Recent Articles and Sermons

by Pastor Mark Downey

February 16, 2014

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 23:18-27

A friend of mine recently said, “Politics is completely corrupt and will not save us” and I would agree and add that it would not have been possible for the political morass to reach such depths of depravity unless first the religious leaders of the land polluted the very Word of God and the people loved to have it so (Isaiah 5:31).  The prophet Jeremiah leveled stinging reproofs at his contemporaries and aptly applies to the modern pulpit as well, which will not save us.

By Pastor Don Elmore

Funeral Service of Tressie Mae Ramsey

February 15, 2014

Before I begin my welcome to all of you who were able to come here to remember Tressie Ramsey, I would like to express to all of you my appreciation for the number of family members who have come a very, long distance to attend.  One son, who lives in Texas, one daughter who lives in Florida, and Pastor Ramsey’s brother who lives in Hannibal, Missouri; and to all the other relatives of both Tressie and Everett, and all their children and grandchildren who live many miles from here; and friends, neighbors and even fellow Lion’s Club members.  Many of you just got to Houston, Missouri this morning; it was a major effort and it is a joy to see the family members having a wonderful time together.  It is a family reunion; and that is just what Tressie did and would have wanted.  May I give my thanks to all of you.

I am here to welcome all of you to the funeral of Tressie Mae (Brown) Ramsey; who was born February 3, 1940 to John Jordan “Johnny” Brown and Ollie Mae (Bland) Brown in Eminence, Missouri.  She went to be with the Lord on February 6, 2014 at Willow Care Nursing Home; Willow springs, Missouri at the age of 74 years and 3 days.

Tressie is survived by her loving husband, Pastor Everett Glen Ramsey and her daughter Tresa Kay Schmidt (Philip) of Ocala, Fl., and her son:  David Glen Silieven (Shirley) of Plano, Texas; and a second son Michael Wayne Sileven who preceded her in death.

I come here on behalf of the Fellowship of God’s Covenant People.  FGCP is a small church located in Northern Kentucky.  It has been in existence for over 20 years. 

by Pastor Mark Downey

February 9, 2014

Scripture Reading:  Psalms 119:169-176

Christians, like the Psalmist David, want to know more about God in Christ the Messiah, to know more about the teachings of the Word, and the duties of our faith.  When we understand that we are the true Israel, we also realize what our newfound responsibilities are.  David had a foreboding sense that he and his prayers were not worthy before such a benevolent God who bequeathed so much promise.  Likewise, we are heirs of the promise and yet every waking moment is not dedicated to the praise of God.  We should make the Word of God our rule in everyday conversation, rather than the exception.  We should look up to God as a lump of clay to be shaped in perfect form by the Potter; to help this honorable vessel glorify Him.  When we glory in the Lord, we are spreading His reputation.  It was by His design that His repute would be through His people; even the enemies of His people would stand in awe of such a fearsome and jealous God.  And it was all because we have His Word; an owner’s manual, if you will, for having communion with Him, not just for today, but for eternity. 

The Wake-up Herald

And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof. Romans 13:11-14

The Wake-up Herald

And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof. Romans 13:11-14

The Wake-up Herald

And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof. Romans 13:11-14

by Pastor Don Elmore

February 2, 2014

Scripture Reading: John 8:39-48

What a brutal war of words!  Jesus verses His enemies; the Edomite Jews.  I would say that I have never had a conversation that was as full of hateful statements as is in this one.  Jesus declared to this particular group of people that they were not related to Him at all; for they had a different father than He had.  The proof of this was that they did not act like Abraham:  they didn’t love Him; they didn’t obey His words and they didn’t believe Him.  They were the fruit of a barren tree.  He then declared to them that they were liars and murderers just like their father was; for their father was the entity that committed both of these sins.

Did you notice how the Edomite/Jews answered our Savior in verse 48?  They replied that He was a Samaritan and had a demon!  What did they mean by that statement; calling him a Samaritan?  It wasn’t very complimentary because they also said that he also had a demon. This was blasphemous!  We will try and answer this question in the remainder of this sermon.

Joe Biden's Speech at the Jewish American Heritage

 The Vice-President of the United States of America, Joe Biden, offered lofty praise for the Jewish community.  His statements raised some eyebrows and seems to have put anti-Jewish conspiracy theorists and true Bible reading Christians into a complete distrust of government officials.  For when he spoke at the Democratic National Committee event for Jewish American Heritage on May 21, 2013,  the Vice-President said that the Jewish people underestimated the impact of their Jewish heritage; that they underestimated the impact that have had on the development of this nation.  He added that you can’t talk about the civil rights movement in this country without talking about Jewish freedom riders and you can’t talk about the women’s movement without talking about Betty Friedan. He noted that the Jews in this country had a:

1. Disproportionate representation in the Senate (11%), 
2. Impressive share of Nobel Prizes (33% of all Nobel laureates), and
3. Major role in the civil-rights and womens’-rights movements,
4. Major role on behalf of gay marriage via their control of the media. 

The Vice-President explained: “I believe what affects the movements in America, what affects our attitudes in America are as much the culture and the arts as anything else,” He added: “Think behind of all that, I bet you 85 percent of those changes, whether it’s in Hollywood or social media are a consequence of Jewish leaders in the industry.”

Biden also cited one of his favorite explanations for the success of gay marriage — “it wasn’t anything we legislatively did. It was Will and Grace, it was the social media.  Literally. That’s what changed peoples’ attitudes. That’s why I was so certain that the vast majority of people would embrace and rapidly embrace the measure.”

In those developments, Biden explained, “the influence [of Jewish people] is immense.”

by Pastor Don Elmore

January 26, 2014

Scripture Reading:  Genesis 27:41-46

This is the story of an incident in the lives of two twin brothers; Jacob and Esau and their father:  Isaac and their mother:  Rebekah.  Each parent loved one of their twins boys the best, “And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison:  But Rebekah loved Jacob” Genesis 25:29.  The twins were not identical:  for Esau was hairy and red at his birth:  “And the first [eldest] came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau” Genesis 25:25. 

There were many important differences between the two twin brothers: 

The Wake-up Herald

And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof. Romans 13:11-14