DEAR ONES,

Let’s continue in “March Gladness.”  I AM GLAD THAT God involves Himself in the lives of His people.  The Psalmist says:  “The steps of a good man are ordered (established) by the Lord: And He delighteth in his way.”  The Lord can take seemingly small and insignificant events and cause them to be life changing.  Allow me to share with you two such life altering events.

• The first occurred while serving in Korea with the U.S. Marines.  I was assigned to be a labor detail with the task of constructing a helicopter landing pad (with emphasis on labor).  During my lunch break, I went into  the supply office to type a letter to my mother and when it was known that I could type, it was, as is said, “the rest is  history.”  Needless to say, I am now, as then, glad I could type.
• The second event occurred when I was an Associate Minister (we were called “local preachers” then) at Riceville Baptist Church. Reverend C.L. Miller, who was the Pastor here at FMBC, came by Riceville and asked if I could come to Friendship and preach in his stead.  Pastor Miller had an appointment at another Church.  Boy, was I glad that with all the preachers Pastor Miller knew, he asked me to come and preach.  Forty-four years later, I am still preaching at Friendship.

We know that it was the hand of God moving in the lives of His people.  He will “keep the feet of His saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; For by strength shall no man prevail.” (1 Samuel 2:9)

This Pastor is so glad that God is deeply involved in the lives of His people.

 Pastor J. Amos Jones

“Should Christians vote and participate in the political process?” was a question posed to Dr. D. James Kennedy, Pastor of the Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church.  Facetiously Dr. Kennedy answered, “No, Christians should not vote or support candidates, and certainly not run for public office.  Let the murderers, the drug dealers, the pimps, the prostitutes, the thieves, the proponents of the world’s system do the voting.  Let them elect the people who write and enforce the laws, sit on the bench, make decisions concerning school curriculum, and on and on.”

Voting is not only a right and a privilege, it is also the duty of every Christian to do all that they can to ensure that good men and women are elected to public office.  “Good” implies not only political competence, but also moral uprightness.  Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance.  (Psalm 33:12)

We, the believers, are His people and He has given us the dominion over His creation.  The admonition from this Pastor to you, dear people, is to get involved!  Study the issues, research the candidates, know that your vote counts.  THEN VOTE!

Then monitor the performance of your elected officials.

• Are they keeping their promises?
• Are they doing what they said they would do?
• Are they working in your best interest?

Please remember this:  It is not what politicians say, but rather, It’s what they do!  Tuesday is election day.  Jesus tells us in Matthew 11:12:  “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the Kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.”  Let’s take back all that the enemy has taken from us.  Begin with the vote and the political process.

Be blessed as you walk in Him.

Pastor J. Amos Jones