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CAPA Corner

Posted on 16 May 2013.

 

    I heard a comedian  the other day say that he had lost all hope in America's sanity. Springing from that premise he launched into a hilarious tirade regarding how our decision making skills had severely diminished. In other words, to quote a famous American, "We're Whacked!". Using this comic's examples, I would have to agree.
    The question you should ask yourself though (according to me) is, "where do I place my Hope"? If it's placed in the sanity and sound decision making abilities of our leaders then you just may be up the "proverbial creek". Ruling by public opinion, so one can get re-elected, creates an environment where opinion can and does sway morality. 
    Here's my point-in case you wondered-my suggestion is a personal paradigm shift. One where your hope is not placed  in an ever changing ideology but in a personal, changeless, and loving God.
    If you're wondering how, well that's the fun part! Finding faith and following Jesus is the most amazing journey you'll ever take. Find a house of worship and just hit them with an avalanche of questions, they'll love it! I know I would.
Dale Phillips
Comite Baptist

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CAPA Corner

Posted on 15 May 2013.

    I heard a comedian  the other day say that he had lost all hope in America's sanity. Springing from that premise he launched into a hilarious tirade regarding how our decision making skills had severely diminished. In other words, to quote a famous American, "We're Whacked!". Using this comic's examples, I would have to agree.

    The question you should ask yourself though (according to me) is, "where do I place my Hope"? If it's placed in the sanity and sound decision making abilities of our leaders then you just may be up the "proverbial creek". Ruling by public opinion, so one can get re-elected, creates an environment where opinion can and does sway morality. 
    Here's my point-in case you wondered-my suggestion is a personal paradigm shift. One where your hope is not placed  in an ever changing ideology but in a personal, changeless, and loving God.
    If you're wondering how, well that's the fun part! Finding faith and following Jesus is the most amazing journey you'll ever take. Find a house of worship and just hit them with an avalanche of questions, they'll love it! I know I would.
Dale Phillips
Comite Baptist

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BUMC KIDS KAMP: Safe & Happy Kids This Summer

Posted on 06 May 2013.

    Summer will be here before you know it!  Are you looking for a safe, Christian environment for your children to enjoy this summer?  Find it at Blackwater United Methodist Church’s KIDS KAMP!  Every year, the children have a blast and look forward to coming back each day.  Kids of walking age through 8 years old are invited Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 9AM to 2PM, June 4th – July 25th.  It only costs $400 for two months of KIDS KAMP – That’s less than $60 per week!  The registration fee is $25, and registration is now open at BlackwaterUMC.org.  If you have any questions, call Gina at 261-4013.

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Central Participates in Go Day

Posted on 01 May 2013.

Submitted by Shannon Youngblood
    On Go Day, Sunday, April 28, over 1000 volunteers from Istrouma Baptist Church and the Baton Rouge community put their faith into action, spending their Sunday serving others by painting housing complexes, visiting nursing home residents, planting flower beds, throwing block parties, and more.  Our motto for this project was "Don't Just Go to Church…Be the Church"!
    The group pictured illustrated God's love by working inside and outside to improve the home of an elderly woman in our very own Central community. A huge Thank You goes out to these volunteers and to Jonathan Sumich at Oak Point for providing refreshments!  Jessica Ratliff painted the picture presented to the woman whose home was chosen, to remind her of the love Christ has for us all and that we are all part of a community that cares.

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CAPA Corner: Prayer

Posted on 30 April 2013.

 

    Most of us who call ourselves Christian would probably say that we pray.  (In fact, I have heard it said that even those who do not claim that name find themselves “praying” when they get in a tight situation.)  As children, we may have been taught to “say grace” before meals and even to “say our prayers” at bedtime. I have delighted in hearing my grandchildren say their bedtime prayers when they stay with me and use (for the most part) the same words that we taught our children as they were growing up. 
    We pray together in church as we worship.  At my church we pray a written prayer together, the Lord’s Prayer and a Pastoral Prayer (one that the Pastor says on behalf of the congregation.)  Some of us pray daily in our devotion time lifting up the names of friends, loved ones, a person whose name has been given to us as someone who has a special need in their life.  Many times these prayers are for physical, emotional, relational or spiritual healing.
    This week I was in a gathering with pastors and civic leaders and someone commented about praying for our community, schools, families, our government and its leaders and our churches.  That is a much broader group that we might normally include in our prayers.  For many, many years now (originally 1775 and in our modern times since 1952) the people of our country have been urged to pray and meditate asking God to guide our country and her leaders.  I am glad that I live in a country where that kind of freedom exists and that I am part of a community that prays together.  
    I will be at the Central observance of the National Day of Prayer on Thursday, May 2 at 6:30 PM in the Old Middle School parking lot.  I hope to see you there to pray with us.
Marie Williams,
Blackwater United Methodist Church

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Central to Participate in National Day of Prayer

Posted on 24 April 2013.

 

Submitted by Pastor Dick Metz
    On Thursday, May 2nd, 2013, Central residents will gather to observe the 62st Annual National Day of Prayer.  This will be the ninth annual observance in Central.  Everyone is invited to attend and join in prayer for our churches, our businesses, our schools, our families, and our government.  Pastors and leaders of our community will be in attendance! The observance will be held in the parking lot of the old Central Middle School, on the corner of Hooper and Sullivan from 6:30-7:30pm.
    Central Mayor Mac Watts has signed a proclamation designating this day as a Day of Prayer in Central.  Observances will also be held in Washington D. C., and all over the nation, as we declare our dependence on our Creator and the Almighty God in Heaven. For more information on the national observance, visit www.nationaldayofprayer.org . This event is sponsored by Central Area Pastors Association.

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CAPA Corner: Meditation

Posted on 23 April 2013.

 

    If I allow myself, I can get so uptight, stressed and unsettled, especially when I am driving!  This statement will make sense later. Here is how King David approached his stress:
Ps 119:97
Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.  NKJV
    The writer of Psalms reveals that he not only loves God’s law but that he meditates on it all day!  I easily grasp loving God’s Word but meditating on it all day! 
    Here’s my dilemma with this concept of meditating on the Word of God all day. I like to hear sound!  Noise is around all the time!  I like rooms that are full of music.  My house is full of sound!  We even leave the music station on for the dog when we are gone during the day because I heard it helps him stay calm.  I like to talk and hold conversations with people rather than just sit quietly in a corner.  It is easy to let noise preoccupy my mind just to help me pass time!  For me, if I am not careful, it can be really hard to get quiet and get hooked on noise being around all the time.  
    A while ago, my car was in the shop for an extended period of time. I found myself driving the roads in my truck that does not have a radio, cd player, mp3 player etc.  The first few days were strange! Suddenly, my ears were not being filled with any extra noise except the rattling of an old truck.  There was an almost disturbing silence. I began to notice, that as I was driving, I had more time to ponder, meditate and pray. Scriptures, praise songs, sermons and thoughts began to captivate my mind.  I have to confess; it was surprisingly refreshing and left me in a much better mood when I got to my destination! 
    Back to King David, “Your law is my meditation all day.” God wants our heart to not only be full of His Word but we are encouraged to keep Him and His precepts on our mind continually!  Isaiah tells us that as we keep our mind set on the Lord and trust Him we will have peace.  How necessary is having peace in today’s world!  Paul told the Philippians that whatever things are true, noble, just, pure, lovely and of good report, meditate on these things. (Phil. 4:8) How wonderful it is to go around with those kinds of thoughts and having trust in God rather than having our minds full of fear, worry, doubt and suspicion?
    I encourage you to find some time to stop the noise.  Meditate on scripture, commune with the Father, and take time to just be quiet.  What you may find is that many of the scriptures you take time to meditate on will be the very ones that will bring peace, strength and comfort when you need them the most!  Take some time, be quiet, look to God and His Word, be refreshed and be at peace, even when you are driving down the road! Who knows, you might even show up places in a better mood!
Ron Erickson
Pastor, Future Hope Ministries

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Festival of Two Rivers April 26-28

Posted on 22 April 2013.

    The Festival of Two Rivers is coming next weekend to St. Alphonsus!  Friday, April 26th, the event will run from 5 to 11PM.  Saturday will be 11AM to 10PM, and Sunday will be from 11AM to 5PM.  The event is a fun fundraiser for St. Alphonsus Church and School, and it is open to the public.  There will be funnel cakes, games, a country store, local talent, rides, bingo, food, a plant booth, a progressive auction, and live music.

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Fr. Mike Moroney Named Distinguished Pastor of 2013

Posted on 22 April 2013.

Submitted by St. Alphonsus
    Fr. Mike Moroney from St. Alphonsus Church in Greenwell Springs has been named Distinguished Pastor of 2013 on the local and national level by the National Catholic Educator's Association.  This award was presented at the NCEA conference hosted in Houston, Texas on April 3, 2013.  Congratulations to Fr. Mike!   Pictured left to right:  Cindy Ryals, Principal, St. Alphonsus School, Fr. Mike Moroney, Dr. Melanie Verges, Superintendent of the Diocese of Baton Rouge Catholic Schools.

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CAPA Corner: Perfecting Holiness

Posted on 18 April 2013.

 

    God gave us some promises in II Corinthians 6:14-18. He promises if we will not be unequally yoked with unbelievers, and not have fellowship with unrighteousness, and have no communion with darkness, no concord with Belial, no part with an infidel, and no agreement with idols that he would dwell in us, and walk in us; and he would be our God, and we should be his people. And because of this we should come out from among them and be separate, and touch not the unclean thing; and He will receive us, and will be a Father unto us, and we shall be His sons and daughters.
    II Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
    Because we have these promises from God, who does not lie and is eternally faithful, we should cleanse our hands and purify our hearts   (James 4:8). We should come out from among them and be separate, sanctified. We should forsake our sin and follow after the holy one, Jesus Christ. 
    When we flee  unrighteousness and follow after the righteous one; we are perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Wow! Perfecting holiness. Let that sink in for a moment. One commentary put it kind of like this: perfecting holiness is “pursuing holiness aggressively and continuously”.  Think of all the things we pursue aggressively and continuously in this temporary world. God has promised eternal life through faith in his son, Jesus Christ. Why would we not pursue the eternal, holy attribute of God almighty with greater initiative? If we truly have faith in Jesus Christ then we will truly come out from among them and be separate, following holiness with a driving force in order to capture it completely.
In Christ,
Kenny Kepper
Pastor , Berean Ministries

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