OCR Text |
Show Page 28—THE HERALD. Provo. Utah, Thursday, January 3, 1980 Religion: Church news, Local Religion Commentary EdgemontSouth Stake Faith Can Soften Tragic Blows By PASTOR MIKE BARDON Grace Baptist Church age. As we enter and go through the Christmas season each year, it seems like there is always something that happens to mar the joy we plan and wish to have as families together. Especially in theseinflation years we find that we can't really give to as many as muh mucha3 weused to give We makeplans to have parties and family gatherings and somethat we'd lanned on being there canceloutat the beet minute. Because of extra pressures and worry and tension, depression sets in easily. One of the great tragedies of the season asa resultof the increasedfire hazard and perhaps carelessnessis that some homes do burn down. Then the greatest tragedy of all is the unexted passing away of a loved one through accidentorillness orjust old The joyous circle around the Christmas tree is broken by sorrow and silence relationship with Jesus Christ. the eter nal Son of G Christmas The birth of the Savior brought good tidings of great joy to all people. The angels declared to the shepherds that a Savior who is Christ the Lord was born in Bethlehem, the city of David Why do we need a Savior? Because wearesinners and the penaltyofsin is physical death and spiritual separation from God. Jesus of Nazareth, the Godman, was born in poverty andgrief. aquainted with sin and sorrow,but having never sinned, went to a cross of shame. A tragedy? No, a victory over sin and death, for he suffered and paid forall oursins by the sheddingofhis precious blood and rose again for our justifica- tion. Christmas tragedies can becomevictories for the person who has a close Schedules Conference have the assurance and say with Paul, that to be absent from th the bodyis to be present with the Lord tragedies are good to causeusto stop and reflect about eternal things. What happens to the soul after death. anyway? Our Lord Jesus Christ makesit clear in Matthew 10:28 that though the body can dieorbe killed, the soul can’t. The soul of man is immortal and does not die or sleep. When this body dies, the soul departs and goes immediately to one of two places. Either in God’s presence in heaven for eternity or in a place of punishmentfor sin forever. A person can gain the whole world. be a church member, obey lawsand ordinances, and tithe and still lose his ownsoul. In James1:17-22, we see that if a person is begotten or born again spiritually. his soul will be saved. head who is born again nowby faith in Christ and his work on the cross can Jamessays,faith without worksis a dead kind of faith. But if you have believed and trusted in the work Jesus did for our salvation and not in any work that we can do that kind of faith is a living faith and saves the soul. When you believe with that kind of faith, God saves you and forgives your sins and gives you the gift of eternal life now. Thakindof faith does produce good works in your life after you are saved. “For by grace we are saved by faith and thatnotof ourselves, it is the gift of God not of works lest any man should boast.” Christmastragedies can be triumphs for those who have the assurance of salvation and understnd the Word of od. Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift. Elder Ronald E. Poelman, memberof the LDS First Quorum of the Seventy, will preside over the Edgemont South Stake Conference this weekend, according to Keith H Hoopes, stake president. “Homeisthe placeto save souls’’ will be the themeofthe conference. “‘Nootherinstitution can take the place of the home,’’ Hoopes said. “and the most important work we do in the home is the saving oi souls.’” Stake priesthood leadership meeting will be Saturday at 4 p.m. in the stake center, 350 E. 2950 N., Provo. All adult members of the stake are invited to attend a stake leadership meeting at 7 p.m. Saturday in the stake center The generalsssionwill begin at 10 a.m. Sunday in the Provo Tabernacle, 100 S. University Ave. The publicis invited. Poelman wascalled to the First Quorum of the Seventy on April 1, 1978. He has served the church as a member of a stake presidency, bishop, high councilor, seminary teacher and missionary to the Netherlands. Lutherans Urge Study of Bible 4 for ‘80 ZENITH Big Trac Baja ZENITH Big Trac Baja TL CHECK THESE ADVANTAGES OF BUYING WITH DAVID EARLY: © © © © Demandfor Bibles Outweighs Supply While in that country, Bricknell visited local Bible Society officials and toured their offices. He observed there were no Bibles to be seen and ficial, “The demandforscrip-., tures is overwhelming. Missionary Plans Talk Dunn, .72.73 eras 81.99 has great any way desired. Lura .67.83 10-15 FET. 4.33. 11-15 FET. 4.64 . 12-15 FET. 5.33 relevance for comingto grips with the fundamental principles which should guide us in matters such as participation by Missouri Synod clergymenin ecumenical marriage ceremonies, rallies and conesses and crusades of various sorts."’ The Bible Study on Fellowshipis available from Concordia Publishing House, and Nafzgerindicated that anyone mayfeel free to duplicate the study in official. The Rev. Keith Bricknell, Queens!and state secretary for the Bible Society in Australia, stated this to American Bible Society officials at their headquarters in New York City, after a recent tour through the German Democratic Republic. 1154 E. 900 S. Provo, will speak at her missionary farewell Jan. 13 at3 p.m. in the Provo 23rd Ward, 1315 E. 9005. Provo. Shewill behonored at an openhouse Saturdayfrom6 to B pm. in the multipurpose room of the Provo StakeCenter 1315 E. 9005. She has beencalled to serve in the Oregon-Portland Mission and will enter the Mis. sionary Training Center Jan 17 torate degree from the university's law schoolin 1955. He married the former Claire Stoddard on March30, 1950. She died May5, 1979. They were the parents of four children. SIZE 15x7 — 15x8 the lessons. Thelessons aretitled ‘Fellowship — A Living Reality,” “Fellowship with Christ,” “Fellowship with the Saints,” ‘Fellowship — In the Bond of Peace,” and ‘‘Fellowship — A Gift to Preserve.” The Rev. Jerald Joersz, CTCR assistant executive secretary, underscored the importance of congregational attention to the fellowship matter as he suggested that pastors might basea series of sermonsonthe Bible study. “Some may be surprised that the Bible study does not mention altar and pulpit fellowship between the LCMS and The American Lutheran Church,” Nafzger said. The two churches declared that fellowship in 1969. Since 1977. the Synod has declared its fellowship with the ALC to be “in protest’’ because of doctrinal disagreements between the two bodies “But questions on fellowship which need to be addressed are broader than simply the matter of our relationship with the ALC,” Nafzger said. ‘We in The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod seekto relate to other Christian churches on the basis of God's prominent Bible Society said a Bible Society of- in 1953 and received his juris doc- WHEELS tions, guidelines for leaders and brief summaries of NEW YORK — The de- asked why. mand for Bibles in East ‘We can’t show you our Germany far outweighs stock becauseit is sold the supply, according toa out beforeit is printed,” RONALD E. POELMAN He was graduated with high honors from the University of Utah A II ST. LOUIS — A newBible study on fellowship, prepared by the Commission on Theology 4 Church Relations of The Lutheran Church-Missouri sre is being sentto all LCMS congregations with the ‘‘strong plea that people engagein the study immediately.”’ The Rev. Samuel H. Nafzger, executive secretary of the commission, madethatplea as copiesof the five-lesson study were being mailed this week. “T would encourage congregations to even consider interrupting their regular educational programs, and conduct the study in January and early February, then forward their reactions to the R by the end of February so that the commission canget the broadestpossible input as it begins to prepareits major report on fellowship,” Nafzger said, That report called for by the 1977 Synod convention will be issued nextfall. The need for an intensive study of the scriptures hout the symod on the topic of fellowship came'outof 56 ‘‘Formula for Concord’’ conferences involving 4,000 professional LCMS church workers in 1978. The CTCR reported that, based on discussion at the conferences, ‘‘considerable confusion exists within the synod on the question of fellowship.” Theintroduction to the Bible study notes thatits pape joes beyond simply providing input to the . "... It is hoped that a wide-spread study of the scriptures on this subject will lead to greater concord in the Synod and to practices of churchfellowship that remain consistent with the principles God has given in his word.” The Bible studies themselves are preceded by background information, purpose and rationale sec- holy word. Therefore, this Bible study AK religion commentaries Free Rotation every 5,000 miles Free Flat Repair Free Re-balance as needed Free Replacement due to defects or road hazards regardiess of time or mileage. ZENITH Extra Traction 800-16.5 8 ply 70.16 3.56 David Reg. FET. Early’s Touts 6 ply 5910 323 50.75 650x16 6 ply 57.67 3.03 49.02 700x166 ply 62.61 3.39 53.22 750x168 ply 77.85 4.09 66.17 © Coast to Coast Guarantee — If you're more than 50 miles from a David Early store and have a tire zy BFGoodrich earl ep age anywhere we'll give you cash refund. ZENITH Super Hwy 700x156 ply 48.90 286 41.57 875-16.5 8 ply 82.27 950-165 8 ply 90.01 10-165 8 ply 94.29 12-165 ply 111.80 4.09 4.67 4.78 5.87 ZENITH Big Baja Hwy TL 300-1658 ply 67.03 3.50 815-1658 ply 1718 393 950-16.5 8 ply 8270 4.49 10-165 8 ply 8834 455 12-165 8 ply 106.56 5.89 10-15 6 ply 7443 453 11-15 6 ply 8250 474 650x166 ply 47.76 263 40.60 700x166 ply 5363 302 45.59 750x168 ply 67.52 370 57.39 *FINANCING — 12 months to pay on approvedcredit SENERAL TIRE W. Center Corner of 5th West 374-5885 = Provo and Center St. |