Echoes from Heaven

Courage
Dr. Jerry Lee Carter 1955-2021

        A family, a church, a community, a county, and a state mourn the loss of the Honorable Dr. Jerry Lee Carter, pastor of Reidsville Baptist Church, age 66, of Reidsville, North Carolina who went home to be with the Lord on August 3, 2021.
        Funeral services were held on Saturday, August 7, at Reidsville Baptist Church with Dr. Bert Jones, Jason Sharpe, and Aaron Shelton officiating. The burial followed at Reidlawn Cemetery with military graveside rites performed by the North Carolina Highway Patrol Honor Guard.
        Pastor Carter was born in Eden, North Carolina and lived most of his life in Rockingham County. He was the founder and beloved pastor of Reidsville Baptist Church since 1988. He took advantage of every opportunity to make a difference in the lives of people in hopes of their discovering the truth of the Gospel.
        He was also a chaplain of the NC State Highway Patrol and was a man of deep faith and faithful prayer. Elected in 2018 to the NC House of Representatives, Pastor Carter was currently serving in his second term, becoming known as the preacher in the NC House of Representatives. Lt. Governor Mark Robinson was quoted in an article in the Greensboro News & Record as saying, “He was a very good man -- a veteran, a pastor, a representative, and he was my friend. It’s a devastating loss for his community. He’s touched many lives.”
        Pastor Carter is survived by his loving wife and sweetheart of 45 years, Brenda Bruton Carter; daughters Hope Carter Lovings and Becki Carter Johnson; grandchildren Chloe, Jerry, Arthur, Carter, Winston and Scarlett; great-grandchild Rhea and one on the way; mother Nellie Crouch Carter and a large extended family, including his church family.
        Cards may be sent to Mrs. Carter and the family at Reidsville Baptist Church, 116 South Franklin Street, Reidsville, NC 27320.

“And Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel. And he said unto them, I am an hundred and twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come in: also the Lord hath said unto me, Thou shalt not go over this Jordan. The Lord thy God, he will go over before thee, and he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the Lord hath said. And the Lord shall do unto them as he did to Sihon and to Og, kings of the Amorites, and unto the land of them, whom he destroyed. And the Lord shall give them up before your face, that ye may do unto them according unto all the commandments which I have commanded you. Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the Lord hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it.” (Deuteronomy 31:1-7)

        In America, among the citizens, and especially in Christianity, I honestly feel like we’ve lost some courage. I’m not talking about meanness or bullheadedness, but real Christian courage, like our forefathers had.
        Anybody knows, if you’ve read any type of history, that this country is not the same as she used to be. Our United States of America has changed drastically. If you are 50 years old or older, that’s evident to you. It was not the same even when I was a boy as it is today. Things that are accepted and even promoted today that never were accepted back then.
        Real courage is not hatred or cruelty. I’m talking about taking a bold stand for right and truth. Courage is greatly needed. Our country was built by men who loved the Lord and the Bible. Our forefathers were not atheists. They were not Jehovah Witnesses or Mormons or Muslims. They were Bible-believing Christians. America is, and always has been, and hopefully always will be, a Christian nation. We, as Americans, and especially as born-again Christians, need courage more now than we ever have in my lifetime.
        “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21) That’s what our forefathers lived by. John Hancock signed his name so largely and distinctly on the Declaration of Independence so that King George would be able to read it without his spectacles. He wanted there to be no doubt where he stood. It is true that those early patriots and rich merchants put their lives on the line with their signature. If the revolution was lost and they were caught, they would be hanged by the British until dead. Certainly all 56 patriots who signed the Declaration of Independence made the same solemn declaration: “With firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.” Even in victory, many of the signers endured hardships and losses. Most of them lost everything they had. Some were even killed, as were thousands of other Americans.
        John Adams wrote to his wife regarding the meaning of his signature on the document of freedom. “I’m well aware of the toil and the blood and treasure that it will cost us to maintain this Declaration. I can see that the end is more than worthy of all the means, that prosperity will triumph in the day’s transactions.”
        A few months before signing the Declaration, Patrick Henry addressed the Virginia Convention and declared, “We are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature has placed in our power. Three million people armed in the holy cause of liberty and in such country as which we possess are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Beside, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God, who presides over the destinies of nations and who will raise up friends to fight our battles with us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone. It is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.” Many brave and courageous men and women risked everything they had and paid a great price so that you and I could enjoy the freedom we have in America today.
        But what has happened to that kind of courage in our generation? An author took a poll in the early 1990’s asking people which beliefs they would die for. Forty-eight percent said none. Only 30% said they
would die for God and their faith under any circumstances. Few claimed to be willing to die for their country.
        The question is, can America restore the courage that she once had? Can we? If not, we are going to lose our country and lose our freedom. We’ve already seen so many things taken away from us, but we’ve got to have the courage to stand up and preach the truth as preachers should. We’ve got to have the courage, not just from the pulpits, but from the pews, to believe that our country is worth standing up for. No one wants to die. No one wants to give all their fortune, but if we don’t stand up and vote, if we don’t stand up and cry out, if we don’t let those that we put into office know that they are not representing us honestly, not doing what we want them to do, then we are as guilty as the tyrants that have tried to destroy this nation for so many years. We’ve got to have courage in America. We’ve got to have courage in this church right here. We’ve got to be willing to take a stand and pay a price.
        Like I’ve said many times recently, never in my life would I have ever thought that a fundamental, independent Baptist church would not stand for the King James Bible. I know what they are saying. They are saying they are for it, but you’ve got to believe inspiration and preservation. This Bible is the inspired, preserved Word of God. If preservation goes, then inspiration will follow with it. That Book is the truth. We’ve got to believe that no matter who says otherwise. Many people follow a preacher simply because of his personality. People flock to Joel Osteen’s church. Why? He is charismatic. He’s got a presence. He draws a big crowd. He’s promised his people never to say anything negative, not to get up there and act like a fundamental Baptist preacher basically. No matter who the personality is, we’ve got to stand with God and the Bible.
        And not even for friendship should we depart from the truth. Many people will stand for their friends even when their friends do not stand for God. I believe in loyalty. I believe in friendship. But when a friend will no longer stand for God, then friendship ends, because it’s got to be God first. That’s not saying that you can’t have friends that don’t agree with you on every little thing, but we don’t have to back them up in their disbelief and dishonoring God and His Word.
        Not for institutions. We can’t stand for an institution, when that institution goes in the wrong direction. We are familiar with school rivalries around here with Duke and Carolina because this is North Carolina, but we can’t, just because it is an institution that we like, let it blind us to the fact of what they are teaching. We can’t do it. Now basketball and what they are teaching is two different things. I may pull for Duke in a basketball game, but I don’t pull for Duke in what they teach in the theology department, by no means.
        Even Dr. Jack Hyles one year had a whole Pastors’ School focused on the King James Bible. He didn’t say that it wasn’t preserved. I was there. The sad thing about it, a lot of these kids coming up today weren’t around at that time. They are believing what anybody says about Dr. Hyles. Jack Hyles is not here to defend himself, but he said what he believed and put what he believed in books. He penned it down. You can go back and listen to his sermons and find out what he believed. I could say this morning, “Me and Jack Hyles were good buddies and he called me once a week.” Now who could deny that? Jack Hyles, but he’s dead. So he can’t deny it. It’s one thing to say it, and another to prove it.
        Bill Burr and I were good friends. There is a letter that said that I was one of Bill Burr’s choicest friends. I can prove that because it’s written down. We can prove what Brother Hyles believed because it is written down, but many people will ostracize me and say I’m illiterate and unlearned, but that’s okay. Because isn’t that what they called Peter and the apostles, ignorant and unlearned men? So I’m in good company. I’d rather be in that company than in the company of perverts and heretics.
        We’ve got to stand for this Bible. I’m going to stand for this Bible. I’m going to stand for this Bible whether you leave the church or not. Folks, I love you. Some of you have been here for many years, but I’m going to stand for this Bible whether you like it or not. I’m going to believe this King James Bible and preach it.
        This Bible holds within its sacred pages the instructions on how to get to Heaven. It tells us how we need to live to please the Lord. It tells us what we need to believe. I know who people say. “Well, it’s just a book.” To you it’s just a book. To me it’s the holy written Word of God that tells me the truth and guides me in the way. As long as you go by this Book, you’ll never go wrong. As long as you believe this Book, you’ll be okay. David said, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” (Psalm 37:25)
        I’m going to believe and stand for this Book. I’m not going to the New King James or the NIV. I may read God’s word and unintentionally mispronounce or misquote something, because my mind can’t do two things at the same time very easily. I’m trying to think and speak and read all at the same time. I’m going to make mistakes and mispronounce words now and then, but it is not because of the word that is wrong; it’s because of me.
        Stand for the Word of God. It’s not popular. It’s going to get less popular. People are going to ostracize you. They’ve already knocked me out of their clubs because I don’t believe the way they believe. I believe this Book. We’ve got to get back to the point, church, of having enough courage to stand for God and His Word.
        I’m not saying I’m a brave man, but when I’m on God’s side, I’m as big as anybody that has ever lived. Because when I’ve got my big God standing beside me, there ain’t nothing that can touch me. The Bible says, “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper;...” (Isaiah 54:17) I believe that. Why? It came out of my King James Bible. We’ve got to have the courage to stand up for it.
        The devil will even slip people into this church that will try to start rumors about me, that I’m hateful, that I don’t believe the King James, or other Bibles are more correct than the King James, or that the King James has 2,000 mistakes in it. I will call them a liar to their face. The King James has no mistakes in it. Show me one, if you are brave enough.
        The problem is peoples’ ignorance to understand the entire truth of the Word of God. They do what most people do, the same thing that cults do. They take one verse out of context instead of interpreting Scripture with Scripture like the Bible tells us to. Do you have that courage to stand today, or will you buckle under the pressure of the opinion of other preachers? Just because a man can get up and quote things and his mind is quick and maybe he’s got a photographic memory; maybe he is pretty to look at and maybe he dresses real fine, but that does not make him a preacher of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. A preacher of the Gospel stands for the Word of God.
        Secondly, we’ve got to have courage to stand for America. I’m talking about the United States of America -- one nation under God. I’m an American first. I believe in America. You are not going to burn that flag in my presence. You are not going to spit on that flag in my presence. You are not going to drag that flag through the dirt in my presence. I believe in America.
        “But that’s just a piece of cloth.” It may be cloth, but to me it’s precious, like this Bible is precious, because it symbolizes the freedom and liberty to serve God here in this country that was bought with blood. If we drag that flag through the mud, do you know what we’re saying? We are saying America doesn’t mean anything. America is the home of the brave. America is the land of the free. America is a place where anybody can prosper, if they have the character to work hard and excel. Unless they are lazy and don’t want to work.
        A lot of people these days want to be hyphenated as African-Americans or Hispanic-Americans. What ever happened to Americans? If that country was so great, why didn’t you stay there? We’ve got to get away from that hyphenation. One nation under God is what we are. We are one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. We’ve got to have the courage to stand up for America.
        Do you remember that fellow who said, “Let’s roll” on 911? On the morning of September 11, 2001, United flight 93 from Newark, New Jersey to San Francisco was hijacked by terrorists who claimed to have a bomb. With telephone confirmation that other planes had hit the World Trade Center, the passengers understood the hijackers’ intent.
        Todd Beamer, a 32 year-old businessman, picked up a seat-back phone and reached Lisa Jefferson, a GTE supervisor. He told her that he and others were going to jump on a hijacker, who was guarding the passengers in the rear. Beamer asked her to pray the Lord’s prayer with him. He also made her promise to call his wife, Lisa, and tell her that he loved her and that he loved his two little boys. Dropping the phone after talking with Jefferson, Beamer said, “Jesus, help me.” Then after reciting Psalm 23 he said, “Are you ready, guys? Okay, let’s roll.” Those were the unforgettable last words that Beamer spoke before he and others rushed the hijackers of United Airlines Flight 93. There were screams, then silence. Brave American citizens, complete strangers, rose against impossible odds and tried to save the aircraft, but they were also trying to save the high-jackers’ target. In doing so, they made the ultimate patriotic sacrifice. United flight 93 crashed into a large field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, killing all 44 on board.
        Of those four hijacked planes that morning, United Flight 93 was the only one that failed to hit their target. Why? Because of the courage of patriotic civilians, because of the courage of men that never knew each other, because of the courage of men that knew they were going to die that day, they gave their lives, and died saving the lives of others. Why? Because no one else was able to get to those hijackers, but them. They had to do it. They made a choice that they would rather die themselves than to have that plane kill innocent people along with them. That’s courage. These were real people, church. There were women and children on board that plane. But these people had the courage to do something, instead of sit there like a bunch of sheep and do nothing.
        What about the other flights? One terrorist was guarding 40 people. Thank God for this young man. Thank God that he had enough guts to do something. He loved his wife as dearly as we love ours. He loved his children as dearly as we love ours, but he also, no doubt, loved America and freedom. He took a chance and they made a great sacrifice that morning. My friends, there were black people there. There were Italians there, no doubt, probably even some Jews, probably even some non-believers. They didn’t get up that morning and say, “I’m African American. I’m Italian American. We are not going to attack them.” Do you know what they were saying that morning? “We are Americans.”
        People are trying to separate this country by hyphenating and trying to divide us into different groups. That’s what is wrong with this country. We are Americans. You say, “Are you a flag waver?” You just finally got that? “Are you wrapping yourself in the flag?” No, I love it too much to do that, but I am an American. I would die for her still, but we’ve got to have courage to stand up. We’ve got to have courage to preach the truth. We’ve got to have courage to say, “This is my country. You are not going to take my country.” We’ve got to stand up for our country.
        In November, if we don’t vote, do you know what we are saying? “You can have it; I don’t care about my country.” If we don’t vote, we’re telling Congress, “Do whatever you want to do. I don’t care.” They already think we are a bunch of idiots that can’t make decisions for ourselves. That’s not the reason they were voted in and put in there. They were voted and put in there to do our will, not their will, to represent the citizens of this great country. Unless we do something about it, we’re not going to have an America. This free country will cease to exist as the country that we know today.
        If we are going to have courage, we’ve got to stand up for the home. God intended the home, and instituted marriage, one man, one woman. You can guess where I’m going and you are right. Homosexuality and lesbianism does not create a home. You ask, “What did the law say?” If the laws go against God, the laws are wrong. “...let God be true, but every man a liar;...” (Romans 3:4) The Bible tells us that marriage is one man and one woman -- husband and wife. Isn’t that what God created? Did He create two women? Did He create two men? Did God say, “I’m going to create Adam and Steve and see if this works? I think I’ll create Jane and Judy.” No, God is smarter than all of us. He knew in the beginning what to do. He created a man named Adam and a woman named Eve. Adam because he was taken from the earth, and Eve because she was taken from man.
        We’ve got to stand up for our home, church. If we don’t stand up for our home, we are going to lose this nation as we know it. The Bible tells us in Matthew 19:5, “And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?” One, not two. The Bible is very definite in what it says about marriage. Our American society has been based upon the Biblical view that traditional marriage and family is the backbone of a civilized people, and it is.
        How come Rome fell? Homosexuality is one of the reasons. How come Greece is not the world power she once was? Because of her wickedness, homosexuality and bestiality. That’s why. How come a lot of other nations don’t succeed?? Because of the same sins and perversions. But in America, the majority still believe in a man and a woman forming a traditional marriage.
        The Biblical basis for understanding God’s intent for marriage is found in Genesis 2:24. “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” The creation of Adam and Eve, a male and a female, were the foundation of human civilization. Their union was the first marriage. Jesus also reminded us in the New Testament that marriage is an institution of God designed to be a life long covenant between one man and one woman. (Matthew 19:1-6) God commanded Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply and to fill the earth and subdue it in Genesis 1:28. No other pair of two human beings can be fruitful and multiply. God designed for pro-creation to demand the union of a man and a woman, and from this sanctioned union come children who are born into a secure home with a father and a mother to love, nurture, and teach them how to become healthy, productive, responsible citizens.
        God’s plan, nature’s plan, and common sense all tell us that the support of a man and a woman produces children within the God-ordained institution of marriage, and that preserving the traditional family is vital for the future of America. We must join together to maintain the heritage that has been given to us as Americans. Marriage is one man and one woman loving, committing themselves for life. The family is a sacred institution. It is the basic unit of society and essential to the well being of a great nation.
        How come marriage is so important? Because it’s the only way to produce life, God-given life. How come the home is important? Because it is the support of a nation, a well founded nation. Just look at our society. How come today we are in such a mess? What’s the divorce rate? The last time I looked I think it was more than 50%. Look at homes that don’t have a father in them and you have a dysfunctional home. It takes a man and a woman. How come children today are so confused? I know there are single women out there that some sorry, rascal man doesn’t want to be a man and carry his responsibility and help raise the children. She’s done it on her own and had no other choice. This has been happening since time began, too, but that does not recommend for all to live that way.
        We’ve got to have courage to stand up as Americans and say, “We don’t want the institution of marriage to be changed or messed with. We don’t want it to say that it could be two homosexual men, or two
lesbian women.” We’ve got to stand up and have a little courage in ourselves to say, “That’s not what we want in America.” But if we don’t, that’s what is going to happen. Our Senators, our Congressmen, North Carolina, if we are not careful our representatives will change it, slip it in just like they did the lottery. They know how to sneak it in there. If they thought it would get them votes or money or power, they’ll do it in a heartbeat because they are politicians. We’ve lost patriots and statesmen in America.
        I know what some people are going to say. “You are hateful.” I am not hateful. I love my country. I love children and families. I love people. I’d like to see those homosexuals repent of their sin and get saved. I’ve shared the Gospel with some, but sad to say, they’ve never left their sin, so I doubt they got saved to be honest with you. Do you want me to tell you why? The Bible says in Romans one that God gives them over to a reprobate mind. That’s God. That’s not Jerry. That’s not politics. That’s Bible.
        We’ve got to have courage to stand for the home. If we don’t stand for the home and traditional, scriptural marriage, we’re not going to have homes like we used to know. We’ll be sitting around telling our great-grandchildren how it used to be once upon a time, when marriage was for a man and a woman, and then God blessed them with children and they raised a family together. It used to be mommy and daddy and the kids lived in the same house. It used to be we had Christmas time when the family got together. These are going to be relics of a by-gone era if we don’t wake up and protect what we have now. If we don’t have courage to stand, and I’m not talking about hatefulness or being mean spirited. I’m talking about courage to stand for the truth.
        Thank God Abraham Lincoln had courage to keep this country united instead of letting it split into two different nations. Thank God these men had courage, that they didn’t care what people said about them. They didn’t care about their own lives. They did not love their lives so much they were afraid to stand up and say what they believed. Courage to stand for what is right in our country. We are not part of this world’s global society. I know what they are trying to say. A world society, one world government, one world tax, one world this, global that.
        Folks, this is America. We are a sovereign nation. We are responsible for our borders. We are responsible for our country. We need to stand up for this country. If we vote for people because of just the color of their skin, we are voting for the wrong people. I know what you are saying, but I’ve got you covered this morning. Martin Luther King said, “I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” He didn’t say black people. He didn’t say white people. He said people. We are not supposed to elect someone because they are black or white or any other color, but because of the character and principles they operate by.
        Mr. Obama got into office because of one reason, in my opinion. I believe it was because of the color of his skin. I’m not prejudiced. I would vote for a black man in a heartbeat that believed in patriotism and standing for this country. Our President right now does not believe in this country. I know what he says, but when what you say and what you do are two different things, you tell on yourself. I know that is unpopular. Why? Because somebody is following a person instead of truth. I love my country more than I love one individual. If we don’t stand up for our country, we are not going to have any rights.
        We’ve got to have courage when you get your feet knocked out from under you. There are a lot of people today who have had their feet knocked out from under them. The death of a loved one will knock your feet clean out from under you. You have to stand up. When my daddy died, there were times I just wanted to quit and give up. I’m not going to lie about it. I loved my daddy. When he died, my feet got knocked out from under me. I know what happened to Mr. Smitty when his wife died. I know when your little baby died, it knocked your feet clean out from under you. You wonder. Why? Why? Why?
        That’s when we’ve just got to have the courage to stand up and say, “I may not know why, but I believe that Bible. I know that God is not going to let anything come upon me which I cannot handle.” We’ve got to trust that Bible. There are people in this church who have lost children. Others have lost their mate. Others have lost fathers and mothers, people that we love, friends. I’ve lost more people in the last two years than I’ve lost in my entire life. When we get our feet knocked out from under us, we just got to have the courage to stand up and say, “I’m not going to stay down. I’m going to get back up. I’m going to put my clothes on like I always do and I’m going to go out there and tell the truth. I’m going to preach the Gospel and stand up for what is right.”
        If you ever hear that you’ve got cancer, that will knock your feet right from under you. I’m not trying to get pity, but I’ve got a knot on my chest right here and a lymph node up under my arm and Brenda made me go to a surgeon Friday. He says, “Yes, we can cut that out. We can take care of that.”
        I said, “Good.” I was figuring they were going to make another appointment and do it later.
        He said, “We are going to do it now.”
        “Now?” I said, “Well, let’s go to it.” I’d rather pay you $50 for an office visit as to pay the hospital $5000 to get the same thing done. He took my shirt off and cut that thing out, a lymph node underneath my arm, as big as a golf ball. He sent it off to the pathologist. He didn’t think it was cancerous. I don’t think it is cancer either. You’ve got to get skinny to get cancer. I’m definitely out of that category.
        Things like that can knock your feet out from under you. “What if it comes back cancer? What are you going to do, preacher?” I’m not going to crawl in a corner and die. No, I’m going to stand up. I’m going to fight cancer the same way I fight sin. I’m going to fight cancer, if I was to ever get it, the same way that I’m going to fight and stand up for my country.
        You’ve got to have courage. Courage to just keep going, courage to stand up. We’ve all had problems and heartaches. We’ve all had our feet knocked out from under us. We are all going to see things like that happen. We’ve got to have courage.
        When you don’t know what else to do, I’ll tell you what to do. Ephesians 6:10-14 says, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand...” After you’ve done all you can do, stand. Just stand. Stay put. Do you know what most people do? They run. They give up. Do you know what many people do? They are like the fella that gets in the combat zone, they are cowards and run.
        That’s what is wrong, church. We need courage. When we’ve done all we can do physically, all you can do spiritually, after you’ve prayed every prayer you know to pray, after you’ve done everything God wants you to do, you just stand and watch God work. “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” (Galatians 6:9) In due season we shall see the blessing, if we don’t run. In due season we shall see God move, if we don’t quit. If we quit, if we run, if we give up, we are not going to see victory. When we’ve done all we can do, let’s just stand.
        Do you have courage this morning? Do you have courage to keep going, keep living? I’ll never forget what Dr. Nulton told me one time back years ago when I had so much stress on me. I thought I was dying really. I was having pneumonia repeatedly. Lung trouble, heart trouble, head trouble, back trouble. He said, “Look, preacher, if you die today, Reidsville will go on tomorrow.”
        I said, “Thank you for building my confidence, Doc.” He was right. You die today, we are going on tomorrow. If I die today, you’ll get another preacher. It’s just that simple. Life goes on. We can either go on with it, or we can die. That’s the only two choices we’ve got. I choose to live. I choose to go on. I choose to stand. I choose courage.
        Let’s have courage, church. It takes courage to get saved. It takes courage to walk an aisle and say, “I need Jesus as my Lord and Saviour.” Many of you at the invitation time stood up and said, “I need Christ as my Saviour,” and God gave you the courage to walk forward and let someone take a Bible and show you what you need to be saved.
        But many people choose instead to go to Hell. Do you know why? They didn’t have the courage to walk an old fashioned aisle. They didn’t have the courage to lift a hand and say, “Preacher, I need you to pray for me.” They walked out those doors lost and some of them never got another chance to have their names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
        Don’t let that happen to you today. You say you are a man. Then have courage. You say you are a woman. Have courage. It’s sad, but more women seem to have courage in America than men do these days. That’s the reason they are filling our positions, men, because we are not. That’s the reason women are trying to take positions in the ministry, because men are not. Women are filling a void that is there because men don’t have the courage to stand up and do what is right.
        Don’t be a coward. Be of good courage. Have the courage to stand for God, to stand for right, to stand for this King James Bible, to stand for America, to stand up and be heard for the morality and values that America has always held in high regard.
                It’s something we need in this country and in this church. Courage.