Pastor’s Corner

Pastor Corner

Last Sunday morning Paul Luther, the adult Sunday school teacher, told us about a homecoming where his people attend. There were several unique things about this homecoming but one thing that stuck in my mind was the concept of wanted posters. It seems that if you were not in attendance that they would put up wanted posters with your name on the poster. This got me to thinking, what if God put out a wanted poster? What would the poster say? Would my name be on one of them? Would everyone would be required to put up posters and report directly to God if they saw someone fitting the description. Romans 3:23 tells us that everyone has sinned and come short of Gods expectations, for God calls everyone to repentance and to believe in Jesus Christ (Acts 19:4). So under the description, would it have people wanted who are imperfect and have sin in there life. In the second chapter of Ephesians, Paul tells us that God wants people dead in sins to be made alive through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:5) and make them part of his family (Ephesians 2:19). I guess the poster could say wanted “people dead or alive” and even offer a reward. Through Jesus Christ a person can have the greatest reward known to mankind, which is eternal life (Romans 6:23). His poster would not be just for bad people, like in the post office, but for all people in spite of there faults. So I guess in a way God has put out a wanted poster in the form of the Gospel and all of our names are on it.

Pastor

Pick-Up Games

Psalm 119:72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.

When I was younger I never looked forward to sports in gym class too much. There were always so many kids in the games that is made it much less fun and really less physically profitable; when you’re playing softball with 35-40 kids you don’t get much playing time or exercise. But oh how I loved the pick-up games after school! Often times there weren’t enough of us to field two teams. But that didn’t matter to any of us: we all got play that much more!

Just a little while ago Billie and I got home from a small group Bible study at church. It was such a blessing to get together with some of our brothers and sisters and dig into God’s Word as a group. I think these smaller, informal studies are a lot like those pick-up games we used play after school; with the fewer number of folks involved, those that attend seem more inclined to “get in on the action”. I think often times we are a little inhibited during Sunday school, I mean no one wants to offer up an answer in front of the whole church that they are a little unsure of. But in a smaller, less formal setting we are much more apt to dive right in. And doing so we learn so, so much more, both individually and as a group.

If you’re not involved in a small group study I encourage you to get involved with one. And if your church doesn’t currently have one, start one up! You’ll be surprised by the interest that you’ll find others have. And I am certain that you’ll be blessed and learn a lot in the process.

Family

Matthew 23:8 …ye are all brethren.

This past week the association that my home church belongs to held it’s annual revival. It is a full week of meetings, Monday through Saturday evenings, with business meetings and worship services during the day on Friday and Saturday, culminating on Sunday with Sunday school and a memorial service in the afternoon. At some point most, if not all, of the 37 churches of the association are represented, along with folks visiting from other churches and associations from as far away as Alabama and Missouri. It is a wonderful opportunity to worship and fellowship with folks you don’t see often and ones that you meet for the first time. It is also a great blessing to see how this diverse body comes together as one in the Lord during this time.

I was blessed to attend almost all of the events, missing Saturday evenings service. As I said, the worship, fellowship and the songs of praise were just outstanding. We were truly in one mind and one accord, so much so that each night the choir, which was never made up of the same folks, sounded like a group that sang together regularly for years. The Spirit of God flowed through out the week in all aspects of the meetings.

As enjoyable as this week was, I have to tell you I’m looking so very forward to Wednesday night this week. You see, due to the weeks meeting and other church events prior to that we’ve not met in our home church in about two weeks. And though I greatly enjoyed the fellowship of the brothers and sisters from the other churches, I miss my “family” at Gethsemane something terrible. It’s so sweet to have brothers and sisters in Christ that you (I) feel are truly family. Though I love all the brethren, that little group of Christians that makes up the Body of Gethsemane United Baptist Church holds an extra dear spot in my heart. I hope and pray that each of you are as blessed with a home church and “family” as I am. And I thank my God for each of them and for planting among them.

Sunday School Art

I tooled and carved this piece to be framed as a piece of art for the young kids’s Sunday school class at church. It is resisted with SuperSheen and antiqued with MinWax aged oak gel stain mixed with a little neetsfoot oil.

Through the Tunnel

I have “officially” made it beyond the requisite 24-hour period of being symptom free. I survived! LOL Yes, I’m still a bit draggy-tired but otherwise feel pretty well.

I have been studying today for Sunday’s lesson. I’m leaning heavily upon the Lord to help me with it. I’ve not been able to do any productive study before today. And I have nearly an hour to cover the subject matter, by far the longest lesson I’ll have taught to date; the “goal” is around 30 minutes for Wednesday night service.