VERSE OF THE WEEK: "And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding." Jeremiah 3:15
PASTOR TO PASTOR
I have been reading through Jeremiah the last couple of days. Tough book to read! It is filled with judgement, wrath, anger...mostly God's. But it is peppered with hope. Plowing through these hard places I get a sense that God is hoping, begging, the people of Israel and Judah to return to Him. To call out His name. To obey His commands. To seek His face.
I am drawn to God's hunger to be Lord of His people. As a means of drawing them back to him, he calls upon people like you and I. He calls us shepherds. Look at the verse above. Shepherds are a gift to the people that God is seeking to reclaim. Shepherds who will feed His sheep. It is obvious from the book that shepherds feed in numerous ways...teaching, convincing, encouraging, nurturing, pleading, rebuking, and caring for.
The tragedy is that the shepherds fail. Not as in, fail to have success. Not as in fail to convince. But they fail.
I was convicted by Jeremiah 10:21. Buckle your seat belts. "For the shepherds have become dull-hearted, and have not sought the Lord; therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered." Whoa!
The message is pretty clear. God hungers to deliver a troubled (and stiff-necked) people. Toward that end He gifts them with a shepherd. But according to Jeremiah, the shepherd becomes dull-hearted, out of touch with God, and the flocks scatter.
I hope this speaks to you as it does me. Shepherds are important. They are God's gift to the people. We cannot let them, or him, down.
Would you join me in praying...praying that God might return in power and majesty to His church and His people. Will you determine to seek His face, and to connect with His heart.
Who will shepherd His beloved people?
EXCELLENT ADVENTURES
We have most recently visited DaySpring Community (MS), Shreveport GracePointe (LA), Victory Praise and Worship (MS), Iglesia Donde Dios Vidas (MS), Crossroads (MS), LifePointe (MS), and New Iberia (LA)
We look forward to visiting the following churches:
September 19 -- Oxford (MS)
September 16 -- Sulphur (LA) 75th Anniversary Celebration
October 3 -- Moss Bluff Trinity (LA)
October 10 -- (Tentative- LA)
October 17/24 -- Vacation
October 31 -- (Tentative-- MS)
November 7 -- OPEN (MS)
November 14 -- OPEN
November 21 -- Rosebloom (MS)
To schedule me please contact Pam. I would love to come to your church.
SPECIAL NOTES
Rev. Don Wedgeworth (Joyce) has resigned as pastor at Meridian Northside (MS) due to health reasons. He has had a wonderful ministry there and has prepared the church for further leadership.
Rev. David Garner (Jackson Emmanuel) and wife Pam (District Admin. Asst.) welcomed a new baby granddaughter today in Bloomington, IL., Samantha joins two sisters and a brother.
The Union (MS) church led by Rev. Donnie Carpenter had over 70 in attendance for homecoming services. Wow!
The Crossroads (MS) church led by Rev. Keith MeGehee was highlighted on television for their relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina on the 5th anniversary celebration.
Crowley First (LA) led by Rev. Bob Bradley, has made significant progress on their new Family Life Center.
PASTOR TO PASTOR
I have been reading through Jeremiah the last couple of days. Tough book to read! It is filled with judgement, wrath, anger...mostly God's. But it is peppered with hope. Plowing through these hard places I get a sense that God is hoping, begging, the people of Israel and Judah to return to Him. To call out His name. To obey His commands. To seek His face.
I am drawn to God's hunger to be Lord of His people. As a means of drawing them back to him, he calls upon people like you and I. He calls us shepherds. Look at the verse above. Shepherds are a gift to the people that God is seeking to reclaim. Shepherds who will feed His sheep. It is obvious from the book that shepherds feed in numerous ways...teaching, convincing, encouraging, nurturing, pleading, rebuking, and caring for.
The tragedy is that the shepherds fail. Not as in, fail to have success. Not as in fail to convince. But they fail.
I was convicted by Jeremiah 10:21. Buckle your seat belts. "For the shepherds have become dull-hearted, and have not sought the Lord; therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered." Whoa!
The message is pretty clear. God hungers to deliver a troubled (and stiff-necked) people. Toward that end He gifts them with a shepherd. But according to Jeremiah, the shepherd becomes dull-hearted, out of touch with God, and the flocks scatter.
I hope this speaks to you as it does me. Shepherds are important. They are God's gift to the people. We cannot let them, or him, down.
Would you join me in praying...praying that God might return in power and majesty to His church and His people. Will you determine to seek His face, and to connect with His heart.
Who will shepherd His beloved people?
EXCELLENT ADVENTURES
We have most recently visited DaySpring Community (MS), Shreveport GracePointe (LA), Victory Praise and Worship (MS), Iglesia Donde Dios Vidas (MS), Crossroads (MS), LifePointe (MS), and New Iberia (LA)
We look forward to visiting the following churches:
September 19 -- Oxford (MS)
September 16 -- Sulphur (LA) 75th Anniversary Celebration
October 3 -- Moss Bluff Trinity (LA)
October 10 -- (Tentative- LA)
October 17/24 -- Vacation
October 31 -- (Tentative-- MS)
November 7 -- OPEN (MS)
November 14 -- OPEN
November 21 -- Rosebloom (MS)
To schedule me please contact Pam. I would love to come to your church.
SPECIAL NOTES
Rev. Don Wedgeworth (Joyce) has resigned as pastor at Meridian Northside (MS) due to health reasons. He has had a wonderful ministry there and has prepared the church for further leadership.
Rev. David Garner (Jackson Emmanuel) and wife Pam (District Admin. Asst.) welcomed a new baby granddaughter today in Bloomington, IL., Samantha joins two sisters and a brother.
The Union (MS) church led by Rev. Donnie Carpenter had over 70 in attendance for homecoming services. Wow!
The Crossroads (MS) church led by Rev. Keith MeGehee was highlighted on television for their relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina on the 5th anniversary celebration.
Crowley First (LA) led by Rev. Bob Bradley, has made significant progress on their new Family Life Center.
Gulfport First Church is hosting a prayer seminar entitled, “Prayer Warriors: The Power of Prayer and Spiritual Warfare” on Saturday, October 9th from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. The seminar is being presented by Rick Huguenin of the Galion (Ohio) First Church of the Nazarene. A brief bio for Rick is included below. The seminar is FREE!! However, because we are serving dinner, PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED! Anyone can register by calling the church at (228) 539-4188 or by e-mailing the church at gulfportnaz@att.net. There is no childcare for this event, and due to the nature of the discussion on spiritual warfare, it is recommended only for young people who have reached their teen years.
Open Churches: (MS)Waynesboro Trinity, GraceWay,Meridian Northside
(LA) Kenner First
Important Prayer Requests:
Rev. David Kelly (Crystal Springs, MS) had very difficult surgery last month but is recuperating at home. He continues to face cancer treatments.
Cathy Ferris, pastors wife at Monroe First (LA) lost her mother this past week. Pray for Cathy and the family.
Rev. Lisa McClesse, Gulfport First pastor, will have significant surgery on Sept.20. Please pray for her complete recovery.
Dr. Charles Johnson (Meridian Fitkins, MS) had shoulder surgery last week. He is home and recuperating.Open Churches: (MS)Waynesboro Trinity, GraceWay,Meridian Northside
(LA) Kenner First
Important Prayer Requests:
Rev. David Kelly (Crystal Springs, MS) had very difficult surgery last month but is recuperating at home. He continues to face cancer treatments.
Cathy Ferris, pastors wife at Monroe First (LA) lost her mother this past week. Pray for Cathy and the family.
Rev. Lisa McClesse, Gulfport First pastor, will have significant surgery on Sept.20. Please pray for her complete recovery.
Rev. Steve Holtz (Cleveland First, MS) has been suffering with his back in recent days.
Rev. Dustin McDavid (Pineville, LA) lost his uncle in an apparent suicide this week. Pray for his family.
Rev. Stephen Deese's (Gloster, MS) mother is battling cancer.
Rev. Keith Matthew's (LifePoint,MS) mother has been very ill and had recent surgery.
Continue to pray for Rev. Mike Howard (Westlake, LA)
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT'S PRAYER MEETINGS (Prayer Tour)
Instead of having the DS Tours as usual this year I have felt led to simply come to each area of the district(S) and have a night of prayer with pastors, associates, and spouses. These prayer times will last from 7-8:30 pm each evening and will include a brief video from Jim Cymbala followed by a significant time of praise and prayer. You have been emailed a schedule. I anticipate that every pastor will do his/her best to be at one of these prayer events. For many there may be more than one within driving distance of you, making it possible to participate somewhere.
MINISTER AND MATES RETREAT is next week. Every pastor has received info. If money is the only reason you are not coming please let the office know. We do not want anyone to miss this great event because of finances. Dr. Eddie Estep, a great leader in our church will be speaking for us.
Book I am Recommending: "Radical" by David Platt. This book was recommended to me by several friends, and it is well worth it. Platt, who pastors a mega Methodist church in Birmingham is calling the church to reevaluate its prosperity, consumerism, and selfish style and calling the church and the Christian back to an authentic discipleship characterized by the serious teachings of Jesus.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: "This is how God works. He puts people in positions where they are desperate for His power, and then he shows his provision in ways that demonstrate his greatness." David Platt
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