MIDWEEK MESSAGE #99
Hello and welcome to Midweek Message #99. Thanks for reading this week! I guess I’m going to have to figure out something special for the next edition. It is hard to believe it will be #100- Lord willing, of course.
DID YOU FORGET? Or maybe I ought to say, “DON’T FORGET!” How can you forget to do something which has yet to take place? You are finally convinced Pastor Bill has lost it (no comments from the peanut gallery). So…DON’T FORGET to set your clocks one hour ahead this Saturday night. Just remember though, if you are used to going to bed at 10, you might want to try going at 9:00. Unless, of course, a nap on Sunday afternoon sounds really good to you. ☺
I was really encouraged this past Sunday when I saw a group of people meeting in the library area. After I inadvertently walked in on them I found out they were members of the Security Team. That is one of the divisions of the new Care Team Ministry which was started on February 27th. I also know that several of the other teams have been making inquiries about contacts, purchases and procedures. That is so exciting because that means some of the teams are off and running and performing their ministry as it was designed.
PUT THIS ON YOUR CALENDAR! I announced this Sunday (and it was in the bulletin) that our Easter service will be at Abram Farm. Bill and Suzie Abram are so gracious to us to allow us to use their venue on special occasions. One of those has been Resurrection Sunday. It gives us a chance to meet together as a church family for one service with plenty of room. Yes, the downside is we have to do a lot of work moving equipment from here to there, as well as set up tables and chairs early that morning (they have a wedding Saturday night). But the pros far outweigh the cons. We will share more information with you as we get closer. I would like to encourage you to plan to come and invite some others to join you!
SPRING BREAK BEGINS THIS WEEKEND! That usually means two things: One, people traveling. I suspect, despite the gas prices, a record number of folks will “hit the road” to get out of Dodge. Enjoy yourself. Relax. Get some rest. Try not to do so much you need to come home to get a rest from your vacation. ☺ Whether you are driving or flying, be careful, have fun! The second reality is as spring break arrives and people leave that also means some seats will be bare. That is a fact of life. Let me encourage you, though, if at all possible to join us via our live stream. If the times of 9:00 or 10:45 are inconvenient times, remember you can watch it later on Facebook or YouTube.
With that being said, my sermon this coming Sunday is entitled The Truth is Still the Truth. I was humbled this past week as several approached me afterwards and even during the week to let me know how much Sunday’s sermon, The Bible is Still the Bible, meant to them and how much they are looking forward to this series. This series will go to the end of April. I thought I would share the titles with you so you can see where we are going. Just remember things are subject to change if God says, “Change it.” ☺
- March 13- The Truth is Still the Truth
- March 20- God is Still God
- March 27- Jesus is Still Jesus
- April 3- Sin is Still Sin
- April 10- The Cross is Still the Cross
- April 17- Alive is Still Alive
- April 24- Eternity is Still Eternity
Here’s one for you: I’m asking myself where do I go from here? I feel a real need to take a break from the intensity of that series and to just make our way through a book. My thinking right now is to do one titled Postcards. I just read Philemon and will soon be reading 1, 2, 3 John and Jude during my morning Encounter Time. What do you think? I’d like to hear.
All that to say something as I finish this MM. I read again this Monday about another pastor who is retiring after 35 years. On April 13, 1975 I was ordained into the ministry by the elders of a church in Akron, OH. That means in 2025 I will celebrate 50 “official” years as a pastor (that is not counting the previous 3 years or so I had already been a pastor and a youth pastor. At 69 years old I have had people ask me when I will retire. Lord willing, and as long as God grants me good health, I hope to be doing this until the day I breathe my last breath. I have even had some ask me how I keep doing this “pastor thing.” I give a simple answer: passion. I love doing what I do, and as long as I can be effective I do sincerely hope God allows me to keep doing this. There is something else though. A little over a month ago I was purging my files and ran across something I wrote or found. I can’t remember (first sign of old age!) ☺ I had Jo retype and laminate it for me. Here is what motivates me…besides the love of Jesus and joy of doing what I love to do:
- I promise to keep doing original and hard work in my study. Those to whom I am called deserve my best efforts.
- I promise to maintain a heart for God. That means I will pray frequently and fervently, and stay devoted to Him and to my calling.
- I promise to remain accountable. Living the life of a religious Lone Ranger is not only unbiblical, it’s dangerous.
- I promise to stay faithful to my family. My wife deserves my time, affection, and undivided attention. Our now grown children and grandson deserve the same.
- I promise to be who I am. Just me. I plan to keep laughing, saying things a little off the wall from time to time, being a friend, loving wholeheartedly, and making a few mistakes each month day.
And there you have my “creed.” I love being your pastor and look forward, Lord willing, to more years serving Jesus hand-in-hand with you. I love you all.
Pastor Bill
