Why not women? Time to rise, shine
I recently read Why Not Women by Loren Cunningham. He says, “The issue of women and their role goes to the very heart of the church. We are entering humanity’s most ancient battleground – the war of the serpent against women.
“Ever since the Garden of Eden, the devil has been attacking women.”
A 2020 world population report estimates that nearly 1.2 million baby girls are aborted each year due to gender selection. Human rights injustices against women include gender mutilation, forced child marriages and sex-selective abortion. The number of missing women rose in 2020 to an estimated 142.6 million. It is a secret holocaust.
The enemy appeals to the pride of men by saying women are not their equal, not as good as them or they are not called by God. A man’s pride destroys his intimacy with God and stunts the growth of his ministry. When two thirds of Bible-believing Christians are women and excluded from evangelizing, the loss for God’s cause is great.
In more modern times, women have been at the forefront of revival movements. In the 18th century, the Moravians experienced a move of God that spread worldwide with missionaries.
In the 19th century, evangelical leaders like Charles Finney and Dwight L. Moody trained women in theology and invited women to speak publicly. A.B. Simpson included women in all levels of his leadership. And Phoebe Palmer and Hannah Whitall Smith were influential in the Holiness movement.
Cunningham says, “I believe that the enemy is behind the confusion in the church about women, and their active participation in ministry. Justice, like judgment, must begin in the house of God.”
Romans 14:4 says, “Who are you to judge someone else’s servant?”
The year 2023 is the time to set women free to rise and shine with God’s glory.
The Rev. Shirley Frisbee, Marble
The writer is founder and president of the Native Heart Community Development Association. Visit nativeheartcda.org.
See all that God has done
How great is our God?
Well, not only did the marigold seeds grow, the morning glory seeds also sprouted and are thriving in the Southern exposure window.
This is in direct correlation that God is all about life, mercy and love.
Would that everyone would see the signs of life in their everyday and praise the Creator for the things He has done.
Stop by the house this May, and see the flowers and veggies God has grown.
Jeff Crane, Murphy
Greed hurts all Americans
As a young person I learned not to trust big, greedy corporations. They do not care about people. They have but one concern – maximizing profits.
About three years ago, when COVID-19 struck, many people drastically cut down on their driving, thus lowering the demand for gasoline.
The oil companies, knowing how much supply and demand determines the price of gasoline, vastly cut production. They capped many wells. Many of these wells still remain unproductive.
The oil companies, which spend a lot on false propaganda, claim that high gas prices are the fault of the government, environmentalists and others. That if they could only drill wherever they want, without restrictions, then everything would be fine.
What a bunch of hooey! They are reaping record profits. There is no incentive for them to increase production.
Furthermore, thanks to the Republican majority in Congress, in 2015 oil corporations were empowered to export American drilled oil anywhere they choose.
So you can “drill baby drill” all you want, but it does not necessarily help Americans.
Exxon has known about the dangers of climate change for 40 years. So what did they do about it? They spent hundreds of millions of dollars to discredit their own findings.
Trying to equate environmentalism with Marxism is loony. False fear tactics are ineffective to the thinking person.
Jack Montgomery, Ogreeta
What is God up to here?
That was the theme of a breakfast meeting at Little Brasstown Baptist Church.
While we enjoyed a delicious meal prepared by Susie Graham, we watched a brief video narrated by Douglass Small introducing the amazing event 100 days from now, when 40 teams of 10 intercessors each arrive from South Korea. One team will be housed at Truett Camp and Conference Center in Hayesville from May 3-7.
I shared the story leading up to this event, inviting 20 churches and as many pastors from all denominations present to prepare with extraordinary and united prayer. In our lifetimes, there never been a greater time to join together to pray for a true awakening in America.
Dr. Nam Soo Choi received Jesus as a teenager during a Billy Graham crusade in South Korea about 50 years ago. God later called him to build a church in Korea by praying.
Today, his church has more than 25,000 members. His World School of Prayer has sent intercessors to 60 nations. Choi asked Small to coordinate 20 teams in 2022 – 40 this year – and 70 are planned for 2024 to visit America and pray for awakening. The tentative schedule for the intercessory team’s time with us, May 3-7, will include visits to Cherokee, Clay and Graham counties, as well as the Cherokee nation.
Opportunities to pray along with the Korean intercessors will take place morning, afternoon and evening. All of the events will be open to the entire community.
Local pastors and ministry leaders shared what they and their churches are doing to prepare with extraordinary prayer. To sign up for a day, please call or text Sharon Kephart at 828-361-2933.
Everyone left with a fresh hope in our hearts. As we unite in extraordinary prayer for awakening in America our desperate heartfelt cries may draw God’s blessing.
Elana Stockman, Hayesville
The writer can be reached at 727-487-3124 and goinghisway3@gmail.com.
Grateful for all kindness
Your kind expression of sympathy is gratefully acknowledged and deeply appreciated.
Roger and Darrell Martin, Panama, Fla., and Warren, Mich., and the family of Sara DeLee “Dee” West
A very happy 91st birthday
What an honor to have my 91st birthday celebrated at Konehete Veterans Park.
I received an American flag that was flown over our Capitol. This flag so dear to my heart, knowing that I am an American.
It took years to achieve the changing of the name under the old Cherokee County commissioners. Now, like other towns, we honor our veterans. Many of them, especially from the Honor Guard, were there.
You’ll never know how proud it gets to have so many dignitaries shake hands.
I read where Cherokee County students will participate in a contest for a new sign. I will give $50 to the winner of this contest.
May I say thank you to our Indian brothers to have veterans with Konehete.
Oscar Valdes, Murphy
The ‘trial’ of one columnist
In his Jan. 25 “My View” column, Publisher David Brown enumerated a list of ailments afflicting Cherokee County and tarnishing its reputation. It struck me that Mr. Brown was rather too eager to find fault in others, and unwilling to reflect upon possible leadership failings of his own. This impression provoked an imaginary trial of David Brown.
Exhibit A in this trial was the Covid-19 narrative. In the public square hosted by the Scout, the banners of the pharmaceutical corporations flapped loudly overhead, while dissenting citizens were contained behind yellow caution tape. Former Hillbilly Ranger columnist Wally Avett’s harangues were precisely calibrated to evade classification as bullying.
Exhibit B was the war in the Ukraine. In this narrative, there is only one side to the story, and it’s surprisingly short, considering the stakes. Russia is bad. Anyone questioning the narrative, including our former congressional representative, is also bad. End of story.
This evidence seemed pretty damning. My imaginary prosecutor told the jury that Mr. Brown had failed to deliver the fiercely independent journalism this county deserves. He lacked both the courage to confront established powers and the discernment to eviscerate received wisdom. He should be taken forthwith to the ducking stool and made to wait for the next release of water from Chatuge Dam.
But then, in an unexpected twist, Mr. Brown’s attorney produced a defense derived from the aforementioned column. Mr. Brown, he claimed, was playing three-dimensional chess with greater skill than the fiendish Vladimir Putin.
His master plan was to keep Cherokee County a sanctuary for “people who want to be left alone to live their lives in peace.” Putting the county on the map as a place where people think for themselves risks attracting attention from the enemies of our freedoms. We need them to leave us alone.
The verdict is pending.
Richard Foster, Murphy