Pryor Scrapbook Clippings, 1945-2000

The College Church of Christ 712 East Race Avenue Searcy, Arkansas 72143 1978-1979 Bessie Mae and Joseph Pryor The concept that an individual - or a group of people, for that matter - has of God is the basic concept that governs that person - or that group. This is the major factor in determining the person's philosophy of life and his philosophy oflife undergirds and directs commitment and action. What is your concept of God? What "god" do you worship and serve? Man is a worshiping "creature" and man will worship some "god." The man who worships God, the Jehovah of the Old Testament and the Father of the New Testament, will be ennobled as he becomes more like God whom he worships and serves. Since man today sees God through Christ as revealed in the gospel accounts, the man who worships and serves God in spirit and in truth becomes more like Christ who is the very epitome and essence of truth, righteousness, holiness, power, purity, faith, hope, and love. In Daniel, chapter three, is the record of one of th~ most beautiful and encouraging examples of the strength a genuine concept of God can provide man. Nebuchadnezzar was a powerful king who ruled the great Babylonian empire with a ruthless hand. The three young Hebrews who were captive in that "world empire" refused to obey the king when he commanded them to do that which was contrary to their concept of God: They had been taught and believed that "Thou shalt have not other gods before me" and that they should not bow down and worship any graven image. When they were commanded, and finally threatened with the fiery fur– nace, to bow down and worship the golden image, they replied, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of thy hands, oh king. But if not, be it known unto thee, 0 king, that he will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set ·up." This beautiful example of faith in God has been a great source of en– couragement to me through the years. chc.oi. ~ ~cu~ Mcu, 2.0, 1q1~ - Joseph Pryor