Palm Bethel News
Vol 2 No 2	December 2002

Church Looking for new Pastor

After 18+ years as Pastor of Palm Bethel church, Elder Galen (Jerry) Thomas has decided not to answer the call of the church for another year. He believes his work here is done and has a desire for the church to have a new leader to guide it. Elder Thomas announced his decision to the church in November stating his final Sunday as the church’s pastor would be December 1.

Elder Thomas came to pastor Palm Bethel in 1984 after serving as pastor of churches in Pine Knob KY., Louisville, Ky., and Vero Beach, Fl.

Before he found Sovereign Grace, Elder Thomas was preaching an Arminian message which, while serving in the military in Japan during 1955, he used an interpreter to get his message out to the Japanese. After the Air Force, he attended a preacher boy’s school, Bob Jones University. His life was changed in 1959, when he heard a sovereign grace message at Lasserre Bradley’s church. While there he also met Dale, Elder Bradley’s sister, who was to later become Elder Thomas’ wife. Shortly thereafter he adopted the sovereign grace belief and, in 1962, was ordained as a Primitive Baptist minister in Richmond, KY and became a pastor in 1964.

Elder Thomas said his high point at Palm Bethel was serving the Lord with Sister Dale by his side. She suddenly passed away in 1990. His disappointment here has been the lack of outside visitation. He just doesn’t understand why Primitive Baptists moving here and visiting from other parts of the country have failed to come to our church.

He is currently living in St. Petersburg Florida, filling a few appointments and enjoying his children and grandchildren.

Sunday Services being filled

Since Elder Thomas’ departure the church has been seeking a supply of ministers. The schedule for the next few Sundays is Brother Sapp to be with us on December 22nd, and Elder Thomas on the 29th. January 5th, we will have Elder Blanchard.

The church was blessed to have Bro. John Gervasoni from New Hope deliver the message on December 15th.

The deacons are working diligently in getting the church supplied with pastors for our Sunday Services.

Saturday get-together planned for Jan 4th

Elder Blanchard from New Hope church will be our supply pastor on January 5th. The day before he has offered to meet, talk with the members of the church and provide an opportunity for fellowship at Brother & Sister Hutcheson’s starting at 2pm on Saturday, January 4th.

Sister Maners in assisted care facility

Brother Alva Maners reports that Sister Edna Maners is doing very well in her new home. She had been getting progressively harder to care for at home, but is doing much better now at the assisted care living facility in Lake Worth. Bro Maners visits every day and has lunch with her. She is in TERRACES Lake Worth, 1711 6^th Ave South Rm #130, Lake Worth 33460. 561-582-1472. Please, when you get a chance visit our dear Sister. She’ll be glad to see you!

We were glad to see...

On Sunday, December 15th, Sister Jessica and Sister Trina. Sister Trina has been away at Florida State and was home for the holidays. Sister Jessica says her family is doing fine and was asked to give our best wishes to all of them. Also Bro Richard came with Sister and Bill Antullis. We know that Bro Richard has been having a difficult time with his sundry illnesses and always regrets it when he can’t be with us. Oh that we all were as faithful to the church and the cause of Christ as Bro Richard. It’s always good to see the Antullis’. Sister Margaret was also back. Elder Thomas also was on hand and he introduced our guest minister Bro Gervasoni. Those that are with us most every Sunday, we of course were glad to also see them. Sister Dolly was absent, she had fallen and was recovering.

Some of our members have not been with us regularly and PBN urges them to support the church and come worship with the Saints. WE MISS YOU!

Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Why Go to Church

A Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. "I've gone for 30 years now," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So, I think I'm wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all."

This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher: I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this: They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead

today!"

When you are DOWN to nothing.... God is UP to something! Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible! Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual nourishment!

Remember, "When Satan is knocking at your door, simply say, "Jesus, could you get that for me? "!!

From the pen of Brother Maners

I have attended the Primitive Baptist Church over eighty four years. I first met my wife at church. We both joined the Church the second Sunday May 1946 and I like David, I have been young and now I am old yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, no his see begging bread. Ps 37:25 When I and Edna, my wife, joined the church we knew all the members by name, except a few that never attended very often. Heb 10:25 They seemed like visitors to me. I really felt sorry for them. They seemed so poor, they worked on Sundays most of the time. One thing I noticed the faithful attendees didn’t have to work on Sundays, they seemed to be rich, helping those in need.

My father was trustee of the township we lived in Owen Co. Indiana in the late >20's and early 30's. People would come to our house to get food order’s and pick up 24 lb sack of flour and carry it home. Flour was three sacks for a dollar at the grocery stores. Not one of our faithful members or their family came to get help during that depression. They all seemed to be content with what they had, they made do with it. Heb 13:5

My brother and I started a wood working factory and worked an average of 25 people consisting of about 15 men and 10 women on our work force. We were blessed with a number of Primitive Baptists. Luke 3:14

I like Paul have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith be content. Phil 4:11

Edna and I have three children, ten grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren a total of 32 of us. I have had food, clothes, and a place to live. Tim 6:8 A well blessed family, they all seem happy but only those that go to church know what real happiness is. 1Tim 6:6

Edna and I did not get a college education, but we something better. We got our education from Christ and his faithful servants by going to church on Sunday. The Holy Bible our only textbook. We like Paul can do all things through Christ which strengthenth us. Phil 4:13

How can any member say I love the church and hardly ever attend? If you love the church act like it. 1John 3:18

I have noticed that God heareth the prayers of those that go to Church to worship him. The reason I notice those things is because I am there every Sunday unless providentially hindered. John 9:31

After all the Lord see’s us when we are at church. My prayer is that the Lord’s ears are open unto our prayers. 1Pet 3:12

We love each and every one of you. Alva and Edna Maners.

A Christmas Story

by Rian B. Anderson Published 12. 15. 02 Sierra Times

Pa never had much compassion for the lazy or those who squandered their means and then never had enough for the necessities. But for those who were genuinely in need, his heart was as big as all outdoors. It was from him that I learned the greatest joy in life comes from giving, not from receiving. It was Christmas Eve 1881. I was fifteen years old and feeling like the world had caved in on me because there just hadn't been enough money to buy me the rifle that I'd wanted so bad that year for Christmas.

We did the chores early that night for some reason. I just figured Pa wanted a little extra time so we could read in the Bible. So after supper was over I took my boots off and stretched out in front of the fireplace and waited for Pa to get down the old Bible. I was still feeling sorry for myself and, to be honest, I wasn't in much of a mood to read scriptures.

But Pa didn't get the Bible, instead he bundled up and went outside. I couldn't figure it out because we had already done all the chores. I didn't worry about it long though, I was too busy wallowing in self-pity.

Soon Pa came back in. It was a cold clear night out and there was ice in his beard. "Come on, Matt," he said. "Bundle up good, it's cold out tonight."

I was really upset then. Not only wasn't I getting the rifle for Christmas, now Pa was dragging me out in the cold, and for no earthly reason that I could see. We'd already done all the chores, and I couldn't think of anything else that needed doing, especially not on a night like this. But I knew Pa was not very patient at one dragging one's feet when he'd told them to do something, so I got up and put my boots back on and got my cap, coat, and mittens. Ma gave me a mysterious smile as I opened the door to leave the house. Something was up, but I didn't know what.

Outside, I became even more dismayed. There in front of the house was the work team, already hitched to the big sled. Whatever it was we were going to do wasn't going to be a short, quick, little job. I could tell. We never hitched up the big sled unless we were going to haul a big load.

Pa was already up on the seat, reins in hand. I reluctantly climbed up beside him. The cold was already biting at me. I wasn't happy. When I was on, Pa pulled the sled around the house and stopped in front of the woodshed. He got off and I followed.

"I think we'll put on the high sideboards," he said.

"Here, help me." The high sideboards! It had been a bigger job than I wanted to do with just the low sideboards on, but whatever it was we were going to do would be a lot bigger with the high sideboards on.

When we had exchanged the sideboards Pa went into the woodshed and came out with an armload of wood the wood I'd spent all summer hauling down from the mountain, and then all fall sawing into blocks and splitting. What was he doing?

Finally I said something. "Pa," I asked, "what are you doing?"

"You been by the Widow Jensen's lately?" he asked. The Widow Jensen lived about two miles down the road. Her husband had died a year or so before and left her with three children, the oldest being eight.

Sure, I'd been by, but so what? "Yeah," I said, "why?"

"I rode by just today," Pa said. "Little Jakey was out digging around in the woodpile trying to find a few chips. They're out of wood, Matt." That was all he said and then he turned and went back into the woodshed for another armload of wood. I followed him.

We loaded the sled so high that I began to wonder if the horses would be able to pull it. Finally, Pa called a halt to our loading, then we went to the smoke house and Pa took down a big ham and a side of bacon. He handed them to me and told me to put them in the sled and wait. When he returned he was carrying a sack of flour over his right shoulder and a smaller sack of something in his left hand.

"What's in the little sack?" I asked.

"Shoes. They're out of shoes. Little Jakey just had gunny sacks wrapped around his feet when he was out in the woodpile this morning. I got the children a little candy too. It just wouldn't be Christmas without a little candy."

We rode the two miles to Widow Jensen's pretty much in silence. I tried to think through what Pa was doing. We didn't have much by worldly standards. Of course, we did have a big woodpile, though most of what was left now was still in the form of logs that I would have to saw into blocks and split before we could use it. We also had meat and flour, so we could spare that, but I knew we didn't have any money, so why was Pa buying them shoes and candy? Really, why was he doing any of this? Widow Jensen had closer neighbors than us. It shouldn't have been our concern.

We came in from the blind side of the Jensen house and unloaded the wood as quietly as possible, then we took the meat and flour and shoes to the door.

We knocked. The door opened a crack and a timid voice said, "Who is it?"

"Lucas Miles, Ma'am, and my son, Matt. Could we come in for a bit?"

Widow Jensen opened the door and let us in. She had a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. The children were wrapped in another and were sitting in front of the fireplace by a very small fire that hardly gave off any heat at all. Widow Jensen fumbled with a match and finally lit the lamp.

"We brought you a few things, Ma'am," Pa said and set down the sack of flour. I put the meat on the table. Then Pa handed her the sack that had the shoes in it. She opened it hesitantly and took the shoes out one pair at a time. There was a pair for her and one for each of the children sturdy shoes, the best, shoes that would last. I watched her carefully. She bit her lower lip to keep it from trembling and then tears filled her eyes and started running down her cheeks. She looked up at Pa like she wanted to say something, but it wouldn't come out.

"We brought a load of wood too, Ma'am," Pa said, then he turned to me and said, "Matt, go bring enough in to last for awhile. Let's get that fire up to size and heat this place up."

I wasn't the same person when I went back out to bring in the wood. I had a big lump in my throat and, much as I hate to admit it, there were tears in my eyes too. In my mind I kept seeing those three kids huddled around the fireplace and their mother standing there with tears running down her cheeks and so much gratitude in her heart that she couldn't speak. My heart swelled within me and a joy filled my soul that I'd never known before. I had given at Christmas many times before, but never when it had made so much difference. I could see we were literally saving the lives of these people.

I soon had the fire blazing and everyone's spirits soared. The kids started giggling when Pa handed them each a piece of candy and Widow Jensen looked on with a smile that probably hadn't crossed her face for a long time.

She finally turned to us. "God bless you," she said. "I know the Lord himself has sent you. The children and I have been praying that he would send one of his angels to spare us."

In spite of myself, the lump returned to my throat and the tears welled up in my eyes again. I'd never thought of Pa in those exact terms before, but after Widow Jensen mentioned it I could see that it was probably true. I was sure that a better man than Pa had never walked the earth. I started remembering all the times he had gone out of his way for Ma and me, and many others. The list seemed endless as I thought on it.

Pa insisted that everyone try on the shoes before we left. I was amazed when they all fit and I wondered how he had known what sizes to get. Then I guessed that if he was on an errand for the Lord that the Lord would make sure he got the right sizes.

Tears were running down Widow Jensen's face again when we stood up to leave. Pa took each of the kids in his big arms and gave them a hug. They clung to him and didn't want us to go. I could see that they missed their pa, and I was glad that I still had mine.

At the door Pa turned to Widow Jensen and said, "The Mrs. wanted me to invite you and the children over for Christmas dinner tomorrow. The turkey will be more than the three of us can eat, and a man can get cantankerous if he has to eat turkey for too many meals. We'll be by to get you about eleven. It'll be nice to have some little ones around again. Matt, here, hasn't been little for quite a spell." I was the youngest. My two older brothers and two older sisters were all married and had moved away.

Widow Jensen nodded and said, "Thank you, Brother Miles. I don't have to say, "'May the Lord bless you,' I know for certain that He will."

Out on the sled I felt a warmth that came from deep within and I didn't even notice the cold. When we had gone a ways, Pa turned to me and said, "Matt, I want you to know something. Your ma and me have been tucking a little money away here and there all year so we could buy that rifle for you, but we didn't have quite enough. Then yesterday a man who owed me a little money from years back came by to make things square. Your ma and me were real excited, thinking that now we could get you that rifle, and I started into town this morning to do just that. But on the way I saw little Jakey out scratching in the woodpile with his feet wrapped in those gunny sacks and I knew what I had to do. So, Son, I spent the money for shoes and a little candy for those children. I hope you understand."

I understood, and my eyes became wet with tears again. I understood very well, and I was so glad Pa had done it. Just then the rifle seemed very low on my list of priorities. Pa had given me a lot more. He had given me the look on Widow Jensen's face and the radiant smiles of her three children. For the rest of my life, whenever I saw any of the Jensens, or split a block of wood, I remembered, and remembering brought back that same joy I felt riding home beside Pa that night. Pa had given me much more than a rifle that night, he had given me the best Christmas of my life.

Merry Christmas, everyone.

Book Review

Lisa Beamer has written a wonderful testimony of her life and that of her late husband Todd in Let’s Roll. Todd died on Flight 93 in a field in Pa. He along with other passengers thwarted the mission of Islamic hijackers to fly another plane into a building full of innocent people. This book describes their life together, the type of man Todd was but more importantly their undying faith in their God and Savior Jesus Christ.

This book will bring tears to your eyes and will be a blessing to you.