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Thursday, February 14, 2013 DeWitt Era-Enterprise • dewitt-ee.com
FAITH & RELIGION FAITH
Steal Away to Jesus By Don Roth For fifty years from approximately 1780, a massive revival movement fired the religious zeal of the common people of all Protestant denominations, both black and white. The revival was known as the Second Awakening, and it placed religious experience before theological doctrine and introduced Pentecostal fire to the masses. Dramatic conversions, shouting in the spirit, ecstatic baptisms and spiritual healing all began to be common and corresponded to a new urgency in church music. Interspersed between the sermons were marathon sessions of congregational singing--hour after hour of evangelistic hymns and choruses. These vast gatherings in the open air would have been exhausting occasions to the present generation, but there was a distinct holiday atmosphere in the camp gatherings especially for the slaves attuned to the endless routine of back-breaking labor. The slaves often outnumbered the whites at the meetings, which offered festive relief and a chance to sing and shout. Though camp meetings were commonly interracial, segregation prevailed in the seating or standing arrangements. At a camp meeting in Pennsylvania, black singers among the seven thousand people prompted an observer to comment, “Their shouts and singing were so very boisterous that the singing of the white congregation was often drowned in the echoes and reverberations of the tumultuous strains!� Nor was it at all unusual for the camp members to carry on singing long after their white counterparts retired to bed. At half past five the next morning . . . . the hymns of the Negroes were still being heard on all sides.� (Pennsylvanians abolished slavery in 1780 except for gradual emancipation to those born after a certain date.) A highly informed observer noted African rituals at the camp meetings, subdued and suitably Christianized “but definitely African in origin.� There were circles of chanting singers half-dancing, half marching, stamping out the beats on each word of a drawn out chorus, and sometimes complementing the rhythm with hand claps or thigh claps. Thus what came to be known as Negro Spirituals was described by one as “an uneven synthesis of African chant and English hymn.� Gradually a defined body of songs emerged as the first folk music of black America. With the birth of this musical identity, original songs appeared that can’t be traced to any particular English hymn or shout. They expressed the faith of the slaves themselves who mourned the tragedy of the slave experience. The bondsman celebrated hope in hopeless circumstances, and they raised the prospect of eventual deliverance. And the new spirituals bore out of the slave’s own perceptions of divinity within bondage. Often they were tales of particular events and experiences unique to one person but common to many. For example, to escape the notice of a disapproving master, a group would silently move through the night to attend a service hosted by a missionary of Northern birth. The subtle whisper “to steal away to Jesus� later chanted softly became a watch-phrase to give notice of services held that night across the river or wherever indicated. (Source Unknown)
Well, Will You? Valentine’s Day. The mere thought or mention of it floods the mind with pictures of rose bouquets, big, fancy boxes of chocolate candy, cards with romantic poetry, teddy bears holding big, red hearts, etc. But, none of them are more precious than those days of yore in elementary school when you had a crush on that certain boy/girl and wanted to let them know on Valentine’s Day. You might have even had enough of those flimsy, paper ones to give to each classmate. But, you reserved the best one of all for that “special someone,� and it usually had the words “Will you be my Valentine?� printed on it. How you’d gushand-blush as you handed it to him/her, your hands lightly touching each other. You’d give him/her the Valentine, along with one of those small boxes of multicolored, heart-shaped Valentine candy and then you’d hightail it for the hills. But, later on in class or in the hallway or in the cafeteria, you’d try to find out his or her answer. And, hopefully, it was “Yes,� accompanied by a big smile or hug. Oh, the joys (and memories) of “Puppy Love!� As we got older, we got a bit more sophisticated in our Valentine’s greetings. We’d order a dozen or more big, red roses and have them delivered to the house. We might buy a ring or necklace or something else that our sweetheart was wanting. And, we might even make a reservation at a fancy, high-priced restaurant and go out on a date. But, the question’s still basically the same: “Will you be my Valentine?� Or, it might be replaced with a question like, “Will you marry me?� Yes, Valentine’s Day is a time to express your love to someone else—whether it be a sweetheart, spouse, parent, child or grandchild. We want them to know we’re thinking of them and love them in a way that words cannot express. Believe it or not, Jesus was God’s Valentine’s greeting to us. For so long He’d demonstrated His love for mankind in various ways, but still seemed so far-removed from everyday life. So, He sent Jesus to this earth to demonstrate what God was/is like and to show us how much He loves us.
There were no fancy cards, boxes of chocolate or bouquet of roses. Instead, He was wrapped in brown (His skin color), with black trim (His hair and eye color) and later covered in red (the blood on His back, hands, feet and head as He hung on the Cross). Later, this “Card� (Jesus) would be wrapped in white, linen cloth and tucked away in a borrowed tomb. His lifeless body reeked of death and despair but later on that same body would come back to life and, like a crumpled rose, His resurrection “Aroma� (new life) became the “Fragrance of Forever,� which is so sweet to all who place their trust in Him. Truly, as someone once sang, Jesus came “Special Delivery� from God’s own Throne Room. And, He wasn’t sent to God’s “favorite friends.� He was sent for those who’d believe and were “ungodly sinners and enemies of God from birth� (Romans 5:611). I don’t know about you, but I just can’t get my mind wrapped around such a love as this. It’s beyond my comprehension; no wonder we call it “AMAZING Grace.� But, I do know this: Even now the Heavenly Father asks each one of us every day—not just on Valentine’s Day—“Will you be mine?� The question, then, is “Will we?� Here’s hoping your answer will be a resounding “Yes!� And, the best way to show your love for Him is to give Him every part of your life. Your mind. Your talents. Your abilities. Your resources. Your future. And, once you do, don’t be surprised if you hear Him whispering one of these days to someone else, “Have you noticed _____________? He’s Mine. All Mine. And, isn’t he/she beautiful??� Glory! God bless you. (NOTE: If you’d like to contact Bro. Tom or receive his daily e-mail devotional, entitled “Morning Manna,� you can write him at P.O. Box 582, Coushatta, LA 71019 or e-mail him at pressingon@hotmail.com.)
The Lutheran Churches of South Arkansas County Invite You To Worship:
St. Luke Lutheran St. Paul Lutheran Church Church 903 E. 2nd St.-DeWitt Corner of 2nd & RoseGillett 548-2554 946-2312 Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Sunday Worship Sunday Worship 9:00 a.m. 10:45 a.m.
Where Jesus Christ Is Always Present In Word and Sacrament
Sunday Mornings Sunday School. . . . . . . .9:15 AM Morning Worship . . . . .10:30 AM
Bro. Dennis Ingle Pastor
Come Worship With Us!
Jason Burke Assc. Pastor/ Youth Minister
Dr. Emil Turner Interim Pastor
Perry Simpson Music
Wednesday Evenings C.I.A. Kids Program...3:30-5:15 PM
REVIVAL SERVICES FEBRUARY 17-20 Nady Church of the Nazarene 422 Nady Road, Tichnor, AR
Morning Worship..............10:45 A.M. Evening Service..................6:00 P.M. Adult Bible Study Tues.......6:00 P.M. Teen Bible Study Wed........6:00 P.M. AWANA Wed..................6:00 P.M.
Missionary Baptist Church
Evening Worship . . . . . .6:00 PM
You Are Invited To Attend
Sunday School...................9:45 A.M.
Unity
322 W. 1st St. DeWitt, AR Sunday Evenings Adult Choir . . . . . . . . . . .4:45 PM 870-946-4361
Pastor Chad Philipp
Schedule of Services
Visit our WEBSITE: www.fbcdewitt.com
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4th & Harrison, DeWitt, AR (870) 946-1390
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Dr. James H. Diehl, Evangelist Sunday, February 17, 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday - Friday Saturday 9 a.m. -- 3 p.m.
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