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[ Silence ] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] And cry, Lord, you're the potter and I am the clay.

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Make me over again today. ♪ Let God become the pieces ♪ ♪ Of your broken heart today ♪ ♪ Let him make you a new Messiah ♪

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♪ You will pass away ♪ ♪ And with all your sins away ♪ ♪ In God be done the peace ♪ ♪ That is on my broken heart ♪

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♪ Open up that gate ♪ ♪ They made me a new vessel ♪ ♪ And revive my soul again ♪ ♪ Don't forget ♪

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- In behalf of Reverend Griffin, the members of Ebenezer, and most especially the men of this church. I wish you all good afternoon

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and welcome to the Men's Day program. We invite you to worship the Lord with us in the way that you feel most comfortable this afternoon. Our theme for today's service is

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Man, God's Instrument Throughout History. This use of man as God's tool reminds me of a true story about a certain family. This family consisted of a man, his wife, their infant son,

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and a 12-year-old daughter. The man had been feeling somewhat ill and decided to go to the doctor for his annual checkup. The doctor seemed a bit worried after his initial test

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and asked him to stay in the hospital for a few more days so they could have more observation on him. The diagnosis turned out to be that he had contracted a very rare disease, a very fatal disease.

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The doctors kept him as comfortable as possible in those last few months that he had to live. About eight months after he died, the wife went to the family doctor for her checkup.

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Quickly, the doctor discovered that she too was sick. And against all possible odds, she had contracted this very same fatal disease. The lady invited her daughter to come to the hospital room

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to be with her. She said, "Now, now look, honey. Mommy's very sick, and I want you to do something for me. I want you to understand that I'm going to have to leave,

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like Daddy did. I'm going to have to go away. But I want you to go home and go ahead and cry if you want to." I cried, too, until I prayed with the Lord.

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"But I want you to go home and pray. Get yourself right with God. Then get your brother, clean him, show him the way. grow him up in the way that he should go, show him what the Lord wants. Run, honey,

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go get your brother. This is the very same charge that the Lord gives us today, to run, get our brother, to clean him, to help him, to grow him up in the way that he should go. And hurry, and hurry, and hurry. Thank you, and you are welcome. [ Laughter ]

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[music] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] (dramatic music)

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[MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] (gentle music)

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(gentle music) (gentle music) [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING]

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[Music] [MUSIC] ♪ From the burden of this ship's care ♪ ♪ I would be your guide ♪

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♪ Max the band and ride ♪ ♪ While the heavy clouds are rifted ♪ ♪ To my travel home in dark days ♪ ♪ If you may walk in sunshine fair in sunshine ♪

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♪ You may find the light and the pathway bright ♪ ♪ By the aid of a whispered prayer ♪ ♪ Just a whispered prayer ♪ ♪ And the love you bear ♪

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♪ At the darkened bed grows lighter ♪ ♪ Where's the river of ♪ ♪ Let the living on ♪ ♪ You will find the skies grow brighter ♪

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♪ Through the traveling dark ♪ ♪ When you may walk in sunshine ♪ ♪ You can find the light ♪ ♪ And the pathway bright ♪

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♪ By the aid of a blissful friend ♪ ♪ The glass of crystal bread and the bread is there ♪ ♪ Who can turn your grief to gladness ♪ ♪ Who can fill your days with the love of God's grace ♪

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♪ Who can lift your souls from sad days ♪ ♪ You can travel on in darkness ♪ ♪ When you may walk in sunshine ♪ ♪ You can find the light and the pathway bright ♪

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♪ By the aid of the whispered ♪ ♪ (dramatic music) (bell tolling) (footsteps)

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[ Pause ] >> Shall we pray? Father, O gracious Master, in searching the scriptures we find that while God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believed in him shall not perish

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but have everlasting life. Father, we ask that you would teach us to know that to worship you, a part of that worship is giving. We ask that what will be collected today will be used to the upbuilding of your kingdom

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on earth that men might see you through our good works. In Christ Jesus' name we ask it all. Amen. (music)

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[music] ♪ (ominous music) [MUSIC PLAYING] Not just to kneel with the angels.

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♪ Not to see loved ones who've gone ♪ ♪ Gone on home ♪ ♪ Not just to drink at the fountain ♪ ♪ Under the gray, white drone ♪

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♪ I'm trying to run this race ♪ ♪ All I've got is my life ♪ ♪ I'm trying to run this race ♪ ♪ All I've got is my life ♪

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♪ All I want up in heaven ♪ ♪ Is just to behold ♪ ♪ His face ♪ ♪ Just to behold ♪

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♪ To behold his face ♪ ♪ Just to behold ♪ ♪ My God's face ♪ ♪ All I want up in heaven ♪

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♪ Is just to behold his face ♪ ♪ Yes, yes I want to see my Jesus ♪ ♪ Who bore his cross in the land of Israel ♪ ♪ A cross in my stead ♪

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♪ Who willingly, willingly suffered ♪ ♪ Of fiction ♪ ♪ With a crown of thorns ♪ ♪ On his head ♪

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♪ The curse's fountain was open ♪ ♪ I don't care for me ♪ ♪ God's amazing grace ♪ ♪ What joy ♪

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♪ What joy will be mine ♪ ♪ Forever ♪ ♪ Just ♪ ♪ To behold ♪

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♪ His ♪ ♪ His face ♪ ♪ You know it's just ♪ ♪ Just to behold ♪

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♪ To behold his face ♪ ♪ His chest ♪ ♪ Just to behold ♪ ♪ My God's face ♪

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♪ Oh ♪ ♪ All I want ♪ ♪ All I want ♪ ♪ All I want when I get up in heaven ♪

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♪ Is just ♪ ♪ Just to behold ♪ ♪ My God's face ♪ - Amen. - Amen.

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(soft music) (eerie music) (gentle music) (soft music)

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♪ (ominous music) The title of today's scriptures, God's Glory and Man's Dignity. Oh Lord, our Lord, your greatness is seen in all the world. Your praise reaches up to the heavens.

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It is sung by children and babes. You are safe and secure from all your enemies. You stop anyone who opposes you. When I look at the sky which you have made,

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at the moon and the stars which you set in their places, what is man that you think of him? Mere man that you care for him. You made, yet you made him inferior only to yourself.

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You crowned him with glory and honor. You appointed him rule over everything you made. You placed him over all creation. Sheep and cattle and the wild animals too.

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The birds and the fish and the creatures in the sea. Oh Lord, our Lord, your greatness is seen in all the world. I've read the complete eighth psalm as translated by the Good News Bible.

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[ Pause ] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC]

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[ Music ] [MUSIC] ♪ On the mountain astray ♪ ♪ No one to hear his ♪

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♪ Blessings repeated ♪ ♪ Words of the Master ♪ ♪ Speaking today ♪ ♪ Go in the forest ♪

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♪ Go in the forest ♪ ♪ And go on the mountain ♪ ♪ Upon the mountain ♪ ♪ Bringing the water ♪

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♪ Bringing the water back again ♪ ♪ Back again ♪ ♪ Into the fold ♪ ♪ Into the fold ♪

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♪ Of our Redeemer ♪ ♪ Of our Redeemer ♪ ♪ Jesus Christ ♪ ♪ Give us a lamp for sinners slain ♪

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♪ For us in this place ♪ ♪ Seeking the lost and ♪ ♪ Pointing to Jesus ♪ ♪ Souls that are weak and ♪

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♪ Hearts that are sore ♪ ♪ Leading them forth in ♪ ♪ Ways of salvation ♪ ♪ Showing them that ♪

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♪ I will go home ♪ ♪ Going up on the mountain ♪ ♪ Up on the mountain ♪ ♪ Bringing the wanderer back again ♪

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♪ Back again ♪ ♪ Into the home ♪ ♪ Into the home ♪ ♪ Of my Redeemer ♪

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♪ Thy Redeemer ♪ ♪ Heal us from death ♪ ♪ Heal us from death ♪ ♪ For sinners slain ♪

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♪ For sinners slain ♪ ♪ God's might will go on ♪ ♪ Missions of mercy ♪ ♪ Following Christ from day of today ♪

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♪ Cheering the fainted ♪ ♪ Raising the fallen ♪ ♪ Burning the lost to Jesus' glory ♪ ♪ Going up on ♪

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♪ Going up on ♪ ♪ Up on the mountain ♪ ♪ Up on the mountain ♪ ♪ Bringing the wild ♪

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♪ Bringing the wild ♪ ♪ Back again ♪ ♪ Back again ♪ ♪ Into the fold ♪

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♪ Into the fold of God ♪ ♪ A man redeemed ♪ ♪ Jesus the Lamb ♪ ♪ For sinners slain ♪

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♪ Going afar ♪ ♪ Upon the mountain ♪ ♪ We've been brought ♪ ♪ Back again ♪

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♪ Into the home of my Redeemer ♪ ♪ Jesus the Lamb was in the slain ♪ - Reverend and Mrs. Griffin, Ebenezer family, and guests, I have the distinct pleasure of introducing to you

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our guest speaker. Mr. MJ Anderson is no stranger to the Ebenezer family, but for those of you who may not know him, it would take all day to try to give you some background

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in his past experiences and involvement on the local, state, national, and international levels. But as a brief overview of Mr. Anderson's background and involvement, let me just say that he is a graduate of Ohio

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State University. He obtained his BA degree and master's degree in political science there. Mr. Anderson is an educator and a scholar.

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He has served as a professor in various capacities, as a chairman in one particular college here, better known as Houston Tillerson. He has also been cited for various distinguished awards

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and for many of his outstanding contributions to the community and to the state. However, those awards and contributions are very numerous, so I will not go into them,

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as Andy has requested. But I would like to, of course, let you know that we do have a very distinguished and very outstanding and eminent member of our Ebeneezer family

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here to speak with us today. So without further ado, please allow for me to introduce to you Mr. Andy Anderson. You know, Dr. Griffin, one thing that I found out,

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and that is that seated up here, you can't see out there back here. And I wondered why you got over there. I understand now why you're over there.

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You know, honestly, Ebenezer has a very, very warm spot in my heart. First, because Ebenezer Baptist Church was here, has been here a very, very long time,

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and the contributions that Ebenezer has made to this community and to this state and surely to the nation. Also, it has a very, very warm spot

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because as I look around and as I observed this morning, I saw the brothers, the men as we sometimes call ourselves, get busy doing something. And somebody was heard to say this morning

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that they enjoyed the singing of the chorus this morning because it was unusual to hear brothers up here. And somebody said, well, maybe we ought to use them a little bit more.

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And I agree with that. And also, I noticed too that we have the city of Austin, a new group of young adults. And that new group is many and Ebenezer's been very, very fortunate in getting a large number of them here. You

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know there's not many of us around that are old, been here any length of time. Most of them have been here two and three years. And frankly they decided to come to Ebenezer. I'm proud of Ebenezer because of Dr. Griffin's great work that he's doing in the community here, the great work that he's doing in this

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church. And I want to say here to the chairman, Brother Smith, you've done a beautiful job, your committee, and say to the committee also in getting your program together. Now what I'm going to say is not going to be complimentary to you brothers, I want you to know that, because I generally don't say too many

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complimentary things when it's not the true facts. I'm going to talk this afternoon about "Didn't You Know?" Now they told me that our theme or our subject was "Man's God's Instrument Throughout History." Well I want to talk about some of the negatives and then I'm going to talk about some of the positives this

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afternoon. You know many of you have heard many times the statement didn't you know. And many times immediately you start and stop and answer your own question before someone can get it out of their minds or give you an answer. I remember back earlier as our son grew up, grew taller we used to draw a line on the wall marking his height and placing the

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date beside that. He was interested in seeing how much he had grown and we were interested in seeing how much he'd grown month by month and we looked at it with a great deal of interest. Now we need other means of measuring ourselves of of checking up on our growth.

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The self-conception here that each of us has of himself one way of measuring ourselves and growing. It is more difficult than measuring the marks on a wall, but it's equally as important. When Thomas Edison was inventing the electric light, he spent years trying to find the right kind of filament, the right kind of gas,

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the right kind of container. Finally one night about three o'clock in the morning, he made the device glow. Edison ran up the stairs where his wife was from the laboratory and into the bedroom and here's what he said, "Darling, look!"

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He shouted. Mrs. Edison woke up, rolled over and pleaded, "Will you turn and shut off that light and come back to bed?" Now didn't you know, didn't you know that we don't like each other very well? Black folks all over this world just seem to hate each other.

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We talk about each other. We say uncomplimentary things about each other. Again, I repeat, I don't care where we go or where I go, we find this is a trait of black folk.

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You can call them something else if you want to and before I finish I'm going to call them something else this evening. Didn't you know that we don't practice brotherhood and sisterhood? Now you know that.

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There's not a person hardly seated out there that could confess honestly and say that we really and truly practice brotherhood and sisterhood. We play at it. We talk about it.

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give it a lot of lip service and what we do does not reflect it at all. Didn't you know that we're jealous of each other? All of you know that. You know I don't care how high I get or you get or someone gets in the community you know what do you say you say he got there dishonestly. He doesn't deserve it you

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know and then we say all manner of things about it. You know that you do it yourself I gotta have I got a problem with myself not doing it you know I gotta work at myself not following in the same pattern and you do too. Didn't you know that we talk about each other. Oh my we never say again the things that

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we ought to say if you can't say something nice don't say something at all. You know that statement. And consequently I mean many of us I mean go on doing the same thing. We come here Sunday and we kneel down and we pray. We say all those good things and get out of here and do the evil things. Didn't you

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know that? Didn't you know that we don't pay our dues but yet we expect rewards. Most of us don't pay our dues. We expect to receive something from that that we didn't put anything into. You know, many times in the political arena, you know, after the man's elected, you come around and say,

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"I want this job, I want the other thing." The first thing that we do is look on the record to see where you put any money in there. If your name isn't on that roll, you know what I mean, we ain't about to do anything for you. for you because that's the way life is in this political arena.

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If you didn't put some money in or you didn't work or do something, you know, working in the precincts or the wards or whatever they may be. Didn't you know that in order to live in this world, you must have a sense of humor.

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Now a person that has not developed a sense of humor cannot be a very good leader because you got to be able to laugh at yourself first of all. And when you arrive at that period that you can laugh at yourself, you've really arrived. And see fun and humor in things that you do.

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And you do stupid things at times, don't you? All of us do. And you've got to be able to laugh at them, you know what I mean? And say, "Look, yes, it was stupid, but it comes out real funny, you know what I mean?"

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So you've got a good idea there of having a good sense of humor. Now, didn't you know that as you look at the people that we have here in this church this afternoon the men, the people that have performed in the various service today that we have a powerhouse built in Ebenezer that could shake Austin and

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this community and other communities in which we live. Now what am I talking about? I'm talking about the men getting organized here around their various organizational units in the church you know what if you may call them and I'm concerned about names this afternoon, but they get organized and then they bring

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in people that's going to talk about how we can better help our membership by dealing in Social Security's, you know what I mean, learn something about it and how people, black folk, can get more out of it, you know, because many things available there. We ought to learn about Section 8 housing, bring somebody in so

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they can talk about Section 8 housing and how you can get in that housing from the standpoint of the government paying the rent, you know, and you getting your own house. That's the thing that I'm concerned about here today, the concern that we ought to be concerned about as such.

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We ought to have people come in, the men ought to, you know what I mean, that's going to talk about welfare programs and how black folk can get more out of the welfare program, how to use these programs. We ought to bring people in who can talk about the senior citizens program.

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And surely we have senior citizens in this church and how they can benefit and know all about these programs because you young people need to know it too because you're going to get old one of these days. We ought to bring people in.

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You talk about the youth programs. These are the type of things that we've got to do in this church. It cannot be done at the 11 o'clock service either or the 8 o'clock service. It's got to be done at other services that we've got to hold here and bringing it to

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the people as such. Didn't you know the government has many, many programs that we would establish as a non-profit charitable organization here, if we would establish a unit here to get some of that governmental money to throw into this church to help people in these various areas, what

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a wonder it would be, wouldn't it? We just move everything, not only in Austin, but throughout the community in which we live. Didn't you know that our leaders are failing to encourage the participation on the various city boards and commissions?

00:35:40.920 - 00:35:54.940

Didn't you know that we're doing nothing about voter registration? And this is a thing that we need to do here. Nothing wrong with religion working in voter registration. There's nothing wrong with them working, taking this census that we're going to take here

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very shortly. nothing wrong with them in political activity and consequently if you do we'll have a better community in which to live. A census taker was asked of a woman how many do we have in your family? She snapped back five, me, the old man, the kid,

00:36:21.320 - 00:36:52.120

the cow and the cat and she said what politics of your family she answered mixed I'm a Republican the old man's a Democrat the kids wet the cows dry and the cats are commoners you know it's amazing didn't you know didn't you know that you can be polite even when you're not asking for a favor? Be polite. Didn't

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you know that no matter how madder it may make you, get out of bed with a forced smile. I like to see people, you know what I mean, smiling, you know, when you meet them they're hell wet, met people, you know, you feel like you you can sort of just love them. That's important. You know, I've seen others, you know,

00:37:13.220 - 00:37:35.600

they look at them, look like they've been dreaming about snakes and dogs. You don't want to have nothing to do with it. You know, you say, "Well, let me get away from them." You may not smile because you're cheerful, but if you will force yourself to smile, you'll end up laughing. I've had people come into my office just as angry

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or mad or whatever you want to call it, you know, and then I tell a joke and get talking to them, pretty soon they leave my office smiling. They forgot what they came in about. Nothing is greater than making people smile.

00:37:49.720 - 00:38:10.220

Did you know? Did you know that, as I said earlier here, that we've had a pastor that's cast his bread upon the waters here, a pastor who's been generous in his affection, forgiving in his spirit, grateful for his friendship and ever mindful of the burdens of others.

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Many leaders fail to recognize when they've lost touch with their membership, with their boards, with their officers. You must follow your membership and your personnel, speak their minds and let them blow off steam in order to achieve cooperation and replace hostility so that your anticipated goals

00:38:32.380 - 00:38:54.820

will eventually be realized. I was sitting over my office over there in the Grand Lodge and one of the little sisters came down the hall and you know she said that long-haired so-and-so is no good. So I came out of the office you know and I said sister you sure right. No good. And we've been friends ever since so I got

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her laughing you know what I mean. Failure to gauge the attitude leads to moral breakdown. This makes it easier for weak-willed people to rationalize this loyalty and dishonesty. Now many times members try to convey problems and gripes to their leaders but the leader pretends to listen but doesn't really

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hear them. Therefore listening is not enough, it's hearing that's going to account. Leaders need to identify the task and see its problems. Always structure your organization with a problem in mind. As your organization grows, as Ebenezer grows, its nature, the beast for closeness, is not to be lost. There's a tendency to over-centralize

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and set up too many tiers in most of the organizations that we have. Now leaders, and we're talking about you men because you are leaders, must take time to gauge the feeling then of their membership. They must realize that reading the thoughts of your people is a number one priority. Leaders must talk to the membership and the officers,

00:40:13.740 - 00:40:39.320

listen to their reactions, and assess the responses. Invite people to make grievances and suggestions. Whole wide open discussions with one ground rule enforce no personality at all or personalities. A leader always gives the membership a sense of belonging. Leaders must show the members that they care and

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let me say here now caring is very important. You got to make people feel important because they are important and always keep that in mind and always provide an open-door policy that is sometimes more than lip service. Encourage your people here to talk over their problems with you. Do not let bad news

00:41:04.300 - 00:41:21.580

upset you because if you're a leader you go hear bad news. There'll be no question at all about that. You got to be ready to ride with the punches. And as I said, I can't say it up here, a leader is one of those things. I don't care where he is and And that's just the way it is.

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If your membership get the message that bad news angers or irritates you, they're liable to think twice before leveling with you the next time. They just want to talk to you, that's all.

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Bad news should be dealt with positively and constructively. You should reward your members by suggestions which improve the aspect of your operation, such as letters, money, and special compliments as such.

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Experiences prove that if the climate is right for free expression, most members will speak up. The question is often asked, are you too old to be a leader?

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I offer the following checklist, whether or not you're too old. You're not too old unless you find No amusement and use fun and their banner irks you. You are too old if you would rather talk than listen.

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You are too old if you long for the good old days, sure that they were the best days. You are too old if you won't help your neighbors, friend or community.

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You are too old if you have no plans for tomorrow. Now surely, if you have a good program that's sound, it will bring about nutritional and exercise values. Now stay young by keeping your sense of humor

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and the ability to laugh, if only at yourself, an adventurous spirit, a receptive mind, an enthusiastic interest in life. Stay young and live longer by thinking each day

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as a new beginning, and by living as fully and finding enjoyment in it. And as I close, I'd like to read this that many of you have heard many, many times.

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Some leaders are like wheelbarrows, not any good unless they're pushed. Some are like canoes, they need to be patted. Some leaders are like kites,

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if they're not kept on a string, they will fly away. Some leaders are like kittens, they can tend it only when being petted. Some leaders are like footballs, they have to be pulled to get where they are, I mean

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they can never tell where they're going to bounce. Some leaders are like trailers, they have to be pulled to get anywhere. Some leaders are like balloons, full of wind and ready to blow up. Some leaders are like neon lights, they're fragile and temperamental.

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Then there are those leaders who are dedicated. ready to fulfill any duty regardless of how menial the task may be. They're always loyal and true. Which one are you? My job is to respond to the message and I could be very brief in responding. Well

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done my good and faithful brother. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life. But more than that men of Ebenezer I have heard us challenged. I've heard brother Anderson challenge us to live up to the to the tradition of Ebenezer to achieve deeds and services yet unparalleled in the

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annals of the illustrious history of the brotherhood of this church. I've heard him say we should live up to our potential. We have great potential if you read Charlie Brown, Snoopy says there's no greater burden than great potential. So we need to do something about that.

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If you enjoyed the message, say amen. Alright, didn't you know? The Sunday School lesson this morning described Isaiah's response to God's call. The motto for the lesson was found in Isaiah 6, 6 chapter verse 8, and it reads thusly,

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"Whom shall I send?" said the Lord of hosts, "And who will go for us?" Isaiah responded, "Here am I." Brother Anderson responded to us today. Today, he heard the call, and he said, "Here am I.

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I'll speak." [BLANK_AUDIO]