Stay Calm

50 Years in the Ministry

Congratulations to Dr. Cecil Williamson, brother of Barbara Pomarolli, who recently celebrated 50 years of ministry, all but three at Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church in Selma, AL.

Culture's Way

Ephesians 4:17-19                   Culture’s Way

6/28/15            D. Marion Clark

Introduction

As we approach our holiday of independence, along with celebration it is also a time to take stock of our times. Much has changed in 240 years; much has changed over our life-time.

Text

Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. ¹⁸ They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. ¹⁹ They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.

Thank you, sweet Lynn Gerber, for all you have done for all the kids, not just at LOPC, but in the entire community. You will be sorely missed!!!

Pastor Marion Clark is a man of many talents. Who knew "Kid's Bible Adventure" volunteer extraordinaire was one of them?

The Good Soil of Mother Emanuel

Mark 4:14-20                          The Good Soil of Mother Emanuel

The sower sows the word. ¹⁵ And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. ¹⁶ And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. ¹⁷ And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. ¹⁸ And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, ¹⁹ but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. ²⁰ But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.

There is a church in Charleston, SC that is worshiping this morning. They are missing their Senior Pastor Clementa Pinckney,

The Protest of 2015

The following link will take you to a report of the final action of General Assembly for the PCA. It concerns a resolution brought before General Assembly by Teaching Elders Ligon Duncan and Sean Lucas to "recognize and confess our church’s covenantal and generational involvement in and complicity with racial injustice inside and outside of our churches during the Civil Rights period." I encourage you to read the full resolution and the deliberations that took place concerning it. Here is the link: https://pastortimlecroy.wordpress.com/2015/06/15/the-protest-of-2015/.

Examined and Approved

It is official. Sam Smith passed presbytery exams and received the call from Central Georgia Presbytery to become the next Senior Minister of Lake Oconee Presbyterian Church. He and his family will move to the lake area during the last week of July. His installation service is scheduled for September 13.

Stay Calm, Dad

A good video in preparation for Father's Day.

Anointed One

Isaiah 61:1-3                           Anointed One

June 7, 2015                D. Marion Clark

Introduction

Jesus and his disciples are nearing Emmaus. He has taken the two disciples through the Scriptures, demonstrating how he has fulfilled them in regard to being the Messiah even as he was being crucified. He has bruised the head of Satan, redeemed Israel from bondage, atoned for their sins, delivered them as their King, and opened the way to God as their Priest. This morning, we look at the very word “Messiah.” What does it mean? How did it become associated with the one whom Israel had placed her hope?

Kairos Prison Ministry

I appreciate Doran Samples sending me this newscast of Kairos Prison Ministry. LOPC member Roger Ervin is a volunteer with Kairos. He would be happy to talk with anyone interested in knowing more about the ministry. I had the opportunity to visit a graduation ceremony at the end of a Kairos weekend at Washington State Prison in Davisboro. This newscast gives a good overview of the ministry. Click here for the 7 minute newscast.

Yo Yo Amazing

Priest-King

Psalm 110                                Priest-King

5/31/15            D. Marion Clark

Introduction

Jesus continues his walk along the Emmaus Road with two of his disciples, interpreting “to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27). He is the Offspring of Eve who bruised the head of Satan; he is the Redeemer who delivers his people from a greater bondage than that of Egypt; he is the goat slain on the Day of Atonement and the sacrificial animal of all the temple sacrifices which atone for the people’s sins. Today we see how he fulfills the image that most captured the Jewish imagination and stirred hope in their hearts.