WHAT’S ON WHAT’S UP TODAY:

Republicans Freed the Slaves.

Bill Federer reviews the History of ending slavery in America.

Did Divine Providence intervene during the Civil War?

Both sides prayed to the same God.

After the Civil War, how did the Democrat Party continue to hinder black citizens from thriving?

During the Biblical-Literacy Lesson this week, Mark Lanier continues teaching in Romans.

From the pulpit at Champion Forest Baptist Church, Pastor Jarrett Stephens: God calls us to grow in Christ one step at a time.

Closing today program in Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for clothing me in the righteousness of your son. I was once a slave to sin, bound for eternal darkness, but I have been redeemed…

Discussed by Terry Lowry
with Host of the What's UP Radio Program

Host Terry Lowry interviews influential and knowledgeable guests on relevant topics for today.

HISTORY OF JUNETEENTH

Discussed by Bill Federer
with American Minute (www.AmericanMinute.com)

Part 1 of 3

Today, Bill Federer discusses the history of Juneteenth and how the Republicans ended slavery in America. Bill Federer is a renowned author, much sought-after speaker, and the founder of America Minute.

Click here to read Bill Federer’s article on this topic.

Questions/Issues Discussed:

What would happen to someone who knew about an escaped slave in the North?

Prior to the Emancipation Proclamation, did President Abraham Lincoln call for a National Day of Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer?

Who was General Stonewall Jackson? Do historians speculate on the outcome of the Civil War if General Stonewall Jackson had lived?

PART 2 OF 3 - HISTORY OF JUNETEENTH

Discussed by Bill Federer
with American Minute (www.AmericanMinute.com)

Questions/Issues Discussed:

Did God hear the prayers of slaves in America and those who wanted slavery to end?

What did many Republican leaders at the time think about slavery? Bill Federer shares some great quotes…

Was General Stonewall Jackson a God-fearing Christian man?

What happened to the Confederacy in the South after slavery was outlawed?

Did the Democrats forbid black citizens from learning to read? Bill Federer goes through some of the laws Democrats created after the Civil War.

PART 3 OF 3 - HISTORY OF JUNETEENTH

Discussed by Bill Federer
with American Minute (www.AmericanMinute.com)

Questions/Issues Discussed:

After the Civil War, how did the Democrat Party continue to hinder black citizens from thriving? Bill Federer quickly goes through some of the history…

Did Democrats join the Republicans in signing the Civil Rights Act?

What is the significance of June 19th, 1865?

Click here to help support Bill Federer and the American Minute.

A MOUSETRAP ISN’T JUST A MOUSETRAP

Discussed by Sara Tracey
with The What's UP Radio Program

A Mousetrap isn’t Just a Mousetrap

A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package. “What food might this contain?” the mouse wondered. He was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap.

Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning: “There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!” The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said: “Mr. Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it.”

The mouse turned to the pig and told him: “There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!” The pig sympathized, but said: “I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. Be assured you are in my prayers.”

The mouse turned to the cow and said: “There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!” The cow said: “Wow, Mr. Mouse. I’m sorry for you, but it’s no skin off my nose.”

So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer’s mousetrap alone.

That very night a sound was heard throughout the house – like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey. The farmer’s wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught.

The snake bit the farmer’s wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital and she returned home with a fever.

Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup’s main ingredient.

But his wife’s sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.

The farmer’s wife did not get well; she died.

So many people came for her funeral, the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them. The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness.

What’s the moral of the story? The next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn’t concern you, remember: when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk.

We are all involved in this journey called life. We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage one another. Each of us is a vital thread in another person’s tapestry.

You can shake your head and go "Tsk-tsk-tsk, it's such a shame". But just wait for another virus, business shutdown, riots in another city, war in another country, or any other major problem. It will eventually affect you!

Remember the poem by John Donne: “No Man is an Island”

FAITH IN AND FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST

Discussed by Mark Lanier
with Biblical Literacy (www.Biblical-Literacy.com)

Day 1

Why did Martin Luther call Romans 3:21-25 “the most important paragraph in the entire Bible – the hinge point”?

Mark Lanier is teaching on the Book of Romans. Over the past few weeks, he has been explaining Paul’s purpose in choosing specific words and word groups in his letters. This week, he dives deeper into the many, many different English translations of the Bible, specifically Romans 3:21-4:3.

To view Mark Lanier’s video for this lesson, click here.

If you have a prayer request, need Scripture encouragement, or would like a copy of Mark’s lessons each week, email wantmore@biblical-literacy.org

QUESTIONS / ISSUES DISCUSSED:

Since 1600, how many English translations of the Bible have been written? Why is this important information? Does grammar and even punctuation matter when we decide which translation of the Bible to use and study? Mark discusses a book his friend is writing about the subject, exploring the different definitions for the word “glory”.

FAITH AND CHRIST

Has there ever been a human being who was perfect and justified (aside from Jesus)?

What did Paul mean when he wrote “manifested through the Law”?

Will every believer experience the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ?

For more information about Mark Lanier’s Biblical Literacy class, click here.

STRONGER IN GODLINESS

Discussed by Pastor Jarrett Stephens
with Champion Forest Baptist Church (www.ChampionForest.org)

Day 1

Godliness does not stay confined to the church or the home. Godliness influences every area of our lives.

In a world that constantly pulls us in every direction, God calls us to grow in Christ one step at a time. In this 7-week series, the pastors at CFBC will walk through the powerful progression found in 2 Peter 1:5–7, where Christians are called to “make every effort” to add to their faith: virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love. This isn’t about willpower. It’s about spiritual formation and partnering with God to become the person He is calling you to be.

This week, Pastor Jarrett Stephens shares how we should TRAIN in order to grow stronger in godliness.

Scripture Reference: 2 Peter 1:3-11

Find Pastor Jarrett Stephens’ sermon here.

Find Pastor Jarrett Stephens’ sermon notes here.

If you have questions about a sermon, please contact Champion Forest at questions@cfbc.org


QUESTIONS / ISSUES DISCUSSED:

How are the characteristics of virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love connected together?

Does God really want us to grow stronger spiritually? Does God give us what we need to grow stronger spiritually? Do we have a responsibility to do whatever it takes to grow stronger spiritually?

What is “godliness”? Tune in tomorrow as Pastor Jarrett offers several more definitions and examples.

If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, text the word JESUS to 77069 and a pastor or counselor from CFBC will call you back.

For more details about Champion Forest Baptist Church, click here.

PRAYER

Discussed by Terry Lowry
with Host of the What's UP Radio Program

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for clothing me in the righteousness of your son. I was once a slave to sin, bound for eternal darkness, but I have been redeemed.

My works did not save me. My earthly belongings did not save me. My government did not save me. Even my church did not save me.

It was your grace, Father, and my faith in your son, Jesus, that saved me. It was not my own doing, but it was a gift from you, my Creator.

Lord, I pray now for those who are lost and wandering, that they will come to the foot of the cross and cry out to Jesus, the savior of all.

I pray that the unbeliever will realize that there are no second chances and victory is found only in and through your son, Jesus.

May the unbeliever cry out for salvation, Father, and surrender their lives to serving you and you only.

Jesus, call out to them softly and tenderly. Holy Spirit, move across our land. May the harvest be abundant today.

Lifting this plea in and through the name of Jesus Christ,

Amen