Archive for March 2012

Jacob’s Ladder: Confession

March 29, 2012 Around Madison, Editorials One comment

I have a confession to make. This confession may change the way that you picture me. If you have a good opinion of me, I hope that it will not alter your view of me too much but it may just do that. What is my confession? It is this: At eleven years old, I was convicted of murder.

Many of you may be gasping right now but what you have just read is the truth. I was convicted of murder when I was 11 years old.

How, you may ask, has this been kept a secret for so many years?

I have not been trying to keep this a secret for 37 years; it may have been buried but through not fault or manipulation of my own. Now, why I may have been too shy to admit that I had murdered someone as a child, I now boldly proclaim it.

How am I a free man today?

I am a free man today because I was pardoned. I was not pardoned by Florida Gov. Reuben Askew, who was in office at that time. I was not pardoned by President Gerald Ford, even though he pardoned former President Richard Nixon. Then who pardoned me? you may ask.

I was pardoned by my King and that is how I am free today. I was pardoned by that same man, Jesus Christ, who I murdered.

You may cry, “How could you have murdered Jesus Christ?”

I will answer:
You should know. You were right there helping me.

Didn’t we help Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss? We should be hanging at the end of a noose like Judas with our bribe money scattered at our feet.

Weren’t we there crying for the release of Barabbas and shouting “Crucify him” as we called for the blood of Jesus? You and I should have been executed for our crimes, along with Barrabbas.

Weren’t we there when Pontius Pilate washed his hands of the matter? Our hands were just as dirty as his.

Didn’t we scourge our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that day? Weren’t we as guilty as the Romans soldiers giving him all those lashes? Didn’t you and I deserve the beating instead?

Doesn’t the sound of that hammer driving those nails into His hands and feet still ring in your ear? You and I should have been nailed to that Cross, instead of Jesus.

He was a lamb without spot or blemish. He willingly suffered through these things so He could come forth out of the grave three days after His death.

Almost 2,000 years later, at a small church in Monticello, He held me in His arms as I cried out my confession to Him. His words to me were, “I forgive.”

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Obit: Larry Douglas Johnson

March 29, 2012 Obituaries Comments Off

Larry Douglas Johnson, age 44, died Tuesday, March 20, 2012, at Madison County Memorial Hospital.

A memorial service was held at 6 p.m. Friday, March 23, 2012 at Mount Olive Baptist Church.

Survivors include three daughters: Amanda Johnson and Ashley Johnson of Cherry Lake; Arica Johnson of Middleburg; one brother: Randy Johnson of Greenville; one sister: Susan McGuire of Lamont and one step-sister: Tina Martin of Quitman, Ga.

He was preceded in death by his parents: Rollin and June Ann Johnson.

The family request that donations may be made to Beggs Funeral Home for his funeral expenses.

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Scotty Wynn Featured In Soil To Spoon Magazine

March 29, 2012 Around Madison, Outdoors Comments Off

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.

Scotty Wynn, who attends Madison Academy, was recently on the cover of Soil to Spoon magazine, which is distributed to school children by the National Association of Conservation Districts.

In the article entitled “Meet A Farmer,” Scotty writes that he is eight years old and has been farming all his life. He is a fifth generation farmer, whose family has been farming in Hamilton County for over 100 years.

“We have 380 acres of row crops,” Scotty writes, “200 acres of pine trees and about 200 acres of pasture. Healthy soil is very important because without good soil, our crops would not do well. We grow corn, peanuts and sweet potatoes. We also raise beef cattle and goats.”

Scotty writes that he helps every day on the farm.

“When I am not working on the farm, I love to go fishing with my daddy,” he said.

He also added, “I help my mom make pickles from the cucumbers from my garden.”

Scotty is the son of Scott and Iris Wynn of Jennings. He is the grandson of Mary Grace (Sapp) Wynn and of Jennings and the late Wendell Wynn and Lee and Annelle Bishop of Lee and the late Lavonne (Hamrick) Bishop.

At the end of the article, Scotty reminds everyone, “Remember, vegetables come from soil, not from the grocery store.”

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Happenings At Madison First Baptist Church

March 29, 2012 Church Comments Off

By Nell Dobbs
Guest Columnist

It seemed the theme for Sunday morning was “Blessed.” The first three songs were “Blessed Be Your Name,” “Blessed Be the Name of the Lord” and “Blessed Be the Name.” In Deuteronomy 28:2, “And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.” There are so many other references to being blessed and to blessing. Gabriel, the angel, said to Mary that she was highly favored because the Lord was with her and she was very blessed among women.

Hearing Joel O’Steen on Sunday morning, he spoke from Galatians of going gently and telling the Good News! Then in morning church, Preacher Law’s message was from Timothy 1:1-7 about “Encouraging Others,” stirring up the gift of God within us, loving each other, remembering the father of our grandmothers and mothers. He also said one of the favorite songs is “The Longer I Service Him, the Sweeter He Grows,” which he doesn’t hear much anymore. It also was the favorite of Mrs. Audrey Wood, the mother of Mrs. Dorothy Heard and a staunch believer and very mission-minded.

Beautiful flowers were placed in loving memory of her parents, Otha and Henry Shaffer, by Doris Cowart, who is not well and stands in the need of prayer. Bless her family also. Once Otha and her sister, Otel Godwin and Edna Waldrep were all in our Dorcas Sunday School class and their sister-in-law, Winona Hudson, was in the Adult Woman’s Class. Prayers for Elma and Southern Living for Seniors, as well as Juanita Cruce, Ina Moore and Pauline Stokes too.

Todd Gordon touched us all as he prayed the offertory prayer. Jim said no longer is the Senior Adult Choir the Senior Adult Choir but JOY – Just older Youth. They sang “We Bring the Sacrifice of Praise” and added “For the Beauty of the Earth.”

Sunday night, we enjoyed the covered dish fellowship.

This Sunday, April 1, following the morning worship service, our annual Easter egg hunt will be held at the Beggs Barn.

Holy Week Services at noon April 2-6:
Monday, Grace Presbyterian
Tuesday, Shiloh Missionary Baptist
Wednesday, First United Methodist
Thursday, Mt. Zion Church
Friday, First Baptist Church

Many are ill among us. Manager are sad: Preacher Jake Philips, Preacher Larry Law and Diana, Will Rutherford, the Michael Sands Family of Buckville, Peggy Drummond, Jeanette Mitchell, The family of Adrian Craine of Perry, Al and Gail Spurlock, Ruby Moyer, Iduma Smith at Smith Hospital, Bill Roberts, Janice Luttrell (Billy’s sister), Mr. Clifford “Buck” Kelly, Jim Carey (knee surgery postponed) and all the other ill ones. We pray comfort for all the sad ones – sad because of the death of loved ones, because of ill health, because of lack of the world’s necessities, because of loneliness and all other reasons.

Life is short – or it may be short; therefore, may we live, love, laugh, give thanks to God and to others. Amen!

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