Always be ready

By Pastor Ken Staley

There’s few things worse than being caught off guard.

On Dec. 7, 1941, the United States Navy was caught off guard when Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. All the American planes were huddled together one place as were most of the ships. It was an easy target for the enemy.

If that wasn’t bad enough, 10 hours later the Japanese did the same thing again at Clark Air Force base in the Philippines, where all the planes and ships were neatly huddled in one place. America had 10 hours to get wise for the next attack, but did nothing to prepare for it.

How many of us are like that? Satan comes at us with the same schemes that have foiled us before, but we’re surprised when we fail again. The good news is that God has given us weapons to defeat the schemes of the enemy.

Those weapons are found in Ephesians chapter six where the apostle Paul lays out six weapons to give us victory from our enemy.

The Holy Spirit had Paul take his cue from the armor that was worn by the conquering Roman army of that day. The Belt of Truth is what holds some of the other weapons in place. There is no other truth than Jesus, and if that belt of truth is not what is wrapped around us, we are in serious trouble.

The Breastplate of Righteousness is to stop Satan’s lies that we are not in right standing with God. The footwear that the Romans wore were specially made to keep their feet from slipping in the heat of the battle and helped them to be sure-footed when taking the battle to the enemy. The believer’s footwear is that we take the Gospel of Peace to a lost world. God has provided the Holy footwear we need to do that.

The Shield of Faith is our protection from the flaming arrows fired at us in this life. The Roman soldier’s leather shield was soaked in water before he went into battle so it could douse the flames of the arrows being shot at him. Our faith in God’s promises will put out the flame of the lies that Satan shoots at us. The Helmet of Salvation protects the brain. Our main battle in spiritual warfare is the mind. Assurance of our salvation and God’s provision defeats the doubts and lies that Satan throws at us.

Finally, the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. Of the six weapons mentioned, only one, the Sword of the Spirit, is offensive, the first five are defensive weapons.

God’s Word is our weapon to go forward into battle. It’s how Jesus won the battle when tempted in the wilderness. With every temptation that Satan mustered up, Jesus combatted it with the Word of God. His reply every time was, “It is written” and then He would quote the appropriate scripture that applied to the temptation. With these weapons at the ready, we need not be caught off guard when attacks come our way. The Lord has seen to it that we are well provided for as we go into battle in this life.

Faith Church of Pleasant Grove at 9:30 a.m. and Harrisville Methodist at 11 a.m.

11:30, with Pastor Mike Cunningham officiating.

Christ. She spent her entire life preparing herself to meet Jesus. She was an ultimate daily example to her family of endless love and faith, especially after the loss of her husband, Tater, on June 29, 2002, and her beloved only child, Richard Samuel “Rick” “Tater” Hidey, on April 11, 2020. She was also preceded in death by brothers Lloyd and George Riggs and sisters Virginia Rager and Anna Louise Riggs.

Surviving is her devoted brother Rex Morgan, daughter-in-law Julie Brock Hidey; granddaughter Alexis (Josh) Litzenberg; grandson Kyle F. (Kelsey) Hidey; great grandchildren Zender, Krieger, Casher and Drezner Litzenberg, Kayson and Aubrielle

Glendean Piper Stackhouse, 68, of Cadiz, Ohio, passed away on Thursday June 29, 2023, at WVU Wheeling Hospital. She was born November 22, 1954, a daughter of the late Lawrence and Agnes Dunlap Piper.

Glendean is survived by her loving husband of 42 years Vance Stackhouse, a daughter: Emily Stackhouse (George) Freese, sisters: Juanita Powers, Karen (Brad) Hinkle; grandmother and Nana to Ava Jade Stackhouse and Nickolas Jacobs, numerous nieces and nephews.

In keeping with Glendean’s wishes, services will be private.

Borkoski Funeral

Rose Hidey, Corey, and Audrina and several nieces and nephews. Services were held Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at 1 pm in New Rumley Church with Pastor David Lee officiating. Burial followed in Grandview Cemetery, Scio. Friends could call two hours prior to the service at the church from 11 am to 1 pm. The family would like memorial contributions, in lieu of flowers, be used to help others at either Community Hospice, 716 Commercial Ave SW, New Philadelphia, OH 44663 or the Harrison County Humane Society, PO Box 404, Cadiz, Ohio 43907, paypal.me/ HumaneSocietyHC. Koch Funeral Home, Scio has been entrusted with her arrangements.

HARRISON HILLS CHURCH

87800 Cadiz-Jewett Rd., Jewett Church: 946-2851 Pastor Philip Spellman

MT. SHILOH BAPTIST CHURCH 83522 Baker’s Ridge Road, Cadiz mtshiloh.net

FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST “A Place to Belong” 139 North Main St., Cadiz | 740-942-2235 firstchurchofchrist@frontier.com • fccadiz.com

Pastor Paul E. Giffin Service begins at 10 a.m.

RIDGE & SCIO PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Ridge: 40420 Hanover Ridge Rd, Jewett

Home, 555 East Market Street, Cadiz is assisting the family. Offer online condolences at www.borkoskifuneral.com

Crucial vote near

I believe our state and our nation is at a crucial point in history. God promises to bless the nation that chooses to follow the Lord’s will. Our nation has been progressively going further and further away from God’s ideals.

A major issue in Ohio and the U.S. is the atrocity of abortion. According to Proverbs 6:17, God hates the shedding of innocent blood and actually calls it an abomination.

I believe we are teetering on the edge of God’s judgment.

The baby-killing abortion crowd is speaking loudly and mobilizing in an effort to change the Ohio Constitution to ensure the shedding of innocent blood therein.

The special election in August would make it more difficult for them to get this evil passed into law.

Every Christian in Ohio should vote yes in August to

E. WARREN ST. CHURCH OF CHRIST 137 E. Warren St., Cadiz | 740-491-1395 Pastor Tom Arnold raise the percentage to change the constitution to 60 percent. This would make it much more difficult for the “prochoice” baby-rallying crowd to enshrine this abomination into Ohio law.

The innocent babies of Ohio are depending on every Christian and moral secular individual to stand up for them by voting for Issue 1 in August and against the constitutional amendment in November.

Innocent babies and the future blessing of our state and nation are depending on us to do the right thing and vote for life and righteousness.

Pastor David Powell Carrollton Baptist Temple

NEW RUMLEY GLOBAL METHODIST CHURCH 740-945-1341 newrumleychurch.org

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF CADIZ 154 West Market St., Cadiz | 740-942-2366 cadizpresbyterian.org

SPRINGDALE FRIENDS CHURCH 79975 Springdale Hill Rd., Cadiz, OH Pastor Mike Ward

SCOTT MEMORIAL

UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

817 East Market St., Cadiz | 740-942-2825

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OH 740-922-4848

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