University Baptist Church

1197 University Avenue
Fairbanks, Alaska 99709 (907) 479-2440

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The UBC Informer

Volume 6, Issue 4
April, 2000

BUILDING ^the KINGDOM ^of GOD TOGETHER

Spanish Pastor, Rev. Ramon DeLeon
Chinese Fellowship, Judy and Howard Zach
Music Director, Laura Bergh
Church Secretary, Beth Foster

DO YOU BELIEVE IN EASTER?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas. She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns.

Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly.  Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure.  Edith began by saying, “My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?”  Beverly had said, “Why yes I do.” Edith said, “Well, what do you believe about Easter?” Beverly said, “Well, it’s all about egg hunts, going to church, and dressing up.” Edith kept pressing her about the real meaning of Easter, and finally led her to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

This particular morning, Dr. Philips said, “Beverly, don’t call Edith into the office quite yet.  I believe there is another delivery taking place in the waiting room.”

After being called back in the doctor’s office. Edith sat down and when she took a look at the doctor she said, “Dr. Will, why are you so sad? Are you reading your Bible? Are you praying?” Dr. Phillips said gently, “Edith, I’m the Doctor and you’re the patient,” With a heavy heart he said, “Your lab report came back and it says you have cancer, and Edith, you’re not going to live very long.”  Edith said, “Why Will Phillips, shame on you.  Why are you so sad? Do you think God makes mistakes? You have just told me that I’m going to see my precious Lord Jesus, my husband, and my friends. You have just told me that I am going to celebrate Easter forever, and here you are having difficulty giving me my ticket!”

Dr. Phillips thought to himself, “What a magnificent woman this Edith Burns is!”

Edith continued coming to Dr. Phillips.  Christmas came and the office was closed through January 3^rd. On the day the office opened, Edith did not show up. Later that afternoon, Edith called Dr. Phillips and said she would have to be moving her story to the hospital and said, “Will, I’m very near home, so would you make sure that they put women in here next to me, in my room, who need to know about Easter?”

Well, they did just that and women began to come in and share that room with Edith. Many women were saved. Everybody on that floor staff to patients were so excited about Edith that they started calling her Edith Easter; that is everyone except Phyllis Cross, the head nurse.

Phyllis made it plain that she wanted nothing to do with Edith because she was a “religious nut”.  She had been a nurse in an army hospital.  She had seen it all and heard it all. She was the original G. I. Jane. She had been married three times, and she was hard, cold and did everything by the book.

One morning the two nurses who were to attend to Edith were sick. Edith had the flu and Phyllis Cross had to go in and give her a shot. When she walked in, Edith had a big smile on her face and said, “Phyllis, God loves you and I love you, and I have been praying for you.”

Phyllis Cross said, “Well, you can quit praying for me, it won’t work. I’m not interested.” Edith said, “Well, I will pray; and I have asked God not to let me go home until you come into the family.”

Phyllis Cross said, “Then you will never die because that will never happen.” And curtly walked out of the room.

Every day Phyllis Cross would walk into the room and Edith would say, “God loves you Phyllis and I love you and I’m praying for you.”

One day Phyllis Cross said she was literally drawn to Edith’s room like a magnet would draw iron.  She sat down on the bed and Edith said, “I’m so glad you have come, because God told me that today is your special day.”  

Phyllis Cross said, “Edith, you have asked everybody here the question, “Do you believe in Easter?” but you have never asked me”.  

Edith said, “Phyllis I wanted to many times, but God told me to wait until you asked, and now that you have asked….”Edith Burns took her Bible and shared with Phyllis Cross the Easter Story of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Edith said, “Phyllis, do you believe in Easter? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is alive and that He wants to live in your heart?” 

Phyllis Cross said, “Oh, I want to believe that with all of my heart, and I do want Jesus in my life.”  Right there, Phyllis Cross prayed and invited Jesus Christ into her heart. For the first time Phyllis Cross did not walk out of a hospital room, she was carried out on the wings of angels.

Two days later, Phyllis Cross came in and Edith said, “Do you know what day it is?”

Phyllis Cross said, “Why Edith, it’s Good Friday.”  Edith said, “Oh, no, for you every day is Easter.  Happy Easter Phyllis!”

Two days later, on Easter Sunday, Phyllis Cross came into work, did some of her duties and then went down to the flower shop and got some Easter lilies because she wanted to go up to see Edith and give her Easter Lilies and wish her Happy Easter.  When she walked into Edith’s room, Edith was in bed; that big black Bible was on her lap.  Her hands were in the Bible.  There was a sweet smile on her face. When Phyllis Cross went to pick up Edith’s hand, she realized Edith was dead.

Her left hand was on John 14:2-4; “In my Father’s house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also."” Her right hand was on Revelation 21:4 "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, there shall be no more death nor sorrow; nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."

Phyllis Cross took one look at that dead body, and then lifted her face toward heaven, and with tears streaming down her cheeks said, “Happy Easter Edith—Happy Easter!” 

Phyllis Cross left Edith’s body, walked out of the room and over to a table where two student nurses were sitting. She said, “My name is Phyllis Cross. Do you believe in Easter?"

Talk the talk, walk the walk

Mel Tressler, Moose Creek Baptist Church

I hear people witnessing all around; some for Satan and some for God. I hear Christians witnessing for God out of their mouths, but I hear the same people witnessing for Satan in actions and deeds.

Don’t speak one thing then do another or the opposite thing. You’re better to God when you just keep quiet if God’s words aren’t in your heart. Some Christians hurt the gospel or God’s Word more than they do it good. This lifestyle will bite in the end. If you are going to talk the talk, then walk the walk.

Love, hate, love

Joseph, when he was 17 years old, was feeding his father’s flock with his brothers. His father, Jacob, loved the young man so much he made him a coat of many colors. When his brothers saw the love their father showed, they hated Joseph so bad they could not speak peaceable to him. (Gen.37:1-4)

Joseph had a dream. He saw that his brothers and his parents would bow to him. His father rebuked him for it, and took note that his brothers were envious of the young man (Gen. 37:5-11)

Later, Joseph’s brothers plotted to sell him into slavery. They kept his coat of many colors, covered it with blood, and told their father Joseph was rent to pieces and devoured by an animal. (Gen. 37:12-36)

Joseph lived as a slave among Egyptians, and they saw he was blessed by God. The Egyptians

  gave him many responsibilities, and in turn profited from God’s blessings. After two years, Joseph was trusted by the king. Joseph foretold of seven years of abundant harvest and seven years of none. The Egyptians accepted Joseph’s plan to store up grain to last through the seven years of famine. The king charged Joseph with the plan, elevated him in status, and even gave him a wife.

Just as Joseph had foretold, the seven years of plenty came and went, bringing a period of seven years in which famine plagued many lands. But Joseph’s plan to store up grain paid off, and the Egyptians did not want for food.

Joseph’s father sent his sons to Egypt to buy grain so they too, would have food. Their trip to Egypt proved Joseph’s dream. Joseph’s family was now at his mercy. (Gen 43:26)

Joseph was happy to see his brothers. “..be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves that ye sold me hither, for God did send me before you to preserve life.”

Joseph had plenty of reasons to hate his brothers for what they did to him, but all he could do was help them with food. Without his help they could have perished. Read the whole story. It is the best love-hate-love story you can read.

Look back over your experiences and travels. Is it possible some unpleasant things had to happen to you to get you where you are? The main thing is: you have arrived.

Give praise to God. Thank God for everyone He put in your path along the way. God has a plan for all our lives.

Pray God gives you the spirit He gave Joseph, so you can overcome hardship and go on to victory and be counted worthy in God’s eyes.

MISSION BRIEFS

GIVING SACRIFICIALLY

  Pauline Brothers, a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Florence, S.C.; taught children’s Sunday School and sang in the choir for many years. She loved to give a generous offering to missions.

Much of her free time was spent making and selling Doll clothes. She gave the proceeds to the missions Offering.

Then failing health confined her to a wheelchair. Unable to make doll clothes, she began crocheting trim on kitchen towels so she could keep giving to missions.

In 1998, the 90-year –old lady gave $600 to the missions Offering—the most she had ever given in any year.

When her friend Marjorie Nolen visited her in the hospital during the final weeks of her life, she said she always found her sitting up in bed, crocheting.

The family of University Baptist Church express sincere sympathy to the family of Ed and Vivian Miller in the loss of Vivian’s mother.

Special Notes:

8 AM April 23^rd Breakfast in the Fellowship Hall.

7 PM April 23^rd The adult choir of UBC will present Written in Red.

The home mission offering Goal for UBC

  is $3000.

Kum Bah Ya News

Kum Bah Ya Club is the name of University Baptist Church Children’s Worship. If your child is age Kindergarten –sixth grades, we invite them to join us. Y our child departs congregational worship during the first hymn and follow the other children downstairs for song worship and then to their respective classes. Children can also earn credit for memory Verses learned.

Verse for this month of April

“Don’t be afraid.. Matthew 10:31

Challenge verse

“Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven. . . Matthew 6:20

Leadership Team:

Dana Blew

Music

Patti Bowman Lead Teacher: K-2nd grades

Todd & Sonia Cabell Lead Teachers: K-2^nd grades

Marnie Port Lead Teacher: 3^rd-6^th grades

Teen Assistants:

April 2    Lords Supper (stay in sanctuary)

April 9    Cody W. and Brittany S.

April 16   Desiree F. and Kayleigh H.

April 23   Jessica D. and Sarah W.

LIFE IS PRECIOUS

Jack took a long look at his speedometer before slowing down: 73 in a 55 zone. Fourth time in as many months. How could a guy get caught so often?

When his car had slowed to 10 miles an hour, Jack pulled over, but only partially. Let the Cop worry about the potential traffic hazard.

Bob? Bob from church? Jack sunk farther into his trench coat. This was worse than the coming ticket. A Christian cop catching a guy from his own church.

A guy who happened to be a little eager to get home after a long day at the office. A guy he was about to play golf with tomorrow. Jumping out of the car, he approached a man he saw every Sunday, a man he’d never seen in uniform.

  “Hi, Bob. Fancy meeting you like this.” “Hello, Jack.” No smile. “Guess you caught me red-handed in a rush to see my wife and kids.”

“Yeah, I guess.” Bob seemed uncertain. Good.

“I’ve seen some long days at the office lately. I’m afraid I bent the rules a bit-just this once.” Jack toed at a pebble on the pavement. “Diane said something about roast beef and potatoes tonight. Know what I mean?”

“I know what you mean. I also know that you have a reputation in our precinct."

Ouch. This was not going in the right Direction. Time to change tactics. “What’d you clock me at?”

"Seventy-one. Would you sit back in your car, please?”

“Now wait a minute here, Bob. I checked as soon as I saw you. I was barely nudging 65.” The lie seemed to come easier with every ticket.

“Please, Jack, in the car.”

Flustered, Jack hunched himself through the still-open door. Slamming it shut, he stared at the dash-board. He was in no rush to open the window. The minutes ticked by. Bob scribbled away on the pad. Why hadn’t he asked for a driver’s license? What-ever the reason, it would be a month of Sundays before Jack ever sat near this cop again. A tap on the Door jerked his head to the left. There was Bob, a folded paper in his hand.

Jack rolled down the window a mere two inches, just enough room for Bob to pass Him the slip. “Thanks.” Jack could not quite keep the sneer out of his voice. Bob returned to his car without a word. Jack watched his retreat in the mirror.

Jack unfolded the sheet of paper. How much was this one going to cost? Wait a minute. What was this? Some kind of joke? Certainly not a ticket. Jack began to read:

  Dear Jack, once upon a time I had a daughter. She was six when killed by a car. You guessed it-a speeding driver. A fine and three months in jail, and the man was free. Free to hug his daughters. All three of them. I only had one, and I’m going to have to wait until heaven before I can ever hug her again. A thousand times I’ve tried to forgive that man. A thousand times I thought I had. Maybe I did, but I need to do it again. Even now. Pray for me. And be careful. My son is all I have left. Bob

Jack twisted around in time to see Bob’s car pull away and head down the road. Jack watched until it disappeared. A full 15 minutes later, he, too pulled away and drove slowly home, praying for forgiveness and hugging a surprised wife and kids when he arrived.

Life is precious. Drive safely and carefully.

University Baptist Church

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