The Cross is not so distant

Dad never said much. He was not a silent man, but fathers and sons seldom communicate in words. When exercising words, he did say to me, “There really is no problem like your own.” The statement’s message remains with me.

Anyone who wishes to arrive at the Cross, and thus become a true disciple, must first confront the conflict within every man. Never are we more sanguine than when grace appears. The Holy Spirit makes us instantly aware of our poverty as sinners and our sufficiency through God’s forgiveness and salvation. Never are we more bereaved than when the good feeling subsides, and God calls us to a deeper, truer faith — to poverty.

Penury is no more a currency to allow a man to purchase heaven than is wealth a symbol of God’s favor. When asked to sell all that he owned and follow Christ, it was not that the man was wealthy that made him sad — it was that he was attached to all he owned.

The poor man succumbs to the same dilemma when he clings to his victim status.

“Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity for 38 years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, ‘Do you want to be made well?’ The sick man answered him, ‘Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another person steps down before me.’” John 5:5-7

When the distance to our faith seems so far and unattainable, despair fills our sadness. This is what I believe the good book means by poverty. It is the deep and stark realization the Cross is distant because the desires to which we cling are too enticing.

Grace is the moment God comes to us and says, “I love you and claim you as my own.” Poverty compels us to come to God and say, “I love you, claim me and remove from me all desires hindering my full resignation to submission in thee.”

And to what shall we cling? Shall we cling to a hierarchy of logs and specks or forgiveness, love and empathy? God’s kingdom promises and demands so much more than finger-pointing.

Spiritual poverty is not the journey’s end. It is the beginning. Our final conflict comes at the Cross. Here, we can make no claim before the Lord except an incongruent desire to be in his physical presence and to serve him as he wills while breath remains. A Christian’s burden is not without pain.

“Then Jesus said to him, ‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.’ At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.” John 5:8,9

There really is no problem like your own. But then, the Cross really is not so distant, is it? Ximenia Bedolla, 6 months old, gets her first ashes on her forehead during Mass at the Holy Cross Church in Porterville, Calif.

Adairsville Church of God, 297 Old Dixie Highway, Adairsville, hosts Adairsville Church of God Kidz every Sunday morning at 11 a.m.

401 Nixon Ave., will have a Black History event tonight at 7 p.m. The event will feature skits, trivia, poetry and they will honor citizens from the community. For more information call Jackie Jenkins at 706-2046112.

3773 Black’s Bluff Road, will have Old Fashioned Day in their morning service on March 4 and a lamplight service at 6 p.m. High Attendance Day in Sunday School will be at 10 a.m. The Rev. Max Tucker is pastor. For more information call 706-291-9443.

1645 Cartersville Highway, will hold their adult Sunday School class at 10 a.m. on Sunday to study the importance of prayer. Traditional worship will be at 11 a.m. The Rev. Dr. Walter Turner’s sermon, “Humiliation to Adoration,” comes from Philippians 2:5-16. For more information visit www.covenantrome.org or email covenantpresbyterianchurch.epc@gmail. com.

46 Dykes Creek Church Road, will host Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Football Sunday on Sunday from 10:30 a.m.-noon. Fellowship of Christian Athletes Director Kent Howard will present the program.

542 Branham Ave., will observe the pastoral anniversary of Bishop Alex Allen Jr. and his wife Feb. 28-March 2 at 7 p.m. nightly. On March 4, Elder Frances Miller from St. Luke Church of God, Griffin, will be speaking in the 11 a.m. service and Bishop N.K. Allen and New Hope Cathedral will be the guests for the 3 p.m. service. Dinner will be served at 1:45 p.m. For more information call 706676-0930 or 706-314-9465.

100 E. Fourth Ave., holds Sunday School for all ages at 9:45 a.m. Worship is held at 11 a.m. and broadcast on Comcast channel 44. For more information visit www. fbcrome.org.

537 12th St., will celebrate the five-year pastoral anniversary of Bishop David E. McCluskey and Elect Lady Rena McCluskey Feb. 28-March 4. Services will start at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 28-March 2. On March 3, the church will meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Seven Hills Building, 538 Broad St. On March 4, the celebration will continue in the 10:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. services at the church. For more information email Michelle Jenkins at michellejenkins430@gmail.com.

1321 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., will host a program titled “A Promise to Keep” on Feb. 23 at 6:30 p.m. The Rev. Carey Ingram, pastor of Lovejoy Baptist Church, will be the guest speaker. For more information call Gladys Allen at 678-986-0285.

445 E. 14th St., will celebrate the 34th pastoral anniversary of the Rev. and Mrs. Terrell M. Shields on March 10-11. On March 10, there will be a banquet held at the Willingham Gymnasium, 560 Division St., 6-8 p.m. Tickets are $15. You may purchase a ticket by calling 706-235-8895 or see any member of the church. Tickets will not be sold at the door. The deadline for purchasing tickets is Saturday. On March 11, the Rev. William Watkins, pastor of Mt. Zion Grassdale Baptist Church, will be guest preacher at the 10:45 a.m. service. The Rev. Dr. Timothy McDonald and Iconium Baptist Church of Atlanta will be the afternoon guests. For more information

259 Herring Road, Armuchee, will host a gospel music workshop and concert today and Saturday. Minister of music Ahmad Hall will share on training voices. Registration is at 6:30 p.m. tonight. Sessions are at 7 p.m. tonight and at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. Concert at 6 p.m. Saturday. Registration fee is $10.

436 Branham Ave., will have a celebration of Black History Month on Feb. 25 with special guest the Rev Dr. Tim McDonald of Iconium Baptist Church, Atlanta.

is selling their third cookbook, “Feeding the Flock.” Cookbooks can be purchased from any church member. To receive a cookbook by mail, send $13 to Lyerly United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 152, Lyerly, GA 30730. For more information call JoAnn Mitchell at 706-895-2636.

700 Broad St., will hold Silver Steppers Bible study for ages 55 and older from 11 a.m.-noon on Wednesday. A light lunch will follow.

200 Nixon Ave., will celebrate the pastoral anniversary of Bishop Norris & First Lady Gladys Allen tonight at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. Dinner will be served at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Bishop V.T. Harden, Spirit & Truth Assembly of Jesus, Summerville, will be speaking Friday, and Bishop Alex Allen, Faith Temple of Jesus Christ, will be speaking Sunday. For more information call 706-266-6265 or 678-9860285.

419 Walter St., will host “A Taste of the South” on Sunday from 2-4 p.m. Tickets are $7 for adults and $3 for children. For further information contact Evangelist Gussie Turrentine at 706-3311824.

will host their second bowling tournament Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Classic Bowling Center, 75 Huffaker Road. Teams will consist of five people each. The entry fee is $25 per person. For more information contact the Rev. Derrick McDaniel at 706-936-6254. The church will celebrate their annual Women’s Day program March 11 at 3 p.m. The Rev. Ronda Johnson of A.M.E. Zion Church will be the guest speaker. For more information contact Catasha McDaniel at 706-2048825.

30 Orchard Road, Adairsville, hosts Celebrate Recovery, a Christ-centered recovery program, every Monday night. Cross Talk Cafe at 6 p.m., large group worship at 7 p.m. and open share groups at 8 p.m. Visit www.northpointechurch.com or contact Kitty at 404-642-3605 for more information.

5603 Alabama Highway, holds Sunday School at 9:45 a.m., morning worship at 10:50 a.m. and evening worship at 5:30 p.m. every Sunday. The church holds prayer at 8:30 a.m. and Bible study at 7 p.m. every Wednesday. The church will host Brotherhood Breakfast on March 3 at 8 a.m. Mike Southerland will be the guest speaker. For more information call 706235-4119 or 706-292-0462.

and Northwest Georgia Winds will perform a free concert titled “Lift Every Voice” directed by Sam Baltzer at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Rome City Auditorium. The concert will celebrate unity and togetherness for Black History Month. Chieko Hara / The Porterville Recorder via AP at 10:55 a.m. Contact the church office for more information on additional activities or programs at 706-291-7986 or email nick. georgian@ngumc.net.

42 Ash St., meets for Holy Communion on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. This Sunday’s service will begin with the Great Litany followed by Holy Communion. For more information call 706-506-1241.

Maxwell Lane, serves lunch to the hungry and homeless at their Transformation Prayer Luncheon on Saturdays from noon1:15 p.m. Call 706-853-8059 and leave a message with your name and phone number for more information.

911 N. Broad St., has weekend Masses on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. in English and 7 p.m. in Spanish. Masses on Sunday will be at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. in English and at 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. in Spanish. Friday Night Parish suppers and bilingual Stations of the Cross begin this evening with dinner at 6 p.m. in the Parish Hall (donation requested) and Stations of the Cross in the church at 7 p.m. For additional information on any church activities or programs contact the church office at 706-290-9000 or at DeaconNeslin@smcrome.org.

101 E. Fourth Ave., offers Sunday services of Holy Eucharist at 8:30 a.m. in the chapel and 10 a.m. in the church. A service of Holy Eucharist in Spanish is offered Sundays at 1 p.m. in the chapel. Midweek Eucharist services are Tuesdays at 12:15 p.m. and Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. in the chapel. Sunday School is available on Sundays at 11:15 a.m. for all ages, children, youth and adults. Nursery is offered during the 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist on Sunday. Children’s Chapel is offered for children ages pre-K through third grade during the 10 a.m. Sunday service. For more information call 706-291-9111 or www.stpetersrome.org.

106 E. Sixth Ave., will have their Women’s Day Program Feb. 25 at 3 p.m. with the Rev. Theresa Dunston as the guest speaker. Dinner will be served at 2 p.m. For more information call Tamara at 706-266-9709.

801 E. Second Ave., holds Sunday School at 10 a.m. and services with the Rev. Millie Kim at 11 a.m. For more information call Scott Edwards at 706-2353493 or visit www.2aveumc.org.

6 Old Rockmart Road, Lindale, holds Sunday School at 9:45 a.m. Worship is at 11 a.m. The Rev. Camille Josey will deliver the sermon, “Raising the Dead.” The Scripture readings for this week are Psalm 104:27-30 from the Old Testament and John 11:1-44 from the New Testament. The church’s monthly evening Bible Study will be Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. For more information contact Janet Farr at 706-3467268.

304 Coker Drive, will have Holy Eucharist on Sunday at 11 a.m. On Wednesday, AlAnon will meet in the parish hall at noon and Holy Eucharist will be at 6 p.m.

1941 Shorter Ave., holds Sunday School for all ages at 9:45 a.m. Worship and Holy Communion are at 11 a.m. The Rev. Greg Lund’s sermon title will be “Get Ready, Get Set, Go.” A nursery and childcare are available. For further information call 706235-8561.

West Rome United Methodist Church, 1003 Shorter Ave., will meet at 11 a.m. on Sunday for the First Sunday in Lent. The sermon, “Walking in the Wilderness,” comes from Mark 1:9-15. For more information visit the church website at www.westromeumc.org, call 706-2346214 or email wrumc@bellsouth.net.