Pastor's
Harbor
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Antioch
Lighthouse
Here
at Antioch, we are Disciples for Christ, the Church of
Three Ships: Worship, Friendship, and Fellowship; Where our worship is produced by our daily devotion with God,
Where our friendship is produced by our love, Where our
fellowship is produced by our relationship with Christ.
Here at Antioch, we are Kingdom Building.
Rev.
Michael E. Coleman, Pastor
Staff/Writers:
Bonnie Frizell, Rosemary Jordan, Shelly Robinson
Editor:
Stella Thomas
December 1999
Volume II
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| "Pulling Down Strong Holds and
Building Up Relationships" (2 Cor. 10:3-8)
A Mind to Work
So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined
together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. Neh
4:6 (NKJ)
Let me ask you a question. DO WE HAVE A MINE
TO BUILD? Before you answer that question listen to what
the psalmist has to say. "Unless the LORD builds the house,
they labor in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the
watchman stays awake in vain." You would think that this is
a pretty pessimistic outlook, and it it if we do not trust in the
Lord. Let me be frank with you today. God has brought us,
Antioch, a mighty long way since 1993. Many of you have been
here for more years than these six I am considering.
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Even over the course of that time we can
say that God has brought us out of the dungeon of despair. He
has brought us back from the edge of life's precipice. He has
turned our morning into joy. He is forming us into a symphony
out of jangling cords. In Genesis 4:9-11 we see people build for
the wrong reasons and God thwarts their efforts. Let us learn
from the tower of Babel. Let us do all things to the praise of
God's glory.
You at this point may still not be able to answer the question
posed. You may say don't fix what isn't broken. The
problem we live in a broken world. The church is God's instrument
for positive change in a negative world. So the answer to the
above question is 'Hand Me Another Brick'. We must trust God for
the resources, while God is trusting us to the sweat equity.
There are so many things that stand against us being righteous yet the
scriptures witness that God is more than a
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world against us. If we are Christ's
then we have in us the strength to forge ahead. We cannot build
if we are not together as contractor, workers, and suppliers. We
cannot build when we spend more time on other projects and not God's
projects. In Acts 2:42-47 we come face to face with the program
of God. Daily we are to be in prayer, learning, sharing , and praising
God. Sin draws us away with many allurements. Our
responsibility is to stay on the wall. Don't come down for any
reason. If you are not spending more time than Sunday with God
you are not committed to learn the will of God through the Word of God
you are not willing to work. I ask you now, more
specifically. Are you will to BUILD?
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Journey of Praise
"YOU are the light of the world ...Let
your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory
to your Father who is in Heaven." - - Matthew 5:14,16
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Port Of Worship
Submitted by Sis. Louise
Walker
"Worship" simply means 'worth-ship'. The
world port, as it relates to worship is ever changing and implies
diversity. Ports are all around the world and denotes travel.
many of you are under the impression that there is no excitement or new
challenges going on at Antioch...well think again. The Adult Women
Sunday School class is bursting with excitement, as each Sunday morning at
9:45 we gather with our Co-commanders, Sister Annabelle Bachman, Sis.
Violet Allen and Sis. Susie Fisher and travel through the Bible, stopping
at such places as the Garden of Eden & Egypt. We've stopped in
Canaan and even visited Mt. Sinai (the place where Moses was given the Ten
Commandments. As we study the Old Testament, we've learned about the
battle of Jeriho, we've followed the dynasty of Saul, stopped by Ruth and
Naomi's house, and even learned patience through Job. Our Sunday
school class takes us all through history and gives us answers to how we
should live.
Along with our study, our group also leads an outreach
mission led by Sis. Maggie Elliott, and Sis. Allie P. Kincaid keeps us aware
of our sick and shut ins.
So you see Sunday School is both informative and
fulfilling, teaching us of our past, present, and future.
Come join us as we share God's Love and we know you will
never be the same.
God Bless you |
Port of Friendship
Author unknown
God so love the world that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have
everlasting
life.
John 3:16
One day, a man went to visit a
church. He arrive earl, parked his car, and got out. Another car
pulled up near him, and the driver told him, "I always part
there. You took my place!"
The visitor went inside for
Sunday School, found an empty seat and sat down. A young lady from
the church approached him and stated, "That's my seat! You took
my place!" The visitor was somewhat distressed by this rude
welcome, but said nothing.
After Sunday School, the
visitor went into the church sanctuary and sat down. Another member
walked up to him and said, "That's where I always sit. You took
my place!" The visitor was even more troubled by this
treatment, but still said nothing.
Later, as the congregation was
praying for Christ to dwell among them, the visitor stood, and his
appearance began to change. Horrible scars became visible on his
hands and on hi sandaled feet. Someone from the congregation noticed
him and called out, "what happened to you?" The visitor
replied, "I took your place."
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Port of Fellowship
by Shelly Robinson
Fellowship as described by our mission statement, is produced by our
relationship with Christ. We most commonly think in turn of fellowship
as person-to-person contact or socializing.
The component that builds our relationships with Christ
is union (a cord that binds
together) and agreement (the word of God).
As Christians, we enjoy spending time with fellow believers, but we must
remember that there is another side to fellowship . . . the fellowship of Christ
Suffering. When we come together in agreement with the word, and suffer
for the cause of Christ, we share a special relationship. This kind of
fellowship encourages those who are suffering.
A nephew went to visit his uncle in the hospital. He noticed that his
uncle was experiencing great pain so he preceded to share the Gospel of Christ
and, His suffering on the cross for our sins. This fellowship changed the
uncle's concept of suffering and helped him to know and understand that when difficulties
come, when sickness overwhelms us, when life hands us more that we think we can
bear, it is our fellowship with other believers and with Christ that strengthens
the cord that binds us together.
Keep yourselves in the love of God and wait for the Mercy of our Lord
Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. Jude 1:21
Feature of the Month: Cecellia
Williams
by Rosemary Jordan
You look in the kitchen
of Antioch and you will see Mrs. Cecellia Williams. Well, that isn't where
she started out. Mrs. Williams joined Antioch in 1973 and began working as
an usher. She began ushering at the age of 12 in Mississippi.
Most of us know Mrs. Williams through her dedication in working in the
kitchen. She got started working with the kitchen when asked to by the
trustees many years ago, and she discovered that it was something she loved
because it was a way to serve others as well as serve Christ. She said
that the first thing she did in excepting this challenge was to put God
first. Mrs. Williams worked faithfully in the kitchen until 1997 when her
mother became ill and she moved her from Mississippi to live with her
here. She makes arrangements to se tot he care of her mother when called
upon to work in the kitchen.
Mrs. Williams says that her most favorite scripture is the 23rd Psalms.
I asked Mrs. Williams, Chris Dunn wrote the following:
If she could help somebody as she traveled on, then her living would
not be in vain.
"Words to live by also words that describe the savvy of Sister Cecellia
Williams, always willing to help as she travels thru this life whether it be in
the kitchen preparing food, providing transportation for someone without or
giving an encouraging word to someone who might be feeling down. Being the
avid gardener that she is it's no wonder, one of her favorite bible passages is:
Galatians 6:7 "Don not be deceived, God is not mocked: for whatever a
man sows, that he will also reap." She knows the importance of sowing
good seed, for come harvest time if you've sowed a lot of good seeds into the
lives of others and God will surely bless you".
REFLECTIONS
Jesus' Birthday Wish
Do you have any idea what Jesus wants
for His birthday? Christmas is first and foremost Jesus' birthday,
right? Well, where I come from, the birthday boy is the one who gets the
gifts, not the guests.
Unfortunately Jesus doesn't get a lot
for His birthday. Christmas has become largely a day when everyone seems
to get something except Jesus, a day when He winds up watching us make each
other feel good. And a lot of the gifts you will get this Christmas are
things you either don't need or don't want, or maybe both.
Sometimes we get inappropriate gifts
for someone because we fail to ask that person what he or she really
wants. Well, when the receiver of your gifts is Jesus Christ, you don't
want to miss the mark and give Him something He doesn't want.
Now maybe you're asking yourself about now, "How can I know
what Jesus wants for His birthday?" Well, I'm glad you asked, because
I believe it's possible to answer that question. I believe we can know a
great deal about what Jesus wants, because He has left us His "gift with
list" in His word, the Bible. If we as Christian are going to
celebrate Christmas as it was meant to be celebrated -- as the birthday or our
Savior and Lord - I believe that the answer is found in the 25th Chapter of
Matthew, specifically verses 35 and 36 "For I was an hungered, and ye gage
me meat: I was thirsty, and gage me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye
came unto me."
Taken from the "Time to Get Serious"
by Tony Evens
A Gift of Love
Scripture: A new commandment I give unto you,
That ye love one and another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one
another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have
love one to another. John 13:34,35 (NJV)
Because of the need that we see in our church as well as our
community, the Women Ministry is beginning a Party of Baby Items.
We are asking each family in our church congregation to purchase
one or more of the items listed below in sizes 0 to 9 months. We
will also accept donations of cash or check. Make checks payable to Antioch
Baptist Church, and give to either Charlotte Coleman, Leila Granger,
Rochelle Polk or Stella Thomas.
Disposable
Diapers
Bath
Tub
Disposable Bottle
Bags
Baby Caps/Hats
Baby
Power/Lotion/Oil
Blankets
Baby
Soap
Baby Food
Sweaters
Bottles
Crib
Sheet
One Piece
Sleepers
Walker
Diaper Bag
Booties/Socks
Baby
Wipes
Pacifiers/Bibs
Undershirts
Car
Seat
Bottle Brushes
As we enter the season of Jesus' Birthday, we urge you to share
the joy of His birth by giving and sharing with others.
We thank you for your love and compassion.
Antioch Baptist Church
Rev. Michael E. Coleman, Pastor
426 Sumner Street
Waterloo, Ia. 50703