the Logos

How do you prepare for death? We can only prepare for the grave through faith in Christ. Psalms 49:15 (NLT): "But as for me, God will redeem my life. He will snatch me from the power of the grave." 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 (NIV): "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." Jesus demonstrated His power over the grave. He resurrected Lazarus and Jairus' daughter. He came out of His own grave after the Crucifixion. The living Christ saves all who come to Him giving them eternal life. Hebrews 7:25 (NIV): "Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them." Jesus is able, once and forever, to save everyone who comes to God through Him. No one can add to what Jesus did to save us; our past, present, and future...

Psalms 119 176-day challenge: Today's verse is 161. We had a great time at our Fall Renewal services last week. Minister Harrison kicked things off talking about stripping off the old nature so you don't give the devil opportunity in your life. Pastor Snead encouraged us that our wings are almost ready if we just wait on the Lord and don't give up. Minister Clanton finished things off by exhorting us to cry out to God and worship Him so that we can be delivered from captivity. It was truly a great time of renewal! Don't forget to sign-up by this Wednesday for the upcoming Spiritual Enrichment class starting on Oct. 12th. Sign-up at the Welcome Center. I will not be a church next Sunday as my wife and I will be cruising on the high seas to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. Keep us in your prayers as we are traveling.

How do we prepare for death? We cannot prepare through increased wealth. Psalms 49:16-17 (NLT): "So don't be dismayed when the wicked grow rich and their homes become ever more splendid. For when they die, they take nothing with them. Their wealth will not follow them into the grave." Expensive homes do not increase the length of life. Earthly honor and glory fade; they cannot prevent death. Wealth is worthless in the grave. We can't take wealth with us. Ecclesiastes 5:15: "Naked a man comes from his mother's womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand." All the pomp and circumstance you get in this present life will perish with your last breath. The grave levels the playing field between the "haves" and the "have nots". Remember the story of the rich man and the beggar Lazarus. Despite all the wealth of the rich man and the lack of wealth of Lazar...

How do we prepare for death? We cannot prepare through increased education. Psalms 49:10 (NLT): "Those who are wise must finally die, just like the foolish and senseless, leaving all their wealth behind." Degrees cannot deliver us from death. Educated people have been unable to find a way to escape life's common end. Eternal life cannot be gained by accumulating facts on healthy living. Even the wisest have been unable to avoid the grip of the grave. Medical science comes up empty in its search for a pill to give eternal life. Science has been studying cryogenics (just like in the movies) so you can one day freeze someone and bring them back years later. No matter what medicine or science comes up with, death is inevitable. Miracle drugs work only for a season. Many diseases have been conquered, but life still ultimately ends. In spite of earthly honors (degrees, achievements, etc), we all march steadily toward the grave.

Psalms 119 176-day challenge: Today's verse is 154. Thanks to all the Couples who attended the Couples Retreat yesterday. We had a great time and there was a lot of kissing going on as well!! The next Couples event will be to go see the movie, Fireproof . If you are interesting in going, contact the Couples Ministry . The Couples Ministry is also sponsoring a voter registration drive. Oct. 10th is the last day to register, change your party affiliation or your address. I also encourage young adults who are now voting age to register to vote. Our Fall Renewal services will be taking place on this Wednesday through Friday starting at 7pm. Everyone is invited to come and bring a friend. Don't forget that on Oct. 26, we will be having our Family & Friends Day. We're asking for members to donate bottled water, punch, desserts, and money to help us purchase food that hospitality will cook and prepare.

We want to invite everyone to join us, Cary Christian Church, and others in a day of "Prayer for Light" on Saturday, September 20th. On that day, the NC state fairgrounds will be the site of the Central NC Pagan Pride Day Festival – one of several related festivals being held around the state. For them, it will be a day dedicated to both celebrating and educating people about various forms of paganism – earth religions, tradition witchcraft, magick, worship of the Aesir & Vanir, Wicca, and others. You can read about it in more detail at the festival website: http://www.ncpaganpride.org/ . For us, it will be a day of prayer. Cary Christian Church will begin a prayer service at 9:00 am and Mt. Zion will have a prayer service at 3pm. With area churches working together, we want to bathe the day in prayer. I also encourage members to pray on their own at various times throughout the day. It is our intent not to involve the press/media in this at all. This is not an...

It's a subject that we don't like to talk about. We don't want to think about it but we are reminded of it quite often. That subject is death. But one of life's greatest deceptions started in the Garden of Eden when Satan said, "You will not surely die". Millions of people live as if this lie were true. They store up riches as if they would never leave them. The Bible says "for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also". But sin has brought the prospect of death to us all. It does not matter who you are. Graves await the rich and the poor. We each have an appointment with the grave. Hebrews 9:27 (MSG): "Everyone has to die once, then face the consequences." How do we prepare for that coming day? Over the next several days, I'll share how NOT to prepare and the only way you can prepare.

Psalms 119 176-day challenge: Today's verse is 147. There are a couple of great opportunities for growth (especially those who have completed New Members): For those new in their faith, the next New Believers class starts on 10/5; and the Fall session of the Spiritual Enrichment class starts on 10/12. Couples, don't forget about the Couples' Retreat hosted here at Mt. Zion on 9/20 to discuss "How Deep Is Your Love?" On 9/20, the NC state fairgrounds will be the site of the Central NC Pagan Pride Day Festival (see http://www.ncpaganpride.org/ for details)– one of several related festivals being held around the state. It will be a day dedicated to both celebrating and educating people about various forms of paganism – earth religions, tradition witchcraft, magick, worship of the Aesir & Vanir, Wicca, and others. Cary Christian Church is asking area churches to join them for a "Prayer for Light". Mt. Zion will join with them to pray for those who...

Psalms 119 176-day challenge: Today's verse is 140. Still looking for a couple of prayer coordinators to represent Mt. Zion with the Raleigh-Area Concerts of Prayer (coordinates praying for our community, ministry events in our area, etc). If you are interested or would like to find out more info, please call the church office and leave your name. I encourage all of our newest members to complete the New Members Orientation class. This class helps you understand the church, its structure, the vision God has for us, and more. It is a requirement before you can serve in a ministry position. And starting this Wednesday, this class will be available on Wednesdays for members who are unable to attend on Sunday mornings.

Psalms 119 176-day challenge: Sunday's verse is 133. I would like to encourage all of our newest members to complete the New Members Orientation class. Many have started but not completed. This class helps you understand the church, its structure, God's vision for us, and more. It is a requirement before you can serve in a ministry position. And starting September 10th, the New Members Orientation Class will be available on Wednesdays for members who are unable to attend on Sunday mornings. On Wednesday, we start a new Bible Study series, "Ministering through Spiritual Gifts". For those that signed up for the next Discipleship Training starting next Sunday, don't forget to buy and read the book, The Disciplemakers' Handbook, by Alice Fryling. I'm looking for a couple of people to be prayer coordinators from Mt. Zion for the Raleigh-Area Concerts of Prayer. This ministry coordinates with area churches to pray for our community, ministry events in ...