Pulpitch
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Written by Rev. Wesley Slough, Sr. Pastor
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Thursday, 09 September 2010 10:09 |
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Pulpitch: September 2010
“A Defining Moment”
A “defining moment” is the way that a dear friend described Sunday, August 8. Perhaps you will recall it as the Dedication Day for the newly completed JCMC. I am told the service was 2 hours and 48 minutes but who was counting … but of this day my friend said that it was a turning point, a defining moment.
He went on to say that though he was away on Saturday evening, he and his wife had arisen early to make it back … to what he typically anticipated would be a dry service J. “But it was anything but this!” he added. “The Holy Spirit’s presence was strong and clear. Several times I was moved to tears during the service, though I still cannot tell you specifically why.”
These were the sort of comments and observations that I heard over and over. Maybe it was Ellie onstage to deliver the keys. Maybe it was Don’s elephant, or Mike’s heartfelt words from the architect’s pen. Well, perhaps it was Justin’s elegant description of the real purpose and power of the building. Maybe it was Joseph’s passionate leading of worship or even Wes’ words projecting the future to 2063 at the 100th anniversary of SCC. Or maybe it was all this or maybe it was more – maybe it was just God putting His stamp of approval.
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Last Updated on Thursday, 09 September 2010 10:29 |
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Written by Pastor Wes Slough
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Sunday, 01 August 2010 12:24 |
Pulpit: August 2010
“What Do You Put on Strawberries?”
A farmer was driving along the road with a load of fertilizer. A little boy, riding his bike, saw the farmer and called, “what have you got on that truck?”
“Fertilizer,” the farmer yelled back.
“What are you going to do with it?” asked the little boy.
“Put it on strawberries,” answered the farmer.
“You ought to live here,” the boy advised, “we put sugar and cream on our strawberries.”
Imagine the image that was in the little boy’s mind – the farmer putting a tablespoon of manure on the strawberries prepared for dessert. Yuck! And in the farmer’s mind, he could see the little boy out in the field with sugar and cream, covering the strawberry plants. Clearly, the strawberries need both fertilizer and sugar and cream. One of life’s secrets is knowing the difference - when to put fertilizer on the strawberries and when to apply sugar and cream. It could be all the difference in drawing someone toward Christ and pushing them away. It might determine whether they come to church with us or leave.
Brothers and Sisters, when we pile on manure when we should be considerate with sugar and cream, we misrepresent Jesus and hurt people. In the same way, we must not sugar-coat behavior that God intends for growth. Such times are “fertilizer” moments. It is the wisdom of God to know the difference.
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Last Updated on Sunday, 01 August 2010 12:25 |
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Written by Rev. Wes Slough
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Monday, 05 July 2010 14:10 |
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“Why Aren’t you a Buddhist … a Muslim
… a Hindu … a …?”
My friend, Bill, was in the hospital. He was a little “out of his head” and when his Middle-eastern doctor came in, Bill interrogated him on his origin. “Are you a Christian?” he inquired. “I am not,” the physician replied. Not satisfied, Bill pressed, “Well, what are you? Are you a Turk (translated to mean Muslim)?”
And, if you don’t mind (and I am not much out of my head), “What are you? Are you a Buddhist (like Tiger Woods J) … are you a Muslim … are you a Hindu (like the Beatles – at least George Harrison was)? Why not? Are you a Christian? Why are you what you are? If you were to TLJT (think like Jesus thinks) about Buddhism, what would you think? About Hinduism, how would you think? About Islam … ?
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Last Updated on Monday, 05 July 2010 14:21 |
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Written by Rev. Wesley Slough, Sr. Pastor
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Thursday, 03 June 2010 13:19 |
Pulpitch: June 2010
“Why You Need to Go to Church”
Recalibration is a big word. We used it in science lab a lot. Auto mechanics do it a lot when they work on engines. You do it when you balance your checkbook and even when you turn your computer off and on. What it means is to reset to some known standard, whether it comes to tuning an engine or balancing a checkbook. We do it when we come to church, when we come to the Lord’s table, when we have quiet times with the Lord. Spiritual recalibration should happen a lot in our lives. We are always in need of being reset to God’s standard.
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Last Updated on Monday, 05 July 2010 14:22 |
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Written by Wes Slough, Sr. Pastor
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Monday, 03 May 2010 16:49 |
Pulpitch: May 2010
“The Quantities of April 23-25”
“Mercy drops ‘round us are falling but for the showers we plead.”
This is the closing line in the old hymn, “Showers of Blessing.” There is an obvious comparison of blessing quantities. The idea is that “we” are experiencing God’s mercy drops, but we long for the full “rain” of God upon us. As I look in the rear view mirror before the revival-weekend slips from sight, I still see the splattering of mercy-drops all over the rear window.
The blessing of Adam, Justin, and Christian leading us to God on Friday and Sunday evenings. Of Bob and the worship team leading us toward rebuilding broken walls on Saturday. Switzerland Dance School invigorating our hearts for worship. Pastor Henry calling us to experience the present, powerful ministry of the Holy Spirit. Donnie calling us to meet Jesus at “this altar.” Joe Jamerson reminding us that the purpose of revival is to take Christ to the streets. But above all … ABOVE ALL, seeing the altar filled with people meeting with Christ, weeping tears of repentance, arising free with laughter in their souls. Yes, there were mercy drops all around us.
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Last Updated on Monday, 05 July 2010 14:22 |
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