2019 Archives

  Occasionally, in order to describe a favorite writer or speaker, one might say, “He certainly has a way with words!” The point of course is that the communicator very masterfully makes use of the English language to convey his message. I have read many such books, but I must tell you that the book that has affected my life the most is one that you probably already own, …the Bible. You might think it strange that I would recommend the Bible for your reading pleasure. Perhaps you believe the Bible to be a boring book of theology and deep truths that are hard to understand. But I have discovered that while the Bible certainly does contain doctrine and theology, it is a book of excitement and adventure as well.

  How about love stories, the kind that will help you rather than lead you into sin? You should read the story of Ruth and Boaz in the book of Ruth. Maybe you are into Adventure? Check out the story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel, or the story of a nations’s deliverance from the Pharaoh of Egypt in the book of Exodus. If you like Politics, take a look at Esther and Ahasuerus, King of Persia, in the book of Esther, or the plight of the Jews and the tyranny of the Roman Empire in the Gospels. If you prefer stories with an element of surprise, consider the donkey that spoke to a man in the book of Numbers, or the man who had a 13.5 foot bed in Deuteronomy, or 2 Kings that tells of an ax head that floated, and of the time a woman boiled and ate her son. War stories? There has never been a better one written than in Isaiah 37 when an army of 185,000 was destroyed in a single night, or in Judges, where an army of 700 left handed men was assembled. Are you into Sports? How about fishing? You could read the book of Jonah that tells of the big fish that caught a man, or maybe you’d like to read about Peter, who went fishing literally “for the money,” in Matthew 17.

  Get into the Word, and allow God to demonstrate that He, above all others, “has a way with words!” —and His Words are more than entertainment; they will answer your questions, save your soul and change your life.

  A few years ago I had the opportunity to teach a young couples’ Sunday School class. My lesson examined some current issues that I deemed either ethically, morally, or spiritually unacceptable. As I spoke, the class stirred. I could remember the day when these very topics were not even debated among serious Christians, but on this day my young class was struggling to accept what they considered my outdated point of view.

  Later, my mind drifted back to earlier years. I had just married and was feeling like my time had arrived. Every generation before me had enjoyed their day at the top, and now, finally, I was a grown-up and it was my turn to help run the world for a while. Still I could picture those old gray haired saints who carried large print Bibles and would periodically shout “Amen” during church services. In that day, there were some things going on in the world that these men considered ethically, morally, or spiritually unacceptable. I remembered well how I felt cramped by their old fashioned ideas and ideals. I simply could not see the world through their eyes, nor understand the issues from their perspective.

  My point is simply this: Every generation, including my own, is inclined to view the world as if it began in their youth and will end when they die. Moral and ethical judgments are often formulated by observing the best and the worst of our contemporary culture. The result is a continual drift in society toward liberalism and lawlessness.

  No one can deny that we have come a long way, but are we better off or worse? Obviously, we are on a path that leads forever away from God. There must be a better way—a safer way. Perhaps ours, and every generation to come, would do well to forsake the old floating standard and consider the words of the Psalmist (as they are reprinted in my LARGE PRINT Bible), “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever. (Ps. 119:160).”

  Missionary Charles Wesco (44), along with his wife and eight children, had been in the West African country of Cameroon for just twelve days. They were living their dream of serving the Lord among the people of this needy land. On October 18, 2018, Charles, his wife Stephanie, a son, and another missionary, who was driving them to the market to purchase supplies, were caught in the cross-fire of government security forces and rebels. A bullet passed through the car window and struck Charles in the head. He was quickly rushed to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

  The tragedy would be more than most could bear, but while living this nightmare, the Wesco family believes that God has promised to work all things together for their good. They have decided to get better rather than bitter. Their testimony of continued faithfulness to God and His service is an inspiration to us all.
Corinth Baptist Church has invited Ben Sinclair, the missionary who was driving the car when Charles was shot, to be with us for services on May 31st – June 2nd. Ben will be sharing his testimony of what happened that day and how the Lord has used this tragedy to effect the lives of many for good. We invite you to come and be challenged by this story of courage and sacrifice. We have chosen the theme Counting The Cost.

Missionary Ben Sinclair and Family
May 31st — June 2nd
Friday evening at 7:00pm; Saturday evening at 7:00pm
Sunday at 9:30am; 10:45am and 1:15pm
The Wesco testimony will be shared during the Friday evening service.
Please feel free to call for more information.

  What makes a great woman great?  Someone who loves basketball might say, “A great woman is one who can run with the ball and not double dribble!  A fisherman might answer, “A great woman is one who has her own tackle box.”  A child might unashamedly profess, “A great woman is somebody like my Mom.”

  Who’s right?  What really makes a woman great?  In the Bible, great women of God played leading roles in God’s drama of redemption.  The story of one such woman is found in 2 Kings 4.  “And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman (v. 8a).”

  Several characteristics manifest this woman’s greatness.  First notice, this Shunammite  woman was hospitable.  Verse 8 says, “…she constrained him to eat bread.  And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.”  In our day of hurry, we need to be reminded of the importance of simple hospitality.  My grandmother was to hospitality what Arnold Palmer is to golf.  The visiting preacher, the milk man, the vacuum cleaner salesman, and anyone else who came to her house would leave pleasantly full, smiling, and assured of a new found friendship.  They had also heard of the love of Christ and His power to save.

  Secondly, we see that the Shunammite woman had a keen spiritual perception.  Verse 9 says, “And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually.”   O that women of this century would take time to know God and His ways.

  Later, this woman lost her only son to an unexpected illness, but she refused to relinquish her faith in the God of Elijah.  Verses 18-37 tell how her faith resulted in her son being raised from the dead!

  Think of it ladies, because of her sincere hospitality, spiritual perception, and faith in God, this woman’s story is indelibly published in Holy Writ.  Perhaps you would aspire to be the next great woman of God.

  This is the essence of Moses’ final warning to Israel after he had led them out of captivity, delivered them to God at Mount Sinai and given them the laws of God. He said, “And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish. (Deuteronomy 8:19).”

  Though America is not Israel, our nation was founded upon the same principles that were delivered to our forefathers by the God of Moses. We are becoming a nation that has forgotten God; and like Israel of old, without knowledge of God and faith in His promises, we will surely perish. Certainly God would have us heed Moses’ warning today.

  How have we forgotten God? I invite you to step outside next Sunday morning and listen. You will not likely hear the stillness of God’s prescribed “day of rest,” but the roar of lawn mowers and other machinery used by an increasing number of neighbors who view God as a mental or emotional crutch for the weak at heart. Take a look around at the businesses that are open for “business as usual” on the Lord’s Day. People flock to the retail stores dressed in their daily duds to celebrate the first day of a new week without God.

  Even those who call themselves Christians are obviously becoming more contented with less of God. Churches have become the meeting places of people with itching ears, desiring only a pep talk to pacify their spiritual hunger and entertain their flesh. As God predicted, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (2Timothy 4:3-4).”
We contend with those who would alter our pledge, “One nation under God.” But contrary to our criticisms, our lifestyles argue for the words “One nation without God.”