|
|
 |
| What We Have |
| Bubba Garner |
|
“How’s your work
going?” I suppose that is one of the questions I am most
often asked. That and “Is Bubba your real name?”
There’s a story behind both of my answers. The latter is
sometimes a chore. The former is always a pleasure.
I love to tell people about where I am privileged to preach.
I’m proud of my association with the Southside church and
the reputation she has in and outside the city of Pasadena.
I’m proud of her history and excited about her future.
Because I think what we have here is pretty special.
We have elders who lead. The seven men who shepherd
the flock here each feel a personal responsibility for the
sheep they oversee. It is evident in the elders’ meetings.
It is obvious in the way they make announcements. They have a
genuine concern for every member of the congregation. Even
when they must exercise discipline, it is done only when all
other alternatives have been exhausted. They make plans to
ensure the spiritual nourishment of our people and challenge
us to achieve goals that they themselves are striving to
attain. “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep
watch over your souls as those who will give an account”
(Heb. 13:17). Our elders make that an easy passage to follow.
We just follow the leaders.
We have deacons who serve. Visitors often compliment
and comment on our reverent and orderly worship services. Such
is the case in large part because of the work of our seventeen
deacons. From the comfort of the building to making sure
everyone is in place, these men see after our needs, usually
having to handle some unpredictable and unforeseen emergency.
Though their work is sometimes a physical assignment, it is
nonetheless a spiritual service. Though their duty is often
behind the scenes, it is always seen and admired through
heaven’s eyes. “For those who have served well as deacons
obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in
the faith that is in Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 3:13). That is
certainly the case with our deacons, servants of God.
We have preachers who care. This is a hard paragraph
to write, because there is the danger of it sounding
self-serving. But your three preachers care about you. We want
the very best for you. Sometimes, that means we have to say
things that sting a little bit. These hard sayings are not
intended to hurt but to help. They are done not just out of
duty but out of love. That same love motivates us to preach
the whole counsel of God, to tell people what was important
enough for the Lord to say. It is not our concern to be
politically correct or popular in public opinion. We want the
will of man to be brought into submission to the word of God.
“Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching;
persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure
salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you” (1
Tim. 4:16). Your salvation. Now that’s what we care about.
We have members who give. And I don’t just mean
money, though you certainly do that generously and liberally.
Our members give their time. Our people give their abilities.
They give their energy, their emotions, their devotion. But
most of all, they give themselves. While the rest of the world
seems to be focused on what they can take with them, we have
people who believe it is more blessed to give than to receive.
“For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond
their ability, they gave of their own accord...but they first
gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God” (2
Cor. 8:3,5). Paul said that about the churches of Macedonia.
The same thing could be said about the saints in Pasadena.
“How’s your work going?” It’s going quite well. We are
by no means a perfect church, but we should be proud of what
we have here. And we should be proud to tell other people
about it and invite them to come visit our services. After
all, our desire ought to be that everyone out there have what
we have here.
|
|
Copyright (C)
2008
Southside Church of Christ
All rights reserved.
|
|
|
