Back on June 30, 2008 I posted a blog entitled "Will We Allow The Church Of God In America To Die?". At that time I expressed my concern for the Church's health and well being based upon the reports I had heard at our North American Convention earlier in the month. Nothing has happened in these past five months to alleviate my concern.
I had the privilege of attending a unity service hosted by the First Church of God in Mount Sterling on Sunday, November 23. Our Director of National Ministries was the featured speaker. I had a chance to talk to Dr. Duncan for a considerable time before the service. He shared how desperate things are on a national level from the financial side of things. Eleven employment vacancies have not been filled and eight people were just given notice they will no longer have a job. This reduces the work force by nearly 25%. Unless things turn around quickly ministry itself will begin to be curtailed. Once that starts you begin to shrink your base for support.
The theme of Dr. Duncan's message Sunday night was on leadership and how things will only turn around through good, sound, Biblical leadership. In order for that type of leadership to be in place we must once again examine our roots and its message. At the forefront of our message a hundred years ago was the themes of holiness and unity. Holiness is not just a word. It is how we live and act and treat one another. Unity is not something we practice one time a year in a special service but it is an attitude that looks for opportunities to get together and do ministry together.
These qualities are sorely lacking in the Church today. I have made it a point for the past twenty plus years of trying to bring God's people together, especially our pastors and ministers. Shortly after moving to North Carolina in 1984 I found myself being thrust into positions of leadership within the larger Body of Christ. I do not think this was mere circumstance. I realize my personality lends itself to encourage people and I have tried to use this gift to encourage every pastor I can. It seems to be increasingly more difficult to get pastors to understand how much we need each other.
Our State Pastor, Randy Montgomery, has asked me to be a participant in the S.H.A.P.E. Program here in Kentucky as a coach. I look forward to this opportunity because this speaks to the very heart of something I am very passionate about. As Dr. Duncan stated in his message Sunday night, if we are to ever get the Church back on course in every area of ministry it must begin with leadership. Every pastor has a responsibility to God Almighty to encourage, uplift and hold accountable every person we can starting with our fellow pastors!
I must confess, I was sorely disappointed in the number of pastors who showed up for the service at Mount Sterling. Every pastor has someone who can fill their pulpit for them. I know our people expect us to be there for every service but some things are important enough to require our presences. In my opinion this was one of those services. At some point we are going to have to do more than talk about unity. I don't think many of us realize what is at stake. We think we can stand alone. We can't, not for very long. And what happens to the Church when we die?
Brothers and Sisters hear my heart. I love the Lord, His church and all of you. We are in trouble on every level. Many believe the Lord is very near to returning. We can not let there be a falling away from God at this time in the life of the Church. We need to be excited, energized, striving to reach as many people for Christ as we can in these last days!
Will you join me in praying for one another. I have several ministers I call by name before the Lord everyday. Will you join me in praying for those around you. Let's lift one another up. Let's look for ways to encourage our brother and sister. Let's stand our ground and fight the good fight of faith. All of those who went before us are counting on us. All those who are coming after us are depending upon us.
Just something to think about.
Pastor Jordan
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
THANKSGIVING
On November 27 , 2008 we will celebrate one of the days I always look forward to, Thanksgiving. Like many people, I have a lot of fond memories of Thanksgiving. As a boy growing up in rural Boyd County, Kentucky I, along with most of the boys in my area, would meet at the Stanley Kitchen Farm for a morning of rabbit hunting before our afternoon meal. We would have as many as ten boys to gather very early on those frosty mornings and begin our push on the local rabbit population. I never remember us killing very many rabbits but we always had a great time.
A little latter in my life, once I started dating my wife, and then for the first few years of our marriage, I would always have dinner with her family. They would have a crowd every year. My mother-in-law thought she had to feed everyone she knew. We ate in shifts and we men always ate the first shift. As soon as we were finished we headed for the TV and started watching the football games. Of course about half way through the second game we took another pass through the kitchen.
Upon moving to North Carolina we only made it home one time for Thanksgiving, the first year we were there. After that we celebrated Thanksgiving in North Carolina. We started a tradition of sorts. George and Peggy Foley who attended our church were also from Kentucky and our families had Thanksgiving together. A little later, Bret and Cindy Wood moved to our area from West Virginia and began attending our church. They too joined us at Thanksgiving. We always had a great time and as a result we built some very special relationships with those folks.
Through these experinces I came to learn that Thanksgiving is not about food, that is just an excuse to get together. Thanksgiving is about people, family, friends, brothers and sisters in Christ. That is the real joy of Thanksgiving, celebrating life with people we love.
As I have written in previous blogs, God has blessed my life with some wonderful people, far to many to name. Everywhere I look in my memeory I see special people and I am reminded once again how blessed I have been all of my life.
My Father is dead, my Mom has a rare brain disease and is unable to eat, my oldest son lives in NE Ohio and my sisiter lives in North Carolina and both of them are unable to come home sooooo I am back at mother-in-law's. My father-in-law has been gone many years but we do have Tyler with us and yes, my mother-in-law still thinks she has to feed everyone she knows so we will have a house full again. I hope I still rate for the first shift at the table because I don't want to miss anymore of the game than is necessary!!!
Have a great Thanksgiving and God bless!!!!!
Just something to think about.
Pastor Jordan
A little latter in my life, once I started dating my wife, and then for the first few years of our marriage, I would always have dinner with her family. They would have a crowd every year. My mother-in-law thought she had to feed everyone she knew. We ate in shifts and we men always ate the first shift. As soon as we were finished we headed for the TV and started watching the football games. Of course about half way through the second game we took another pass through the kitchen.
Upon moving to North Carolina we only made it home one time for Thanksgiving, the first year we were there. After that we celebrated Thanksgiving in North Carolina. We started a tradition of sorts. George and Peggy Foley who attended our church were also from Kentucky and our families had Thanksgiving together. A little later, Bret and Cindy Wood moved to our area from West Virginia and began attending our church. They too joined us at Thanksgiving. We always had a great time and as a result we built some very special relationships with those folks.
Through these experinces I came to learn that Thanksgiving is not about food, that is just an excuse to get together. Thanksgiving is about people, family, friends, brothers and sisters in Christ. That is the real joy of Thanksgiving, celebrating life with people we love.
As I have written in previous blogs, God has blessed my life with some wonderful people, far to many to name. Everywhere I look in my memeory I see special people and I am reminded once again how blessed I have been all of my life.
My Father is dead, my Mom has a rare brain disease and is unable to eat, my oldest son lives in NE Ohio and my sisiter lives in North Carolina and both of them are unable to come home sooooo I am back at mother-in-law's. My father-in-law has been gone many years but we do have Tyler with us and yes, my mother-in-law still thinks she has to feed everyone she knows so we will have a house full again. I hope I still rate for the first shift at the table because I don't want to miss anymore of the game than is necessary!!!
Have a great Thanksgiving and God bless!!!!!
Just something to think about.
Pastor Jordan
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