Fruit of the Holy Spirit

  I am pleased to be the great great grandson of Gilbert Cranmer. My paternal grand mother, Rachel  Betsey Cranmer Wise, was Gilbert Cranmer's grand daughter. My grand mother taught me to love Jesus and to desire to be like him. An English relative of Gilbert Cranmer, Thomas Cranmer 1489-1556, was the Archbishop of Canterbury who was burned alive tied to a stake on March 21, 1556 by order of the church and Queen Mary. Even though Thomas Cranmer considered himself to be a failure, others were inspired to complete his unfinished tasks.

  When Gilbert Cranmer was a boy there was a lot of excitement about the U.S.A. gaining freedom from British rule and the Church of England that the Pilgrims had only dreamed of. As a teenager, Gilbert Cranmer, determined that he was going to be a preacher. He usually didn't fit well with church organizations so he spent half of his life as an independent, self supporting, traveling evangelist. His life was a constant struggle but he loved to preach whenever he could. He was a good organizer and administrator but during the first half of his life he preferred to create a group of Christians through an evangelistic series, appoint a leader for the group, then move on to another area. Later in life he saw the need to do more for a group of Christians than just appoint a leader. He saw the need for groups of people to band together to live God's way. He organized a group of a dozen churches in Michigan into a state conference. They developed their own church hymnal and news magazine which were sent to more States than Michigan. They dreamed of developing the groups from other States into a national conference. The dream didn't come true until after Gilbert Cranmer retired but like Thomas Cranmer, Gilbert Cranmer's zeal inspired others to accomplish what he couldn't. They developed not only a national conference but an international one. Both Gilbert and Thomas Cranmer were less than perfect but they were able to glorify God.

  I have spent a lot of years researching my family history discovering that other relatives were church pastors. I found that I am also related in some way to many of the kings of Europe. The harshness of the kings seemed to overshadow any of the good that they accomplished. I have realized even more that only the things that are done for the glory of God will last.

  The Decatur Church of God 7th Day is my independent local church which had its beginnings in 1950. The address of the Decatur church is 104 Beers St. PO Box 13, Decatur, Michigan 49045. The phone number is 269) 330-9132, 269) 624-6884 or 269) 655-1003. The E-mail address is wisepop@comcast.net  We have church services every Saturday from 2-4pm. We have a pot luck in the basement of the church after church on the 2nd Saturday of each month. We have a prayer meeting on the 1st Thursday of each month from 7-9 pm. We participate in community services through our Helping Hands project. We see and feel the fruits of the Spirit among us.

 The General Conference of the Church of God 7th Day website and E-mail address: offices@cog7.org provides information about member churches, ministries, resources and links. The physical address is 330 West 152nd Ave., Broomfield, CO 80020. The mailing address is PO Box 33677, Denver, CO 80233. The phone number is 303-452-7973. The Fax number is 303-452-0657. The 150th anniversary is currently being celebrated.

 The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteous. James 3: 17, 18.

 Through Jesus, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise-the fruit of lips that confess His name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Hebrews 13: 15-16.