Southside Scoop - 10.1.2023

OUTHSIDESCOOP

EDITION 35 1

FRESH DEW

KeepOnRising BySis.RickiFuller

Imagine the possibility that Jesus said to the lame man who was lying near the Pool of Bethesda to ‘not trust in the water’. With your sanctified imagination try visualizing Jesus gently speaking to the lame man telling him to, simply, trust that healing/restoration was available to him in that exact moment.

“Rise! Take up your bed and walk”

800ElmiraAvenue Durham,NC27707

info@sside.org|www.sside.org

919.688.3535

Staff

OrlanderR.Thomas

SeniorMinister

WilliamA.Stephens

MinisterEmeritus

WileyShearin,Jr.

ElderEmeritus

RickiFuller

Women’sCounselor

CandiceP.Blount

ChurchAdministrator

QuentellaWilliams

ExecutiveAssistant

Deacons

JohnAlcox

AnthnoyGreen,Sr.

ArthurHackney

JohnMathis

ChesterMayfield,Jr.

RogerMcDougal

JoeWilliams

KeithWright

Of course, with him having been physically incapacitated for thirty-eight long years, hearing such words would have been foreign and understandably unbelievable to the man. Perhaps, like many of us in this twenty-first century, the man was so wrapped up in/convinced by what he had been taught from childhood to the point that any new concepts were hard to hear/adhere to.

Yet, because Jesus persisted, the lame man’s heart was pricked to the point of following/obeying Jesus’ words. Do you see it? Jesus’ words spoke directly to the man’s need/desire – ‘Do you want to be healed?’ – if so ‘Rise! Take up your bed and walk’PERIOD! At that very moment, the man had a real choice to either believe it was possible for him to get up and walk, or not. PERIOD, do or don’t.

That brings to mind the scriptural verse found in Romans 12:2. Purely and simply we can surmise it was GOD’s will for that lame to be healed through the words spoken to him by Jesus. (Read The Message and the Amplified Bible versions of Romans 12:2 to get a clearer understanding of this statement.)

As we, here at Southside, recommit our lives/lifestyles to The Triune GOD, we are welladvised to follow the wisdom found in Romans 12. For those of us who have been baptized into Jesus Christ and have received the Holy Spirit, it is impingent upon us to remember why we, each, rose up to the Truth of The Gospel obeying it from our innermost selves (Romans 10:9-10, Acts 2:38). For the most part, society [political leaders, work and personal associates, employers, etcetera] lies-to/influences us similar to how the serpent influenced Eve in Eden.

Entering the forty-second (42nd) year of this congregation, wouldn’t it be a marvelous Jesus Christ Victory for us to stretch forward/rise up with renewed mindsets? Such renewal could lead us to constant recommitment enabling us to keep on rising up to the point wherein GOD fits us with the crown He has in store for us (check James 1:12-27; I Peter 5:4-11).

That statement evokes the pleasure of reading GOD’s words spoken to Jeremiah about His constant thoughtfulness, love, guidance, and provision for Israel’s healing/restoration. (See Jeremiah 29:11-14; 31:24-25.) Because of Christ, GOD is just as caring and patient with us as He was with Israel as revealed by Jeremiah’s prophecies.

Hence, we are free to be our authentic GOD-designed selves! We are free to believe, live, and share GOD’s Word/vision over and above all the superficial customs/lies of this world.

HALLELUJAH! Thank You, Lord GOD Almighty, for continually raising us as we worship and obey You! Thank You for these 41 arduous, yet, wonderful years!

w w w . s s i d e . o r g

IT’SFALLYA’LL!

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