Dick Yarbrough
Among the things they don’t like in our state are the annual Clergy Day at the State Capitol and a law that “requires” that “In God We Trust” be printed on license plates. They need to do their homework on this one. There is no law that requires “In God We Trust.” That is an option available to anyone that wishes to have it. The Secular Coalition also doesn’t approve of the Legislature opening their sessions in prayer. Please don’t go there. Our Legislature clearly needs all the help they can get, divine or otherwise.
Ironically, I read the press release while attending the North Georgia Conference of the Methodist Church in Athens, the Classic City of the South and home of the University of Georgia, the oldest state-chartered university in the nation. (Can I get an Amen?)
The conference meets annually to conduct the business of the Methodist Church in North Georgia. The South Georgia Conference does the same thing at its gathering in Macon.
I wish the Secular Coalition folks had been there. They would have been warmly welcomed by a group of loving Christians and by the time the Rev. Eddie Fox, World Director of Evangelism for the Methodist Church, got through preaching to them, they would have been standing and whooping like the rest of us. Methodists can whoop it up when they want to.
To understate things greatly, Eddie Fox can preach a lick or two. Even Billy Graham says so and I would come a lot closer to believing what Billy Graham says than a group of nontheistic Americans, whatever that is.
Bishop Michael Watson guided us smoothly through three days of preaching, praying, budgets, recognitions and no small amount of pontifications. (And, yes, Methodists can pontificate, too.) Some of the discussions were a little esoteric for me, but for the most part I learned a lot. Mainly, I learned of all the good works taking place in the Methodist Church in Georgia and all over the world. This is what the church is supposed to be about — feeding the hungry, tending to the poor, the sick, the elderly, the homeless and bringing the Christian message to the unchurched. That is why I get impatient with people who get hung up on narrow interpretations of the Bible and think their way is the “right way” and the only way. Horse feathers. The church isn’t about using the Bible to prove who is right and who is wrong. That’s God’s decision. The church is about caring for and helping those in need.
As a public service, it is my duty to announce to my many Baptist friends that we Methodists ordained a number of new ministers last week including (you guessed it) several women. After the service, I immediately rushed to Sanford Stadium to see if God had unleashed a plague of locusts to devour the hedges but all seemed well. I guess God likes women preachers as much as I do.
One of the most poignant moments of the week was the memorial service honoring those clergy who had passed away since last year’s conference. Among them was Mack Tribble, who I loved like a brother — still do — and who participated in the marriage of both our children. I am positive that when God drew up the plans for a kind and caring minister that radiated Christian love, Willie Mack Tribble was His prototype. I’m not sure what my chances are of getting to heaven, but if I can get even a temporary visa, I am going to see my family first and then I am going to hunt up Mack Tribble and thank him for what he meant to me.
As for the Secular Coalition for America, this is a free country and they have as much right to lobby legislators as the rest of us. (I would humbly suggest the atheists bring lots of money and free tickets to tractor pulls if they hope to have — pardon the pun — a prayer.) However, I must warn them that after spending last week with some of the finest Christian people I’ve ever met, they have their work cut out for them. Never underestimate the power of a Methodist. Can I get an Amen?
You can reach Dick Yarbrough at yarb2400@bellsouth.net or P.O. Box 725373, Atlanta, GA 31139.
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Mark 16:18 King James Version (KJV)
"They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."
How many of you guys have handled a snake, drunk poison and survived, or healed someone by laying your hands on them lately?
Just saying.
That is not the final law, but the Secular Coalition did not say that it was.
The final law says that the DOT shall provide an "In God We Trust" decal free of charge to any person requesting it. Free of charge means someone else is paying for it and that someone else is the taxpayer who may not be interested in paying for the advertisement of someone else’s supernatural deity.
I'm assuming tax dollars are being used to finance the manufacture and printing of stickers proclaiming a trust in God – capital “G” which in this country means Yahweh. I'm pretty sure that to most intellectually honest people, that is an example of government respecting an establishment of religion.
As for opening the legislative session with a Christian prayer, I’d recommend opening the session with a basic math lesson, something tangible that they could certainly use.
As a side note, if God is the master of all math lessons, he/she might take issue with whoever wrote 1 Kings 7:23, because pi does not equal 3.
You are a product of the secular government run education system. Congratulations! You learned your lessons well.
But unless you know the heart of every single person, including Mr. Yarbrough, you don't know the extent of their faith. NONE of us has any way of knowing the inner heart of another human being. You all are putting yourselves on the same level as Christ by acting as if you know. You have no right to sit back and judge the faith of Mr. Yarbough or anyone else, and you will be held accountable. I agree with 'eCobb Dad of 3'.
By the way, if you're saying that Methodists are going to hell for having female pastors, come out and say it. It's you, Right on Him, Dictionary Guy, Mike Salzey, West Cobb Observer, and Bro KJV who are being politically correct if that's what you think and you don't just come out and say it. And sign your REAL name to if that's your mantra. Oh, no, don't sign your name. God knows who you are and He is the only One who matters.
You lecture others not to judge and how they should use their real name. Yet, you use a nym and pass judgement on everyone here. How hypocritical!
You didn't read my whole passage. I went on to say that no one needs to sign his or her name. God knows who is saying what. He knows everyone's heart, and He is the ultimate judge. I don't care what YOU or anyone else thinks of me. I only care what He thinks.
I'd also be interested to know how these people know that the KJV is the supreme version of the Bible? Did God tell you in a burning bush? Send an angel to you in a dream? Or is it that it was endorsed by the Catholic church, yet another denomination? Just saying.
Like so many here, you do not grasp the fact that God judges and not men. Your arguments are with God, not men. God clearly left his instructions for us in the KJV Bible. There is no argument, unless humans choose to defy God's Word. Your choice?
You misunderstand the thrust of the discussion taking place here. We are all sinners and fall short. However, there is but one way to salvation. Being a Baptist will not gain anyone eternal salvation. Only by placing your faith and trust in Jesus Christ can one gain eternal salvation. Most Baptist churches are Bible-believing Bible-preaching churches, but saying you are a Baptist or joining any church will not gain eternal salvation for you. Unfortunately, Bible versions which came AFTER the KJV grossly distorted Christ's message of salvation, which is why so much confusion over salvation exists today.
Second, NOBODY, knows what words God said, if he, indeed, ever really said any. The Bible has been interpreted many time. Your beloved KJV being only one of them, Yes, sorry to break your illusions but there were Bibles before King James decided to have his one. Oh, by the way, does it bother you a little bit that King James was a homosexual?
JUDGE NOT, LEST YE VE JUDGED.
Yes, as you say, it will be "inteesting." Must be one of the words from the NIV?
You bigots who think your way is the only way and your church is the only church are one of the primary reasons we have so many atheists and agnostics. We can't all be wrong. We can't all be right, Or, can we? More probably we are all right and we are all wrong. God set down His law and it is what it is, REGARDLESS OF WHAT ANY PERSON SAYS. God will make the final call on all of us. In the meantime, it would do you and your ilk well to abide by the adage, "Judgement is mine sayeth the Lord. I will repay." Unless you think you are the Lord, quit judging other people and worry about your own sins and failings.