Pastor’s Ponderings
“The Real Jesus”
The game show “What’s My Line?” ran for over 18 years, and celebrity panelists would question contestants to determine their line of work (thus, the title of the show). Before revealing the correct contestant, the host often said, “Would the real (fill-in-the blank) please stand up?”
As we study through Mark, we see the “real Jesus” standing up time and again. This gospel has touched me like no other book of the Bible. I am amazed as I see the ministry of Jesus in a whole new light.
Our Lord was blunt and to-the-point with the religious leaders. He was kind and friendly to “sinners.” And He was patient though, often frustrated, with His own disciples.
In some movies about His life, Jesus is portrayed as a timid man who speaks only in monotone. The reality is that He spoke loudly to cast out demons and tame the storms. He spoke harshly to the religious leaders who were looking for their version of the Messiah rather than the Biblical redeemer.
I don’t want to be a religious person like the scribes and Pharisees. I want to be a genuine, authentic follower of Jesus Christ. I want to love as He loved, live as He lived, forgive as He forgave, teach as He taught, minister as He ministered, and even rebuke as He rebuked. As the last line of the old hymn “O to Be Like Thee!” states, “Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart!”
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We are trying something different with the filming of services. We are not livestreaming throughout the summer (and maybe beyond), but we are filming the services and posting them on our Facebook and YouTube pages.
For a livestream to be effective, the internet connection must be perfect the entire service. Unfortunately, if the internet goes out for only a moment, the livestream is interrupted, and a “new” livestream begins. This has caused several of our services to be cut into two or three segments.
To avoid this we decided to record all services but post them at a later time to our public Facebook and YouTube pages. Usually Sunday morning’s service is uploaded by that evening, and Sunday night’s service is usually uploaded Monday morning. Thanks for understanding why we aren’t live, and KEEP WATCHING!
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August is shaping up to be a fabulous month! It began with Bro. Payne’s birthday on the 1st! If you were not able to, drop him a card in the mail. In May we will celebrate his 45th anniversary service at Calvary. We are grateful for the work God has done through this choice servant and his family.
On Saturday, August 7, Erin Yancey is getting married to Joshua Crawford. This is a fine couple, and we need to support them with our prayers and gifts. The venue is limited in size, and no more seating is available. But the service will be live-streamed.
Tuesday the 10th is our monthly Outreach, and we will meet at 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Bring a side dish for the evening meal, and we will go out at 7:00 p.m.
Monday, August 16th, sees our Faith Bible Institute beginning a new semester. This is a three-year course of learning in which you are taught the entire Bible including every major doctrine. Please see Matthew Sisk if interested.
Golden Agers on the 17th will be a special Homecoming Reunion. Our music guests include Earl Sides and Chuck Willoughby, along with other gospel music family members. There is even a rumor that Bubba might show up.
Our Sr. Ladies WINGS ministry meets Thursday the 19th, and Miles Pike will present a gospel concert for us Sunday night the 22nd.
Wednesday the 25th will be registration for our Wednesday On-Track ministry. You may also register online at calvarycleburne.com. Throughout the school year our children and teens learn truths from God’s Word.
We finish the month with our Men’s Prayer Breakfast on Saturday the 28th and missionary Al Reichmann on Sunday night the 29th.
Let’s be in our place every opportunity possible.
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I have asked from the beginning for you to pray for me and my family in five areas. Thank you for doing so, and please continue to plead with God that I would have:
1) Courage
2) Wisdom
3) Strength
4) Victory
5) Vision