From our Pastor's Pen

A HOME is more than just a building of perhaps wood, brick or stone with painted inside walls, some flooring and furnishings - that is a house. A HOME also includes the FAMILY of individuals that live inside the building. It is a place where individuals can grow and thrive in a nurturing environment. A person can find the love and care that they need in a HOME. It is a safe haven from the problems and stress of life. Someone has said that "you can take a home and build a house around it but...the real challenge is to take a house and create a HOME within it".

We live in a day of great cultural and social diversity. Efforts are being made to redefine the HOME and FAMILY. In fact, much of society seems to be shifting toward having family members fit into the mold of political correctness. The truth of the matter is that a real HOME is what it has always been. No matter how you try to redefine it, the HOME and FAMILY need to be kept in the traditional way like God had in mind right from the very beginning.

We have seen many changes happen even in our lifetime and changes are often good. Sometimes though, change adversely affects some of the timeless things that are important in keeping our lives focused on the good things God intended for us and our FAMILY. We may lose our direction and find our FAMILY being split by the whims of an ever changing society. Everyone needs a good foundation upon which to build a good HOME and FAMILY.

There is another type of HOME and FAMILY that you may not have thought much about lately. It is a Church HOME and a Church FAMILY. This is a place where God's people come together and collectively praise God and worship him in spirit and truth. At Corinth Baptist Church, we are all FAMILY rich in care and concern for one another. We worship, we learn, we laugh, we cry, we grow and serve God together. We also reach out to our neighbors who need to hear the words of God's transforming truths. Right now, we are reaching out to you. Our hearts and doors are open to all here at Corinth Baptist Church.

Even as Jesus worked miracles - fed, taught and loved the people, there were those who found his sayings hard and left his circle (John 6:66). With this in mind, we know that some may read this message and desire not to be in our circle. You will not find a "nightclub or rock concert" atmosphere here. Neither will you find teaching and preaching that are not based on the Scriptures. We live joyful lives and we have many successful ministries to people but we always keep our eyes focused on Jesus, his Salvation and his life changing power no matter what we do.

If you are looking for a place where you and your FAMILY might together learn more about the "faith of our fathers", Corinth Baptist Church might just be the place for you. Here the sweet name of Jesus is mentioned often in sermon and song. Many folks bring their Bibles so they can follow and relate to that which is said or sung. Most of all, you would find Families and Homes represented among our people which prove that God's timeless unchanging principles really are the way to have a good HOME and a good FAMILY. Why not visit us soon - we would be honored to have you here.

Proverbs 24:21 "My son, fear thou the Lord and the king; and meddle not with them that are given to change."

What a peculiar admonition is given here. Meddle not with them that are given to change. This is godly advice from a father to his son. Much has been said recently about change. I think all of us are aware that some change is going to occur. Everything that is temporal changes because of decay from time and age. There are other things that we should endeavor never to change. First, I would remind us, "God will never change." Malachi 3:6 says "I the Lord changeth not." There is absolutely nothing about God that needs to change. He is perfect, holy and all sufficient. Then, God's word will never change. Psalm 119:89 tells us "Thy word is settled forever in heaven."

Matthew 5:18 states that "Heaven and earth will pass away but not one jot or tittle of God's word will pass until all is finished." Then, the way of worship shall never change. John 4:24 says "God is a spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." With these truths so established we must concur with the instruction meddle not with those who are given to change. I am determined to continue doing what the church has done since the days of the apostles, sing psalms and hymns of worship, and teach and preach God's word clearly and honestly to those whom I have the opportunity to teach. We will not change our way of worship and will strive to make it more meaningful and effective. We will continue to visit and attempt to reach our community and our generation through faith missions. I am pleased and thankful for our Sunday School teachers, our AWANA and children's ministries, our choir continues to grow and remains what I believe to be one of the best choirs in the Atlanta area. Our outreach ministries are reaching people and being used of God to help people, so we all may come to the conclusion it is best to meddle not with those given to change.