Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 285 OCTOBER 2016 BODY OF CHRIST NEWS SERMON It’s Time For Us To Do Something “Raw racial tensions, live-streamed killings, strained trust between the police and communities they serve, and a presidential race that has scorched deep divides have the nation on edge and wondering if a leader will emerge from the chaos. …” - Updated 7:39 AM ET, Sat July 9, 2016 (CNN) — America is in mourning. — Stephen Collinson, CNN “Two days after a disturbed for- mer soldier executed five Dallas police officers in retaliation for the deaths of two black men at the hands of white cops, I opened my laptop to this CNN.com home page headline: Who Can Heal America? It’s the sort of fundamental ques- tion you don’t often see in the main- stream media—a Plea for Help, fueled by Fear and Desperation. In the piece that follows, CNN reporter Stephen Collinson captures the harsh and hopeless reality of this moment in his- tory: “Despite all the calls for unity, the prayers offered and the platitudes voiced, there are few signs yet that any candidate, lawmaker, law enforce- ment leader, or civil rights campaigner has mustered the trust and respect of voters needed to knit a mournful nation together and freshen the stale national debate on race and violence. …” - By Rick Lawrence QUESTION: WHO CAN HEAL AMERICA? In the Old Testament Scriptures, God instructs: “if MY PEOPLE who are called by My name will Humble them- selves, and Pray and Seek My face, and Turn from their wicked ways, THEN I will Hear from heaven, and will Forgive their sin and HEAL THEIR LAND.” II Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV) The prophet Ezekiel speaks on behalf of God: “So I sought for a man among them who would Make a wall, and Stand in the Gap before Me on BEHALF OF THE LAND, that I should not destroy it; BUT I FOUND NO ONE.” Ezekiel 22:30 (NKJV) After two tragic incidents in 2012: [July 20th] Century 16 Theater shoot- ings – 12 killed, 70 injured; - [December 14th] Newtown, Connecticut, 20 chil- dren (6 & 7 year olds) were killed and a total of 7 adults; - I was great- ly troubled!!! Therefore, I asked the LORD Jesus, WHY, LORD WHY!? I am certain the Lord reminded me of the Church’s Responsibility of being the – “SALT of the EARTH, … LIGHT of the WORLD.” In Scripture, “SALT” is not just about taste/flavor; it’s about its PRESERVING POWER. “LIGHT” in Scripture is not measured in watt- age or lumens, but rather as God’s Enlightenment/Information Source. God has given to His Church Power & Information the world does not have. Power & Information, 'NOT' derived from science/test tubes in the labo- ratory or the combination of great/ smart minds. Rather, the Power & Information that’s from the Omni- Potent/Omni-Science One, Who is ALL Powerful and Knows, and, has always Known all things. “The Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” We, His "BODY" the Church, was birthed for such a time as this, for God knew that CNN and the world would be asking the question – “WHO CAN HEAL AMERICA!?” – and, requesting “HELP!” NO, the Church is not going to save AMERICA from or remove ALL the hurts, pains and ills in our soci- ety, but we MUST - God has Called, Instructed and Empowered US to make some Positive Impacts on our nation and the world! Folks, our Communities, this Nation, and the World need and are “CALLING” for the benefit/influence of the Church, whether they realize and/or conscious of it or not. We, the Church, must be about the MASTER’S Business. And, the “King of kings Business requires HASTE.” Let’s not be like the “Church of Laodicea” - they said - “… ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ Jesus Al R Combs By Pastor Al R. Combs Continued on Page 13 I just couldn’t bear the thought of People living in poverty - Children sold into slavery - The thought disgusted me.