My Thanksgiving List

Many years ago as H.A. Ironside was sitting in a crowded restaurant.  Just as Ironside was about to begin his meal, a man approached and asked if he could join him. Ironside invited his to have a seat. Then, as was his custom, Ironside bowed his head in prayer. When he opened his eyes, the other man asked, “Do you have a headache?” Ironside replied, “No, I don’t.” The other man asked, “Well, is there something wrong with your food?” Ironside replied, “No, I was simply thanking God as I always do before I eat.” The man said, “Oh, you’re one of those, are you? Well, I want you to know I never give thanks. I earn my money by the sweat of my brow and I don’t have to give thanks to anybody when I eat. I just start right in!”  Ironside said, “Yes, you’re just like my dog. That’s what he does too!”

We live in a day where people are ungrateful. God commands us to be thankful. In other words Thanksgiving is our duty. God also tells us about the great blessings that accompany our praises. Therefore Thanksgiving is our delight. In Psalm 103, we see the Psalmist declaring his attitude of gratitude. I challenge you to make out a list of things for which you are thankful. The Psalmist gives us a head start in Psalm 103. You can listen to this message by following this link or visit our sermons page.

Celebrating Thanksgiving In America

The tradition introduced by European Americans of Thanksgiving as a time to focus on God and His blessings dates back well over four centuries in America. For example, such thanksgivings occurred in 1541 at Palo Duro Canyon, Texas with Coronado and 1,500 of his men; ¹ in 1564 at St. Augustine, Florida with French Huguenot (Protestant) colonists; ² in 1598 at El Paso, Texas with Juan de Oñate and his expedition; ³ in 1607 at Cape Henry, Virginia with the landing of the Jamestown settlers; ⁴ in 1619 at Berkeley Plantation, Virginia; ⁵ (and many other such celebrations). But it is primarily from the Pilgrim’s Thanksgiving celebration of 1621 that we derive the current tradition of Thanksgiving Day.

The Pilgrims set sail for America on September 6, 1620, and for two months braved the harsh elements of a storm-tossed sea. Upon disembarking at Plymouth Rock, they held a prayer service and then hastily began building shelters; however, unprepared for such a harsh New England winter, nearly half of them died before spring. ⁶ Emerging from that grueling winter, the Pilgrims were surprised when an Indian named Samoset approached them and greeted them in their own language, explaining to them that he had learned English from fishermen and traders. A week later, Samoset returned with a friend named Squanto, who lived with the Pilgrims and accepted their Christian faith. Squanto taught the Pilgrims much about how to live in the New World, and he and Samoset helped forge a long-lasting peace treaty between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians. Pilgrim Governor William Bradford described Squanto as “a special instrument sent of God for [our] good . . . and never left [us] till he died.” ⁷

Follow this link to read the rest of this informative article: WallBuilders – Issues and Articles – Celebrating Thanksgiving In America

 

Thoughts on Thanksgiving

Why Only One Day for Thanksgiving?

Charles Dickens said that we are somewhat mixed up here in America. He told an audience that instead of having one Thanksgiving Day each year we should have 364. “Use that one day just for complaining and griping,” he said. “Use the other 364 days to thank God each day for the many blessings He has showered upon you.”

The Art of Thanksgiving

The art of thanksgiving is thanksliving. It is gratitude in action. It is thanking God for the gift of life by living it triumphantly. It is thanking God for your talents and abilities by accepting them as obligations to be invested for the common good. It is thanking God for all that men and women have done for you by doing things for others. It is thanking God for happiness by striving to make others happy. It is thanking God for beauty by helping to make the world more beautiful. It is thanking God for inspiration by trying to be an inspiration to others. It is thanking God for health and strength by the care and respect you show your body.

Thanksgiving

The first New England Thanksgiving was celebrated less than a year after the Plymouth colonists had settled in the new land of Massachusetts Bay Colony. The first dreadful winter in the colony had killed nearly half of its members. But new hope emerged in the summer of 1621 when the corn harvest brought rejoicing. Governor William Bradford decreed that a three-day feast be held beginning on December 13, 1621. Thus came about a Thanksgiving Day set aside for the special purpose of prayer as well as celebration. The custom of Thanksgiving Day spread from Plymouth to other new England colonies. During the Revolutionary War, eight special days of thanks were observed for victories and deliverance from perilous times. On November 26, 1789, President George Washington issued a general proclamation for a day of thanks. For many years there was no regular national Thanksgiving Day in the United States until President Lincoln in 1863 proclaimed the last Thursday in November as “A day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father.” As one studies early American history it becomes obvious that our early settlers and forefathers expressed their “thanksgiving” and their “gratitude” to God daily rather than once a year. As a nation we need to go back to the pilgrims’ fine art of gratitude toward God!

Harvest of the Heart at Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is the harvest of the heart After the fruit and grain are stored away. The quiet season of remembering, The moment when we pause to praise and pray.

Powerful Preaching

What makes for powerful preaching? If you go into certain geographical areas you will hear the wind sucking preacher… “For God-a, so loved-a, the world-aaa.” Some preachers have a sing-song, “That He GAVE HIS only BEGOTTEN Son.” Others are very dignified, “That whosoever believeth in Him.” Others are shouters, and as long as they are shouting they are o.k., even placing emphasis in the wrong place, but people love it, “SHOULD not perish But have everlasting life.” I hope we all understand powerful preaching has nothing to do with style. It has everything to do with the content of the message.

This morning we saw an example of powerful preaching in the sermons that Peter delivered in the first few chapters of the book of Acts. Specifically we looked at Acts chapter four and saw his response to the question from the Pharisees. Peter took the opportunity to declare Jesus Christ, the Man and the Message. That is the same message that is delivered throughout the Scriptures. That is the same message we have the privilege of delivering every day – Jesus Christ.

You can listen to the message by following this link or visit our sermons page.

Lofty Expectations Await At Wilson Christian

Matching last season’s N.C. Christian School Association 3-A semifinals appearance in boys basketball would delight new Wilson Christian Academy head coach Ryan Vanderboegh.

However, head coach Brian Trull has directed his girls teams to the semifinals in four of his 10 years and he admits: “It’s time to get over the hump.”

Thus, 2009-10 hardwood expectations are lofty.

The boys tip off their season and Vanderboegh debuts Thursday evening at Faith Christian of Rocky Mount. The girls opener is scheduled for Tuesday night at Neuse Christian of Raleigh.

Click to Read the full article
Lofty Expectations Await At Wilson Christian, from the Wilson Times

Founding Pastor of Tabenacle Baptist Church is Now with the Lord

Dr. Otis Reid Holmes, 89, husband of Elizabeth Horne Holmes, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, November 5, 2009 at Barge Memorial Hospital in Greenville, SC. He was the founding pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church in Wilson, NC. He planted and pastored Baptist churches in Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Ohio, and Tennessee. In each pastorate, he maintained a strong soulwinning, evangelistic, Bible-preaching ministry and established several Christian schools.

Born in Fort Deposit, AL, he was the son of the late John Edward and Rebie Garrett Holmes. Dr. Holmes was a retired minister and Director of Church Planting at Bob Jones University and the Gospel Fellowship Association. He was a member of Hampton Park Baptist Church in Greenville, SC.

Surviving, in addition to his wife, are three daughters and sons-in-law, Anne and Jim Watkins of Hindman, KY, Claudia and Dave Barba of Crossville, TN and Mary Ellen and Drew Conley of Greenville; seven grandchildren, Susan Croshaw, Jennifer Watkins, Stephanie Shaw, Susannah and Jeremiah Barba and Matthew and Andrew Conley; three great grandsons, Zachary, Brendon and Christopher Shaw; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to the Hampton Park Baptist Church, Missions Fund, designated for church planting, 875 State Park Road, Greenville, SC 29609.

Visitation will be held Sunday, November 8, 2009 from 1:30 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. at Hampton Park Baptist Church. The funeral service will be held Monday, November 9, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. at the church. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Memorial Park.

The Way Up When You Are Down

What is depression?  The poet has described it this way…

Depression is Debilitating, defeating,
Deepening gloom.
Trudging wearily through
The grocery store,
Unable to make a simple choice,
Or to count out correct change.
Surveying an unbelievably messy house,
Piles of laundry,
Work undone, and not being
Able to lift a finger.
Doubting that God cares,
Doubting in my prayers,
Doubting He’s even there.
Sitting, staring wild-eyed into space,
Desperately wanting out of the human race.

Have you ever felt that way? I am so thankful that God’s Holy Word contains example after example of His children that faced this all too common struggle. We find that struggle in our text today. We go to the Heavenly Hymnal, the book of Psalms. In Psalm 42 and 43 we read the words of a despondent soul. The writer finds himself in what appears to be a hopeless and helpless situation. How do you find “The Way Up When You are Down?” You can listen to this message by following this link or visit our sermons page.

WCA Girls Volleyball State Champs for Sixth Year in a Row

Congratulations to Bethany and the Varsity Girls for winning their sixth straight state championship!!!

Congratulations to Abigail and the Middle School Girls for winning their fourth straight championship!!!

Caleb Named to All State Soccer Team 2009

Family Collage