The Sights of Spring

This rose bush bloomed in just a day or so before Mother's Day.
My daughter, Sarah, has been putting the quotes on the church sign.

Blessed be the ROCK!

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

NEW MEMBERSHIP CLASSES: Plans are underway to begin classes for those interested in learning about membership in the church. Membership is not being coerced. Membership will be presented as a joy, challenge, commitment and honor. Pastor will be teaching these classes.

Monday Evening Prayer Meetings: Time and Place. TBA

Tuedays, Ladies Bible Studies at 10 am: At the R. B. Wilson apartment complex directed by Sister Susie Reynolds and Sister Josie Rivera.

Wednesday Evenings: Continuing in prayer for revival.

Sunday, May 18, 2 pm: Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary Celebration of J. E. and Marie Moore at the First Bank Activity Center on Main Street in Huntingdon. Please RSVP Kathy VanMeter if you plan to attend.

Tennessee State Men's Retreat: Will be rescheduled at a later dater. Check the State Overseer's site by clicking here It will be at Camp Hickory Hills in Dickson, Tennessee. The cost is usually around 30 dollars.

YOUTH CAMPS: Youth camp applications are here and several have already asked for them. I encourage and challenge you to attend camp. There are camps for all ages. See the application for the age that you would attend. This year for the first time in several years Karen and I are on staff in Youth Camp. We look forward to a great time there.

Update

It has been a few days since I last posted. Here are are some updates on recent events.

Mother's Day: Today is a special day for mother's. I called my mother this morning and wished her happy mother's day. She is doing good and we enjoyed a good time of conversation. She told me that she got my card and had a time of wiping the tears from her eyes. I hope each one who has a living mother will do something special for them and, if possible, spend some special time with them. To those whose mother has gone on, remember some special time you had with them and be thankful that you had a mother who brought you into this world.

Sunday Morning Service: This morning was a great time of being with family and enjoying the service. Mother's were presented a vase and rose this morning by Sister Cathy Coleman. I presented Karen, the mother of my children, with a card and plaque that says "Amazing Grace." That is what has sustained our relationship and her graciousness to help raise my two older daughters and our two younger children (son and daughter). We enjoyed songs by Casey Duncan, Shiloh Coleman and her son Brooks, my granddaughter Aviana, Delilah Mummel and all the children sang.

The message today was "Mother's Who Persevere." We visited the scriptures in Ruth, in Mark where the Syrophenician mother came to Jesus and where Paul wrote to Timothy commending Timothy's grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice.

Prayer Requests

Deacon J. E. Moore had a tractor accident yesterday and was dragged several feet after the tire ran over him. He has two ligaments pulled in his knee and will be unable to move about for several days. He said, "It could have been worse but thank the Lord I was not killed or hurt severely." Join me in prayer for this request.

Deacon Moore's wife, Sister Marie, fell a few days ago and could not get up until help came about 30 minutes after she fell. She also says her doctor has told her she has about a year or so to live. She desires prayer. Join me in prayer for this request.

Sister Joyce Grace requests prayer for some personal needs in her family. Join me in prayer for this request.

My daughter Sarah is requesting prayer for some personal needs. Join me in prayer for this request.

My son Jason requests prayer for wisdom in making a lifetime decision. Join me in prayer for this request.

Praise Reports

Josh Lawton seems to have made a speedy recovery. He is back home, walking on his own and taking care of his own personal needs after having a golfball size tumor removed from the base of his brain stem. We praise God for this report.

Donna Crossno praises the Lord for opening the door for a new job. She has been praying and seeking work now for several months. We thank and praise the Lord for this report.

Mistakes New Pastors Are Susceptible To

1. Trying to please everyone. Jesus couldn't do it. Paul couldn't do it. Timothy couldn't do it and neither can the first time pastor nor the seasoned pastor. Your first responsibility is to God . Be sure to seek Him and focus on team ministry with your leadership. Continually reach out to new people and emphasize ministry to children and youth. Seek to equip new leaders. The Apostle Paul said, ". . .I am made all things to all men that, that I might by all means save some." He was speaking in the context of winning the lost, not pampering every petty, pet peeve that people have.

2. Taking things too personal. People are going to say and do things that will be offensive - keep your feelings at the foot of the cross. People are going complain and criticize - consider what they say, filter out and keep what is helpful and use it for bettering your pastoral ministry. Throw the rest into the invisible file thirteen. Maintain a caring spirit but know that you cannot go into a pastorate as an investigator, sheriff or savior of the church. There is only one Captain, Master, Savior and Lord. Preach and teach the truth in love and don't apologize for it. Some will accuse or insinuate that you use the pulpit for "brow-beating" the members. Feel confident in your heart that what you preach is from the Lord and anointed by the Holy Spirit.

3. Having a short-term success syndrome. It takes two to three years for a pastor to get acquainted with the community, the church and the people. Pastorates of two-three years are usually based on a pastor's lack of stick-to-it-ability and lack of vision casting and dissemination. Go into a pastorate with conviction and and seek God for a vision for staying a long time - 7, 10, 15, 20 years or more. (It is understood that some churches have serious problems and will not grow. The pastor who stays on is simply biding their time.) However, some churches will not grow until old patterns, habits, and problems leave and a new motivational impetus takes over. Churches vary in size and ministry. A local church should be vibrant and alive, no matter what size it is in number. Don't be pushy but be progressive and pro-active. Encourage fervent worship in Spirit and truth. Be an example in worship, evangelism and discipleship.


Most of the above I have learned from experience (good and not so good). If it can help some minister, I am thankful. Milton Gordon

Update

Karen, Sarah, Aviana and I enjoyed the afternoon and evening at Camp Hickory Hills this past Sunday evening. The message and worship was great. We enjoyed volley ball and sitting at the Oasis by the creek. We also enjoyed the fellowship - seeing old friends and meeting new ones.

We look forward to the camping ministry later this year.

International Children's Ministry

The International Children's Ministries leadership training event begins May 21. Go here to see more.

Josh Lawton Update

Today I was with the Josh Lawton family. Josh was operated on at 8:30 this morning to remove a golf ball size tumor just below his brain stem. The surgery went well and when I left at 2:20 he was back in his room. He was in quite a bit of pain. Join me in prayer for Josh, Carla and the rest of the family.

It was a special blessing for me to see the love that this family showed to each other today. Josh's father, mother and sister were there. Carla's father and mother (Jimmie and Virginia Davis) were there and Jimmie's mother (Willodene) was there. Carla's brother (Jeff) and his son (Jacob) were there. Carla's oldest child (Tyler) was there. We thank the Lord for this family and their love for each other. They made me feel a part of the family all throughout the day. We continue in prayer for Josh's speedy recovery and for strength for the family.

We thank the Lord for this family who has been attending church now for just over two years with us.

Urgent Prayer Request

Josh Lawton is scheduled for surgery at Vanderbilt at 8:30 am on Friday, May 2. X-rays show a tumor at the base of his brain stem the size of a golf ball. The family requests your prayers. Josh, Carla and the children are one of the newest families at our church. Join me in prayer for this request.

Camp Hickory Hills

There is a day of activity scheduled at Camp Hickory Hills on May 3 from 1 pm until. Each one is asked to bring food and drinks for a combining of those items to have a large picnic. There will be worship at 3 pm. For more info click on the Tennessee State Office link to the right of this post.

There is also a work day scheduled for those who will come and help. Call the campground caretaker, Brother David Allen, to get more information or see me for the date.

Ladies Day

Karen, Sarah and Heather returned yesteday from Ladies Day. They said it was one of the best they have ever attended. Karen stated that the presence of the Lord was very close and powerful. She also stated that the minister from South Carolina preached under a heavy anointing.

So far men's day has not been rescheduled. Wonder when or if it will be?

Ladies Day

Ladies Day begins today. Karen, and two of my daughters, Sarah and Heather, are attending. This is a great opportunity for all ladies to attend a Spirit filled time of worship, singing, preaching and teaching. Pray for traveling safety of all the ladies who will be on the road today.

Urgent Prayer Request

My son, Jason, was on his way to work going toward Paris on highway 77 when he was the first to come upon a car that had run off the road and into a tree. The car was on fire and there was a man inside. Jason ran over to the car but it was so hot that he could not get close enough to try to get the man out. All Jason could do is watch and pray as the man burned up. Jason told me that the man must have been unconscious because he was not screaming or saying anything.

Remember this man's family. We do not know who he is at this time. Also pray for Jason.

Outreach Desperately Needed

We are in desperate need of reaching out into the harvest. Jesus said, "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest." (Matthew 9:38) If Jesus said this and felt it so strongly, then why should there be any question about it?!! He not only said it, He lived it.

When some in the church come to a point of saying, "we've tried that before" or "that won't work", then there must be a greater intensified effort to reach out to the lost. There must be effort to go into the harvest of today with today's tools. Furthermore, some of the tools never change. Jesus commissioned, "Go." That will never change!!!! He did not say this to just the pastor or the the preacher. He said it to the disciples. Are you one of His disciples????!!!!

"We want revival," we say. When concerted effort is needed for revival. . .just about anything takes their time or they find an excuse to be out of prayer meeting and the scheduled revival meetings. We don't need to come to church and shout, we need a spanking from the Lord to get us on the right path. What if a pastor confronted each one who needs to be corrected or needs admonition? How many are mature enough to be rebuked or taught? Many would be at home pouting or tranferring to another church if a pastor confronted them - albeit, with the desire to help them - not destroy them. Some remain carnally immature and will not change. . . .

The cry from our International Office is to reach out to the most needy in society. That cry has focused on youth and children. There are dozens of youth who come to the shopping plaza next to Wendy's and the Dollar Store here on Friday and Saturday nights to "hang out." When are we going to reach these youth and how are we going to reach them?

Bishop Billy Murray, former General Overseer, said, "if we do what we've always done, we will get what we've always got." He may not have been the originator of this phrase but it has stuck with me ever since I heard him say it.

Maintaining the status-quo will not send laborers into the harvest. Some feel content to come to church a once or twice a week and sit and say, "feed me preacher, feed me." We are so pitiful!!! Not the kind of pitiful that we read in the King James version of the Bible! If we had more of that pity (which is kindness in action) we would be reaching out to those without Christ.

Do we want to move up to the needed outreach methods of our time or do we want to malinger in the muddy, mediocre muck of many moons past?!!!

Dear Lord, help us to move out into the harvest. . . . . .Let us pray fervently for laborers. . .

Visits and Prayer Requests

Today I visited with Stanley and Judy Reynolds. They are requesting prayer for her brother-in-law who recently had large intestine resection. Join me in prayer for this request. Stanley visited with his mother, Sue Reynolds, in Missouri this past Saturday. He is requesting prayer for her. She is very sick. Join me in prayer for this request.

I visited with Jerry Pruitt, the brother-in-law of Stanley and Judy Reynolds. We had a time of prayer. He requests continued prayer for his recovery. He has recently prayed and accepted the Jesus as his Savior and Lord.

My mother is requesting prayer for a need. She has been burdened about a need and desires prayer. Join me in prayer for this request.

Brother Leon Reynolds will be seeing a doctor at Vanderbilt this coming Thursday for a consultation. He has been diagnosed with cancer. Join me in prayer for his healing.

Prayer for revival to continue and intensify. Join me in prayer for this request.

YOUTH REVIVAL PICTURES

Below are pictures taken during revival services. The dates on the pictures are not necessarily correct. It was a joy to have many in my family present during our revival.

The Evangelist, Tony Cathey
Worship by Sarah with sign language to the song "Lord You Are Holy."
My family sings, Tony on the keyboard, mom, me and my sister Joyce.
Casey Duncan and baby boy Ethan.
Another picture of the Praise and Worsip team

Another picture of the praise and worship team.

More Youth Revival Pictures

Several were in the altar during the youth revival. We thank the Lord for his presence and for each one who came.

My sister's daughter and my niece Stacey.

The Evangelist, Tony and wife Pascha Cathey.
Tony and Pascha's twins, from left, Anna, center, Kelsie my great niece, and right, Carrie.
Pick it Pastor.
My family, from left, my sister Joyce, Mom (Beatrice Cathey) y brother, Tony and me.
Here are members of my family who attended the revival. We sure enjoyed being with them.

REVIVAL - WHITE WING MESSENGER

Our church periodical/magazine is the White Wing Messenger. The month of May is entitled REVIVAL. There are some pertinent and powerful messages pertaining to revival in this issue as one might expect. O how we need revival. One message that particularly challenged me was by Daniel Chatham entitled "Do We Want Revival Enough?"

I encourage anyone to subscribe to the White Wing Messenger. Our church subscribes by ordering bundles of 5 sent to the local church to be distributed. Each person pays ten (10) dollars a year for twelve issues. That is less than one dollar each for four color process printing on a glossy paper and saves eight dollars for each individual subscription. The articles are well-prepared, edited and written by a variety of ministers/ministries who are involved in the ministry of the kingdom and the church.

You can subscribe by going to the general church web site at http://www.cogop.org/ and click on the Service Department link and go down to the White Wing link.

YOUTH REVIVAL

Thank the Lord for a great time of revival meeting last night. The presence of the Lord was overpowering. The Youth Praise and Worship Team were dedicated and committed to lifting up the King of Kings. Special songs came forth with great emphasis on praising the Lord. Thank you to Casey and Cindy Duncan, Sarah Gordon, Jason Gordon, Vickie Lawrence, Cathy Coleman, Aviana Gordon and my mother Beatrice Cathey for the great worship in song. Also to Tony, Pascha and their twins, Carrie and Anna for great worship songs. The youth even asked me to sing. We did our best to bring Him more than a song - "he looks deep in our hearts."

Brother Tony preached a great message on "Keeping Watch Over Our Oil." The message challenged us that one of the greatest tasks we have as youth or anyone is to keep our lamps trimmed and burning and to keep the oil fresh and full. We were so involved in the worship, praise and the message that it seemed that we were in church for just a few minutes until it was 9:30. He used the example of the person that was given charge of the oil that was used for lighting the tabernacle and temple. The job may seem out of sight and out of mind but is is very vital for us to keep our oil fresh, clean and full for the service of the Lord. That is done in our daily devotional lives, away from the hustle and bustle of daily routine. "You are the temple of the Holy Ghost." (paraphrase)

We also watched the movie "Facing The Giants" in the parsonage den after the revival meeting ending at 9:30. There were some powerful challenges and victories portrayed in this movie.

We continue to seek God for revival.

WHAT AN AWESOME GOD WE SERVE!

Pavilion Completed

The above is a picture of the pavilion before the gable ends are finished.
The West side of the pavilion with gable end covered.
Another view of the West side.
A view of the East side of the pavilion.

Jesse Dixon Sings - "Moses Take Your Shoes Off"