RELIGION Section
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The Singing Saints The Saints come marching in: The Singing Saints Choir of Covington First United Methodist Church will sing for the Day Revival at Monticello Baptist Church on Wednesday, October 20 at 11:00 AM. Preaching will be Dr. Harper Shannon, leader of evangelism among Alabama Baptists, and former pastor of churches in Birmingham and Montgomery. Pictured are the members of the choir with Becky Ramsey, Director (front row, left) and Alice Walker, Accompanist (front ... 
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About Faith: Deeds along the road There is a legend about a very wise king who decided to build a highway from one end of his kingdom to the other. Everyone approved of the king’s plans, and watched with anticipation as road crews went to work. This highway would be the pride of all who lived there. It would be used by soldier and monk, royalty and pauper, citizen and sojourner alike, and all who traveled it would bless ... |
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Love on the links Attention golfers: are you looking for a way to save lives and make a difference in the community while playing the sport you love? Next month, you have the opportunity to do just that. Refuge Pregnancy Center is hosting the 2010 Cari Hilton Memorial Golf Tournament on Sept. 20 from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Oaks course in Covington. Proceeds from the tournament benefit the center.
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Grace Notes: Put on the full armor of God You are at war. I know, you probably didn’t have to swerve to miss any IED’s on the road today, and I’m sure you weren’t dodging any heat-seeking missiles when you went to get the paper. Nevertheless, you are at war. That’s the way God’s Word describes your life here on this earth: War. |
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About Faith: This is hard! In the gospel stories, I do not recall any occasion when the disciples complained of being hungry, or tired, or of pain. As followers of an itinerant rabbi, they were prepared to hike for miles over rough terrain, sustained by meager fare and perhaps suffer violence at the hands of their detractors. We see stories where the disciples note a lack of food ("send the crowds away so that they may go ... |
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Active teens, ActiveWater Teenagers often have the reputation of being self-centered. Whether playing video games, spending hours on Facebook or working a part-time job to make extra money, many teens spend their free time in pursuit of things that only benefit themselves. Two local students are shattering the stereotype of the selfish teenager by committing to raise $10,000 to help relieve the water crisis in the African nation of Zambia.
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Grace Notes: Your treasure, your heart Have you ever had that feeling like you’re spinning your wheels? Does it ever seem like you work work and work and don’t seem to get anywhere? You know you make as much as a bunch of people, but it just doesn’t seem like you can ever get ahead? God’s Word for us today in Haggai 1 explains why that happens. |
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About Faith: Peace amidst the storm The news recently has celebrated the antics of Jet Blue flight attendant Steven Slater, who pulled off his version of "Take this job and shove it." He made his grand exit from the plane (and his employment) by shouting a series of expletives, opening the emergency escape door, deploying the escape chute, and sliding down to freedom. The two beers he took with him added a dramatic flourish. But more notable is the ... |
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Grace Notes: Be joyful always "Be joyful always." That’s what the Holy Spirit inspired the apostle Paul to tell us in 1 Thessalonians 5:16. Now, if you’re looking for a verse of the Bible to memorize, that is one of the easiest, right alongside the classic "Jesus wept." Actually, did you know there is a shorter verse in the NIV translation? Job 3:2 is just "He said." But I digress. I was saying that "Be joyful always" ... |
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The abiding journey Nearly all churches take seriously Christ’s call to make disciples. However, discipleship is not a one-size-fits-all process, and many churches need help developing a discipleship system that works for them. One local man has dedicated himself to helping church leaders cultivate strategies to turn mere converts into disciples who devote their lives fully to Christ. |
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Thanks, but no thanks I disagree with both the liberal and conservative approaches to the current economic crisis. |
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About Faith: Pardon my dust Well, my doctor has advised me to reduce my salt intake for the sake of my blood pressure, a task which has proven to be very difficult. I can pass by the obviously salty things like chips and bacon, but salt is hidden in everything from artichokes to zucchini. Cooking without salt is not hard, but dining out low-sodium style is next to impossible. |
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Grace Notes: Lord, teach us to pray Our church’s construction project has hit a little delay. We’re still waiting for approval from the Department of Transportation. So, I asked the contractor who’s trying to work through all this what I could do to help. I was thinking he might tell me to make a phone call or supply some documents. His answer? Pray. |
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The first female A local church with a long and storied history opened a new chapter with the installation of its first female senior pastor. The Rev. Rhoda Howell was appointed by the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church to serve as pastor of Salem United Methodist Church in July. Howell came to Covington from Trinity United Methodist Church in Dalton and has served at various churches in Cobb County.
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A walk through time For an adherent of any faith, the opportunity to connect directly with one’s spiritual heritage is rare. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have a unique privilege, in that their religious history runs parallel to American history. Earlier this summer, eight high school students and two adults from the Covington congregation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints took part in an event that celebrated both the ...
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About Faith: Answers and questions In this information age, almost anything you want to know can be gleaned from the internet or some other source. The recent "Wiki Leak" of tens of thousands of war diary entries from Afghanistan is only the most recent in the flood of data made available to us. The problem with data, though, is that it is up to the user to analyze it and draw conclusions. While our knowledge has grown exponentially ... |
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Grace Notes: One thing needful Are you busy? You know that question precedes someone asking for a moment of your time, right? You know that it might come off as rude to say "yes" and then walk away, even if you are busy. But you are busy, aren’t you? Doesn’t it always seem that there are more things to do than time, money, and energy to do them? Are there things you don’t get to because your life is so hectic? My guess is "yes." |
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Grace Notes: Trust in the Lord Tomorrow, I’ll be conducting a funeral of a man not yet 50 years old. So, needless to say, there are a bunch of people asking a bunch of questions. Have you ever been in that situation? Have you ever asked God "Why?" And maybe it isn’t even about a death. Maybe you’ve tried to figure out why you lost a job, or why your child rebelled, or why your health failed, or ... |
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About Faith: A Meaningful Life If you asked 50 people what they wanted in life, you would probably get 50 answers. But at the heart of each answer would run a common theme: meaning. We all want meaning in our lives. We all want a sense of purpose and gravity around something bigger than ourselves. This is part of what John Wesley called Prevenient Grace. It is God’s gift to us which includes our innate awareness of ... |
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Bringing the faith with them Churches have long been committed to taking care of the elderly. For years, churches have devoted resources and staff and volunteer hours to ministering to "shut-ins" and visiting those in nursing homes. With the advent of assisted living facilities, churches have discovered new ways to reach out to older generations. Local assisted living facilities have seen the benefits of churches reaching out to their residents.
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Grace Notes: The price of freedom You know the saying: "Freedom is not free." As we prepare to celebrate the 4th of July this weekend, it’s important to appreciate that. Think of how much so many have given so that you could be reading this in peace. Think of the lives given so that we can be so comfortable in our security that seeing things exploding in the sky this weekend will not be scary. |
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About Faith: Roots and Branches Current events can sometimes take a toll on my spirit. Recently, the news outlets have bombarded us with this hot news flash: More Of The Same. More economic stagnation, more sweltering heat, more closures and foreclosures, more oil spilling into the Gulf of Mexico. Even a new field general in Afghanistan does not mask the fact that it is the same old war. Politicians campaigning for office are giving us the same ... |
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Triumphant homecoming There’s an old adage that says, "you can’t go home again." Many young people who feel the call to ministry are discovering that the cliche is simply not true as they return to serve at their home churches. Covington native Philip Carroll, youth minister at Covington Christian Church, is one of those people.
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Grace Notes: Be built up Here’s a quandary for you. When you see a building going up — who gets the credit? Is it the contractor, the supplier, the fund-raiser? Or what about the architect, or the laborers? I know that a whole bunch of people will be at least partially taking credit for my church’s new building. The contractor and the stone supplier and the stained glass guy have already asked for pictures to use in ... |
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Grace Notes: Receive with believing hearts "The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look on you with favor and give you peace." For 25 centuries, believers have been holding God to these promises that he gave us to use as we bless each other. But what exactly are these words saying? |
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About Faith: The church’s one foundation The Church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord. Or so the song goes. We sing it often, and its theme is reflected in many places throughout the New Testament. So why must we be reminded of church unity so frequently? Are we such disparate people, so inclined to fragmentation, that unity goes against our very nature? Would the Church universal spin off into a thousand shards without our constant efforts to ... |
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Opportunities for success Education is key to a child’s success throughout life, and most parents want to find the best possible education for their children. There are many opportunities for quality education in Newton County, from public schools to private academies to home schooling. One local school is working to provide a Christian-based education in a unique atmosphere.
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