Once again we welcome you to another worship experience here at FEA. May God meet you where you are.

Atlanta’s fire chief lost his job recently, after the mayor called his beliefs on homosexuality “inconsistent” with the work of the city. Kelvin Cochran was suspended for 30 days then fired, following complaints that he promoted antigay views in a Christian book which he published in 2013. Kevin was a 34 year veteran of various fire departments of the fire service. In 2009 he was President Obama’s pick for the nation’s fire administrator. He is also a deacon at a Southern Baptist mega church.

In his book, Kevin highlights his belief that sex was designed by God for a man and a woman. One year later, when the book came to the attention of city officials, Mayor Kasim Reed said he worried that Cochran’s positions in the book would lead to accusations of discrimination.

“I want to be clear, said the mayor, that the material in Chief Cochran’s book is not representative of my personal beliefs, and is inconsistent with the administration’s work to make Atlanta a more welcoming city for all citizens—regardless of their sexual orientation, gender, race, and religious beliefs,” he said.

Though Cochran stated he had prior permission to release the book, Reed said it was done without proper review and that Cochran violated the terms of his suspension by publicly defending his stance, according to reports from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

This is nothing less than persecution. It is just what Jesus foretold would happen to us as believers. Let us keep Kelvin in our prayers while we brace ourselves for what is ahead.

SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK

1. GLOBAL/NATIONAL INTERCESSORS MEETING
Today, 5:00 p.m.

2. KING’S DAUGHTERS MEETING
Today, 6:00 p.m. Reminder to the women that
at this meeting we will have elections.

3. LUNCH HOUR HOTLINE/WARFARE PRAYER
Wednesday, 12:00 noon, Lunch Hour Hotline
5:30 p.m., Taking Authority over Your Year

4. CHOIR PRACTICE
Thursday, 6:30 p.m.

5. HOUR-OF-POWER PRAYER SESSION
Saturday, 7:00 a.m.- 8:00 a.m.

6. NEXT SUNDAY
Worship & Ministry, 9:00 a.m./ Communion
Kingdom Men Meeting, 6:00p.m.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT- HUMAN SERVICES
Title: Accountant I
Department: Fiscal & Budgetary Affairs
Starting Salary: $27,386.00 Full-Time Job.
Closing Date: January 28, 2015.
See Bulletin Board for more details.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
LIKE JESUS

During a children’s church service, the teacher talked about the first of the Ten Commandments: “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Ex. 20:3). She suggested some ways for the kids to keep this command. She said, “Nothing should come before God—not candy, not schoolwork, not videogames.” She told them that putting God first meant that time with Him reading the Bible and praying should come before anything else.

An older child in the group responded with a thought-provoking question. She asked if being a Christian was about keeping rules or if instead God wanted to be involved in all areas of our life.

Sometimes we make the mistake of viewing the Bible as a list of rules. Certainly obeying God (John 14:21) and spending time with Him are important, but not because we need to be rule-keepers. Jesus and the Father had a loving relationship. When we have a relationship with God, we desire to spend time with Him and obey Him so we can become more like Jesus. John said, “He who abides in [Jesus] ought himself also to walk just as He walked” (1 John 2:6). He’s the example we can follow.

When we want to understand how to love, or how to be humble, or how to have faith, or even how to set priorities, we can look at Jesus and follow His heart.—Anne Cetas

~*~*~*~*~

MEDIA MINISTRY

World Overcomers: WSTA 1340 AM station: Sundays at 12:30 p.m. & Tuesdays at 6:00 a.m.