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Religion

  • Where there is grace, grace always wins

    Since my friend Mike has been sober, he’s taken me to one of his AA meetings every so often.

    I don’t struggle with alcohol, but I have my own compulsions and obsessions.

    It’s my opinion that every one of us is addicted to something and that those somethings can and do change, sometimes daily.

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  • Local Church News | Jan. 27, 2016

    Monterey Baptist Church

    The fifth Sunday of the month, Jan. 31, has been declared “Sweat Suit Sunday” by the pastor. Wear comfy clothes to church that morning!

    Fill the pews with shoes is a community wide activity to support the Family Resource Center and Youth Services Center. Bring new tennis shoes to church on Sunday, Jan. 31, so we can fill the pews with shoes. The minimum size for children is 5; ladies maximum size is 10; and men’s maximum size is 13. Only new tennis shoes will be accepted.

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  • Getting my hate on for my sin in the new year

    I rarely make New Year’s resolutions, and I’m not sure if this counts as one, but around the end of December I noticed that whenever I was in church my eyes would be drawn to the big steel crossbeam in my favorite window.

    I’d look at it, unable to look away, and think about what it means, why the cross was necessary in human history and my part in it.

    I’d think about sin, my sin, and I’d find myself praying, “God, show me my sin, that I might hate it as much as you do.”

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  • A badge, a bull, and a smart aleck farmer make for fun

    BY ROGER ALFORD
    N-H Columnist

    A rather cocky young sheriff’s deputy pulled in the driveway and told an old farmer he was going to search his farm for marijuana.

    The old farmer said, “OK, but don’t go in that field right over yonder.”

    The deputy said: “Mister, you see this badge? This badge means I can go wherever I want to go, whenever I want to go there, no questions asked. Do you understand? Have I made myself clear?”

    The old farmer nodded politely and went about his chores.

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  • Local Church News | Jan. 20, 2016

    Cedar Hill Baptist

    Bro. Bill’s message was from Mark 1:14-15 on believing and sharing the gospel.  If we walk with Jesus we have good news to share and our hope is in Christ.

    ARC will resume at 6 p.m. Wednesday, weather permitting. We’ve missed our time with our young people on Wednesday evenings and look forward to seeing them soon.

    The Capital City Boys will be with us to share their musical gifts, followed by a time of food and fellowship at 4 p.m. on Sunday. Please come join us for this special time.

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  • Shoplifting peas can get you a vacation in jail

    BY ROGER ALFORD
    N-H Columnist

    A judge asked a woman who had been arrested for shoplifting a can of peaches why she had done it.

    “Because I was hungry, and I wanted something to eat,” she replied.

    The judge then asked how many peaches were in the can. She responded: “two.”

    “Then I’ll give you two days in jail,” the judge said.

    That’s when her husband quickly spoke up: “Your honor, she also stole a can of peas.”

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  • Why can’t we just have Jesus? Isn’t he enough?

    My husband and I started a tradition a few years ago of attending Christmas Eve service at a church we’ve never attended before.

    That can be good and that can be not so good.

    Last year we went to a church in Orlando after hearing great things about it. We were flying out the next day from Orlando to visit our daughter who was in North Carolina at the time, so we decided to make Christmas Eve into a mini extravaganza with church, dinner afterwards, a walk downtown and a night at an Orlando hotel overlooking Lake Eola.

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  • Local Church News | Jan. 13, 2016

    Elk Lick Baptist Church

    Bro. John and Vickie were visiting friends, so Bro. Marlow and Mary were with us Sunday.

    Bro. Marlow’s sermon was on Matthew 16:13-18. Jesus was fully human and he was fully God and even though we do not understand it, it is by faith we accept it.

    We had communion today. Louise Johnson sang “A Wonderful Life.” We had a wonderful fellowship meal after the service.

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  • It's in the Bible: Big babies need to grow up

    BY ROGER ALFORD
    N-H Columnist

    A redneck making his first skydive was falling through the air, unable to get his parachute to open. Try as he might, it wasn’t budging. In a panic, he yelled to a fellow who was flying up toward him: “Hey buddy, do do you know anything about parachutes?”

    “No,” the fellow responded. “Do you know anything about propane stoves?”

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  • Don’t put a period where God has put a comma

    The last time we visited the church we like in Tampa, the pastor’s message was titled, “Let’s Eat Grandma — the Importance of Punctuation.”

    My first reaction was, “Hmmm. Punctuation? Really?”

    He spoke about commas.

    I’m a word person and I know a little bit about grammar and punctuation, although not much. And commas always throw me off.

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