January 27, 2008
Volume XXVII - Number 4  

Could You Stand Up for Jesus?
Mark Ray

The incident mentioned in this article occurred in the summer of 2006. The article confronts us with a very thought- provoking situation and raises a soul-searching question.

John Pigg, preacher for the Lake Harbour church of Christ in Ridgeland (formerly the South Madison congregation), related the case of the Fox News journalist Steve Centanni and cameraman Olaf Wiig who had been held hostage in the Gaza Strip. To win their release after several weeks, they had to agree to pay a large ransom, make an anti-American video and agree to publicly convert to Islam.

In following interviews, Centanni and his cameraman have both made clear the fact that to them, converting to Islam was not a big deal since they did not happen to be all that religious anyway. But this got me to thinking . . . What would I do in that situation? If someone held a knife to my throat and told me to confess Allah as the only true god, what would I do in order to be free again?

How strong is the temptation to see my home once again, to hold my children once again in my lap, even to take an additional breath? Is my belief in God strong enough, true enough, zealous enough to even give my life for Christ's sake? Many I have asked about this situation have told me they would openly deny Christ because of their fear. Others have rationalized the situation and said, "I would just repent when I got home." But Christ demands our faithfulness even to the point of death, Revelation 2:10. Christ said, "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven." Matthew 10:32-33.

What would you do?

 


AM SERMON:
"Must We Sin? "
(Mark 1:9-13)
PM SERMON:
FSOP Sudent Preacher

The annual Cupid's Café fellowship meal (usually held on the Sunday evening before Valentine's Day) will be held this year on the last Sunday in February (24th). Cupid's Café is where the men prepare and serve a meal for the ladies.

Ladies' Work Group
The Ladies' Work Group is scheduled to meet tomorrow evening (Monday) at 7:00, in the work room behind the annex. All of our ladies are invited to attend and participate. PM Fellowship
All are invited to meet with us in the annex tonight after the PM services for our monthly fellowship in honor of this month's birthdays and anniversaries. Be sure to bring your favorite snack or covered dish.

It's A Girl
Congratulations to Gina and Jack Pinckert on the birth of Olivia Bryn Pinckert (8 lbs, 2 oz - 20") yesterday (Saturday, Jan. 26) at the Regency in Winter Haven. At last report baby and mother were doing well.

For The Pantry
Pantry needs are growing. We are out of the following items:

Soup
Powdered Milk
Peanut butter/jelly mixed
Black-eyed peas
Fruit:
Peaches
Pears
Canned whole potatoes
Canned sliced potatoes
Mac & Cheese
Soap
Chicken ‘N Dumplings
Spam (canned meat)

Please help out as much as possible.

FSOP Lectureship Book
If you missed the 2008 Florida School of Preaching Lectureship "Do You Understand the Biblical View of Man?", copies hardcover edition of the book are available for purchase ($16.00) in the foyer. You may also purchase audio CDs of the individual lectures or an MP3 disc of the entire lectureship by going to the fsop.net web-site or by seeing Dottie Gutzler. All proceeds go toward paying for the lectureship series and supporting the school.

Wednesday Devo
This Wednesday will be the fifth Wednesday of the month and we will have our regular 5th Wednesday Devotional service. Be here while we worship God in song, prayer and with His Word.

What, then, is time? I know well enough what it is, provided that nobody asks me; but if I am asked what it is and try to explain, I am baffled." (Augustine)
 

Ann Johnson, Tom Bryant,
James Huggins, Gladys Wagner,
Wanda Greene, Frances Kidwell,
Gaylon West, Zach Mathis,
Cindy Chambers,
Luther Pendergrass,
Steve & Gloria Jones, Wilda Cox,
Brian Green, Pete Peeples,
Pansy Sims, Brice Oliver,
Gina Dupree
– Shut Ins –
Ken Skinner, Robert Cox,
Frances Black, Jason Powell,
Mattie Hughs
– In The Nursing Homes –
Robert Pearson (Tandem)