000185 gospel times by Malcolm Edgecombe

Volume 3 Issue 1 | Feb / Mar / 2009 | $3.50

In This Issue

The Word on Unity

A Quest for Unity

Mediation In the Church Beauty in Unity Doctorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Order Minister of the Month Y o u r G o s p e l N e w s a n d En t e r t a i n m e n t S o u r c e

montgomeryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new dining experience... Coming April 2009 to Historic Downtown Montgomery. Featuring fine southern cuisine that appeals to all palates. Dine in or grab and go. Catering available. Walking distance from everywhere downtown. 15 COMMERCE STREET | DOWNTOWN

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GOSPEL TIMES | VOL.3 ISSUE 1

Nominate a man or woman of God to be

Gospel Times’

“MINISTER OF THE MONTH” and become eligible to receive our annual

“UNITY” Recognition Award (This Person should be someone who promotes unity, love, and peace throughout the community).

If this is your pastor or a minister you know, please e-mail us at infonow@gospel-times.com and tell us why you have nominated this person to be

“MINISTER OF THE MONTH” We are excited about hearing about your pastor .

324 Madison Avenue Suite B Montgomery, Alabama 36104 (334) 551-0062

Publisher’s Page

ur Mission is to bring the Gospel to the communities of Montgomery, Alabama, and surrounding areas; by highlighting area churches and by inviting you to visit the house of worship of your choice and to bridge the gap between different faiths.

The Gospel Times is your portal to Good News, proving that there is but one Gospel. Acknowledging that we are all God’s children and in His house of worship there is but one Gospel, the Gospel of our Lord, through His Son Jesus Christ. It is unfortunate that outside the walls of the church, the spirit of separatism and division is very much alive–truly a spirit of the ungodly. However, Paul said it all in I Corinthians 1:10 when he said, “I exhort you brethren by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you all agree and that there be no division among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgement.” Promoting these teachings, our goal is to reach out beyond normal means and share God’s word through the resources that He has given us. We, the staff of Gospel Times would like to be a “Bridge of Unity,” connecting the churches of Montgomery one to another; spreading the GOSPEL throughout Montgomery and surrounding areas. I am the second publisher of this great magazine and one of the things that I personally want to accomplish, is to bring the Word of God closer to the content of this publication. As a minister of the Gospel, being lead by the Spirit of God, I pray to accomplish this mission. We would like to reflect the community as much as possible; therefore, as you read and enjoy this magazine we would like to hear from you. Do not hesitate to write us and let us know what you think about our publication. We welcome all constructive input. Your brother in Christ,

Rev. Rick Perdue

GOSPEL TIMES | VOL.3 ISSUE 1

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insidethisissue:

On The Cover: Cathedral Basilica Menor de Santa Maria. p. 5

Music in the Church | 22 The Odd Couple of Radio p. 14

Unity p. 3

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of Gospel Times without permission from the publisher is prohibited. Distribution of this magazine does not constitute an endorsement of context, products or services. Readers are not to insinuate or assume that clients that market in Gospel Times are endorsed or are in support of any particular products, persons or groups that may or may not have purchased an ad. Views expressed in Gospel Times Magazine do not necessarily represent those of the publisher, parent company or its sister companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s or its clients. Send all correspondences to 324 Madison Avenue Suite B, Montgomery, Alabama 36104. We insure accuracy, but we cannot guarantee accuracy. However, we will make corrections in follow up issues once recognized. We do not guarantee the accuracy of all information nor the absence of errors and omissions; hence, no responsibility can be or is assumed. Employment opportunities are also open in sales, distribution and promotions. We encourage you to support the ministries and businesses that are marketed in Gospel Times Magazine.

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GOSPEL TIMES | VOL.3 ISSUE 1

Unity

The Spirit of UNITY surrounds us; let’s embrace it with a Spirit of Love so that we may unite with the Spirit of Truth. We must recognize that we are a nation of people despite out differences; therefore, we must stand together indivisibly as one nation under God.

“Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” Psalms 133:1

GOSPEL TIMES | VOL.3 ISSUE 1

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Lets Go Home Another Way

A Quest For Unity

Rev. Dr. Kendall C. Thomas

ccasionally, I examine at the close of a year the church calendar with the story of the three wise men. In verse 1-12 of the second chapter of Matthew’s Gospel the narrative suggest in this pericopy that they were warned of God in a dream to depart into their own country another way. I find it interesting the term Hodos; way, path, road in which one travels, suggest a journey of life or action. This article is penned at a time when our Nation anticipates the leadership of our first African-American president Barrack Obama. We have here a remarkable story of obedience to the direction from God. He can and will bless us when we subscribe to his will and his way. Sometimes unity is a monumental construct. In his book “The Substance of Things Hoped For, Dr. Samuel D. Proctor writes a memoir of African-American faith. He give attention to race relations in the United States. I grew up in Montgomery, Alabama, a city that changed America. Known for 4

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its civil rights history, a city long polarized because of its role in the Jim Crow South. In our black communities one career that appeared unlimited was that of ministry. In my childhood I experienced Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as a social advocate during the civil rights movement. Unfortunately these monumental events have polarized the reputations of the city of Montgomery, coupled with Birmingham and Selma, Alabama. These events have pre-occupied the thinking of major industry across the United States. Moreover the quest for unity in churches presents a set of special hurdles. I turn now to discuss some of these constructs. We, the church, are this crowd gathered around Jesus Christ. We approach the church as a broken, handicapped crowd looking for God’s healing touch. However organized we might be, however prestigious we sometimes feel, we are nothing more sophisticated than a community (crowd) hungering for wholeness. One effort of this article is to give attention to our brokenness, and separation. What Do We Really Want From Church? In our quest for unity, we must move beyond luncheons, meetings, and superficial interaction. Much to often our preaching is remiss in reaching out. Our congregations yearn for words of life, sermons, lessons, and workshops designed to verify their Christian journey. In our functional, sometimes

relational preaching we vivify our quest to understand, respect, and welcome practices not our own. In my experiences as a general protestant chaplain, local pastor of the Baptist tradition, I first suggest as a starting point a congregational life that embraces. Worship services today are just as segregated as they were in the days of yesteryear. A new motif of worship life must first invite the sharing of pulpits across denominational lines. Secondly, we must move beyond the social, economic, and political feebleness. Thirdly, we have done a disservice to the human process. Martin Buber declares all real living is meeting. We are caregivers and givers. Giving is more than a duty, it is a joy. If the church is to be compass for our lives we must be attentive to the Holy Scriptures. The Apostle Paul says in First Thessalonians 5:14, “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.” This model is crucial in our “Quest for Unity.” A native of Montgomery, Alabama, the Rev. Dr. Kendall C. Thomas currently serves as chief chaplain at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. His current assignment, his experience as a navy chaplain, pastor, and adjunct seminary professor brings a wealth of knowledge with a global perspective. GOSPEL TIMES | VOL.3 ISSUE 1

The Cathedral of

COVER STORY:

Santa Maria la Menor F

acing Parque Colon on the south, this cathedral is the oldest church in the Americas and was built on the orders of the Real Miquel de Pasamonte. Its buildings, walkways, gardens, and quarters take up most of a city block. Diego Columbus---son of Christopher Columbus---set the first stone of the cathedral in 1514, but the real construction didn’t get underway until around 1520 because the original Spanish architect left Santa Domingo now called the Dominican Republic---to build another church in Mexico. The financing of the building was left in the hands of the Bastidas, a wealthy church family, and the building was finally completed in 1544 by Rodrigo de Bastida’s son, who was a bishop of the church and financed the construction out of his own pocket. The bell tower, which was to dominate the old city, has never been completed. Because the construction of the cathedral was so slow and involved so many architects, the

structure itself features gothic and Spanish Renaissance facades with baroque ornamentation. If you look closely, you can see a gothic vault, a Renaissance facade, Romanesque arches. From the outside the cathedral looks rather imposing with its heavy gray stone and squat appearance.

Facts and evidence suggest Columbus’s remains are still in the cathedral. As you walk around the cathedral you’ll notice the Gate of Pardons (north, facing Parque Colon), which is a gothic entrance The main portal is called Saint Peter’s Gate. It has an impressive double arch, with a unique frieze combining gargoyles and other mythical figures. The niches on each side of this main door supposedly once

The Oldest Church in the Western Hemisphere

Santa Domingo Dominican Republic. CATHEDRAL BASILICA MENOR de SANTA MARIA, PRIMADA AMERICA

contained figures of Saint Peter, Saint Paul, and four other apostles; all were taken away by Sir Francis Drake. The inside of the cathedral is quite restful, even elegantly dramatic, with a number of small chapels, life-size wooden animals, and abstract Jesus in the manger, and stained glass windows crafted by Rincon Mora, a Dominican artist. The beautiful mahogany altar dates from 1684; after being allowed to deteriorate very many years, it’s being restored and cleaned. As the story goes, for years the remains of Christopher Columbus himself were housed in the cathedral, kept in a white marble and bronze memorial built by the dictator Ulises Hereaux in 1898. Later, they were supposedly transferred to the Faro a colon (Columbus Lighthouse) across the Ozama River. A long history of anthropological and historic wrangling has failed to settle the question to everyone’s satisfaction, but most of the facts and evidence suggest Columbus’s remains are still in the cathedral.

Mediation and the Church “J

esus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 23:37-40. As with so much of religious teachings, if we could but put them into practice we would all benefit greatly. But when humans interact we too often fall into long held patterns of behavior which sometimes lead to conflict. The question is not if there will be disagreements only when and concerning what issue(s). We often hold the belief that within the church and among it’s members there should be no disagreement. However, if this were true there would be no need for religious instruction on relationships between people. We do not suddenly become saints once we enter the church grounds–we bring all our talents and trials along with us. There are several possible responses when the inevitable conflicts arise; denial, delay, rationalization, aggression, surrender, or departure to name a few. How we recognize and resolve disagreement between church members themselves, members and the pastor, or possibly outside entities and the church can mean the difference between resolutions agreeable

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to really involved and dissolution of relationships and possible outside imposition of solutions. Mediation is an informal process by which parties to a dispute come together with an impartial third party to find a solution to a disagreement that all can support. The parties involved, who have the most knowledge of the problem(s) and the most to gain or lose in its resolution, are empowered with making the decision(s) on how to proceed in the future. Whereas the legal method of conflict resolution is backward looking; assigning blame and determining penalties. Nevertheless mediation is forward looking; promoting understanding and determining the best way to proceed in the future. Most pastors act in a mediator’s role when there are disagreements within the church- trying to bring members together in agreement. Sometimes members will intercede to help the pastor reach agreement with other members. The process can be useful in all areas of conflict resolution and is one we are all familiar with in a casual way. The most important thing to remember about mediation is that all agreements are voluntary and if handled by a professional, confidential. The other hallmark of mediation is its ability to preserve and improve relationships. This aspect of mediation is very important in a church setting as most people have an attachment to a particular

church. If they are going to remain a part of that church; harmonious and productive relationships are necessary. Mediated settlements to disagreements ensure that all parties are willing to work toward implementing the agreed upon decisions. No one person can impose a solution on any other and all parties have an investment in following the agreed upon course of action. Mediation gives all parties involved a confidential and safe method of resolving disputes in a manner they are sure to agree with. Trained mediators bring an aspect of neutrality to the process that is often necessary when an impasse has been reached. It is important to remember that a disagreement does not have to end relationships or cause permanent damage–it can be an impetus to improve relationships if dealt with promptly and properly. If your church has a method of dealing with conflicts that is working support it and use it. If it does not, consider training some members to assist in problem solving or using an outside mediator when the need arises. Take action to be prepared for the inevitable and you will have a quick and effective method of dealing with any problem that may arise. Ramona C. Cox e-mail:ramona@letsmediate.net GOSPEL TIMES | VOL.3 ISSUE 1

NEED A RIDE? Job-link can get you there!

The mission of the Central Alabama Coordinated Transportation Program--“Joblink” is to provide transportation services to transportation disadvantaged citizens in Central Alabama by instituting the shared resource concepts advocated by the federal United We Ride program. The Central Alabama Multi-agency Coordinated Public Transportation project (called “Joblink”) is developing and initiating a coordinated, brokered transportation system in Central Alabama - one that is structured within the framework of the federal transit mandates referred to as “United We Ride” and “One Vision- one Call,” This program will initiate in Montgomery County, Alabama and expand outward into five surrounding counties: Autauga, Elmore, Lowndes, Macon, and Bullock. Our emphasis will be toward improving accessibility to transportation for human needs, particularly in the suburban and rural areas.

Providers And Stakeholders Needed

Call Gus Townes 877-288- 4948 334-430-6348 or 334 264-9300

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Willie Ivy displaying his recognition from the mayor

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Diamonds In The Rough Master Jeweler Shapes The Future of Youths Through Apprenticeship Program

ontgomery, Business-owner, Carl Davis is certainly no stranger to the pressures of life that young people face in today’s generation. As a young boy, Davis grew up in the infamous crime ridden and poverty stricken, Cabrini Green Housing project area in Chicago, Illinois. With an absent father and nine other siblings, Davis was determined not become another negative statistic that plagued many of his peers. Through perseverance, an extraordinary gift in jewelry making, and the guidance of some wise older men in his life, Davis, now a graduate master jeweler and the owner of Davis Fine Jewelry & Repair has opened his doors to youths through an apprenticeship and mentoring program. “This program is an alternative for youth males and females between the ages of sixteen and twenty, who may not be in a position to

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attend traditional universities or colleges, and who may have an untapped gift for the jewelry industry, Davis said. In addition to teaching basic jewelry repairs and the study of minerals and metals, Davis says he also focuses on the importance of proper workplace skills, such as professional attitudes, attire, and communication. Davis Fine Jewelry & Repair, a Christian-based company is located as 5540 Atlanta Highway and houses a state of the art jewelry repair lab, which includes a Rofin Laser and a computerized Cad-Cam Robot. This new equipment is designed to save time and create accuracy in the jewelry repair and design field. Davis says the jewelry industry is changing so rapidly that it is imperative that his apprentices learn how to operate the new highly technical equipment. Davis’ top apprentice, John Burt, a junior at Jefferson Davis High

School has been in the program for over a year and has already received on certificate degree in basic jewelry repair, which includes ring sizing, stone setting, chain soldering and operation of the Rofin Laser. Burt is a junior deacon at Consuming Fire Ministries where Hoza Billups is pastor. Mr. Davis says he feels a responsibility to pass his knowledge on to others. He is in the process of expanding Davis Fine Jewelry & Repair to include a school that will offer professional jewelry industry training for Montgomery’s youth. For more information about the Davis Fine Jewelry & Repair Apprenticeship Program, call (334) 239-8905 to se up an appointment. Davis Fine Jewelry & Repair offers same day jewelry repair services as well as custom jewelry designs. Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. GOSPEL TIMES | VOL.3 ISSUE 1

Holy Whole by Joseph Byrd-White

GOSPEL TIMES | VOL.3 ISSUE 1

“H

ear O Israel, the LORD our God is One LORD.” (Deuteronomy 6:4) “Be holy for I am holy.” (Leviticus 11:44, 45) Be whole, for I am whole. Be undivided. Be one. The words “whole,” “heal,” “health,” and “holy” have similar Old English roots. Holiness is not the external righteousness and sanctimony that humans value. (Luke 16:15) Holiness is a state of integrity, of not being divided against your self or against those around you. Holiness is understanding the common unity (community) of all life. Every human on Earth is potentially a child of God through receiving Jesus Christ. Since we may not know who is and who is not, we are to treat everyone just like Jesus. Remember what the Risen Jesus said to Paul? “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?” (Acts 9:4) The Body of Christ is many members but one Body. (Romans 12:5) Jesus’ great prayer is that we would be One. (John 17:20-23) Jesus tells us that, “No one who works a miracle in My Name can soon after speak evil of Me.” (Mark 9:39 NKJV) Matters of disputation are not to cause a schism. (1 Corinthians 1:10, 11:18, 12:25) The Greek word “schisma” (translated as “division”) literally refers to a rip in fabric. In ancient Jewish custom, a man put his cloak over a woman to claim her as his wife. (Ruth 3:9, Ezekiel 16:8) Consequently, she was referred to as his garment and he as hers, but I speak of Christ and the Church. (Malachi 2:16, Revelation 19:7-8) The robe of Jesus is “without seam, woven from the top in one piece.” (John 19:23) The Holy Spirit is showing us that there is not to be a tear in the garment of the Church. We are not patches on an old garment, but a totally new garment. (2 Corinthians 5:17) Our house is in a shambles because we are divided against each other. (Matthew 12:25) Before you come to a conclusion about a ministry, preacher, pastor, or saint, ask Jesus what He thinks about them. If you have not learned how to hear His Voice yet, He had Matthew write down an answer for you. (Matthew 7:3-5) If there is agreement that Jesus Christ is Lord, that He came in the flesh, that He died to redeem all mankind from sin, that He rose from the dead, that He is at the right hand of the Father, and that the Bible is the written

Truth, well, great. But the real question is “Do you love Jesus?” For He tells us unequivocally that, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My Word,” you will do what He says. (John 14:23, 21 NKJV) “Why call ye Me, ‘Lord, Lord’ and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46) “By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:35) If those who call themselves by the Name of Jesus have Love for all and a total willingness to die rather than cause harm, then everyone on Earth who is due for salvation will come to Jesus within twenty years or less. You know this is true. Will you lay down your life? (John 15:13) That is the proof of the greatest Love. Gandhi was asked, “What is the greatest hindrance to the spread of Christianity in India?” “Christians,” he quickly replied. If only this were a witty quip. But each of us knows that we, by omission or commission, are obstacles to the Gospel. Let today be the first day in a lifetime of loving each one that you meet in the same way you say you love Jesus. Of course you will fail sometimes. So, you will gain humility. But Love in action is the foundation of the Kingdom of Heaven. Be not deceived. This is the standard by which you will be judged. (Matthew 25:31-46) “My brethren” in verse 40 is an address to the sheep who do the will of the Father (Matthew 12:50), not a limitation on who is eligible for this treatment. You will notice in verse 45 that Jesus does not address the goats as “My brethren.” Stop drawing distinctions. The Spirit makes all distinctions necessary. (Matthew 10:3439, Hebrews 4:12) Stop drawing lines to leave others out. Jesus has only one line that He draws: “Whosoever will, let Him come.” Stop choosing for yourself who is worthy of love and who is not. “He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust.” (Matthew 5:45) “He is kind unto the unthankful and the evil.” (Luke 6:35) “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48) Your Father is holy, whole. And you shall be whole, complete, finished, teleo, perfect. Love them all. One at a time. “Love is the fulfilling of the law.” (Romans 13:10, 13:8, Galatians 5:14) Gob bless you. visit us @ www.gospel-times.com |

The Beauty IN Unity! P

salm 133:1 says “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” This is one of the most phenomenal passages of Scripture, that we have in the Bible. This passage simply states how God wants people to exist and live together. He wants us to worship, live, work, socialize, and fellowship in a state of union. This is why the old adage says, “in unity there is strength.” The most positive progress is w h e n we are all pushing in the same direc-

tion. Unity is not contingent upon how we think things should be, but on how God has said things will be. It will bring about a state of continuity that will surpass all understanding. The beauty in unity is what would be displayed when we set aside our personal agendas, and put our preaching into the practical application. What we would experience when that happens is beyond our wildest imaginations. However, it would give us such a resolve to know that God always knows what is best for us. So, do we live together in unity? People for the most part don’t live in unity, nor do they make any real conscientious efforts to do so. There is very little solidarity that exists among people. However, God never intended for us to live the way that we are. We just live in the same house; we worship at the same church; we socialize at the same club, and we work for the same employer. Yet, unity is something that seems to always be missing. What a shame, we miss out of such beauty. Well, what must we do to change this, to bring about unity in our churches, our home, our communities, and our places of employments? For starters, we

must put aside our pride, and put forth sincere efforts to remove those obstacles that exist in our lives. Until we discover the beauty that exists in unity, we are always going to have problems existing together. Anytime we try to live together with Jesus Christ being on the outside, there is going to be trouble, on the inside. We can never take what God has designed and change it to fit our mode. We must build on what God has designed, and we must do it according to His plan. There are benefits out of this world when we do it God’s way! Finally, what is it, which we must do to build a good foundation for people to dwell together in unity? We must build according to God’s specifications. We must trust the Lord and each other; we must learn to disagree without being disagreeable; we must have agape love for each other; we must pray for each other; we must have faith in God and each other. A foundation for unity that is built on trust, covered by our ability to disagree, anchored in love, insulated by prayer and locked in faith will radiate in beauty. Hence, we have the blueprint; now, we can build the foundation for unity. There is beauty in unity!

Rev. Robert Wagstaff, Pastor St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church

Just Another Thought A

s a priest and college chaplain, I am often trying to bring students together who have created some conflict between themselves. This may be any thing from a roommate eating another’s pizza or a young couple who cannot get along. Most often, when I speak to them, I discern that each one has a lot to say but, at the same time, each one has no interest in hearing the other out. No unity can emerge without each of us respecting one another by learning how to listen. Jesus does as much

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The Reverend Louis Skipper, Chaplain Montgomery Episcopal Campus Ministry Huntingdon College

listening as he does talking in the scriptures, and consequently, when our Lord speaks, people around him listen. To you brother and sister a favor the next time the two of you disagree. When that brother or sister says something you don’t like, stop , and say to him or her, “Now this is what I heard you say.” You will be surprised how much work it takes to simply listen. But just as Jesus does it, so does he expect us to do as well. GOSPEL TIMES | VOL.3 ISSUE 1

The

NxLevel Business Plan

Cover Page Table of Content Section I. Executive Summary Lorenza Patrick

Director SBDC

Section II Mission, Goal and Objectives General Description of Business Mission Statement Goals and Objectives

The Elements of a Business Plan

Section III . Background Information

Section IV. Organization Matters

hrough the College of Business Administration’s Small Business Development Center, at Alabama State University, which recently began its’ 29th year, staff provides technical and management assistance to small businesses and prospective business owners. As an institutional member of the Alabama Small Business Development Consortium, the SBDC one of twelve Universitybased business assistance sources in the state and one of two thousands centers nation wide, operates in eightcounty area in Central Alabama providing on-site counseling and training workshops. The path to successful entrepreneurship began with a vision and then an implementable Business Plan. The following is a the format of the Nx Level Business Plan module, which is popular around the country and used locally by our center and the Small Business Resource Center(incubator) to educate would be entrepreneur or seasoned entrepreneurs on how to improve business acumen. GOSPEL TIMES | VOL.3 ISSUE 1

The Industry The Business “Fit” in the Industry

Business Structure, Management and Personnel Operating Controls

Section V. The Marketing Plan Product and Service Market Analysis Marketing Strategies

Section VI. The Financial Plan

Worksheet and Notes to Cash Flow Projection Cash Flow Projection Financial Statement Additional Financial Information

Section VII. Appendix Section Action Log Supporting Documents To gain a more detail explanation on how to start a business and how to complete a logical implementable plan contact the SBDC at 334-229-4138. visit us @ www.gospel-times.com |

The Thomas Hill Group, L.L.C. Joseph L. Thomas, President

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Serving Montgomery Tri-County areas for over 19 years

Unity And The Odd Couple of Radio by Pastor Tony Butler

Fountain of Grace Church, Prattville, Alabama

hat do you get when you mix a non-politically correct shock jock black talk show host by the name of Kevin Elkins with a white, non-typical Bible preacher by the name of Pastor Tony Butler? I think the answer is, “Something very unique”. The name of the Pastor Tony Butler Kevin Elkins show is called “Grace Period”. As far as I know there is nothing like it on radio anywhere around. Our The show estblishes the fact that we all Thursday morning show from 7:05 a.m. to believe something. However the greatest 9:00 a.m. on 1440 AM is like the prover- emphasis is whether or not what one believes bial box of chocolates, “You never know what is viable and biblical or if one even knows why you’re going to get”. they believe what they believe. After all, we all The show is all about having a platform to understand one’s faith is only as good as the challenge the religious status quo, answering object in which it is placed. All faith isn’t faith. sincere Bible questions, and revealing various Sometimes what people believe is based on doctrines and beliefs of the smorgasbord of reli- wishful thinking or their own self-made fancigion. Basically, anything goes. You don’t have to ful creation. Not everything believed by people speak christianese on the show because the show about God is true, but most people believe what is mostly for people who are unchurched, people they believe about their God is true. who are disgruntled with the pious platitudes How can there be unity with such diverof preachers, and people who are searching for sity of doctrine and opinion? On our show you truth but feel intimidated to speak to their own would think by the many hateful attacks, crazy pastors. We try to challenge people to know statements and angry outbursts by many peowhat they believe and why they believe it and ple that unity is an un-reachable illusion. Many then place those beliefs along side of the Bible to think that any disagreements or arguments are see if they stand under the scrutiny of scripture. an affront to unity especially among well estabWe also help people understand the ramifica- lished religious groups. I disagree wholehearttions of their beliefs and to help them to under- edly with that understanding. All scripture of stand the varied approaches to Bible doctrine. the bible has but one interpretation. That one Kevin and I first met via the telephone interpretation is what God meant it to say. when he picked me randomly (so he thought) Happy are the people that come into agreement out the yellow pages. He interviewed me live to His interpretation. It doesn’t come easy and over the telephone during his show concern- will never come unless one has a genuine huning some politically hot topics of our time ger to know the true and living God. like abortion. Sometime later we met each I attempt on the show to disagree agreeably other in person on another radio talk show. with callers who disagree with me. I think I I was invited by the station manager to give a illustrate well how it is possible to have radibrief devotional once a week in the morning. cally different ideas than others but maintain Unbeknownst to me my time slot was during civility in dialogue. Kevin’s show. Truth is eternal but all lies will be destroyed We got to know each other on a more per- when God fully reveals Himself to the entire sonal level and got along quite well as friends. world. Who can do anything against the truth? About a year later the show was discontinued It is what it is. Jesus said He was the Way, The and Kevin and I parted paths until he was Truth, and The Life. (Jn. 14:6) picked up on 1440. We confront the callers with the claims He asked me if I would come on his show of Christ and what those claims mean. We and devote one Thursday a week to deal with ask hard questions and get asked difficult Bible questions and spiritual issues. I was very questions. (e.g. - Is tithing today biblical? Can happy to oblige him and have been on the air baptism save you from your sins? How do you with him around five years.

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know the Bible is the word of God? Is Jesus God or something less? How does one obtain salvation? Was Jesus black? With so many religions how can one know theirs is the right one? Should everyone speak in tongues? Can a Christian be demonized? Are demons real? The list goes on and on.) My belief is that only truth and genuine salvation can produce true unity. All churches and all religions standing next to each other singing Kum By Yah and establishing social outreaches to help their fellow man isn’t biblical unity. True “Unity” is being established in the One Lord, One faith, One baptism having been baptized by the One Spirit into the One body of Christ. (see I Cor. 12:13 and Ephesians 4:3-5) If you want ear tickling, pious platitudes, and socially correct answers you don’t want to listen to the show. But if you are willing to listen, examine the issues, self-study, seek truth, interact in a civil manner and be willing to have your beliefs scrutinized then “Grace Period” is the place for you. The show is colorful, vibrant, funny, serious, challenging, and sometimes a bit crazy but a lot of people listen faithfully and profit by the discussions. Kevin and I genuinely like each other and have a lot of fun on the show. I encourage you to tell others about the show and call in sometime. Kevin and the ratings love first time callers!

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Education And The Spirit

Why Can’t Johnny Learn? By Jackson Brown

e spend a lot of time these days asking ourselves “What’s wrong with __________ (You fill in the blank.)!” All too often we ask that question about children and young adults. The rising tide of crime, and the general disrespect for older people and for life are at the top of the list. There are thousands of directions in which we can go when we begin a discussion like this. But let’s start at the “beginning,” and for this discussion we will say it all begins when a woman becomes pregnant. If that environment in which the developing child must grow is not as safe as possible the end result will be a baby that is mentally or physically retarded. Sometimes a little, sometimes a lot. We are all painfully aware of what happens when a pregnant woman uses excessive amounts of alcohol or drugs. But what we also need to understand is that the human being is more than just a physical body. (And I make that statement because I assume most people reading this publication have a basic belief in God.) We spend too little time in our everyday lives thinking about anything other than our physical well being. Between birth and the age of seven, the child is struggling to get control of the physical body and the outer physical world in which he/she is now a member. It is the single most important issue. The child is too young to deal with anything else, and doesn’t have the mental capacity to deal with much else. Things are just too complicated at this point. Where its emotions and behavior is concerned it only wants to know: “What is everyone doing? Am I expected to do the same?” So, its basis of operation in this strange new

world is Imitation and Example. Now, if foolishness, confusion, and anger are the examples, then that is what will be imitated. Ancient Christians called the emotional side of the human the “etheric” body. It simply means that part of the brain where emotions are centered. In the mother’s womb, the physical body grows, and after nine months comes forth fully developed. But the emotional, or etheric, body continues to incubate and grow within the brain of the child; the brain acting as a “safe place”---a

sort of death. We see this today in children who care about nothing, are hopeless, and who can often murder another human being without showing any signs of sorrow or remorse. Between the ages of 7 and 14, the child’s “intellectual” body is incubating within the “womb of the brain.” This is what ancient Christians called the “astral” body. If it is “born” prematurely, and exposed too soon to complicated adult intellectual ideas and abstract notions about morality it, too, will have great difficulty with such matters in the future. The result is children who either don’t want to learn, or find it hard to figure out what the teacher is talking about. This happens a lot in our society today. Parents push kids so hard that they burn out, and say “To hell with it!” Remember, “For everything, there is a season.” What is most important to the child between ages seven and four teen is to know who is in control, and who to look up to. The magic words, then, are Authority and Discipleship. In his/her search for adults who are intellectually and morally strong, the child is unknowingly searching for a way to build the proper capacity for memory and, to fulfill the deep down need to “Know;” a way of finding something to call their own. That is why the best tools for someone teaching this age group (and the parents are also teachers) are parables and other stories, as well as pictures. This prepares the way for the next stage of the child’s development, which is the actual “birth” of the intellect at about the age of 14. If this were done properly in schools and in homes then the sexual development brought about by puberty would not be such a big headache for the child, the parent, or the teacher. The child

What is most important to the child...is to know who is in control, and who to look up to.

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sort of a “womb”--- until the emotions have matured…. which takes a full seven years. You know this has happened when the child loses its milk teeth, which are replaced by the permanent teeth, and, when the soft spot in the top of its head has become hard. It is at this point that the child’s physical body is truly ready for the outside world. It is also at this point that his/her “emotional” body emerges from the “womb of the brain,” and is ready to begin handling difficult emotional situations. If the “physical” body is born prematurely it will have a very hard time dealing with the physical world, and may very well die. The same is true for the “emotional” body. If it is exposed to heavy-duty emotional experiences too soon it will be shocked, and may suffer retardation, or a

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would know how to handle sexual impulses because its mind---in part, at least---would be occupied with something more fascinating and noble…which is the need for real knowledge; the need to be just like those strong people the child looks up to. When the “intellectual” body is finally “born” at age 14, the child is now ready to handle complicated ideas, the powers of judgement, and independent thought. In order to successfully do this a child must be full of respect for knowledge and the people who seek it out. (The child should have been prepared for this between seven and fourteen.) Neither is there a healthy thought without a healthy feeling for the truth. The rule today is to allow children to become judgmental, which spoils their chance to receive openly and without prejudice the all around impressions of life. A child must be taught that he/she has first to learn, and then, to judge. THE SOLUTION The Egyptians applied much of this belief to the raising of children, and later, the Greeks and the early Christians developed it into a full-blown system of education. In Egypt, when a woman was in her finals weeks of pregnancy she would travel to a small village outside the city. There, away from all the noise, she would have her child. The room where the two stayed had no bright colors. Curtains admitted only soft light. Not even the father was allowed to visit for many months. In fact, it was not until the age of seven that the child was allowed to have extended contact with the father. That was because it was believed only the mother could safely bring the child through its first and most important phase of life. After the young body hardened at seven, it was then ready to face the world, and to learn the ways of the world from the father. The Egyptians felt that bright colors and loud noises---even from the human voice---upset and shocked the child’s “incubating” etheric/emotional nature…and once damaged, the child would never be quite right. [In this modern scientific age we now know that a baby’s eyes and ears are vastly underdeveloped when compared GOSPEL TIMES | VOL.3 ISSUE 1

to those of an adult. Think also about the trend that developed in the 1960’s when many mothers were demanding quiet, low light “birth rooms” in which to have their babies.] If what the Egyptians believed is true, think about how we raise our kids today. Within a day or two they are plunked down in front of a TV set. There are explosions, people arguing and fighting, and LOTS of bright colors. The child spends years under such conditions, and may even witness similar madness in his/her own home. The Greeks brought these beliefs fully into their educational system. Today it has been resurrected. It is called Waldorf Education. It was reinvented in 1911, and has spread from Austria to nearly every corner of the world. In the United States about one hundred of these schools exist… and mostly in large cities. But, a remarkable thing happened a few years ago when a black Milwaukee teacher became familiar with Waldorf. She was given a troubled inner-city school to use as an experiment. Within a couple of years it was totally turned around. Grades were substantially higher, and the kids were not getting into trouble. Now, parents all over Milwaukee--both black and white---are demanding that their schools also be converted to the dynamic system of education. In Germany, Waldorf schools have been around for decades, and are now being subsidized by the government. The performance of these kids is outstanding. About 14% of the children attending

AIM HIGH, by Fishoe regular German public schools get a high enough score on college entrance exams to allow them to skip their freshman year… which isn’t bad at all. But, in Waldorf schools, more than 85% of the kids get these high scores. What this discussion illustrates is that the human being must be constantly aware that he is as much “Spirit” body as he is Physical body. And along with that comes the ability to go “higher and higher.” In whatever we undertake in life, the Spirit must come first. Every thought--whether about ourselves, our wives and husband, children, friends acquaintances, house, job, whatever---must always contain the knowledge that God and other members of the spiritual hierarchy are always at our side; watching, and hoping we will do the right thing. visit us @ www.gospel-times.com |

Doctor’s Order

God’s Pharmacy

God left us great clues to what foods help what part of our body!

A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye and YES, science now shows carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.

A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart has four chambers and is red. All of the research shows tomatoes are loaded with lycopine and are indeed pure heart and blood food.

Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.

A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds on the nut are just like the neo-cortex. We now know walnuts help develop more than three (3) dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function. Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys

Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and many more look just like bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don’t have enough sodium in your diet, the body pulls it from the bones, thus making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body. Avocadoes, Eggplant and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today’s research shows that when a woman eats one avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight, and prevents cervical cancers. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them). Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the mobility of male sperm and increase the numbers of Sperm as well to overcome male sterility.

Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics.

Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries.

Oranges, Grapefruits, and other Citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts

Onions look like the body’s cells. Today’s research shows onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes. A working companion, Garlic, also helps eliminate waste materials and dangerous free radicals from the body.

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GOSPEL TIMES | VOL.3 ISSUE 1

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A Man After God’s Own Heart

y parents were born in Monroe, at the foot of my bed. However, this particular from the Lord. LA. To their union fourteen chil- day he told me I had two choices; I could either During my stay I had lots of time to really dren were born. Being the second commit to preaching the gospel or He would get to know God and let him direct me. From oldest child had its challenges. The greatest let me die. Of course I did not want to die that day to this one I have been running for challenge I faced was being given to my grand- so I began to question God about getting up Jesus. mother to be raise. Although I now know it and preaching the gospel because physically Upon graduation from High school I was the will of God for my life, at that time I I was no shape to preach. I had second and attend two years at Grambling State until God did not understand “why” I was chosen to be third degree burns over eighty percent of my placed me on a mission. God allowed me to given to my grandmother. God revealed into body, asphalt burns were everywhere, my eyes travel throughout the USA, Trinidad, Alaska, my spirit, just as Timothy was raised by his were not healed in other words, I was a mess. Canada, the Virgin Islands and Jerusalem grandmother Eunice, I too would be raised God assured me that he would heal me the preaching, teaching and prophesying. In 2001, by my grandmother so that my prophetic gift moment I accepted my call. Keep in mind, the God allowed a promotion in my life. I was would be stirred. doctor was on the other side of the door with appointed by Presiding Bishop Chamberlin From my mother’s womb God called my wife making funeral arrangements. The in Chicago to the Office of “Bishop” and a me a Prophet. God placed me with the spiri- instance I told God I would preach, he raised Honorary Doctorate of Theology from the tual guidance I would need to nurture the me up the same day. Still in the hospital gown University of Florida was conferred upon me “Prophet” within. My Grandmother was in the same year. the chosen one to teach me as Eli taught You don’t have any problems; My wife and I have actively met needs in various communities by giving Samuel to listen to the voice of God. all you need is a little Not understanding the anointing flood, clothing and shelter. Each year at upon my life, I relived the Jonah story Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday faith in God and ran. Any and everything this life had packets are given away. As the children to offer was experienced by me until God prepare to go back to school we give got my attention. I went running out of the room looking for my away school supplies and much more. Families While on “Experiment Expressway” I met wife to tell her about my commitment to the are dear to our hearts so we provide lots of fun and married my wife, Josephine. Lord. When the nurse looked up and saw me, filled family activities for the entire family. To our union God blessed us with two she started running and screaming saying that Because of the growing health concerns in children, Tabatha and Jermaine. Both pre- I was a ghost. When I heard her proclama- the community we decided to provide a wellcede us in death. We are graced by God to tion I too began running and screaming. The ness clinic with a focus on diabetes, high blood share in the lives of our granddaughters Patrice hospital staff got me back into the bed check- pressure, cholesterol and HIV. You may pass Dominique and Justice Josephine. ing all vitals and discovered everything our facility at any time and see Jumpin’ Jacks, While on “Experiment Expressway” God was normal. I remained Water Slides and horses and other family allowed me to be involved in a motorcycle acci- hospitalized for related activities in progress. All provided with dent dragging my body some 140 feet down 3 additional “YOU” in mind. God has definitely called and equipped the highway. The skin on my body was com- days after me for a prophetic ministry. Every time I pletely gone. My eyes hung by the stem on my visit stand to proclaim the good news, I am both the outside of my eye socket. The doctors humbled and honored. I believe the Word gave me less than 48 hours to live. My of God is infallible and inspired by him. wife was instructed to go head and make Until the Lord calls me home to heaven, I the arrangements needed for my funeral. will unashamedly, unapologetically, and As the doctor was giving my wife final boldly preach the Word of God to instructions on the outside of my door, every country, in every nation, on God was on the other side of the same every continent. door giving me a choice. God reminded me that he had “He must increase, but I given me several opportunities to must decrease.” John preach the gospel while standing 3:30. Prophet P.H.Smith

Dr. Darryl A. Hamilton, M.D.

Issues of the Heart

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a term used to refer to a type of heart disease affecting the heart and the circulatory system. This is a somewhat generic term which includes high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, and stroke. It is a serious health threat around the world and is the number one killer of men and women worldwide. The American Heart Association estimates that about 79 million Americans have at least one type of cardiovascular disease (CVD). That means that about 1 out of every 3 people in this country is affected. About one third of the deaths in this county each year are attributable to CVD. Each year about 1.2 million people will suffer a heart attack and more than 40 percent of those who suffer the heart attack will die. Nearly a third of those people will die in the ER or even before reaching the hospital. Heart disease is responsible for 40 percent of all the deaths in the United States, more than all forms of cancer combined. In fact, according to the research, CVD accounts for more death than cancer, chronic lung disease, accidents, and diabetes combined. The majority of cases of CVD stem from atherosclerosis, a condition in which cholesterol, fat, and fibrous tissue build up in the walls of large and medium-sized arteries, clogging them up. It is referred GOSPEL TIMES | VOL.3 ISSUE 1

to as Coronary artery disease (CAD) when it involves the small arteries that supply the heart muscle with its own supply of oxygen and nutrients. This begins when hard cholesterol substances (plaques) are deposited within a coronary artery. The arteries to the heart muscle (myocardium) become narrowed, reducing blood supply to the heart muscle. This can result in chest pain (angina pectoris) or other symptoms, typically triggered by physical exertion. If a narrowed blood vessel is then completely blocked by a blood clot, the area of the heart just beyond the blockage is denied oxygen and nourishment, resulting in death of that muscle. This is commonly called a heart attack or myocardial infarction. Typical heart pain, angina, is usually felt as pressure, heaviness, tightness, squeezing or achy pain under the breastbone. The pain may or may not radiate into the neck, jaw, or down the arms. Angina usually

occurs during exertion or severe emotional stress and is usually relieved by rest. Some people, including women, the elderly, and diabetics may experience less typical types of chest discomfort or have no pain at all. They may only experience tiredness or fatigue. Symptoms may be accompanied by shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, sweating, and generalized weakness. Symptoms tend to gradually increase over a period of time. However, some people will experience either a heart attack or sudden death as their first symptom. Not all chest pain is heart related. Some may be caused by acid reflux in the esophagus, gallbladder pain, chest wall pain, lung problem, ulcer disease, or other conditions. At least ten risk factors can help predict the likelihood of CHD: heredity (including race), being male, advancing age, cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity (especially excess abdominal fat), lack of physical activity, abnormal blood cholesterol, and high stress levels. The more risk factors a person has, the greater the likelihood of developing heart disease. â&#x20AC;&#x2C6;Some of these like heredity, gender, and age cannot be altered. However, many of the others can be influenced by your behavior, eating habits, and lifestyle. Exercise offers many benefits. People who exercise tend to live longer and have less cardiovascular disease than those who do not. Even moderate exercise can increase stamina and endurance. lower blood pressure, improve blood cholesterol levels, help with weight control, help lower blood sugar levels, reduce stress, and improve sleep. Early detection and treatment of heart disease is crucial since it is a potentially life threatening illness. So talk to our doctor about any concerns you have about your heart health and about steps you can take to reduce your risk. This is especially true if you have a family history of heart disease. If you think you may have heart disease based on you symptoms, make an appointment to see your doctor soon. Seek emergency medical care if you have these heart disease symptoms: angina- type chest pain, unexplained shortness of breath, or fainting. visit us @ www.gospel-times.com |

arly music in the church was shaped by Greek, Syrian, and Hebrew influences. Only a dozen or so examples of Greek music from the ancient world exist; but from these, music historians can ascertain that music was a part of early Greek religious ceremonies. It was primarily monophonic unison melody, void of any sort of harmony or contrasting counterpoint. This early music did allow for embellishment with instruments. History reveals that Greek music was based on theories concerning the nature of music and certain accepted systems and patterns for musical compositions. Syrian monasteries and churches were scenes of early musical elements in worship as well. Antiphonal psalmody and hymns were first present in Syria and then spread to Milan and further west. Antiphonal psalmody was also evident in the Jewish temples. Antiphonal singing means that two choruses sing “back and forth” to each other, much as an echo, though not always identical music. In the case of Jewish psalmody, the text was based on verses from the Hebrew “Book of Praises,” the Biblical Psalms. The Psalms were sung every day in ancient Hebrew temples. Another method for their musical presentation was the responsorial chant where the Levite leaders chanted Psalms accompanied by various instruments, singing one line and then waiting for the congregation to sing the next. The chant that was sung as a solo from the altar was called the “verse” and the congregational choral response was known simply as the “respond.” Hymns followed the psalms, adapting melodies from the early chants. Catholicism developed the Canticle, lyrical portions of the Bible that were sung at specified times of worship. Canticles are a part of today’s liturgy in the Roman Catholic Church. The first written chants were associated with Pope Gregory

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and therefore are remembered in history as “Gregorian Chants.” As early as the Middle Ages, the Mass was deemed the worship service most important in the Catholic Church. It was organized into two types: the Proper Mass and the Ordinary Mass. Historically, the Proper Mass was seasonal and the music depended upon the particular feast that was to be celebrated. Its movements included the Introit, Collect, Epistle, Gradual, Alleluia, Evangelium, Offertory, Secret, Preface, Canon, Communion, and Post-Communion. The Ordinary Mass was used for services from week to week, unaffected by holy days or season. The Ordinary Mass remained the same each service with five musical sections: the Kyria Eleison, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei. Because the Gregorian Chants were considered sacred, they were utilized in every early Mass. The basic chant was always found in the lower part, the bass line, and was called the Cantus Firmus. Musicians and composers altered the chants by changing rhythms, voice, harmony, countermelody, descant, and imitation, but the chants were always present. History records Machaut as changing the rhythms. Leonin added a harmonic second part. This technique was built upon by Dufay, who arranged a mass for three and four parts all singing different melodies against one another but in chord harmonies. Perotin added countermelody and descant. Ockegheim was a master of the technique of imitation, writing Mass arrangements that focused on one voice but allowed for the echo of another voice in a lower or higher register. Ockegheim also added harmonies, primarily in thirds. Desprez introduced counterpoint to the Mass, where two distinct melodies played independently against each other, often a few beats apart. As more and more com-

posers added and altered the basic Gregorian melody, the music for Mass became more complex. It was hard to pick out the text or understand the meaning of the words. In some instances, the music itself was so difficult that singers balked at performance. The organist then played the music or improvised on the theme, thus introducing liturgical organ music. At the Council of Trent, church leaders met to address the problem of the difficult and extremely varied music before them. The first official catechism was formulated. It was decided that the music for worship must be within reasonable bounds as far as its difficulty so that members of the congregation could participate. Pope Marcellus asked Palestrina to simplify the church’s music. Palestrina tackled the job with dignity and style, simplifying presentation but retaining the beauty of the melody. He limited counterpoint. He also sought to magnify the text so that the words became the most important part of the music and it ministered in its presentation rather than mystifying those listening by its complexity. In the 1600’s and 1700’s, some of the world’s greatest composers contributed to the Mass. Bach composed a Mass in all twenty-four keys! His most famous was the “B-minor Mass.” Monteverdi used dissonance and word painting to express the emotion of the words in the Mass. A. Scarlatti introduced the cantata, a religious musical with five to eight movements, soloists, ensembles, and choruses. Handel created the oratorio, a sacred opera with a narrator. Handel’s most famous religious work was “The Messiah.” Schutz composed “The Seven Last Words,” a work that centered on the theme of Christ’s last days (or passions). Mozart wrote eighteen masses. Mozart’s masses were so lengthy, however, that only portions of them can be used within the time constraints of a church service. Haydn penned fourteen Masses, all positive and happy, focusing on faith in God. His most famous religious contribution was his oratorio, “The Creation.”

GOSPEL TIMES | VOL.3 ISSUE 1

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Edward J. Nettles, Senior Pastor

Freewill Baptist Church 1724 Hill Street Montgomery, Alabama 36108

Minister of the 24

Month

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Congratulations Pastor Nettles and Freewill!

astor Edward J. Nettles, Sr. of Freewill Baptist Church’s “Enough is Enough/ Stop the Violence” campaign; a campaign to combat violent crime in Montgomery communities in 2008 has earned him Gospel Times Magazine’s Minister of the Month. The Enough is Enough campaign will return this year with a new theme: Down with Crime in 2009. It was tated in the Montgomery Advertiser that homicides were down in 2008 compared with 2007 and is at the lowest total since 2003. Thank you Enough is Enough/Stop the Violence campaign. It was also mentioned that Nettles said “A key to the campaign has been educatiing people about how to keep a dangerous situation from spinning out of control.” Again Thank you Rev. Nettles. Pastor Nettles is the Senior Pastor of Freewill Missionary Baptist Church and is married to the former Beverly Webster and to this union three children, Tokeyla, Edward, Jr. and Derrin Jarrad. Rev. Nettles has daringly refused to accept mediocrity in ministry. As a result of his pursuit of excellence in service to God, Freewill Baptist Church is a witness to the power of God’s Holy power.

Under the direction of the Holy Ghost, and through the vision and sometimes unconventional leadership, Freewill’s membership continues to grow. Despite being faced with overwhelming odds, Pastor Nettles and the Freewill Baptist Church congregation overcame, and were victorious over many trials and tribulations. The victories have resulted in a thriving and vibrant church in the community. Having adopted a motto of “A Church on the Move for Christ,” Freewill continues to move onward and upward. Freewill provides many needed services throughout the community. Pastor Nettles is very active in the community at-large, and serves on numerous boards throughout the city. He is committed to several religious and civic organizations. He continues to work at restoring at-risk communities through a vision of empowering people to take charge of their lives and continues to search out opportunities to be a light in the community. He is most affectionately known for his care for young and elderly people. Under the leadership of Pastor Nettles, the membership has grown tremendously numerically as well as spiritually. He has led several hundred people to Christ throughout his ministry. Pastor continues to make efforts in tearing down the walls that divide God’s people for the vision of togetherness that the Lord has placed in his heart. He believes God will turn our hearts toward Him and Him alone one day.

Nominate a man or woman of God to be Gospel Times’ Minister of the Month and become eligible to receive our annual “UNITY” Recognition Award (This Person should be someone who promotes unity, love, and peace throughout the community). If this is your pastor or a minister you know, please e-mail us at infonow@gospel-times.com and tell us why you have nominated this person to be

“MINISTER OF THE MONTH” We are excited about hearing about your pastor .

324 Madison Avenue Suite B | Montgomery, Alabama 36104 | (334) 551-0062

Community Leadership

Board Member Montgomery Community Correction Authority Member City of Montgomery Crime Task Force Board Member SAFY (Foster Children) Board Member HIPPY (Early Childhood Program) Member Office of the Mayor Strategic Crime Commission Member Committee establishing a Montgomery Civic Right Museum Member Committee to decrease alcohol, drugs use in private schools

Community Endow

Freewill Missionary Baptist Church Food Bank – distributes groceries to over 400 families twice a month. Freewill Missionary Baptist Church Senior Center – provides daily meals on wheels and recreation for Senior Citizens. Back-to-School Block Party providing school supplies to over 3,000 children.

Community Development Empowerment Established Enough is Enough – Stop the Violence After-school Tutorial Program On-site (FWBC) GED Program

Educational Partnership Thelma Morris Elementary E. D. Nixon Elementary Bellingrath Jr. High McIntyre Jr. High Sidney Lanier High School George Washington Carver High School Trenholm Technical College

Mentoring and Tutorial Involvement

Mentor – Montgomery Court Circuit Courts Advisor – Montgomery County Safe & Drug Free Schools Mentor – Montgomery Juvenile Courts

Charitable Contributions GOSPEL TIMES | VOL.3 ISSUE 1

$50,000 Aid to Katrina Victims visit usDr.@Martin www.gospel-times.com | 25 $10,000 Luther King National Monument

An Unlikely Mentor T Rev. Dr. John Ed Mathison,

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here was a small community. They had a jewelry store at the main intersection of town. Right in the window of the jewelry store was a clock. Many of the people walked to work. A man who worked at the factory walked by that jewelry store everyday. As he would, he would look in the window, check the clock, check his watch, and go to work. One Saturday he came by, and said, “Can I see the owner of the jewelry store? I’d like to thank him for something.” The owner came out, and he said, “I want to thank you for placing the clock in the window with the correct time.” When I go to work, I check it. The store owner said, “Well, hey, I appreciate that, but you don’t have to thank me. You need to thank the man down at the factory who blows the whistle everyday. I set my clock by the time he blows the whistle.” The man said, “Oh, my goodness, I’m the man that blows the whistle, and I set my watch by your clock!” Y o u know, in life, somebody is setting their life by yours. Everybody needs an example. Everybody needs a focal point from which we set our lives. Now, when Paul wrote to Timothy, he said, “Timothy, you’re an unlikely person to be a good leader because you

are young.” But you read just a moment: Don’t look down on youthfulness. But then, Paul offered some suggestions. I think today what we need in society is some heroes. Some people we can look up to. I remember years ago, there were athletes, there were movie stars, and there were people who were in religion who you could look up to. Today, we don’t have many of those. So many of them have set such a bad example. Every person here is a mentor. A mentor is one who sets an example. It’s one who teaches by spending time with someone. Every person here is a mentor. You might say, “well, I couldn’t do that.” You might be an unlikely person. I remember a few years ago an ex-football player at Auburn joined this church. They had friends---Buster and Ahan Baggett--and they tried to get Connie Frederick and his wife to go to Sunday School. He said, “No, I don’t go to Sunday School. I come to church. That’s good enough.” They were persistent, and stayed after them. Finally, Connie Frederick said, “I tell you what Ahan, I’ll go to Sunday School if you’ll teach the class.” She said, “I couldn’t teach adults.” You see, she was the most unlikely person to be an effective teacher of adults because she teaches elementary school children music. Now, what music teacher to elementary school kids could teach adults very effectively? But she took the challenge, and she did it very unlikely. But, this morning, she has the largest Sunday School class of adults in this church, well over 200 adults there. And probably the most unlikely person to be president of that class is Connie Frederick, and he’s the president.... Unlikely folks that God has taken and used in a significant way. You might say, I’m unlikely. Let me tell you, God can use you in a mighty way. And God does that to everyone of us. When Plato wrote The Republic, Socrates is talking about education, and in talking about education for young people, what they learn is what they hear. Listen! “Applauded in the market-

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place.” Folks follow what they hear applauded in the marketplace. I don’t know what you hear in the marketplace, but much of what I hear I don’t want people following. Much of it you see on television, in the movies, what is talked about in society. If we reflect what is applauded in the marketplace, I wish God would raise up a lot of mentors. People who are examples, and Paul gives us an insight into that, and I’d like to focus on it. You read five words a moment ago in that scripture which I think become ingredients of a good mentor. Now, if you’re a parent, you’re a mentor. If you just live in a neighborhood, you are a mentor. You might be the most unlikely. Let me give you these qualities, because somebody is setting their watch by your life. The first thing is our speech-How we talk; we become an example. In Psalms 19:14 (I quote this before I begin every sermon): ‘Let the words of my mouth, and meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight.’ What if you woke up in the morning...I dare you to say, “Now, Lord, every word I say today I want it to be pleasing to you.” Proverbs 18 says that ‘a fool’s speech brings strife. His mouth calls for fighting. A fool’s mouth is his ruin, his lips are the snare of his soul. But the words of a righteous man are like dainty morsels. They go down into the innermost parts of his body.’ What about your speech? What kind of an example do you set? They say that the average American says about 20-thousand words a day. One man said, “My problem is when I come home from work at night, I’ve said my 20-thousand. My wife has just started hers.” They say that the average American says about 20-thousand words a day. One man said, “My problem is when I come home from work at night, I’ve said my 20-thousand. My wife has just started hers.” If any of you have got teenagers that stay on the phone a good bit; (one man’s son stayed on the phone for about two hours). he said, “Son, you are going to have to cut that down a lot”.and he gave him a lecture. He said, “Don’t talk on the phone so long!” The phone rang, and the phone rang, and the boy went in, and he wasn’t on the phone but 15 minutes. His father said, “That’s better. Who was it?” The boy replied, “It was a

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wrong number.” Now the number of words we use is not nearly as important as the impact of what we say. Let me ask every husband and wife: “What you’ve said to your spouse this week, did it build them up, did it honor and glorify God? Every word you’ve said to your kids--was it something that honored God, and built them up? Now, I know you’re going to think I’m very old fashioned when I say this, but let me tell you what bothers me in society today. It’s the wide use of profanity. Four letter words. I mean, it used to be years ago that you never heard that. Now, you turn on the television, and I’ll tell you what really troubles me---and you might say I’m a male chauvinist---but I hate to hear women... and so many women in the marketplace just regularly use four letter words. I want to tell you that by your speech you’re mentoring someone. You’re telling folks this is what’s acceptable. I’ll never forget when they were adding this part of the balcony and expanding the sanctuary [Rev. Mathison is pointing to renovated parts of his church]. Joe Pat was in here one day, and a man who was a carpenter was working up there, and when he hit a nail he missed it, and hit his finger. And Joe Pat was standing there. The man just had to bite his tongue. Finally, he looked at Joe Pat, and said, “This is the toughest place I ever tried to work; around you folks here in this church.” Let me ask you a question. What’s different about saying something in a sanctuary, or saying it at home or in the office place? Joe Pat may not be there, but God’s there, and God’s a lot more important than any person or any kind of staff person? By our speech what kind of model are we setting for other folks? There was a man who one day said a lot of things about people that were not true. And he was caught. He came to the priest and he confessed, and he asked if God would forgive him. He said, “Sure He will, but I’m going to ask you to do something.” The man said, “What is it?” The priest said, “How many folks have you said something untrue about?” The man answered, “Oh, about 30 or 40.” The priest went in and brought out a huge bag of feathers. He said, “I want you to take a feather and place it on

the doorstep of every person you said something wrong about, and then come back.” The man went out, saying “That’s not too hard; only about 40 folks.” So he went to 40 different places in the community, took out one of the feathers, put it on the doorstep, then went back to the priest and said, “Am I through?” The priest said, “You’re half through. Now I want you to go back and pick up each of those feathers.” The man said that it would be impossible because it was a windy day. “Those things have blown everywhere.” The priest told him, “That’s the way it is with your words. Once you say them you never have control over them again.” Let me ask every husband, have you said something to your wife this week that you didn’t think about, and wish you hadn’t said it? And to every parent. Sometimes we say things to our kids that might damage them permanently. Our speech, unless we’re in control of what we say---the tongue is such a powerful thing. Paul said, “Look, Timothy, you’re young but by your speech you’re going to be a great example.” Somebody wrote these words: “Be careful of the words you say, keep them soft and sweet. You never know from day to day which ones you’ll have to eat.” Be careful about your words---your speech. Secondly, he (Paul) says your conduct. Col.4:5 says ‘conduct yourself with wisdom toward outsiders.’ Romans 13:13 says, ‘let us behave properly.’ You know who is the best mentor? It’s the person who teaches by example. That’s where we do our best learning---by what we see. A man was in a car with a friend one day, and they were riding along, and all of a sudden the light changed from green to red, and the man just went through the red light. His passenger said, “Be careful. Why are you doing that?” The driver replied, “Oh, my brother does it all the time.” A few blocks down, the light turned red again, and again, he went through the red light. A few more blocks down the road, the light turned from red to green, and the man slammed on the brakes and stopped. His friend asked, “Why do you stop at a green light?” The driver answered, “My brother might be coming the other way!” visit us @ www.gospel-times.com |

You know, most of us learn by what our brothers, and our mothers, and our fathers, and our fellow workers do. I hope my son, Si, doesn’t mind me telling this, but you know, I’m afraid he got some of my characteristics growing up. My father was a preacher. He’s a preacher’s kid, and preacher’s kids have the reputation of being the meanest kids in town. I discovered why that’s true. Everything we learn we learn from your kids, and that’s where preacher’s kids learn it all. And Si was a good student, but he was also like his dad---a little rambunctious in class. In elementary school here in Montgomery, they used to give you two grades in the 3rd and 4th grade---they’d give you two letter grades. One was for the content of the subject you did, and then there was a separate column for conduct. Conduct isn’t something you do on Sunday. Conduct isn’t a class. Conduct is what we do in everything! It cuts across all of life. An unlikely mentor; you do it by your conduct. You got graded (you’re nodding your head) you got graded on how you did in the subject and in conduct. Si’s grades were excellent in the content of the material. But in the conduct side, well, it left something to be desired. And so, I had to call him in and give him one of those long, fatherly sermons about conduct, and the importance of it. I said, “Do you understand?” He said, “I think so,”and we walked back into the den. And just as we walked back he grabbed me by the shirt, and said, “Daddy, I’ve got to confess something to you. I can’t even remember going to that class on conduct everyday.” Conduct isn’t something you do on Sunday. Conduct isn’t a class. Conduct is what we do in everything! It cuts across all of life. An unlikely mentor; you do it by your conduct. Thirdly, you do it by your love. Paul said, in Romans 13:10, it says ‘love does no wrong to anybody.’ Read Luke 6:32-35. Jesus said if you just love folks that love you, what good is that? Even the pagans do that. We’ve got to learn to love folks who are even unlovely. Let me suggest to every mother and father here: The best mentor you can be to your kids is about strong, stable marriages; it’s to love your spouse unconditionally. And the greatest things that kids need to know is that they are loved uncondition-

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ally. There was a beautiful, beautiful lady, and one day had cancer. She had to have surgery. Her husband was a handsome man, and they were outstanding in the community, and when the surgeon went in to work on her face he had to cut some important nerves, and it caused her face to be disfigured. All of a sudden this beautiful woman had a twisted mouth and face, and he worried about how the husband would react. The husband was in the hospital room when the surgeon removed the bandages for the first time. The doctor watched the husband for reaction. You see those two together today...you’ve never seen two greater love birds. She’s the most beautiful thing. He’s about as ugly as you’ll ever see. But she says, “Man, I love you”...not for what you look like, but for who you are. This congregation is filled this morning with unlikely mentors who can just love unconditionally. The fourth thing is faith. By your faith, he said, you’ll be a mentor. Hebrews 11:1 says now, faith is the assurance of things hoped for, and it is the conviction of things that you can’t see. I want to tell you this morning...I’ve seen some folks in this congregation whose faith has mentored me! Set an example. I read about a man who was in a lawsuit. Unjust lawsuit. He didn’t get down in the gutter with the rest of the folks. He just...his faith just carried him to a new level, and he conducted himself with integrity, and the lawsuit turned out (in his favor). We have several people in this church who have lost their jobs. Instead of getting down on themselves and feeling sorry, I’ve seen their faith just lift them to a new level, and brought their families closer together, and they served as an example of encouragement to me. Let me tell you...I’ve seen a lot of folks with cancer in this congregation, and for many of them their faith just lifted them above, and they became a mentor. They became an example. We’ve got...we’ve had some funerals in the last couple of years. We’ve got some people right now whose very faith is lifting them up, and they are becoming an example. You see, by your faith---when you don’t even realize it---you’re mentoring. You’re influencing. You’re setting an example for

somebody else. One day, John Wesley had a bully shout out at him in a town meeting: “Wesley, that Christianity isn’t any good. It’s been around for 17-hundred years and we’ve still got crime, and we’ve still got poverty, and we’ve still got disease. It doesn’t do any good.” Wesley wasn’t the most tactful man. He got up in the bully’s face, and said, “Let me tell you something man, we’ve had water a lot longer than we’ve had Christianity, and your face is still dirty, and it hasn’t done you a bit of good either. Faith is like water. If you don’t use it, it won’t do you any good.” Let me tell you...when you’ve got faith, and you simply display it and do it, God will use you in a marvelous and a miraculous way. And then the last thing. Purity. Paul said ‘Don’t let people look down on you in your youth, Timothy.’ By the purity of your life. Matthew 5:8: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Jesus said you can’t take an impure spring and expect it to produce pure water. Purity has to start in the heart, and the only way folks can be pure in any way is when it starts in the heart. ` We’ve got unlikely mentors. This room is filled. You might say, “Hey, I’m unlikely. I couldn’t do that.” Don’t look down on yourself, Paul said. By your speech, by your conduct, by your love, by your faith, by your purity you can be an example, and you can be a mentor. One day in an office two men were talking about Christianity, and a man was trying to say, “Well, tell me what a Christian is,” and he was trying to describe it but he couldn’t. Finally, he looked out the window, and he saw two fellows walking across the campus, and he said, “I can’t tell you in words what a Christian is, but their goes one. That’s Phillip Brooks.” The best description of a Christian is not through words...’but there goes one.’ I want to ask you...at home, at work tomorrow...when folks try to describe a Christian, do they just say, “Hey, there’s one?” Paul said don’t look down on your youth. You can set an example. I’ve tried to say it, now I want you to hear it in song, because God can take the most unlikely youth, the most unlikely person, and transform them into the best mentor, and even a king. This could be you.

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Psalmist Corner

UNITY

By Karen N. Roberson

In Webster’s some definitions of unity are harmony, solidarity, and oneness. In the Bible one plus one plus one equals One. Some skeptics don’t see how this can be, but the three united represent one incredible entity.

Through The Window

One without the other and we would be lost.

A young couple moves into a new neighborhood. The next morning while they are eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbor hanging the wash outside.

What He did for us, is priceless, without cost.

‘That laundry is not very clean’, she said. ‘She doesn’t know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap’ Her husband looked on, but remained silent. Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, the young woman would make the same comments. About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband: “Look, she has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this?’ The husband said, “I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows:” And so it is with life. What we see when watching others depends on the purity of the window through which we look. Author Unknown

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Even in marriage, He should be the center; Your friend, your confidant, and even your mentor. Perfection is something we humans will never achieve. But if we focus on Him, pray, and believe

My Creed By Kendall E. Thomas

Pray to God to help you… so that you can help yourself. Take your faith from out the closet and pull down from off of the shelf. Give to strangers, perfect and known… and do not despair on family. Help rise up the moral statures in our desperate society. Love your God, love yourself… your mistakes and your entire life… Your parents, all of your children, your husband or loving wife. Live through God and through belief… and happiness will lead the way… For God is the answer and the reason… each and every day. God is not just undying Love… He is everything we need. He is the spiritual sustenance on which our soul must feed. Pray…Give…Love…Live…

our lives will be a representation of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. I really believe that if we try to model our lives after His own No one can really judge us or cast a stone, For He is the only judge of you and me, He is the true definition of UNITY. GOSPEL TIMES | VOL.3 ISSUE 1

One Church, One Montgomery To Rise Word, One God By Kendall E. Thomas

Of all the things that Christians do… one thing has always been odd How man can break and separate the holy doctrine of our God. Peter started one church under the Father as the start of God’s great plan But God knew one church just would not do as conflict is the nature of man. So in trusting us with his examples, we formulated our own ideas Instead of listening to the Father’s words on how we should think and live We took the church and broke it…Even though they all teach the same And placed Man’s pride upon his word and declared it in God’s name From the roots of sandal-clad Jewish rebels, fleeing persecution of pagan Rome To the Holy Spirit washing clean their hands and feet, as Italy became our home. From Catholicism to the Church of England, and the rule of Henry the 8th Whose pride and lust confused the world on ideas of church and state… From Linus the 1st to Martin Luther, each claiming they had a right To say that the Son gave them the plan, through the Father and all his might

Linda Tyson Thomas

Montgomery To Rise Expounding upon her natural wealth and powerful history; With her many struggles, yet rising has been but a sweet mystery. Montgomery To Rise She bows each day to the birth of a new Crape Myrtle Tree; For like her, it grows strong and mighty, yielding delights for all to see. Montgomery To Rise After the long and hard battles she stands; With the power of endurance and beauty drawn upon her land.

Presbyterian, Pentecostal… and three different Churches of Christ All using our man-made ideas and translations, straying from God’s true light Our paths don’t cross…they are the same in one flock, we are all the birds Seeking shelter from the storms of the seas of life… One Church, One God, His Word…

Montgomery To Rise See her glorious fortune all in bold along the river edge; Beautiful swings near the boardwalk, and mystic lights hang from each building ledge.

God’s Principles of Judgement

Montgomery To Rise With all of the strength she gathers from her healing wounds of the past; Montgomery will continue to grow with a new destiny, one of pride and glory that will forever last.

Romans 2:1-6

Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God: Who will render to every man according to his deeds: GOSPEL TIMES | VOL.3 ISSUE 1

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By The Grace Of God I Am What I Am by Minister Gwendolyn M. Lewis

“But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain: but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” 1 Corinthians 15:10

he way we continually talk about our own inability is an insult to the Creator. The deploring of our own incompetence is a slander against God for having overlooked us. Get into the habit of examining in the sight of God the things that sound humble before men, and you will be amazed at how staggeringly impertinent they are. “Oh, I shouldn’t like to say I am sanctified; I’m not a saint.” Say that before God; and it means-”No, Lord, it is impossible for You to save and sanctify

me; there are chances I have not had; so many imperfections in my brain and body; no, Lord, it isn’t possible.” That may sound wonderfully humble before men, but before God it is an attitude of defiance. Again, the things that sound humble before God may sound the opposite before men. To say Thank God, I know I am saved and sanctified is in the sight of God the acme of humility, and it means you have so completely abandoned yourself to God that you know He is true. Never

bother your head as to whether what you say sounds humble before men or not, but always be humble before God, and let Him be all in all. There is only one relationship that matters, and that is your personal relationship to a personal Redeemer and Lord. Let everything else go, but maintain that at all costs, and God will fulfill His purpose through your life. One individual life may be of priceless value to God’s purposes, and yours may be that life.

Prayer:

Gracious Father please search our hearts today and remove anything that is rooted in false humility and arrogance. We know that what seems right unto men may not be right unto you. Let us rejoice in knowing that we are what we are by the grace of God; no apology is necessary. Thank you today Father for the love and mercy you revealed to us through your dear Son. It is in the name of Jesus the Christ we offer this prayer. Amen GOSPEL TIMES | VOL.3 ISSUE 1

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