HOGANSVILLE HERALD - THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012
PAGE 3-A
ThePower
Of Just
Saying No
Rev.Aaron U
MeC0110ugh
Columnist
Saying no is one of the most liberating things an indi-
vidual learns to do. Simultaneously, saying no is one of the
most difficult things an individual learns to do. Today I
want to talk about a woman in the Bible who had the intes-
tinal fortitude to say no - and the blessings it caused for
others.
For thirty plus years I have been preaching the Gospel
of Jesus Christ. I wouldn't dare a guess as to how many
sermons I have preached from the Book of Ruth or how
many times I have quoted the wedding passage it contains
in a particular wedding ceremony I was performing. I'm
sure both are more that I care to remember. But there is
one thing of which I am certain. Until recently, I never
viewed Naomi's daughter-in-law, Orpah, as a main player
in the story. In my mind, she was just a daughter-in-law
that deserted Naomi and Ruth and returned back to her
people and her gods. I did not think this significant. However,
I have changed my mind - and furthermore, I think there
is a valuable lesson for us to learn from her actions.
As we review the narrative of the Book of Ruth we know
that Naomi and her husband had left Judah in a time of
famine and had traveled to Moab. While there, her two
sons, Mahlon and Chilion, (Names literally mean puny &
sickly) married Moabites women named Ruth and Orpah.
While in Moab Naomi's husband and two sons die. Naomi
then decides to go home to Judah. And as she starts her
journey home her two grief stricken daughters:in-law both
pledge that they are going with her. Naomi then does some-
thing that is often overlooked - she began to tell her daugh-
ters-in-law just how hard a life they would be forced to live
should they go with her. She then encouraged them to go
back to their mothers and to their gods. Literally, she made
a strong appeal for them not to go with her.
NOW, at this point in the story, we usually shift our focus
to Ruth and the great commitment she made to go with
Naomi. However, I submit to you today that there were
two great/momentous decisions made that day. Naturally,
Ruth's was one. However, I believe that Orpah's was just
as great. Here is my point: After originally stating she was
going, Naomi, in a "no holds barred" sort of way, present-
ed the truth to her about what she was agreeing to do. At
this point, Orpah weighs all the evidence and changes her
mind. In essence she told Naomi that this was not for her.
She could not commit herself to it. Consequently, she did
the bravest/smartest thing she could do. She said nol And
it was a decision that would change history as we know it.
Play make-believe with me for a moment and let's pretend
Orpah decided to go with Naomi. First, it wasn't in her
heart to go, so she would have been mumbling and grum-
bling the whole way. She probably would have quarreled
with Naomi and Ruth. She would have disrupted every-
thing. She would have been just another mouth to feed.
And just what if she and Ruth both went to Boaz's fields -
and he liked her better than Ruth! (He would have legally
been the Kinsman Redeemer for both!) Then Ruth would
not have been in the lineage of Jesus. So you see, her deci-
sion to say no was just as significant as Ruth's decision to
say yes !
Naomi did a very wise thing when she blessed her dangh-
ters-in-law to say no. I t hnk th,t.,we would be wise to learn
a lesson ere. If Y9 talk soUl, body out of doing some-
thing by iresenting the facts to them - they weren't really
on board to begin with. We need to bless people to say no!
How many times have I been guilty of accepting some-
body's first answer without really presenting the unadul-
terated truth to them? How many times have I suffered
the consequences of doing so? How many times have I said
yes when I should have said no?
No! It's a powerful little word with great ramifications.
I think all of us should become better versed at saying it -
and meaning it. Just consider the grmf we would save our-
selves if we would!
There are volumes that could be written about Orpah
and the life she supposedly lived afterwards, but be that as
it may, at the critical moment, she weighed the evidence
presented to her and made the courageous and corre t deci-
sion - she said no when she should have said it - and she
stuck with her decision. God, please give us people like
that today!
Seems I remember Jesus saying something about let-
ting our yea be yea and our nay be nay. I'm just saying ...
Aaron McCollough is an area missionary with the area Baptist
Association which serves Harris, Meriwether and Troup counties.
He is a resident of Hogansville.
Our belated sympathy goes out to the families of Lilla
Mac Robinson of Hogansvflle and Margaret Adams Rogers,
75 of Grantvflle in their deaths.
May you rest in peace.
Ole Mac Thompson-Daniel and Alice Mac Nalls of
Grantville have returned home after spending one week
with Grace Mitchell Clack of Manhattan, New York.
Willie Dawson, Gabrielle D. Hines and Bernice Tamplin
have returned home after spending one week with Katrina
Horton of Hollis, New York. What a time!
Happy Anniversary wishes go to: Mitchell and Ann
Cousins on their 42nd on June 6; Wendell and Charlone King
on their 24th on June 10; Douglas and Brenda Pritchett on
their 21st on June 8; Dennis and Shandra Rhodes on their
21st on Jure 7; to: Frederick and Angelia Rhodes on their
6th on June 10. We wish them many more.
A very special happy birthday to Mrs. Louise H. Hines
of Grantville on her 95 years young on June 8 and more
happy birthdays to come. Remember that we love you, from
your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Birthday greetings go to: Danny Allen, Gene Bailey, Willie
Lee Clements, Sr., Rev. Clarence Ellison, Rosalyn H. Burston,
Justin Emanuel Clement, Cessinee Dean, Emma Lou Glanton,
Justin Gardy, Exie Grady, Sharon Nicole Dean, Tawanna
Hines, Andre Howard, Barbara Annette Addle, Travis Colton,
Kailyn Janae Bynum, Ector and Marian Dean, Jasmine
Harrius, Konrad Hines, Zelda Hines, Joseph Antonio Hines,
DeAndre Terez Hawkins, Larry Elliot Leigh I, Franklin
Jimpson, Frederick Lowe II, Thomas Hines, IV, Annette
Philips, Mike Purgason, Joyce Miller, Wayne Malcolm,
Brittany Glanton, Tyrone Tigner, Stephanie Brown, Bradasia
Cofield, Demetrius Flowers, Demeres Hayes, Migil Hayes,
Kala Terrell, Antonio Gunn, Verleda Mitchell, Joe Rosser,
Minister Jamie Wheelous and Lisa Moss.
Bethlehem Baptist Church St. Marks invites everyone
to its 134th church anniversary on Sunday, June 10 at 2 p.m.
with guest speaker, Rev. Yolanda Jones-Colton, Pastor of
White Plains United Methodist Church, St. Marks. Dinner
will be service. Morning service at 11 a.m. with pastor Willie
Joe Cameron bringing the message. Rev. Lucy L. Stanley is
the associate pastor.
Vacation Bible School will be held at the Bethlehem
Baptist Church, St. Marks Monday through Wednesday, June
11-13 from 3 p.m. - S p.m. All children and adults are invit-
ed to attend. Rev. Lucy L. Stanley is the director. Rev. Willie
Joe Cameron is the pastor.
The User Board and the VIP Choir of the White Plains
UM Church, St. Marks will have a Brunswick Stew sale on
Saturday, June 9. Rev. Yolanda Jones-Colton is the pastor.
There will be a meeting at the Greenville Library on
Saturday, June 9 from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. to make plans for
the 40th year class reunion for the class of 1973 Greenville
High School. See or contact: Brenda Render McGhee at (678)
772-4236. All class members are asked to be present.
Summer Camp SAAFE (Safe Academic Awareness in
Family Enrichment) Program at the Old Luthersville
Elementary School. June 12 - July 31 Tuesdays, Wednesdays
and Thursday age 5-16, 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Math skills, read-
ing and writing. Basketball program, tennis and piano music
classes. Educational and field trips. Registration fee is $15.
Summer focus kick-off, onSaturday June 9 from 11 a.m.
until i p.m.
For additional information contact: Mrs. Beverly E Ball
at (770) 846-8930 or Rev. Roderick Freeman at (404)503-
• 7409 sponsored by the AURS (American Union and Relief
Society).
New Friendship Baptist Church (Hwy 362) Greenville
invites everyone to its 102nd church anniversary on Sunday,
June 10 at 11:30 a.m. with pastor Roosevelt Render, bring-
ing the message.
Hogansville First Baptist Church Hosts VBS
"Hometown Nazareth, when Jesus was a Boy" is the theme of this year's Vacation Bible School at Hogansville First
Baptist Church. VBS 2012 will be an event of June 10-15, from 6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Friday night will be Family Night.
V.B.S. is '!Family FBC", where all ages from preschool to the senior adults are involved. Family members, which include
Parents, Grandparents and Children will stay and learn together.
Hogansville First Baptist Church is located at 500 East Main Street. For more information, call the church office at:
(706)- 637- 8731.
Benefit Car Show Slated June 15
Savannah Court Assisted Living Come Down Memory Lane Show & Shine Car Show will be held June 15 from 2 p.m.
until 4 p.m.
Free refreshments, free to come some awards and goody bags. The event will be held at 27 Belt Road in Newnan. For
more information call Mary at (706) 668-7731 or email: rdcoupe@gmail.com.
Hummingbird Festival Features Reunion Activities
The Hogansville Hummingbird Festival weekend features many high school reunion activities in addition to the excit-
ing arts & crafts, food and family fun ...... :..., .
It's a great time to meet tap with old classmates and reneff friendships. If any Alumni from the Hogansville or Callaway
High Schools who might be interested in coordinating or participating in the festival weekend activities, please contact
Todd Pike (Class of 1985) at 706-977-3003.
Claude A. McKibben & Sons
Funeral Home
208 Johnson Street
Hogansville, Georgia
706-637-8623
Victory Praise Cathedral
Hogansville
211-B Hwy 29- HogansviUe, GA 30230
Services: Sunday-Worship 11 a.m.
Wednesday- Bible Study 7:30 p.m.
Friday- Prayer & Praise 7:30 p.m.
Pastor - Anthony Frost
404483-9074 o 404438-3407
B . H0gansville
il00Commumty Pharmacy
00Bank0000f00u, st Phi, Waldrop i
Downtown H0gansville 300 Main Street
Hogansville, Georgia
706.637-6544 706-637-8683
Support Your Local
Place of Worship.
