The dreaded sermon...

I really enjoy every opportunity that I get to speak to the people at HRCC; whether on a Saturday Night, or Sunday Morning. It is a spiritual high in the sense that for me to speak I need to do some preparation; I have to study. In the studying of scripture, commentaries, and the text of other noted speakers, I get excited about what God has laid on my heart to share. But, there has always been in the back of my mind "that" sermon topic. You know the one....the dreaded sermon......tithing. I have heard other preachers give that sermon, and then I have heard all the comments from everyone that did not appreciate what the pastor talked about, and the same old....."all the church ever talks about is money". That rings over and over in your head as a young believer, and it resurfaces in your mind when you are asked, as I was, to do Part I of a 2-part series on giving; the week-end after Thanksgiving; while the Senior Pastor and the Associate Pastor are away; and with possible first-time guest because of the Thanksgiving week-end. Do you feel my fear now? And, on top of all that, it is decided to have the ushers take up the offering before the message. I am not feeling well at all. And then, just before the Saturday Night service, I retreat to my office; look at my notes one more time and realize......I am out of my league......."God please, You will have to do this. I give this to you." And He took it.........all of it. I had planned a cool illustration with a $100. I planted it so that when I asked for it I would receive it back. I was all set and ready, then God reminded me that I had given Him the message and I guess He thought that meant the illustration too. So, I find out that He had planted a $100 somewhere else; and not just one. I found out after one service that a gentleman found $100 in his wallet that he didn't know was there. I was approached by a lady after one service that wanted to thank me for the message; she needed to hear it "today". I was told by one friend that they just couldn't believe that that was me sharing with them this week-end. And, to be totally honest, it wasn't me. It was God's message. He used me; He used unsuspecting people in the church; He used the music; He used the video; He used it all. Like I said earlier; I gave the message to Him, and He took it all.......Hmmm.......sounds like tithing.

See ya' Jake

I have been on staff here at HRCC, full-time, for 7 months; starting back on April 1st of this year. I have experienced a lot of moments that have been, shall we say, educational in my Christian walk as a Pastor. There have been moments in leading worship with the church body that can only be described as "Holy". There have been days filled with joy and laughter that I still see and hear in my mind to this day. There have been tears that have drawn me closer to the church family than I thought possible. I have seen answered prayer; I have witnessed love and compassion; I have made new friends; I have seen God working in the life of HRCC; I have been amazed and blessed. And then there are "those" moments; the ones that I grew up watching "preachers" do......weddings, baptisms, funerals; those anxious moments of what do I say to the family of someone whose dying. Tuesday I received "that" call. A dear friend, Rev. J. C. "Jake" Huneycutt, Jr. was dying. Jake was the Pastor that performed mine and Karen's wedding; he baptised my children; he encouraged me to be a Deacon, a Sunday School teacher, a Youth Leader, a Baptistmen's Leader; he was a "quiet" mentor to me. He was a man of God; a servant of the Lord; a visionary; a prayer warrior; my family's Pastor; a friend......and he was dying. I hugged his wife Bobbie, his daughter Lynne, and his grand-son Jacob (named after his grandfather).....and I stood there by his bed; this "quiet" force in my life lay there dying and I'm thinking...."What do I say?"...."What would he say?"......he'd pray. So, I prayed. I couldn't say good-bye.....but I did say "See ya' Jake". And because of this man, a lot of people will. Tuesday evening Jake went home. I believe with all my heart, that this quiet man heard the loudest "Well done" ever. I will miss you. See ya' Jake.