Recent Articles and Sermons

By Pastor Don Elmore

In my eighth-grade civic class, we had a very usual teacher.  First, she was Jewish.  And she was as eccentric as any teacher I ever had in her dealings with the students.  She was a little elderly lady.  One of her trademark moves was that she would through a “wool” ball at students who were talking when they were not supposed to.  Another of her eccentric ways was that she would go into the boy’s bathroom if she thought there was smoking or other school violations going on.  And most importantly, she said something that I never heard anyone else ever say.

By Richard Kelly Hoskins

Here are a few of the lessons from the book "Bible Smarts" by Richard Hoskins.

BALAK PLAN

COMMUNISM

FORBIDDEN FOODS

INTEGRATION

REPATRIATION

Copied from the sermon notes of Pastor Don Elmore

May 30, 2021

Scripture Reading  Psalm 16:10

“Systemic Racism in Chicago?

1. 2,240 Shootings, 440 Homicides from January thru July 2020.  Almost every shooter and homicides were black -- 97.7%; but Black Lives Matter and Chicago’s Democratic Politicians blame police and systemic racism.
2. The Chicago mayor is black.
3. The Superintendent of Police is black.
4. The Cook County State’s Attorney is black.
5. The Chief Judge of Cook County Circuit Courts is black.
6. The Illinois Attorney General is black.
7. The Chicago Fire Department Commissioner is black.
8. The Cook County Board President is black.
9. The State Senate Majority Leader is black.
10. The Illinois Lieutenant Governor is black.
11. The Illinois Secretary of State is black.
12. The Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County is black.
13. The Cook County Clerk is black.
14. The Chicago Treasurer is black.
15. The Chicago Police Board President is black.
16. The Chicago Transit Authority President is black.
17. The CEO of Chicago Public Schools is black.
18. The Commissioner of the Department of Water Management is black.
19. 40% of the City Council belong to the Black Caucus.
    1. Their average pay is $122,304 annually each, PLUS $122,000 per year in expenses.  Their pension for life is 80% of last pay.
    2. Republican head count in the City Council is ZERO.
    3. William Hale Thompson was the last Republican Mayor of Chicago in 1931.
    4. For 90 years Democrats have controlled the Chicago Mayor’s Office.
    5. At the end of fiscal 2019 the Chicago deficit was $838,200,000! 

Can someone please explain how white people in general are responsible for Chicago’s horrendously dismal condition?”

This sermon will attempt to answer this question. 

PATERNITY RAP

by Walt Giddings

May 23, 2021

1 John 3:1-2

This lesson comprises Scriptures that have puzzled me for a long time.  Quick Review: the last time we met on the Bible subject matter of twins in the womb by two different fathers we asked a question.  That question sourced from a pejorative street question, a rude, in your face interrogatory.  That question is “Who’s your Daddy?”

To illustrate why we used such a street scandalous question, may we visit an earlier period of American history.  It is the time when the Republic functioned because men of God viewed their oaths of office as solemn and binding obligations, the forswearing of which could impact on their eternal destiny.  In short, we return to a time before the not-so-civil civil war. 

In 1843 John Bouvier published his 2nd Edition of A Law Dictionary adapted to the constitution and laws of the United States of America and of the several states of the American Union.  He dedicated each edition to Joseph Story, Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.  Bouvier’s is the only law dictionary to date to receive Congressional sanction.  On page 135, Volume II, let me read you the entry for Maternity.  Let us have ears to hear.  

Psalm 90

by Jim Jester

May 16, 2021

Scripture Reading: Psalm 31:14-19

In this portion of Psalm 31, David confesses his faith in God, seeks deliverance from enemy persecution, and prays for the premature death of these enemies. “My times are in Thy hand,” means that God controls the events in his life and that He determines his future. David is trusting his God. “Let Thy face shine on thy servant” is an expression for a favorable response to his prayer; and is often found in Scripture. “Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes” (Ps. 119:135). David expresses his gratitude in verse 19, “Oh how great is Thy goodness, which Thou hast laid up for them that fear Thee.”

To “fear” God is not necessarily a fear as we usually use the term, e.g., the fear of a fire or the fear of falling from a height. No doubt, God is to be feared by evildoers, for “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31). But, to fear God is to respect and reverence Him by living in a holy or pious manner. Some synonyms for “piety” are: religious, godliness, devoutness, spirituality, saintliness, and reverence. These things true Christians aspire to and live by as much as possible.

Copied from the sermon notes of Pastor Don Elmore

May 9, 2021

First Half of the Apostle’s Creed:

“I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell …”

Was the Apostle’s Creed true or false regarding this four-worded phrase:  "He descended into hell"?  There have been millions of Christians who have repeated this Creed in unison in their congregations since it was first written over the last 1500 years.  Very few preachers ever preach on this subject. 

Modern liturgy and catechism of the Roman Catholic Church, Lutheranism, Anglicanism, Presbyterianism, the Moravian Church, the Methodist Church and the Congregational Church all participate in saying the Apostles’ Creed. What is meant by this phrase "He descended into hell"?

Psalm 83

by Pastor Jim Jester

May 2, 2021

Scripture Reading: Psalm 64:1-10

Psalm 64

In the Scripture we read, David’s meditation or complaint, we see how evil loves to plot in secret against God and His people. Ever hear of “secret societies,” e.g., the Free Masons? What about government agencies, e.g., the CIA and NSA? Presidents like to speak about their “openness” before the public, while the complete opposite is true.

The Democrats secretly plotted a steal of the election. They were the real insurrectionists or revolutionaries, not the Trump supporters of January 6. And, where is the cry of “police brutality” over the death of, Ashli Babbit, who came through a window at the capitol and was shot? What is the name of the shooter who killed her? Why isn’t it made known? Ah, we have a new administration in Washington. And even if some Trump supporters exhibited limited violence, was it not justifiable under the present conditions of: clear vote manipulation, the refusal of the courts, and a vice-president who did not have the “guts” to have certain states re-certify their fraudulent elections. Knowing American history, wouldn’t our founding fathers have agreed and been very angry? Wasn’t it an insurrection when we broke away from king George? Besides, there were no guns at the so-called “Trump insurrection.” How can one have an insurrection without guns?

Verses 1-6 of this Psalm are David’s petition for preservation. His enemies (the wicked), “whet their tongues like swords” and “aim bitter words like arrows,” shooting suddenly in ambush at the blameless. Some interpret these words as references to the casting of curses or spells by those who practice black magic. Which reminds me, aren’t masks magic?

Copied from the sermon notes of Pastor Don Elmore

April 25, 2021

Scripture Reading: Acts 10:1-2

By far the most important event on the Apostle Peter’s missionary journey was the conversion of Cornelius.  Cornelius was a Roman army officer, stationed in Caesarea.  This city had been rebuilt by Herod [an Edomite] and was named in honor of Caesar Augustus.  It was the chief port of Palestine and the official Roman capital of the provinces of Judea and Samaria.  There the Roman governor had his headquarters. 

He was in Jerusalem, usually, only during the feasts.  The Italian Cohort, made up largely of freedmen, was probably a special detachment of troops, to be used by the governor to put down disorders that might arise among the Judeans.

Cornelius, weary of Roman paganism, had been worshipping the God of Israel, but was missing something.  Verse two describes him as “devout”, a “God-fearer”, a “giver of alms”, and “prayerful” to Almighty God.  In fact, his “whole house feared God.”  Who was this special man?  What race was he?  What was unusual about this situation?

WHO'S YOUR DADDY?

By Walter Giddings

April 18, 2021

Greetings kindred.  We are on a first name basis here.  My name is walter.  This lesson comprises scriptures that have puzzled me for a long time.  We meet again on the Bible subject matter:   twins in the womb by two different fathers. 

Genesis 5:3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image, and called his name Seth. 

At the end of Twins, Lesson 4 we juxtaposed two family lines together, found  mentioned very close to each other in Genesis :  the family of WCain and the family of Seth.  We posed two questions :   how old was Cain when he begat his first born son; and, two, how old was Adam when he begat Seth?  We got one answer :   Adam was one hundred thirty years old when he begat Seth. 

Has anyone studied or even read a scripture from our Bibles indicating how old Cain was at the time he begat his first born son Enoch?  Has anyone studied or even read a scripture from our Bibles indicating Cain’s age at the time of his death?

Psalm 80

by Jim Jester

April 11, 2021

Scripture Reading: Psalm 55:1-11

The historical event of Psalm 80 is uncertain; but again we have a national lament for the restoration of God’s people. Did you notice the repetition at the turning-points of the psalm, the refrain is repeated that God would “turn them again” and cause them to be saved, in verses 3, 7, 19. Note also the ascending climax of how God is addressed: God; God of Hosts; and, LORD, God of Hosts. So, when Scripture repeats itself, it is not always because of emphasis. It often has much more significance for us. And, we will see more examples as we proceed.

“Turn us again, O God” (v. 3). Three times this prayer is repeated, but with slight, though noticeable, difference. Here, it is addressed only to God. But the second time (v. 7), it calls on God as “God of hosts.” The eye of faith in the psalmist saw the ministers of God’s power around him, the hosts of the holy angels who waited to do God’s will. Then the third time (v. 19), it is the “Lord God of hosts” on whom the psalmist calls, making mention of the covenant name (Yahweh, Jehovah, LORD, G-sus) by which God was known in Israel as their personal, familial, racial, God. Thus, the argument for faith – if God be our God, then He will help us. Therefore, be instant in prayer. “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Eph. 6:18).