Newsletter May 24th

GREETINGS FROM BARBEE’S GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH

In one of my churches, 3 or 4 families became enthused about white water rafting. One day they decided it would be great fun for a large group from the church to go. I was not particularly excited, but the group leader, one of my Deacons, said, “We don’t use paid Guides, but we will make sure there is an experienced rafter in every raft. A group of about 2 dozen headed to the mountains, Saturday morning, we were taken to the place where we started the journey down river. Rafting teams began to form by families and by friendships. Suddenly, I realized that my team was composed of myself, my wife, Pamela, our daughter, Sarah, and Sarah’s friend, Susan. The girls were about 11 or 12 at that time. I asked, “Where is my experienced rafter?” Some rafts had 2 or 3 experienced people. Did my Deacon ask one of them to join me? NO! He turned his promise into a lie. “Preacher, we are all comfortable with our teams. You are on your own. Good luck.”

In order to not get in each other’s way, the rafts launched at intervals. [Maybe 5 minutes apart]My raft was in the middle of the launch. Rain that summer had been sparse. River levels were low, but still enough water to raft. Maybe 500 yards down the river, my raft slid upon a table rock that was just inches below the water level. No amount of pushing, paddling, etc. could get us free. I got out of the raft, into chest deep water, but could not pull us free.

Pamela joined me in the river. However, her feet slipped as she touched the river bottom. Her entire body went under the part of the raft that was not stuck on the rock. Only her life jacket kept her face above water. She was panicking, struggling to get up. Couldn’t do it. Without our weight the raft floated. Couldn’t turn it loose and watch 2 little girls float away without an adult. Finally, I got the raft pulled to a place it would float with us in it, with my left arm I reached down, grabbed Pamela under her legs, and lifted her up and dumped her into the raft like she was a sack of potatoes. I climbed back into the raft. I was soaked up to my neck. Pamela was soaked, even the back of her head. She was cold, wet, frightened, and miserable. [Not a single raft came past us while all this transpired.] 

If Pamela could have gotten out of the raft and made it to the road, she would have walked back to our car!!!! Unfortunately, the river bank was covered in weeds, briars, poison oak and poison ivy. We had no choice but to finish the trip down the river.

There are things in life that you can try. If you don’t like them, you never have to do them again. Remember, in an earlier Newsletter I told the story of Pamela’s peach picking trip. Once was enough. As you can imagine from the story you have just read, Pamela only made one rafting trip. No way was she ever getting in a raft again!!!!

Last week, I wrote a Newsletter about a man who chose to go to Hell. My son-in-law, Brian, read that story and made this comment, “people need to realize that Hell is not a weekend trip and if you don’t like it, you don’t have to go again”. Indeed, folks don’t go to Hell, realize how awful it is, and then make a call to Heaven, “Jesus, I have changed my mind, I want to believe in You. Come get me and take me to Heaven”.

In Luke 16:19-31, Jesus tells the story that we call The Rich Man and Lazarus. That story teaches 2 truths.
   …Hell is permanent. Once a person reaches that awful place, there is no escape, there is no second chance.
   …Those in Hell are very much in favor of Christian missions. That Rich Man pleaded for someone to go tell his 5 brothers so that they would not join him in torment. If you are not a believer in Jesus, there are people in Hell who know you. They are praying that you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior and that you not join them in that place of eternal torment.
YOUR CHOICE!!!   PLEASE CHOOSE JESUS!!!!

ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS

1. Sunday School is at 9:00 am
2. Morning Worship and Children’s Church are at 10:00 am. Also available in the parking lot at 10 on 99.1 FM and on the website after 12:30 pm
3. Prayer and Bible Study are Wednesday at 6:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall
4. Vacation Bible School—June 26 and 27  –Plan to attend—-Volunteer to help

God loves YOU!! That is why Jesus came to die for YOU!!
Pastor Ed and Deacons of Barbee’s Grove Baptist Church