I had the distinct privilege to take part in the homecoming service for brother Alan. It was an incredible service where Pastor Bud Pate gave the opening comments about Alan’s battle with cancer and how his wife Debbie was loyally beside her husband throughout. In the many times that I visited with them, there was never a time that Debbie was not there by his side ministering and loving on her husband. What an incredible example of living out our marriage vows that we give to our Lord and one another. Her strength, resolve, and love played out before me will leave an indelible mark in my heart in what it means to love “in sickness and in health.”
Pastor Jaime Ferguson then gave his remarks and talked about his privilege some 5 years previously to lead both Alan and Debbie to the Lord. He also had the honor of baptizing the both of them as they desired to be obedient to the commands of Christ in their lives. He continued to talk about how faithful they were to the ministry of Mt Zion Baptist church and that they we’re eager and hungry to learn more about God’s Word. They also decided that it was important to renew their marriage vows as Christians and Pastor Jamie commented on the growth and desire they had to honor the Lord with their lives. Pastor Jamie gave a clear gospel presentation and an invitation to all those without Christ to either receive the free gift of salvation or to say good bye to Alan as they would not be able to see him again. However, the hope we have in Christ is to know that we don’t have to say good bye and that we that are in Christ, will see Alan again on the other side of eternity.
The services ended at the Washington County Memory Gardens where I had the honor to conduct the committal service. What had an incredible impact on me was not only was there hundreds of people at the services, where even the overflow room was filled to capacity, but there were almost as many who came to the committal service. Although all the preaching was good, they say that your life is what preaches and has the greatest impact. By all those that were present, it is evident that Alan’s life preached the best message of the day.
We will miss Alan greatly at Mt Zion Baptist.
Death is just a natural thing
Like the closing of a door
As we start upon a journey
To a new and distant shore
So let your grief be softened
And yield not to despair
You have only placed
Your loved one in
The loving Father’s care.
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Isaiah 41:10
Obituary
Mr. Alan Dawson Miller, age 55, Jonesborough, passed away Wednesday, December 23, 2009, at Johnson City Medical Center. Mr. Miller was of Washington County and son of Dawson Miller and Dean Morris Miller. He was a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church. He truly enjoyed going to church and loved his church family. Mr. Miller was a truck driver for FedEx Freight and received a 16 year safe driving award. He loved his family and spending time with them. He enjoyed his Mustangs, going to car shows and cruising. Survivors in addition to his parents include his wife, Deborah Poteat Miller, of the home; two sons, Alan Michael Miller and wife, Kimberly, and Bradley James Miller and wife Jessica; one granddaughter, Amber Lynn Miller; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Louis Miller and wife, Danette, and Todd Miller and wife, Cassandra; aunt, Wyona Miller; mother-in-law, Virginia Poteat; sisters-in-law, Barbara Thompson and husband, Richard, Vicky Lloyd and husband, Jerry, and Mary Lou Sluss and husband, Tim; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
The History of Worship
I find it interesting that in looking at worship in the early church, there is little to nothing stated about the style or type of music that’s played. They were more focused on Christ and remembering the life, death, and resurrection of the Saviour. It would do the church good instead of focusing on the type of music, how loud or soft it’s played, whether or not there is a perfect balance between contemporary music and the hymns and focus on the weightier matters and the true essence of worship. Worship is “worthy-ship” and it’s about a person and not a preference. Maybe it would be good in our worship to have more repentance, prayer, and fasting, and take another look at the importance of the Lord’s Supper and begin to examine ourselves to where we are at in attitude of worship toward our Prophet, Priest, and King. He (Jesus Christ) is worthy of our praise.
In examining the history of worship, you will find that the first part of an early Christian worship assembly was open to all, including strangers, who might be converted by the preaching. The second part of the service involved the Lord’s Supper, which only the baptized were allowed to partake, so the unbaptized departed then.
Many Romans believed Christians were a funeral society because Christian families observed the anniversary of a relative’s death on the third, ninth, and thirtieth (or fortieth) day after the death. They gathered at the tomb, sang psalms, read Scripture, prayed, gave alms to the poor, and ate a meal. Later, this practice developed into feasts to honor martyrs. Perhaps the first such feast was for Polycarp (a bishop burned to death for his faith); it began shortly after his death in about 156.
Christians prepared for Easter, the festival of the Resurrection, by fasting. At first, the fasting lasted one day; later it was extended to 40 hours, to symbolize the 40 days Jesus spent fasting and praying in the wilderness.
Sunday, the “little Easter,” was also a festival of joy. To prepare for it, many Christians fasted on Wednesday and Friday.
Repentance was an involved process in the early church. Sin was seen not as a personal matter but as something that destroyed the unity of the church. Penitents fasted and prayed for the forgiveness of their sins, appeared before the church to make public confession, and were barred from the Lord’s Supper until they gave evidence of a change of heart and were absolved. (The only exception was for people facing persecution. They were readmitted to the Lord’s Supper so they could receive strength.)
In the first century, the Lord’s Supper included not only the bread and the cup but an entire meal. As part of the meal, neighbors who had quarreled made peace again.
Early Christians continued to observe the Jewish Passover. But they did not celebrate the Passover in memory of deliverance from Egypt. Instead, they fasted to commemorate the sufferings of Jesus, the true Passover Lamb.
Christians fiercely disagreed over when to celebrate Easter. Believers in Asia (modern Turkey) celebrated Easter, the “Christian Passover,” on Passover (the 14th day of the Jewish month of Nisan). Victor, the bishop of Rome from 189 to 198, insisted all churches had to celebrate Easter on a Sunday (the first Sunday following the 14th of Nisan). Victor threatened to excommunicate those Christians who observed Easter differently, but the Asian custom continued. The Council of Nicaea in 325 finally decreed that Easter should be celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon in spring, the practice today.
In Africa, newly baptized believers were given a drink of milk and honey, symbols of their being children of Christ and citizens in heaven, a land of milk and honey.
The first Christian feast (other than Easter and Pentecost) was a feast in memory of the baptism of Jesus. It was first celebrated on January 6 or sometimes January 10; this became the feast of the Epiphany, which means “manifestation” in Greek. Christmas was not widely celebrated until the late 300s.
When worship was ended, Christians took home the consecrated bread so that those who couldn’t attend worship could partake of the Lord’s Supper. In North Africa, Christians took home the bread so they could celebrate the sacrament every day with their families. Thus, “Give us today our daily bread” carried a deeper meaning.
Bibliography:
Christian History Magazine-Issue 37: Worship in the Early Church (Carol Stream, IL: Christianity Today, 1993).
In examining the history of worship, you will find that the first part of an early Christian worship assembly was open to all, including strangers, who might be converted by the preaching. The second part of the service involved the Lord’s Supper, which only the baptized were allowed to partake, so the unbaptized departed then.
Many Romans believed Christians were a funeral society because Christian families observed the anniversary of a relative’s death on the third, ninth, and thirtieth (or fortieth) day after the death. They gathered at the tomb, sang psalms, read Scripture, prayed, gave alms to the poor, and ate a meal. Later, this practice developed into feasts to honor martyrs. Perhaps the first such feast was for Polycarp (a bishop burned to death for his faith); it began shortly after his death in about 156.
Christians prepared for Easter, the festival of the Resurrection, by fasting. At first, the fasting lasted one day; later it was extended to 40 hours, to symbolize the 40 days Jesus spent fasting and praying in the wilderness.
Sunday, the “little Easter,” was also a festival of joy. To prepare for it, many Christians fasted on Wednesday and Friday.
Repentance was an involved process in the early church. Sin was seen not as a personal matter but as something that destroyed the unity of the church. Penitents fasted and prayed for the forgiveness of their sins, appeared before the church to make public confession, and were barred from the Lord’s Supper until they gave evidence of a change of heart and were absolved. (The only exception was for people facing persecution. They were readmitted to the Lord’s Supper so they could receive strength.)
In the first century, the Lord’s Supper included not only the bread and the cup but an entire meal. As part of the meal, neighbors who had quarreled made peace again.
Early Christians continued to observe the Jewish Passover. But they did not celebrate the Passover in memory of deliverance from Egypt. Instead, they fasted to commemorate the sufferings of Jesus, the true Passover Lamb.
Christians fiercely disagreed over when to celebrate Easter. Believers in Asia (modern Turkey) celebrated Easter, the “Christian Passover,” on Passover (the 14th day of the Jewish month of Nisan). Victor, the bishop of Rome from 189 to 198, insisted all churches had to celebrate Easter on a Sunday (the first Sunday following the 14th of Nisan). Victor threatened to excommunicate those Christians who observed Easter differently, but the Asian custom continued. The Council of Nicaea in 325 finally decreed that Easter should be celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon in spring, the practice today.
In Africa, newly baptized believers were given a drink of milk and honey, symbols of their being children of Christ and citizens in heaven, a land of milk and honey.
The first Christian feast (other than Easter and Pentecost) was a feast in memory of the baptism of Jesus. It was first celebrated on January 6 or sometimes January 10; this became the feast of the Epiphany, which means “manifestation” in Greek. Christmas was not widely celebrated until the late 300s.
When worship was ended, Christians took home the consecrated bread so that those who couldn’t attend worship could partake of the Lord’s Supper. In North Africa, Christians took home the bread so they could celebrate the sacrament every day with their families. Thus, “Give us today our daily bread” carried a deeper meaning.
Bibliography:
Christian History Magazine-Issue 37: Worship in the Early Church (Carol Stream, IL: Christianity Today, 1993).
Friday, December 4, 2009
Mrs. Christine Phillips
Mrs. Phillips went had her homecoming on Tuesday, December 1, 2009. I didn't know Christine as much as I would have liked and only had the privilege of being her pastor for a short 10 months. Although I have only been at Mt Zion Baptist for a short time, however, Christine had been there making a difference for a quite some time. In looking at the church records we found that she joined by baptism on August 17, 1960. She was not just a name on a church roll, but was active in serving her Savior by serving others as she taught in Sunday school and was active in the Ladies ministry. Her ministry had an impact on a young boy, Jeremy Dikes who was her neighbor as he grew up. Pastor Jeremy, now 35 yrs old preached her "graduation" service and described Christine as a reflection of a Proverbs 31 woman.
The funeral was held on Thursday and I went to the funeral home early and was astonished at the number of people that came through for the viewing and encouraged Herman and the family. It took me 25 minutes to finally see Christine and her husband Herman. That long line remained right up to the service time, which was a great testimony about Christine and preached a message to this pastor and confirmed again in my mind that Christine followed the Great Commandment and Loved the Lord and others with all her heart. What an impact she has made with her life on the Kingdom of God!
We will miss Christine and while our grief may seem insurmountable, I am compelled to remind us that there is no weight of the soul that our savior Jesus Christ cannot help us to bear. He is with us and wants us to trust in him as we cope with our sorrow. We must not ever forget to allow the Holy Spirit, Who’s name is Comforter to minister to our hearts so that he may heal our wounds and relieve your pain. As Jesus says to all of us, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.”
Life is but a Stopping Place
Life is but a stopping place,
A pause in what's to be,
A resting place along the road,
to sweet eternity.
We all have different journeys,
Different paths along the way,
We all were meant to learn some things,
but never meant to stay...
Our destination is a place,
Far greater than we know.
For some the journey's quicker,
For some the journey's slow.
And when the journey finally ends,
We'll claim a gr
Together with "Christine" and the lord
-Author unknown
-Obituary
Mrs. Christine Harris Phillips, age 78, Jonesborough, passed away Tuesday, December 1, 2009 at the Johnson City Medical Center. Mrs. Phillips was a native of Washington County and daughter of the late Frank & Lilly Cole McKee. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Phillips was also preceded in death by one brother, Everett McKee and one sister, Sylvia Phillips. She was a long time member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, where she helped with Bible School and Sunday school. She was also a member of the Mt. Zion Ladies Circle. Mrs. Phillips retired from Woolworth’s as Assistant Manager. Survivors include her husband, Herman Phillips, Jonesborough; step-daughter, Jan Neal and husband, Allen, Jonesborough; step-son, Sherrill Phillips and wife Janie, Jonesborough; three sisters and brother-in-law, Mary Malone, Martha & Howard Coggins, all of Jonesborough and Louise Matson, Pennsylvania; half-sister, Shirley Bennett, Nashville, Tenn. ; step-grandchildren, Mark Phillips, Pam Phillips, Donnie Neal and Dale Neal; and several nephews and nieces.
The funeral was held on Thursday and I went to the funeral home early and was astonished at the number of people that came through for the viewing and encouraged Herman and the family. It took me 25 minutes to finally see Christine and her husband Herman. That long line remained right up to the service time, which was a great testimony about Christine and preached a message to this pastor and confirmed again in my mind that Christine followed the Great Commandment and Loved the Lord and others with all her heart. What an impact she has made with her life on the Kingdom of God!
We will miss Christine and while our grief may seem insurmountable, I am compelled to remind us that there is no weight of the soul that our savior Jesus Christ cannot help us to bear. He is with us and wants us to trust in him as we cope with our sorrow. We must not ever forget to allow the Holy Spirit, Who’s name is Comforter to minister to our hearts so that he may heal our wounds and relieve your pain. As Jesus says to all of us, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.”
Life is but a Stopping Place
Life is but a stopping place,
A pause in what's to be,
A resting place along the road,
to sweet eternity.
We all have different journeys,
Different paths along the way,
We all were meant to learn some things,
but never meant to stay...
Our destination is a place,
Far greater than we know.
For some the journey's quicker,
For some the journey's slow.
And when the journey finally ends,
We'll claim a gr
Together with "Christine" and the lord
-Author unknown
-Obituary
Mrs. Christine Harris Phillips, age 78, Jonesborough, passed away Tuesday, December 1, 2009 at the Johnson City Medical Center. Mrs. Phillips was a native of Washington County and daughter of the late Frank & Lilly Cole McKee. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Phillips was also preceded in death by one brother, Everett McKee and one sister, Sylvia Phillips. She was a long time member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, where she helped with Bible School and Sunday school. She was also a member of the Mt. Zion Ladies Circle. Mrs. Phillips retired from Woolworth’s as Assistant Manager. Survivors include her husband, Herman Phillips, Jonesborough; step-daughter, Jan Neal and husband, Allen, Jonesborough; step-son, Sherrill Phillips and wife Janie, Jonesborough; three sisters and brother-in-law, Mary Malone, Martha & Howard Coggins, all of Jonesborough and Louise Matson, Pennsylvania; half-sister, Shirley Bennett, Nashville, Tenn. ; step-grandchildren, Mark Phillips, Pam Phillips, Donnie Neal and Dale Neal; and several nephews and nieces.
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