March 7, 2010 Another demographic group to which a sizable number of Bartow county residents belong is “Home Town Folks.” Those belonging to this group represent about 8% of our population. The median age of the “Home Town Folks” is about 34. A majority of this demographic group own their own home that is valued about $66,885. “Home Town Folks” work in manufacturing, retail, and service industries. They like to fish, play baseball, bingo, and video games. They shop at Belk’s and Wal-Mart and home party sales for products like Avon. Spiritually speaking the members of this group see the church as a building where one goes to attend an event. While they know who God is, they do not have a personal relationship with Christ. Pray that all of these “Home Town Folks” will come to understand who Jesus Christ is. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’ ” 16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. John 1:12–18 (NASB) In Greek, the word translated “right,”is ??????? exousia. It means the right or freedom of choice, authority, and ability or power. It means all three of those things. You and I have the God given right or freedom to choose to receive Him. We have His authority to choose to receive Him for ourselves, and He has given us the ability to make the choice to receive Him. God has given us the right, the authority, and the power to become children of God. He gives this right, authority and power to everyone who will believe in His name. Pray that Jesus will help all those who are not yet saved to receive Him. Pray that they will believe what Jesus has revealed to us about God.