March 21, 2008

      & Commentary

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News at a Glance . . .

Lighten up with Laugher

Editor's commentary on a Good Friday sermon by Joel S. McGraw 

Sermon, "From Passover to Crossover" by Pastor Joel S. McGraw

Will you receive the Benediction? 

Stand by for Today's News . . .

Lighten up with Laugher

Last Sunday afternoon, I drove over to our daughter's home to pick up her five-year-old, black female Dachshund, Molly May Morgan, to bring her to our home for the afternoon. Melvine and I enjoy keeping her and having her in our home. She enjoys playing in our yard.

While I was at Stephanie's home, Caden, who is the youngest of three children who live next door, came over to play with her while I was watching Molly May. He, his sister and brother love Stephanie's dog.

I asked Caden how old he is. He showed me three fingers. We talked a while and then I told him I needed to take Molly May over to my home. He reacted immediately by saying, "I don't think that is a good idea."

Wow! That shocked me, coming from a three-year-old.

"Why not?"  I said.  He responded by saying, "Miss Morgan needs a puppy." 

Now, Caden may have meant one of two things by that statement. First, you can't take Molly May away without Stephanie's permission. Or second, "I need a puppy and would like to have one, too." I assured him that Miss Morgan would bring Molly May home later in the day. 

I am always amazed at what comes out of the minds and mouths of children. They enrich our lives and help to make life worth living.

[Editor's Note: Stephanie is to give her testimony on Greta Campbell's TV Show on Thursday, March 27, 2008, from 8 to 10 p. m. Her oncologist says, "Stephanie is a walking miracle." She and three of her girl friends from college days at Emmanuel College have continued to be close friends, and they sing together. Every year they spend a few days together at Myrtle Beach, SC, at a condo owned by Laura's parents. These young ladies are:

Beth James Kidd, Missy Ingham Pruitt, Laura Revells Allen, and Stephanie Ellen Morgan.] 

Editor's commentary on a Good Friday sermon by Joel S. McGraw 

I enjoy reading sermons. I welcome them and I am on the look for sermons that share the Gospel in a concise and captivating style that is easy to read. I would like to use such sermons in Hugh's News as one of many tools to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ in this newsletter.

I have always admired Joel McGraw and his writing and speaking skills. He is a gifted and talented preacher. He is one of the premiere pastors in the IPHC. His many years of pastoring is a tribute to the long tenure as the founding and senior pastor of Faith Chapel in Huntsville, AL. But most of all, he has been a great friend since our Junior High School days when we met at youth camp at River Springs, AL, near his boyhood home in Conecuh, AL, in a community called Brownville, about 6 1/2 miles from Evergreen. That friendship has lasted through all these many years.

I get Joel's weekly newsletter that his secretary sends out from Faith Chapel, his church in Huntsville, AL. I was so caught up in his sermon, "From Passover to Crossover"  that I thought you would benefit from reading it, as well as sharing it with family and friends. It is indeed a masterpiece -- clear, concise, and comprehensive. So, I wrote and asked Joel for authority/permission to print his sermon in my newsletter; and he, graciously granted me that privilege.

This sermon is a sterling example of what I am trying to explain to you about a good sermon -- no doubt a great sermon. It is especially outstanding when you realize the meaning of what John the Baptist said about Jesus, "Behold the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world."  His supreme sacrifice was not merely for an individual, a family, or a nation, but for the whole world. No one is left out. It is not God's will that anyone should perish, but that all should come to repentance toward God, and place his or her faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Eternal life and a home in heaven is offered and provided as a free gift by Jesus Christ Who died on the Cross. He was the spotless, unblemished Lamb of God. His sacrifice on the Cross of Calvary was planned in eternities past before God created the world and man. What an incredible story of redemption and salvation. Mercy and pardon continues to flow from the unmerited grace of God to those who will receive Jesus. You must read Joel's sermon. We all need to hear and to read good sermons that speak to our hearts about God's redemption for mankind.  

Fresh Bread from Pastor’s Table…

"From Passover to Crossover" by Pastor Joel S. McGraw

This is the week! Jesus was and is the ultimate “Passover Lamb.”

Christ  passes over our sins on the cross for us. We accept His Passover when we Cross over to Him in faith.

Go with me all the way back to Moses and his leading God’s people out of Egypt and slavery. Pharaoh of Egypt was asked to let God’s people go. They were slaves there. He would not.

God sent plagues of all kinds. Each time Pharaoh would promise to let them go. Then he would change his mind and even make it worse for these people. You know. Sometimes people promise God all kinds of things when there’s trouble, or times are hard. Then they change their mind.

Well, anyhow the time came when God let the last plague hit. The oldest child in every home, even the oldest of the beast of the field was to be taken. God was serious. But God has a provision for His people. Each family was to select the best of their lambs. They were to offer the lamb to God at a given time. At the time of the awful plague of death each family was to put blood from the slain lamb on the door post of their home. God promised when the death angel came, “When I see the blood I will pass over you.”

That event pointed to Jesus Christ who would come and shed His blood for the remissions of our sins. Death, physical and spiritual, came as a result of sin.  Jesus died in our place.  His death paid the penalty for all who will accept His offer.      

That time long ago became known as the Passover and was commemorated each year.  It was at Passover that Jesus, the Lamb of God, was selected unwittingly by those who took Him.  On the day religious people were dutifully slaying their four legged lambs and offering them, Jesus, our Lamb, was taken and crucified for us.  God gave His Son as the perfect Lamb.     We no longer have to kill a lamb each year for the death angel to pass over us.  Jesus was slain once and for all.  We accept His sacrifice and the wages for our sins become paid.      

It happened on the Cross.  Now it is not just an annual event.  As the Holy Spirit draws you, you can Cross Over anytime from sin unto salvation.       

Jesus the Passover Lamb has become our Cross Over Savior.      

Because of Jesus our Passover on the Cross, you can Cross Over today from death in sin to life in Christ!     

Jesus became our Passover on the Cross once.  Now people are taking the Crossover everyday!  
                                                                    -- Pastor Joel McGraw                            Senior Pastor, Faith Chapel, in Huntsville, Alabama

Will you receive the Benediction? 

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13, KJV ).

"I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me, shall never die" (John 11:25-26, KJV ).