AND I AM A BAPTIST PASTOR

Here's something you might use, or be just amazed at because of some folk'sunderstanding, or lack thereof, and flippancy concerning salvation. I just recently preached a funeral for a local family that previously I did not know--they didn't have a pastor so I was called on to "fill in" and minister to them the best I could. I found out that the deceased was a woman in her 70's, born "up North" and raised in a first generation immigrant orthodox Jewish Family that was strictly kosher. The deceased's first husband was present at the funeral supporting their grown kids and grandchildren and claimed to be a Methodist, the present husband (the deceased's widower) is Catholic. The family is friends with a local but famous Country and Western Singer, who I'll leave unnamed, and she sang Amazing Grace for one of the songs in the service.After the funeral the widower came up to me, commenting about his wife being Jewish, her first husband Methodist, he Catholic, the Country Western Singer singing Amazing Grace, and now having a Baptist Preacher preach her funeral, "And Boy!" he continued, "She should have all her bases covered now!"It was funny at first, but then the reality is that she didn't have any Christian testimony that was shared by any of the family. Even one of the deceased's close friends, who I didn't know earlier, approached me before the service after recognizing I was going to preach it, and told me rather matter-of-factly, "I was a real good friend of hers and you know she was Jewish, don't you?" I just smiled and politely replied, "And you know that I am a Baptist Pastor, don't you?"... and I respectfully, but unashamedly, preached Jesus. For..."Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name underHeaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." --Acts 4:12James H. Cook, Jr., PastorNew Canaan Baptist Church3147 Atlanta Highway / Business Route 6Dallas (Hiram), GA 30132-5733 U.S.A.770-445-7311 / www.NCBCnet.org"Now the God of Peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, thatGreat Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the Everlasting Covenant,make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you thatwhich is wellpleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to Whom be gloryfor ever and ever. Amen." --Hebrews 13:20-21