Columnist: March seems to be “Going out like a lion!”

It is really March weather out there today; well, it really started last night with the wind howling and carrying on and today it is still going strong.   I think it is going to be a rough week, weather-wise.  It would be great if this is the last hurrah of winter!  With Easter coming early, maybe it is, and maybe it will be pretty for Easter weekend.  You take the bad with the good.

All of my family had a big weekend as Bertie and Leon Alligood from Lebanon, Tenn. came down and then on Sunday, Tim, Cathy, and Kacey Wilson from Roswell came down and spent the day.  This was Cathy's last visit with us before they fly off to their new home in Belgium, but Tim and Kacey are hoping to come down for another visit or two as she will be out of school from Easter weekend on until they get settled overseas.  Since they were all going to be at Mama and Daddy's, we had a mini- family reunion with the Wilson side, which was long overdue.  Marty barbecued a pig and Mark made a pot of his wonderful Brunswick stew and along with side dishes and desserts, we had a wonderful Sunday lunch of food and also some good fellowship.  Harriette Wade, Sally and Tony Stephens, Sandra and Jerry Brown and Chic and Laurie Lewis were all able to come.  Aunt Harriette is doing good and she looked like a million dollars and certainly not 94 years old as she will soon be in April!  She and Daddy are both a wonder and a blessing.  Blanche Wilson doesn't look her age either, as she will celebrate another birthday  on Wednesday of this week.

Don’t forget the Old Buckhead Road Race April 6

Buddy and Jean Phillips went to South Georgia to a family reunion. They went on to Jacksonville to visit Buddy’s sister and brother-in-law.

Don’t forget the old Buckhead road race that begins at 8:30 a.m. on April 6. There will be a 5K-road race that goes down Baldwin Road and back. If you don’t race, you may walk but you need to register by calling Robin Bone at 706-474-8223 or Cheryl Saffold at 706-343-3339. You may also report on-line at www.active.com.

An old tractor parade will begin at 10 a.m. and go to the fire department. There will be food that the fire department will sell. There will be music, facer painting, games old-fashioned sack races and corn hole. The skating rink will be open at one point as well as wrestling. So you see this is going to be a very fun-filling day for all of you of all ages. Just get there and have a great day!
Billy and Donna Hinesley went to help little Billy celebrate his sixth birthday. They had fun   
Freida White was at Christie’s house while Christie went to California on business.   
The Lake Oconee Baptist Chapel will have the sunrise service at the Hickman’s house on Easter morning at 7a.m. There will be signs to follow. The church will have a musical at the 11 a.m. service called “Jesus Built a Bridge.” There will be no evening service.

Terrell’s column centers on “From pain to glory”

Many upcoming Easter events at Centennial Baptist

In the years that I have been the Minister of Music at Centennial Baptist Church, we have always had an Easter Choir Musical. Seventeen years ago this musical evolved into a Passion Play musical production. What had started in the Old Sanctuary, had to be moved to our Fellowship Hall. As it continued to grow we had to move it to, what was called back then, the Rutledge Academy Gym. After the construction of our new Worship Center in 2001, the musical moved back to the main campus. God has blessed this production in so many ways. Lives have been changed and souls have been saved to the Glory of God. This year there will be 150+ people involved in the program.

The opening scene is Abraham and Isaac climbing a mountain where God is testing Abraham’s faith. He must sacrifice his son. God stops Abraham after seeing his willingness to give his son as a sacrifice. He provides a ram caught in the thicket (Genesis 22:1-15). The musical picks up there and follows John the Baptist, the ministry of Jesus, His arrest, trial, crucifixion, resurrection, and a glorious finale as He enters and is seated on the throne. Praise God that He provided Jesus to be the sacrificial lamb for our sins. Join us Saturday and Sunday, March 23 & 24 at 7 p.m. for “God Provides a Lamb - Passion Play 2013.” Admission is FREE.

Sunday was a beautiful day and we had a good attendance for the worship service. It was so good to see so many of our people feeling better and out and about. We still miss the ones who are out for one reason or another. You know who you are and we pray you will be back soon. How do you stay in on a beautiful day? Welcome to our visitors we pray you received a blessing and was encouraged in some way by being in God’s service today and you will come be with us again as God leads. The choir’s special was, “Jesus Is.” Other special music was, “The Old Rugged Cross Made the Difference,” by James Butler. Bro. Ron’s message, “Gospel according to Barabbas,” John 18: 39-40, 19: 1-15.Gabbatha was a place in Jerusalem called the Pavement. Some say it may have been connected with Herod’ palace. Barabbas was a criminal, thief, bandit, robber and a notorious prisoner just to name a few, he was arrested for political violence. Pilate offered to release either him or Jesus, King of the Jews. Pilate kept telling the crowd he found no fault in Jesus. The crowd chose Barabbas. The chief priest answered, we have no king but Caesar. Jesus was being mocked; they turned their back on the Son of God. Jesus is the Heavenly Father, sinless, Holy, innocent, all good, crucified and more. Barabbas knew he was a condemned man and was wrong. He also knew Jesus was innocent; he knew Jesus would die in his place and by Jesus dying on the cross he could be saved. He knew Pilate who had the right and authority to execute him would set him free. Jesus was holy, pure, just and righteous, this all met at the cross and He did for the whole world.   

Columnist: Church-wide yard sale set for May 3rd, 4th

Dreary day today after a beautiful weekend, and well into March. Can spring be close at hand?
 With a good crowd and even with so many out sick, Butch began a series leading up to the Easter message, taking his scripture from Acts 4:1-12. The topic was: "Misquoting the facts," talking to us about the days leading up to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He definitely is the Son of God.
 His sacrifice has been accepted by God. The Savior is alive again and acting in this Man. Christ can also help us in our time of need. One day, because of what He did, I have the assurance that I will not spend eternity in hell.

On Sunday night our services were canceled so that we as a body together would go to Lone Oak Baptist to support them as they had a beautiful group in concert. We all sincerely enjoyed the service as The Liberty Singers gave a great message in song and testimonies.
 Betty Walker is home after spending almost a week in the hospital with bronchitis and other problems. We pray this whole family will be feeling so much better soon. Roger Bottoms is still in the hospital in Alabama following an operation. Mary Ruth Jackson is sick. Now I hear today that Millie Henson and Harriette Young are both in the hospital, and this is only the beginning. So many at home sick. Lord, we ask that you bless them.

Our Christian love and sympathy is sent out to Steve and Cindy Smith and their family in the recent tragic death of  their nephew, Michael Shane Dominy, and for his own immediate family. We send sympathy.