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    jackieholness

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    Shout out to…Bethesda Baptist Church

    Hello World!!!

    In my last post, I asked y’all to shout your home church and y’all complied. Thank you kindly! And now I want to take the time to highlight the good work of another church – Bethesda Baptist Church in the Dec…for those of you who live out of state – that is Decatur…where it’s greater! (U, stand up girl!)

    In fact, by way of my girl, U, I learned about the church, which has opened up a free health clinic, the House of Grace Health Care Clinic. The clinic offers exams, evaluation by a doctor, lab work and presciption services to low-income, uninsured adults at NO COST. The clinic  is housed in a space donated by the Atlanta Belvedere Seventh Day Adventist Church. The church once operated a school in the space. This is also an awesome example of churches working together!

    The clinic, which is seeking patients, can treat up to 30 patients on the first and third Monday of each month from 6 to 9 p.m. To qualify for care, you must be 18 years old and have an income at or below 20 percent of the federal poverty level. According to The Champion Newspaper, an individual who earns a monthly income at or below $1805 or a family of four whose monthly income is not greater than $3, 675 would be eligible to receive services for example. Services include: non-emergency primary care services; blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, prostate and HIV/AIDS screenings; and pap smears.  A family medical doctor has donated her services and is working with three to five medical assistants. What an example of God’s grace!

    Through the donation of space, equipment and personnel, the clinic will be open up to six months with an operating budget of $7,000. However, according to the pastor, Pastor Terrance J. Gattis, the clinic needs to raise $15,000 to $25,000 to fund the annual budget. To donate online through the clinic’s PayPal account, go to http://mybethesda.org/House_Of_Grace.html. Gattis is also seeking an additional doctor to expand the clinic’s services.

    According to the Word (Mark 16: 17-18), believers can “lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.” I think God is working through this pastor and the Bethesda Baptist Church to provide healing…

    If you know of a church which is doing some outstanding work in the community, don’t be scared to shout out the church…I may even write a post about them… 🙂

    Any thoughts?

    P.S. Shout out to Dr. Benjamin Carson, pictured above,  who is director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at John Hopkins Children’s Center. Carson credits his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for enabling him to achieve his stunning success!

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    Let Us Go Into the House of the Lord…

    Hello World!!!

    During these difficult economic times, I’m sure more and more people are finding themselves in church on Sunday mornings…There is nothing like hearing the encouraging and heartfelt words of a skilled pastor accompanied by the sounds of a soulful choir to lift your spirits when all else has failed…I imagine that our beloved commander in chief and his beautiful family would benefit from regularly attending church…but as you know since the debacle that was President Obama’s and Rev. Wright’s break up last year, the Obamas have been without a church home…According to a McClatchy Newspapers article, the Obamas probably won’t pick a church home until after Easter.

    Sources in the article stated the following DC churches are on their short list:

    1. Metropolitan AME – Powerful black leaders including Vernon Jordan attend this church. Frederick Douglass is a past member, and the church may have been a stop on the Underground Railroad…sounds good to me…

    2. Nineteenth Street Baptist – (now on 16th Street) The church has an extensive civil rights history.

    3. People’s Congregational United Church of Christ – This church, of the same denomination as Obama’s former church, has a predominantly black congregation. Melody Barnes, Obama’s domestic policy advisor, is a member of the church.

    4. Calvary Baptist – Led by a pastor who grew up in Hawaii, this is a smaller church. The Rev. Amy Butler “writes a church blog and is building a young, mixed ethnic and racial congregation.”

    I’m sure the Obamas are praying about their choice, and I pray that God’s will prevails…

    The Obamas’ search has got me thinking about what people look for in a church. As I’m a preacher’s daughter, I have attended my father’s church for most of my life. For all of its flaws, my small church feels like an extended family. They watched me grow up and their love has sheltered me when the outside world shunned me. (Middle school was crazy hard. 🙁 ) We have experienced many deaths in our little family. We’ve watched many members move on to more glitzy and glam churches about town. We’ve watched some stray away from the faith altogether…but we’re still here…and still holding on to our faith…

    In an effort to kinda switch things up a bit,  however, I decided  about a year or so ago to attend Bible Study at a different church…Seeing my father at my home church and at my parents’ home can get old…Shout out to Redemption Community Church which is led by Pastor L.K. Pendleton! A small but growing United Methodist church, I also feel at home there. Let me also shout out our fearless Bible Study leader who shall go nameless unless he wants to reveal himself! His passion for the Lord and the Word have inspired me! (He’s a bit mouthy and brash, but I don’t mind…ha,ha!)

    What do you look for in a church? Some people prefer large churches whereas others prefer a small, close-knit church. Some churches draw people because of their choirs. Other churches draw people because they have historical significance. Other churches are popular because many races are represented there. Some people like churches because they have “pomp and circumstance.” Some people prefer churches which are led by fringe groups not typically represented at mainstream churches. Other churches draw people because they have star pastors and star members for that matter. Some people pick their churches simply because they are down the street…

    Why do you attend your church? Also, don’t be scared to shout our your church!

    I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.  Psalm 122:1

    Any thoughts?

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    Like a pimp…part deux

    Hello World!!!

    Although it is a tad chilly here in the A, Spring has still sprung as of last Friday…Before you know it, it will be Easter – the most victorious time of the year for Christians! But I digress, today’s post won’t be long. I just wanted to hear your thoughts about a topic that is frequently discussed on The Michael Baisden Show, a popular radio program that I listen to almost daily.

    His series, “Pimps in the Pulpit,” which is mentioned in the bio on his Web site, is always guaranteed to incite excitement! In this series, Baisden discusses his distrust of church leaders for a variety of reasons including some well-known scandals including pastors and the lavish lifestyles that some pastors lead. It seems to me his distrust is one of the reasons that he has shied away from Christianity and organized religion in general.

    Apparently, Baisden isn’t the only one that feels that way. One of my Facebook friends posted an interesting link last week about a new book that is on the market. In “Clever Lives and Assumptions from the Pulpit to the Pews,” by Pastor F.L. Anderson, the pastor states that many men stay away from church  because “the lavish lifestyles of some pastors are a stumbling block that keeps many of them away from the Church.”

    “Too often we are presented with and are fond of church leaders with the persona and the charisma of the neighborhood, hoods, the used car salesman, or the cunning telemarketer on the other end of the phone. Too many have decided to be mirror images of the neighborhood gangsters and pimps of the ’60s and ’70s who flaunt their money, wear the flashiest clothes and drive the fanciest cars.”

    Umm, umm, I didn’t say that…the pastor said that… What do you think?

    Pastor Anderson goes on to say that, “In the book of Philippians, Paul gives us insight to the character of Christ. Paul tells us that Jesus made himself of no reputation and took upon Him the form of a servant. In other words, Jesus didn’t make it a point to draw attention to Himself. Though He was and is the King, His lifestyle was a modest one, unlike the lifestyle of then and today. I have come to believe that many love the Pharisees’ lifestyle because the Church is the only organization where the servant lives a lavish lifestyle.”

    “Paul backs up the importance of the lifestyle that Jesus lived when he said, ‘Let your moderation be known to all men.’ (Philippians 4:5) He said moderation meaning ‘avoiding extremes, temperate, not flashy, expensive or excessive. Here is one meaning of moderation that Church leaders should pay attention to: moderate indulgence of appetite or desire.”

    Other topics discussed in Anderson’s book include: “Why is Your Church in Financial Debt,” “Controlling Ministries and Spiritual Abuse,” Giving Under Grace Not Under Pressure – New Testament Giving vs. Old Testament Tithing” and “The Truth Behind Spiritual Coverings.”

    Y’all know this is some explosive stuff for a pastor to get into…

    I have my own opinions, but I want to know what you think? I will say this…anyone who wears a pinky ring is trying to be a pimp…so not attractive, ha, ha

    Any thoughts?

    P.S. In honor of Spring, I have decided to post one of my favorite songs – Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World.” Classic. Enjoy.