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My First Staff Position In A Church Was As The ... PRO
Contributed by Chris Surber on Jun 21, 2008 (message contributor)
My first staff position in a church was as the Associate Pastor of The Kirk Community Church in Dunedin, Florida. I normally arrived at church early but on this particular morning my wife and I had arrived just a few minutes before the worship service was to begin. As my wife Christina unbuckled the baby from his car seat, I straightened my tie in the mirror and watched something which is really rather commonplace in a rather uncommon way.
I have seen people go in and out of church many times. That morning though, it was as though veil had been removed from things I had never before seen. It was one of those moments when something that has always been right in front finally comes into focus. Were I a painter, I would love to paint this image the way that it appeared to me that day. I paint a portrait of people walking as if unencumbered yet clearly overloaded with piles and piles of clutter on their shoulders.
It was as though God was allowing me to see the burdens that we carry with us every day and bring with us into the doors of the church every Sunday. It was as if He wanted me to know just how heavy and cumbersome those burdens are. As I watched the people filing into the church building from their sedans, trucks, and minivans, it occurred to me that each person carried his own invisible burden.
Some carried the burden of guilt for past sins. These people hoped that by regularly attending church they would convince God to forgive them. Some of them carried the burden of fear, depression, and anxiety. These people came to into the church hoping to find peace – even if only for an hour on Sunday morning. Whatever their burdens were, one thing became clear to me; most of us, all of us, carry burdens that we were not intended to carry alone.
As I sat watching all of these people, many of whom I knew well, making their way into the church that Sunday, I was struck with the sense that so many of us come to church and generally live out our Christian faith out of what is largely a sense of obligation rather than of love. We fill our lives with repetitious, albeit well intentioned, deeds in order to fulfill our obligations rather than living a life which flows from the love of God...
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One Day In The South Pacific, A Navy Ship Saw ... PRO
Contributed by Kenneth Burisek on Apr 12, 2005
One day in the South Pacific, a navy ship saw smoke coming from one of three huts on an uncharted island. Upon arriving at the shore they were met by a shipwreck survivor. He said, "I’m so glad you’re here! I’ve been alone on this island for more than five years!" The captain replied, "If ...read more
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A Leader Is A Person With A Magnet In His Heart ... PRO
Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000
A leader is a person with a magnet in his heart and a compass in his ...read more
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On January 6, 1941, Franklin D. Roosevelt ...
Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Jan 7, 2005
On January 6, 1941, Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed Congress as to the state of the war in Europe. Most of what he said that day has been forgotten. However at the close of his address, he said that he looked forward "to a world founded upon four essential ...read more
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He Proved Them Wrong PRO
Contributed by Bruce Howell on Mar 25, 2004
“He Proved Them Wrong” They told him he wasn’t good enough. He was too slow and too small to compete with men who were bigger and faster. The only thing the coach said was, “You’re not good enough to play for us. Turn in your helmet.” He packed everything he owned into a 6 ...read more
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