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 F.M.B.C., 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.  Fifty 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

Dear One,

Please join this pastor during the month of March and become part of “March Gladness”.  We will turn the tables on the Evil One and use a term taken from the lexicon of the sports world.  Whereas Satan perverts, we shall glorify.  By definition, glad is “feeling, or characterized by pleasure or joy; happy; pleased”.   With that definition in mind, during the month of March, every day, think about what makes you glad then praise God for your “gladness”.

The Psalmist says in Psalm 70:4:  “Let all those that see thee rejoice and be glad in thee:  and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.”  God’s deliverance of His servant will give joy (make him glad) to all who trust in the Lord, because they see in it the assurance of their own salvation.  Moreover, one can be glad because His saving help is sure, and it is effective.  This Pastor is glad he is saved and that he has a right relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ.  We are glad that God sent this preacher to F.M.B.C. as its Pastor.

On today, I am sure you can join the Psalmist and this pastor in our delight in the house of the Lord.  “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.” (Psalm 122:1) Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!  Let the church say Amen.

Pastor J. Amos Jones

Black History Month has come and gone, but it is this Pastor’s desire that Black History will remain.  Even to the casual observer, there is a parallel to be found in the history of the African American and the history of the children of Israel.  Both histories reflect great suffering at the hands of their oppressor, the most vile expression of man’s inhumanity to man.  Praise be to God, we also find His great love and His great compassion.  Most of all, we find His great deliverance.  Just as God delivered the children of Israel from captivity in Egypt and Babylon with a high hand, so He did with and for people of color in this “the land of the free and home of the brave.”

“That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones?  Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.”  (Joshua 4:6-7)

When we dress in the old-fashioned garb of the time of slavery, this Pastor is reminded of the struggle and God’s continuing deliverance.

To God be the glory for all that we now enjoy.

Pastor J. Amos Jones

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”

It is this Pastor’s desire and hope that out of Black History month will come the sense of community and the knowledge that the living God is with us, and it is He that has delivered us.  Dr. King’s life and work as a national leader of the Civil Rights movement was geared to improving the lot of all people – irrespective of race, creed, or heritage.  He envisioned a world where we will all enjoy the blessings of freedom, hope and justice.  Dr. King’s dream has not as yet been fully realized; however, we praise God for the great improvements that have been made.  We are all aware of the significant contributions to our community made by Dr. King, but the question each of us must answer is this:  “What am I doing for others?”

Dear Ones, we share a common destiny.  God has richly blessed all of us.  We need only to look where the Lord has brought us from.  I must remind you that we are blessed to be a blessing.  God gives to each of us according to our individual abilities.  Having said that, we all have something to contribute to the betterment of our society.  Please know this, you can have what you want, if you help others get what they want.  There is still much to be done to address the helplessness, hopelessness and futility that is the breeding ground for much of the Black-on-Black crime.  We will not find the answers to this country’s ills in the arena of politics, even though we have had a Black President.  The answers lie with the living God who is “among us.”  Can you hear the Apostle Paul, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” 

Let’s get busy.                                          

Pastor J. Amos Jones