm in Room 3108. Contact LaQuana Edwards, Caregiver Support Coordinator at CAVHCS (334) 727-0550 ext. 5350.
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Email your support group info to deanne@readjourneymagazine.com!
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We Are On Holy Ground When Listening to Others In January, I discussed, Soul Shop, the upcoming suicide prevention training. Now, I am thankful to report that Soul Shop trained more than 150 people in the evening community discussion and the day-long training. This month, I would like to share some of what we learned at the training from Fe Anam Avis. The statistics on suicide are staggering: • 1 in every 17 adults is currently considering suicide. • 1 in every 6 high school students has seriously considered suicide in the past year. • 1in every 3 persons has been impacted by the suicide of someone close to them. • 1in every 4 persons has experienced suicidal thinking but was too embarrassed and ashamed to tell anyone. • 33% of us have lost a loved one to suicide. The two major causes of suicide are loss of hope and loss of social connection. Even though we may not be medical or clinical professionals, each of us can offer hope and social connection to those who are struggling with these losses. Each participant had a story to tell about the suicide of someone they knew. Their grief for that person continues. “Second Day People,” survivors of suicidal desperation, who have found a new reason to live, were also present. Most Second Day People had
others come alongside them in their journey to hope and recovery. The hardest part of coping is finding someone safe to talk to about suicide. Suicidal people determine whether you are a safe person by listening to your casual conversations. Are your conversations encouraging, compassionate and merciful toward others or are they critical, judgmental and intolerant of those who are struggling? Are you dismissive, in a hurry, or are you willing to be fully present in the moment with others? Perhaps you can be that safe person to someone with suicidal desperation. When talking to someone with suicidal desperation listen, allow them to tell their story. Then lead them to safety, place them in good hands and stay in touch. James1:19: Be quick to listen, slow to speak. During Soul Shop, Avis shared some humbling confession points. Each of us has: • suspected others are suffering but did not ask. • observed lives falling apart but did not inquire. • felt nudged to invite conversation but feared connection. • been quick to speak and slow to listen. • told our stories when others needed us to listen. • discouraged others from talking by our strong opinions and quick solutions. • kept secrets we should not have kept. (particularly a problem for youth not knowing how to help) • left people in danger when we should have offered sanctuary. Learning to ask about suicide can save a life, strengthen the will to live, ease someone’s sorrow and lift a burden of shame. You don’t need special training but you do need love, a little skill, a network of support 29
(knowing who to call for help) and the Holy Spirit who is available to all believers. Isaiah 61:1-3: The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners… 2…to comfort all who mourn; 3 to provide for those who mourn in Zion— to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. After others shared their spirit-filled prayers at the training, I read the October 31 passage from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young aloud. “Learn to listen to Me even while you are listening to other people. As they open their souls to your scrutiny, you are on holy ground. You need the help of My Spirit to respond appropriately. Ask Him to think through you, live through you, love through you. My own Being is alive within you in the Person of the Holy Spirit. If you respond to others’ needs through your unaided thought processes, you offer them dry crumbs. When the Spirit empowers your listening and speaking, My streams of living water flow through you to other people. Be a channel of My Love, Joy, and Peace by listening to Me as you listen to others.” I hope you will consider being a channel of God’s love to those who are suffering. Please let me know if you are interested in training in this area. Nancy W. Thomas, M.A., N.C.C., C.C.M.H.C., L.P.C. Nancy Thomas is the Executive Director of Clinical Services at The Samaritan Counseling Center, Inc. in Montgomery. She is a National Certified Counselor, Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Professional Counselor. She graduated from the University of Alabama with an M.A. in Counselor Education in 1994. She has extensive training and experience in mental health and marriage and family therapy. Her professional interests are in mental health recovery, adolescent and college issues, life transitions, healthy relationships, marital counseling, parenting, spirituality and identity development, and preserving marriages and families. Nancy works primarily with adolescents and adults.
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River Region’s Journey
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Tuesday at noon, I meandered my way through the streets of west Montgomery to the corner of Rosa Parks and Stone Streets. I noticed a bunch of old stumps and two crosses. Groups of people were hurrying across the street to find their spot and were fellowshipping with one another as they sat down. Big smiles, pats on the back, Bibles in hand, and a cheerful face passing out papers with Scripture; one could tell it was a place to meet Jesus. I found my place on a stump and got a major whiff of fried chicken. People greeted me as I waited, shook my hand and introduced themselves. I noticed that nearby neighbors leaned up against their fences as a service began. “Why do I come to Church at the Barrel?” the speaker asked as he began. He was excited and enthusiastic as he shared the point of the Gospel. He talked from his heart about why he chooses to follow the Lord and why he chooses to participate in a weekly church that meets on Tuesdays at lunch time. Amidst the crowd “Amens” were hollered and people clapped, the speaker called out “regulars” to answer questions, and all the while it felt like a family that was meeting each other at a reunion. Again, the pastor repeated himself, “Why do we come to Church at the Barrel?” “For fellowship!” one answered. “For the Word!” another said. The pastor continued. “Do we come for food? The free clothes? It’s okay if that’s why you came today, it’s okay if that’s why you brought a friend, because regardless, we are here to share the Gospel through our words and our deeds!” I heard the yelling of “Amen” and “Hallelujah” as the pastor spoke over the rumbling of cars driving down the interstate that ran nearby this street. He shared the story of the woman at the well, her story of acceptance with Jesus, and shared how all those who participate with Church at the Barrel are an accepted part of the body of Christ. He shared how any and all have access to being a part of the Kingdom of God. I watched those who listened. There were no distracted hearts, but rather listening souls. I felt like I had stumbled upon a safe haven for this community. I could tell there was a comfort level that this group had with one another and those who were pastoring them. They were joyful and respectful, kind and openhearted. Bob Bostic, pastor of Church at the Barrel, has one incredible heart for the community that lives off Rosa Parks Avenue in Montgomery, Alabama. He is going on his 7th year of ministering to this community of people. Bob and a team of volunteers from various churches around the River Region gather together every Tuesday from 12pm-1pm to talk about the Lord and eat lunch together. Bob says, “I go to Walmart, get some chicken and then head over to Church! It is such a fun time spent with my brothers and sisters in Christ. Fellowship, worship, and a meal really brings us all together.” This ministry was originally headed by Jeff and Trudy McFarland who have since gone into full time 31
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ministry with India Missions. Bob Bostic now runs the ministry and is a member of Vaughn Forest Church. Bob has constant help from Heritage Baptist Montgomery and Heritage Baptist Prattville. As I continued to observe the service, I noticed how engaged the volunteers were, even if some were working behind the scenes making sure everything ran smoothly. It was a sweet reminder of God’s consistency with our hearts while we serve Him. The service wrapped up with a prayer of blessing for the food and a long receiving line for lunch. Bob and other volunteers helped pass out food and those receiving were so grateful. I spoke to one of the most consistent members of the Church while he was in line. “Hey there! I’m Laura Jean Bell. What joyful things can you share with me about the ministry and what it has done in
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your life?” I asked this sweet fellow. “Well it’s changed my life. It has changed it forever. I now know Jesus. I now can walk forward in life and know that everything is going to be okay! I have a daughter who lives far away from me, and even though I can’t visit her, I now pray for her. I pray she is living a good life and knows God.” We continued our conversation as he passed through the line. He couldn’t say enough good about what Bob and the team have done for his life. He works hard to be at Church every Tuesday because he knows it is where he can be filled up again, both physically and spiritually. The ministry as a whole is simple. A gathering of people sitting on old stumps. All facing the same direction. Staring at the same cross. Jesus never asked for ex-
travagance, He asked for love. He shared His love by word and deed, he fed the hungry, healed the sick, and shared good news with those who needed it. Church at the Barrel is a place where people come hungry and are fed the word of the Lord and a little bit of fried chicken. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’
(Matthew 25:35-40)
Laura Bell is a freelance writer, born and raised in Montgomery, Alabama. She enjoys spending time with her husband Cody and finding all reasons to have joy in life!
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Righteousness Exalts a Nation God wants us to be wise in Him, and to live according to His principles. That can enhance our individual lives and contribute to a more righteous society, if significant numbers of believers take that to heart. Proverbs 14:34 says, “Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people.” (NKJV) There is a judge who has decided that he has had enough of the increased secularism in America. Speaking to a Roman Catholic high school in New Orleans recently, this jurist reminded the audience that the U.S. Constitution does not require the government to be neutral on religion. According to a piece on the WORLD Magazine website, he said: “To tell you the truth there is no place for that in our constitutional tradition,” adding, “Where did that come from? To be sure, you can’t favor one denomination over another but can’t favor religion over non-religion?” This is no low-level judge. It is Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who pointed out that government neutrality in religion is not “common practice,” noting that activist judges began imposing their own rules. The article’s writer, La Shawn Barber, pointed to one example: the Supreme Court’s ruling in Lemon v. Kurtzman of 1971, where the justices came up with a three-part test to determine whether a law violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. She says that one could argue they made law with this case instead of interpreting the Constitution. On The Washington Times website, writer Wesley Pruden quoted Scalia from that New Orleans speech: “God has been very good to us,” he said. “That we won the Revolution was extraordinary. The Battle of Midway [the River Region’s Journey
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turning point in the Pacific in World War II] was extraordinary. I think one reason God has been good to us is that we have done him honor. Unlike the other countries of the world that do not even invoke His name, we do him honor. In presidential addresses, in Thanksgiving proclamations and in many other ways. There is nothing wrong with that, and do not let anybody tell you there is anything wrong with that.” Last summer, Scalia did not mince words in writing his dissent to the high court’s decision affirming a right to socalled same sex marriage. Mollie Hemingway at The Federalist quoted from his writing (emphasis from article): Today’s decree says that my Ruler, and the Ruler of 320 million Americans coast-to-coast, is a majority of the nine lawyers on the Supreme Court. The opinion in these cases is the furthest extension in fact—and the furthest extension one can even imagine—of the Court’s claimed power to create “liberties” that the Constitution and its Amendments neglect to mention. This practice of constitutional revision by an unelected committee of nine, always accompanied (as it is today) by extravagant praise of liberty, robs the People of the most important liberty they asserted in the Declaration of Independence and won in the Revolution of 1776: the freedom to govern themselves. Hemingway writes that Justice Anthony Kennedy “...and four other justices on the Supreme Court discovered — Kennedy struggled mightily to explain where or how, precisely — a new fundamental right to samesex marriage. That meant, as Scalia put it, that ‘every State violated the Constitution for all of the 135 years between the Fourteenth Amendment’s ratification and Massachusetts’ permitting of same-sex marriages in 2003.’” 34
What is a Christian believer to do? The issues at hand concerning gay marriage and religious freedom are not going away anytime soon, and we must respond Biblically and boldly. I think our most powerful weapon is prayer. We can pray for leaders, and also pray for God’s mercy on our nation, in which we have leaders who have departed from the Biblical foundations upon which this country was founded. There are opportunities to join in united prayer that are or will be available to believers, such as Franklin Graham’s Decision America Tour, in Montgomery on April 14, at which participants will be asked to pledge to seek God and to do His will, perhaps even considering running for office. Participation is also a key ingredient in charting a Biblical course. We can choose to vote for leaders who line up and reinforce our deeply held convictions. This is an election year, and it is important that we select candidates who reflect our Biblical values. Finally, regarding the marriage issue, we have to be conscious to practice the principles that contribute to strong marriages. The institution of marriage is being challenged, and each of us who are married can contribute to a relationship that reflects the love of God and provide evidence of the strength of the institution. Marriage - one man and one woman - is God’s standard by God’s definition, and we do well to uphold it. *Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia passed away only days after this article was submitted. Bob Crittenden is host of “The Meeting House”, heard weekday afternoons from 4-6pm on Faith Radio, 89.1FM in Montgomery. Described as “the intersection of faith and culture”, the program features Christian music and conversation about a variety of topics. Learn more by visiting www. meetinghouseonline.info.
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12am - 6am PRAISE THRU THE NIGHT with Ken Senes
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6:30am - 8am MORNING PRAISE with Jeremy Smith 10am - 12pm FAITHSONGS with Kelly Treadwell 4pm - 6pm THE MEETING HOUSE with Bob Crittenden 8pm - 12am Once again Faith Radio will soon distribute ChristEVENING PRAISE with Russell Dean mas crosses to our listeners! Thanks to a very gen-
LEAD ME TO THE CROSS Hillsong United All of the Above
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Money is a source of conflict in nearly a third of all relationships, according to a survey by the American Psychological Association. When it comes to budgeting, two can quickly turn into a crowd. That’s because some of us like to save our nickels, while others would prefer to spend every last dime. And it’s hard to get the other person to change their mind. (Okay, so you might be a little stubborn too.) But there’s room for everyone when making a budget. Savers get a sense of control over their money, while spenders get permission to buy without guilt. Both win! Here’s how savers and spenders can keep the peace while balancing the budget:
both decide how it’s spent. So if your spouse is the spender, compromise with a reasonable amount of money for him or her to spend on fun, no questions asked. And if you’re the spender, make sure your spouse works some fun money into the budget. This gives you some freedom— within boundaries. When it comes to big purchases, determine a dollar amount to spark an automatic money discussion. That could be $100 or it could be $300. For any item over that amount, talk it over before you buy. And maybe sleep on your decision. If you both still want it in the morning, go for it!
Scenario 1: One Spouse Really Likes to Spend Money The Stat: According to a recent SunTrust survey, 36 percent of people don’t seek the advice of their spouse or partner before making purchases of any size. The Fix: In marriage, money belongs to both of you. That means you should
Scenario 2: One Spouse Really Likes to Save Money The Stat: The same SunTrust survey found that 34 percent of people said they were the savers in the relationship, and their partners were the spenders. The Fix: If your spouse is the saver, be glad! You’ve got a built-in money man-
Savers and Spenders
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ager. This doesn’t mean they get to make all the decisions. It means they actually enjoy handling the budget. So, let them. But they have to run it by you before it’s final. And you absolutely have to provide your input. If you’re the saver in this equation, be sure you’re allowing your spouse to have his or her say. Saving is a top priority, but if your kids need new shoes or your spouse wants to go out to dinner, it’s not the end of the world. Simply work it into the budget. It’s okay to take the lead when it comes to budgeting, but don’t try to fly this plane without your co-pilot. You need them! Keep It Together Once your budget is done, the last proactive step in your plan is to track your money throughout the month. This will help you and your spouse stick to the budget without fighting about it. Think of it as a way to say, “I Love You!”
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Holy Week Opportunities FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH MONTGOMERY
Sunday , March 20
8:30 & 11:00 am PALM SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE 9:45 am BIBLE FELLOWSHIP CLASSES NO PM ACTIVITIES OR SERVICE
Wednesday , March 23 6:15 pm EASTER COMMUNION WORSHIP
Friday , March 25 12:00 pm GOOD FRIDAY WORSHIP
Sunday , March 27 8:30 & 11:00 am EASTER CELEBRATION
9:45 am BIBLE FELLOWSHIP CLASSES 6:15 pm EVENING WORSHIP
“I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE.” — JOHN 11:25 (NIV)
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH MONTGOMERY :: JAY WOLF, PASTOR 305 S PERRY STREET :: MONTGOMERY, AL 36104 :: 334.834.6310 :: MONTGOMERYFBC.ORG