An Open Letter to SGCOG: Love Like That

Sometimes I feel the weight of trying to live up to Jesus’ commands. If you’re like me, you may wonder if it’s even possible. One of the hardest commands to follow for me at times is to “love one another.” That’s why I am so stoked about this Sunday at SGCOG. We are going to dive into John 15:9-17 and find out how we as Christ’s Disciples can love the way He commands us to. We are going to learn that it is possible to Love Like That. I cannot wait to gather together and share what I believe is a Word from the Lord. I am excited like you wouldn’t believe.

I believe God is going to use our time together to transform who we are, what we’re about, and how we show and extend love to one another. One of my biggest prayers is that during our time together someone will come to know the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ. Just think, if we love like Jesus commanded us to others will see and come to trust in Christ.

I want to share a thought that has been molding who I am while in preparation for this Sunday’s message. One writer wrote, “The nearer Jesus came to the cross, the more joy became part of his vocabulary.” –Roger L. Fredrikson

Simply amazing to think, on Jesus’ way to the cross he was demonstrating pure love and joy to those who would carry the message of salvation after he was gone. You may be asking, “Is it possible for me Love Like That, can I keep Jesus’ command to Love?” The answer is YES, because, we are friends and not servants, we are chosen, and we are equipped to Love Like That.

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Commitment + Preperation = Success

Being a bi-vocational Pastor is absolutely the hardest thing I have done to date. Adding the Pastorate to the mix of an already super busy schedule has stretched me to the limits, or so it seems at times. Complaining, No. Just stating the obvious. As I sat home today I decided to start working out a schedule. At times I allow myself to take on the assumption that I don’t have time to do everything that is required of me. Being a husband, father of two with another child due in a few short months, pastor, worker, etc. sometimes gets overwhelming when I think of all the things which needs to be completed before the weekend. My issue isn’t time, it’s being conscious of the time and taking control of the time I have instead of allowing it to slip by.

Commitment + Preperation = Success. This was a statement which I reminded myself of some months back and started to realize that you can wish or will to succeed all I want but until you commit and prepare, success is only somthing you wish you could accomplish instead of something which is attainable. If I want to be a successful husband and father, time and presence are two key factors which I must commit to. If I want to be successful as a Pastor I must prepare myself in order to equip those who God has called me to lead. I have come to the conclusion that schedules are a necessity. So I went to the drawing board and wanted to share them with you. Here are two PDF files.

1. Weekly Roles and Goals – This sheet is where I take my to do list and begin filling in what needs to be done for the coming week. Once I list out all of my goals I will then begin inserting them into the weekly calendar. I am going to start using Friday Evenings/Saturday Mornings to finalize my roles/goals and managing the coming week.
2. Weekly Time Commitments_Rough Draft – This attachment is my weekly calendar. As you will be able to tell, I have went a little overboard in placing commitments which are in stone. It includes my current work schedule, travel time to work,I live close to 70 miles away from my job, service times, I have even added sleep times. This is the framework of what the rest of my week should be managed around. For the most part, these are the things I can’t change at the moment.

As I develop what I need to accomplish and what tasks need to be taken care of for the week they will be added to my schedule. I will be adding sermon prep time, phone calls, family time, administrative time etc. The good thing about putting together this schedule is I have found that there are a total of 168 hours in a week. After you subtract sleep time, travel time, work time, and service times it leaves me with approximately 60.5 hours in a given week.

It is my job to commit to making the best use of those 60.5 hours, preparing a plan in order to make sure what needs to gets done does, and then at the end of the week rejoice in the fact that as a christ-follower, husband, father, pastor, worker, etc. I was successful. I really believe that if I can get a handle on making the best use of the time I have now, God will make a way to become full-time. But, if I can’t manage the time I have now, how can he trust me with more time later.

Matter of fact, there is a verse which states… “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.” – Matthew 25:21

Commitment + Preparation = Success.

Members Are Ministers

The past few weeks at SGCOG have been super exciting. We have seen people who were disconnected from God, come to trust Jesus Christ as their Savior. We have also seen four people within the last few months decide to become members. Three of the four have called SGCOG home since we have been Pastor. One has been active for some time and decided it was time to take the next step and connect with the Church in membership.

I understand that being a “MEMBER” does not save you, only Christ can do that. However, being a member does connect you. I also believe that when you come to Christ you need to connect. Just as you are connected to Christ we need that connection with other believers. We need a place to grow, belong, and use our gifts and talents to reach others. The local church is the place do do this. At the same time the “Church” shouldn’t just receive members because it looks good on paper. The church shouldn’t just look for what they can get out of the people who choose to connect in membership. The church should be a safe haven a place that offers insight, leadership, pours into the members, gives them the tools to grow in their faith and do what God has called them to do. I can’t remember where I heard this quote but it is a good one that church leaders and members should let sink in, “Members are Ministers.”

Members are not just a number, security, or our prize, Members are Ministers. This is one statement that keeps going over and over in my head and is challenging me to pour into those who have called SGCOG home and equip them to be more than just good members, but ministers who change the community in which we live.

Here are a few search terms I used which pointed me to some articles and resources relating to Church Membership.

1. “Church Membership”
2. “Is Church Membership Biblical”
3. “Why Become a Member of a Church”
4. “The Benefits of Church Membership”
5. “The Responsibilities of Church Membership”
6. The Responsibilities of Church Members”

An Open Letter To SGCOG

I am blessed to serve such a great community of believers. St George Church of God, I can’t wait to be with you in service tomorrow. I thought I would let you know where my heads at today in relation to our gathering tomorrow. I am resting, anticipating, and praying. I am praying for you and your family. Anticipating on seeing you in service, resting so that I can I can give everything I have in order to communicate the Gospel effectively. Chanelle and I took a spontaneous trip to Sumter today in order to spend a much needed day with family it is refreshing to see all the kiddo’s playing together. There is a house full.

Can I ask you to join with me in taking a rest at some point today and seek God for our time together. I am not sure if you are aware but in the past month we have celebrated 3 people who have trusted Christ as their personal savior, two last weekend. I am expecting tomorrow to be no different I believe God is going to change lives.

I am ready, are you? Remember, we have two services tomorrow, 11:00AM (Doors open at 10:15) and 6:00PM (doors open at 5:15). Can’t wait to see you there.