God Continues to Teach Me Archives - Page 6 of 15

We Just Don’t Know

10/26/2018 By: CCPearson2 Comments

Most likely, the vast majority of people we see at any given time are going through something hard. Some we know about, others we find out later. With still others, we never know the exact cause but see the troubled faces, hear the complaining words (likely aimed at some hapless person who has nothing to do with the actual situation but just happens to be “in the way”) or watch the defeat evident in their body language.

Take last Sunday at church, for example. I passed many who were saddened by the loss of a beautiful young woman who had grown up in the church and was the light of her parents’ eyes. They were feeling deep empathy for those parents and were searching for ways to give comfort. I passed another young lady and her mother who are deeply concerned about their nephew/grandson undergoing treatments for lymphoma in a children’s hospital a few hours away. Yet another man had the dejected face of a father whose daughter’s marriage has crumbled.

In another setting, I rubbed shoulders with someone dealing with chronic, seemingly unremitting pain, another facing surgery, and others facing the long-term effects of a stroke.

When I left my hair salon last Friday, I saw a friend I hadn’t seen in years and asked about her husband. The cancer he thought was conquered 17 years ago has reappeared. She’s troubled about what lies ahead.

In my own family, a dearly beloved 85-year-old uncle had triple bypass surgery 2 weeks ago, appeared to be recovering on schedule, but now has developed sepsis, and the prognosis looks grim. We are all anxiously watching our phones for further updates.

People have stuff on their minds. Hard stuff. Painful stuff. Stuff they wish they could fix but just can’t.

But, in our church family, as in all families, there were also those celebrating joys in their lives. A young couple is expecting their first baby in the spring, and the whole extended family cheered when the gender reveal party turned BLUE. Behind me sat our high school’s football coach who on the previous Friday night became Hartselle High School’s winningest coast EVER. Fun times. Happy times.

All of these cases — the ones I knew about — ignited my thoughts about ways Christian brothers and sisters can respond in the bad times, the good times, and the ones we don’t even know about.

Follow the biblical instruction in Romans 12:15 — “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”
Show compassion. Colossians 3:12 – “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
Pray for others. 1 Timothy 2:1 – “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,”
Be kind. Plain and simple. Whether we know what a person is walking through or not, we can choose to be kind. Ephesians 4:32 – “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

Walking IN STEP With the Spirit

10/19/2018 By: CCPearsoncomment

Sometimes the simple act of reading a verse of Scripture in a different version can light up a new truth in a familiar verse.

That’s what happened to me when I was preparing to teach a Sunday School lesson recently from Galatians 5, basically focusing on the Deeds of the Flesh vs. the Fruit of the Spirit. I had previously taught lessons and heard sermons many times on this chapter, so I was searching for a fresh insight, for myself as well as for the ladies I planned to teach. I found it in an unexpected spot.

I kept reading after the listing of the fruit of the Spirit in verses 22-23. My usual “church Bible” is a New American Standard version with lots of underlinings, markings and notes in the margin. For years, I’ve read verse 25 like this:

Galatians 5:25 in the New American Standard version — “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” I knew that the term “walk” was synonymous with living my life, as in “Let your walk match your talk” and “Walk the walk and talk the talk.” You’ve heard those sermons. I would sometimes smile at the word “walk” and how that literally fleshes itself out differently with Steve and me. He is a fast walker — elbows pumping, never slowing down for hills, focused on reaching the finish line, etc. When I was teaching in the elementary schools, I was a very determined walker, going back and forth to pick up classes and escorting them to my music room, etc. But, my default walking mode could more realistically be described as a saunter or a stroll, definitely stopping to smell the roses along the way. Anyone who knows me might quickly (and lovingly) add that my talking pace is much faster than my walking pace. 🙂

But, I digress.

For this recent lesson, I read verse 25 in the Christian Standard Bible, then in the NIV and the ESV and saw the same thing.

Galatians 5:25 in the Christian Standard Bible — “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”

Galatians 5:25 in the English Standard Version — “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”

Galatians 5:25 in the New International Version — “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”

As a music teacher, the phrase “keep in step” brought a hundred pictures to my mind. Marching bands doing precision drills to the beat of the drum line, trying desperately to get Junior High boys to remember to start their choreography in the same direction, watching the string section of the Cleveland Orchestra moving their bows across their instruments in perfect unison with the conductor, and the dozens of piano students who sat at the piano in my living room valiantly attempting to keep up with the metronome.

Metronome on piano — Photo from Google Images.

How satisfying it is when everyone is keeping in step.

How chaotic it is when one or more fail to feel the beat.

When I think of keeping in step with the Spirit, the opening scene of many football games seems to spring to my mind — Players locked arm in arm bursting out of the tunnel determined to conquer the opposing team together.

I believe that keeping in step with the Holy Spirit will have far-reaching benefits:

The Holy Spirit will sound the alarm when I sin.
The Holy Spirit will teach me and remind me of truths I’ve been taught in the past.
The Holy Spirit will guide me to people He is drawing to Himself and empower me so that I can share my testimony and give encouragement.
The Holy Spirit will shape me and strengthen me to produce the fruit that He wants to see in me — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
The Holy Spirit will live inside me and fill me with His presence.
The Holy Spirit will be my Helper, my Comforter, my Counselor. (Yes, there are Bible verses to validate each of these, most of them found in the book of John).

Whatever speed He’s moving, that’s the speed I need to move.

Whatever direction He’s going, that’s the direction I need to go.

Whatever attitude He has toward others, that’s the attitude I need to have.

He’s waving the baton in a perfect tempo. Will I ignore it or will I keep in step?

Today Our Baby is 40!

10/15/2018 By: CCPearson4 Comments

On October 15, 1978, at 9:18 on a Sunday morning, our baby girl, Julie Rose, was born weighing 6 lbs. and 14 oz. That healthy weight was significant because when I was only 6 months pregnant, her delivery appeared imminent so I was put on bed rest. At 8 months, I spent the weekend in the hospital on an IV drip trying to prevent early delivery. With the prayers of MANY, she held on a little longer and finally arrived only 2 weeks before her due date. Our entire church and family breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Julie came home to a sister who was about to turn 5 and a brother who was only 19 months older and still in diapers. She thrived with 4 people quick to respond to every utter or grunt. It’s a wonder she ever started talking since she had people who could anticipate her every need or desire.

She was pleasant, easy-going and healthy, and from the time she was first aware of the outside world, she LOVED BABIES.

If we looked around at church and noticed she wasn’t beside us, we knew to head to the church nursery where she and her friend Liz Ann went to “look at the babies.” When she was in early elementary school, her teachers remarked that she held the dolls in the home living section of their classrooms like real babies. When anyone asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up, she would say, “A momma,” but if she HAD to have a job, she wanted to be “the one who held the babies up for everyone to see in the hospital nursery.”

When she was in the youth choir at Central Baptist in Decatur, she was “the one with the radiant smile.”

When the emcee was introducing her when she walked out during the Freshman Beauty pageant at Hartselle High School in the spring of 1994, he said, “When Julie was asked to name her most treasured possession, she said, ‘Her Bible.'” The entire auditorium was hushed. She won.

Julie when she was a student at Hartselle High School.

Julie is strong. Some life circumstances have tried their best to weaken her and knock her off her feet, but she has prevailed. During the 4 years Steve and I were in Ecuador, Julie was a single mom with a young daughter, working for a government contractor on Redstone Arsenal. Not only did she raise her daughter and pay all her own bills, she also earned a master’s degree in logistics in her “spare time.”

How precious it is to MY Momma heart to see her now living her true dream. She is Momma to Allie, a high school senior, all the way down to 1-year-old Enoch, with 6 beautiful children in between: Margaret, Penelope, Rosemary, Samuel, Bethany and Silas. Yes, that makes EIGHT. She homeschools most of them while teaching them to raise vegetables and feed the animals on the 30-acre farm she and her husband Brian own.

Julie with Brian and all 8 of her children.

Julie with Allie, her oldest.

She has a natural gift for hospitality and doesn’t even flinch when she hears that 30 or more will be driving in for supper. Her chili brings them in every time.

Julie epitomizes the woman described in Proverbs 31:25-31.

25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.
²⁶She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
²⁷She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹“Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.”
³⁰Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
³¹Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.

Steve and I are so very proud of her.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JULIE ROSE PEARSON RODGERS! We love you!!

Where Can I Put Jesus?

10/12/2018 By: CCPearson3 Comments

For someone who has been a follower of Jesus for 60 years now, I found myself wrestling with that odd question recently. Where can I put Jesus?

As a housewarming gift, a dear friend gave Steve and me a beautiful statue of Jesus with the compelling pose and caption of “Come to me.” It’s heavy. Made of marble. It’s 19.5″ high and 11″ wide. It is intricately and delicately carved.

It might surprise you to know that I don’t decorate my house in an overtly “Christian” way. Don’t worry. There are certainly no NON-Christian items, but I just don’t generally lean toward ornate crosses or a lot of cross-stitched Bible verses. Could it be because we have so many grandchildren who enjoy seeing THEIR photos displayed around the house? I do love seeing them smile when they find their faces on our walls and propped on our desks and shelves.

Come to think of it, no photographs exist of what Jesus actually looked like. Right? All of the artists, in their efforts to capture the countenance and essence of His face, His posture and His “presence” have merely speculated based on His known ethnicity and the culture of His day. But, also as I reflect, Steve and I remember growing up with likenesses of Jesus, particularly the Last Supper, on the walls of our grandparents’ homes.

But, back to my dilemma. Where would be the best place to put Jesus, or, more accurately, this STATUE of Jesus?

The entrance just seemed a little busy with a great likelihood of having the statue be ignored or, worse, knocked off and broken.

The flat surfaces in the kitchen and family room also seemed a little risky with food messes and wayward pool cues or Nerf footballs. The shelves beside the fireplace weren’t tall enough.

The dining room just seemed a little too odd, for some unknown reason.

Finally, I settled on a table in the small foyer into the master bedroom. The statue sits beside a lamp — a reminder to me that HE is “the light of the world” — and in front of a painting of a bird, which makes me remember the song: “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.” Our bedroom is a place of rest, quiet and solitude, and as the statue depicts, Jesus spoke these comforting words:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

In a deeper sense, the statue has directed me to think about Jesus in internal, spiritual terms. Where DO I want Jesus to be? In which rooms is He honored? Would He be welcome at our table, on our couch, during our family fun times? Do I want to put him high up on a shelf out of sight or does this statue help me stay on track? Does it keep me constantly aware of His presence? Can I use it to point others to Him?

Jesus is a precious gift in every definition of the word.

I Want to Be a Sycamore Tree

10/05/2018 By: CCPearson9 Comments

I must give credit to Jeremy Wilson, Minister to Students at First Baptist Church in Hartselle AL, for stirring my imagination with this idea. Recently, he preached a sermon about Zaccheus from Luke 19:1-10. In it, he taught us using the 4 prominent “characters” found in the story: Zaccheus, Jesus, the crowd, and the sycamore tree. I quickly understood the first three, but I had never thought about the contribution of the sycamore tree. When you think about it, that tree played a very important role.

Luke 19:3-4 – “And he (Zaccheus) was trying to see who Jesus was, and he was unable because of the crowd, for he was small in stature. And he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way.”

Jeremy talked to all of us who were in the congregation that morning about some characteristics of sycamore trees. They were all new to me. I’ve added a few more I’ve found while digging a little deeper.

They can often be identified by their GIANT SIZE, often growing as tall as 100-130 feet and having diameters as wide as 5 to 6 1/2 feet.
Sycamores are often distinguished by their flaking bark in colors of creamy white to reddish brown.
A sycamore’s fruit comes in the form of grayish balls that ripen in October, hang on to the tree through the winter months and then break apart into seeds. Interestingly, those “fruit balls” don’t start forming until the tree is about 25 years old. One tree can produce up to 10,000 seeds each year. They actually produce the most fruit/seed when they are between 50 and 200 years old.
Sycamores are prized for their hard, sturdy wood and canopy of thick leafy shade. That wood is often used for furniture, flooring and cabinetry.
Sycamore roots don’t grow particularly deep, but they develop a strong system that spreads out right under the ground in a wide area that almost matches the shady covering of the leaves and branches.
Sycamore trees typically live longer than 200 years old, and some last as long as 600 years.
Sycamore tree (Photo found in Google photos)

I want SOME of those characteristics to be true of my own life, don’t you?

I don’t want to be GIANT, but I want to be strong, sturdy and to provide “shade” for those I encounter, as in a cooling, refreshing presence when it is hot and tumultuous in their lives.

As the sycamore tree has a distinctive bark, I want my look to be distinctively Christian.

I want to bear fruit, and I hope that I bear the most fruit in my adult/mature/latter years.

I hope I have roots that will hang on tight during the storms I will face in the future.

But, back to Zaccheus. That sycamore tree did 3 important things. It lifted him UP, above the crowds that were preventing his view. Its branches ALLOWED HIM TO CLIMB HIGHER and higher until he reached the point where he needed to be. And, the sycamore tree enabled him to SEE JESUS.

That. That is why I want to be a sycamore tree. In the depths of my soul, I want to lift people up, to give them boosts in their search for a Savior and help them to see Jesus.

God Said “Yes!”

09/28/2018 By: CCPearsoncomment

First John 5:14-15 “And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of Him.”

John 15:7 “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

Psalm 118:21 “I will give You thanks, for You answered me; You have become my salvation.”

Five specific times in this past week, God said “Yes” to my fervent prayers, and I am so very grateful. In the first three cases, I didn’t know whether my requests were “according to His will” that is mentioned in the verses of 1 John 5, but I earnestly asked Him to hear my prayers.

I asked Him to protect our younger daughter, her husband and their children as they traveled the United States in their motorhome for a month. I fervently asked Him to allow them to return home safely, but I didn’t know whether that would be His will. Praise God, they are home safe and sound. During that same time period, I asked Him to protect our older daughter while she, her husband and their children were on a family vacation. Again, He graciously said “Yes.”

I truly wanted to communicate with the women at the ladies conference where I spoke last Saturday. I worked for hours and hours on my presentation, and I dug into His Word as I prepared. But, I didn’t know whether God would allow me to connect with the women. I knew it was His will for His Word to be clear, but I didn’t know whether He’d allow me to be the one to speak clearly. I still don’t know how much I connected or what impact my words had. Maybe no one was drastically changed, but in reality, I WAS. Studying about the subject of being Christ’s ambassador has forced me into more deliberate actions. God gave me the opportunity, and now I’m in the mode of “practicing what I preached.” I didn’t fall on my face, and the huge cold sore on my lip didn’t deter me. So, thank you, God, for helping me through the event.

I have been asking God to allow Steve and me to use our new home to build relationships with neighbors, friends, family members, non-believers and people we are yet to meet. A few days ago a couple of precious neighbors came for lunch. We spent 3 hours sharing, laughing and getting to know each other. I believe God was honored, and I could feel that He was starting to answer this specific prayer.

The fifth prayer request took much longer for God to answer. Someone I care about deeply appeared to be making spiritual decisions that were expressly contrary to God’s Word. I’ll just call the person “Bob” to protect the real identity. It seemed that every passage I read in the Bible was screaming out the truth while Bob was pursuing untruth. I was convinced that a confrontation initiated by ME was not the answer, so I begged God to reveal Himself and the truth of His Word to Bob very specifically, convincingly and powerfully. I knew Bob had been taught the truth from birth, yet he spent months being drawn toward legalism that would rob him of the freedom in Christ he has as a child of God. I felt helpless. It was one of those situations where I couldn’t “do anything” — which is so often my default setting. But, in this case, I KNEW I was praying in God’s will. I was abiding in Him through the months of waiting. I had other prayer warriors praying.

God said ‘YES!” His promise from Isaiah 55:11 proved itself true once again. His Word “did not return to Him empty.” The object of my prayers saw the lies, recognized the truth and was drawn back both because of his own diligent study of the Bible through the years and because of the “effectual, fervent prayers of righteous people.”

Isaiah 55:11 – “so shall My word be that goes out from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” (ESV translation)

James 5:16 – “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (ESV translation)

I rejoice today with the answers God provided. Now I am watching to see how He will answer other prayers. Will next time be “No,” “Keep waiting” or “Yes?”

What about you? How has God answered your prayers recently?

If We are Ambassadors, then Our Homes are Embassies.

09/21/2018 By: CCPearson2 Comments

Tomorrow I have been invited to be the guest speaker for a women’s conference in Cullman County. The topic was already chosen before they contacted me — “Being an Ambassador for Christ.” I’m glad. If I’d been left to my own to choose a theme, I might have gone in a different direction. But, this theme has given me focused time for study, deep thought and questioning. I have learned much in the weeks I’ve had to prepare. Today’s post represents a small part of what I hope to share tomorrow. Please pray for me to speak words that will resonate with the ladies who attend.

Ephesians 6:19-20 – “Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.”

2 Corinthians 5:20 – “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”

The Apostle Paul used that specific term twice in his New Testament letters.

What IS an ambassador? According to the Google dictionary, an ambassador is “an accredited diplomat sent by a country as its official representative to a foreign country” or “a person who acts as a representative or promoter of a specified activity.” Clearly, we are to be Christ’s representatives in an unsaved world. We are to promote His kingdom agenda and behave the way Jesus would if He were still in bodily form here on earth.

There is much I have to share about the work of an ambassador, but my thoughts went further to what an embassy is and how it functions. An embassy (again according to Google) is the “official residence or office of an ambassador.” It is often where the representatives of one country live, interact and mediate disputes with the host country. It serves as a safe haven for citizens of its country who might be living in the host country. Perhaps they have lost their passports. The embassy would be where expatriates would find a way to get back home.

It stands to reason then that our homes, in addition to just our physical bodies, are places to represent Christ to the world AND help fellow Christians who have “lost their way” to get back home.

I recently found a book that speaks to that very subject. It is one I highly recommend — THE SIMPLEST WAY TO CHANGE THE WORLD: Biblical Hospitality as a Way of Life, by Dustin Willis and Brandon Clements.

Here are some quotes that jumped out at me:

“. . . the world could use more ordinary Christians opening their ordinary lives so others can see what life in light of the gospel looks like. And what better place to watch Christians than in their homes?”

“Any time we practice hospitality we follow in the steps of our lavishly hospitable God. Here’s the potentially scary part: because of our role in representing God to the world, when we DON’T walk in hospitality, we do not tell the truth about God. When we are cold, separated, and distant from those around us, we communicate that God is cold, separated, and distant. When we are warm, loving, and gracious, we put the gospel on display. This type of hospitality, which testifies to the character of our God, has always been a hallmark of God’s people.”

And, just for the record, one of the authors is an introvert and so is his wife. He spends a good bit of time talking about ways that introverts can practice hospitality. “Please don’t let your personality type be a barrier to living out a God-ordained calling that is actually tailor-made to suit your personality type.” Intriguing, right?

Here are some questions posed by the book that I’ve wrestled with recently:

How do you view your home? Are you more prone to view it as a place of retreat or as a weapon for the gospel? Why?
What does your current lifestyle communicate about God’s character? If you are a Christian, imagine yourself as a walking billboard for the gospel. What are you saying to the world?
How does your view of mission and hospitality change with the knowledge that God goes before you, lives inside you, and accomplishes the work for you? How should these truths encourage and motivate you?

My conclusion? Anyone who is a follower of Christ is an ambassador, and that makes his/her home an embassy — no matter its size.

Get the book. You’ll be forced to confront how God wants YOU to practice hospitality. It’s easy to open our homes to those we love. What about others who need a glimpse of Christianity that we can provide?

A Few Thoughts about Pastors

09/14/2018 By: CCPearson3 Comments

I still remember the time vividly.

Steve and I had recently moved from Cuenca, Ecuador to Quito where we were serving as Southern Baptist missionaries. The horrors of Katrina were splattered across the TV screen on the only U.S. news station we had available. Our son, who had finished his course work at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, was being interviewed by a committee to be a pastor in Arkansas. He, his wife Katie and very young son Luke had spent the weekend at the church where he was questioned by a host of folks and preached to them that Sunday morning. The all-important vote was to take place at the conclusion of that service.

Matt’s jubilant voice came over the phone to say that the vote was 376 to 3 in favor of calling him. (No, I don’t remember that first number exactly, but I do remember that “3”). Matt and Katie were so excited about this new field of service, and I was, too. But, my first thought, if I’m being honest, was, “Give me the names of those 3. I want to set them straight about how great my son is!” All of you mommas out there can relate, I’m sure. How dare anyone doubt my son’s abilities or rightness for the task?! I finally concluded that those must have been just some children or teenagers who had been left unattended with ballots. 🙂

Matt, for the record, went on to have some very successful years leading that church. Their missions giving went through the roof, and they heard some mighty solid preaching — totally unbiased opinion, of course.

All of that to say that my thoughts/feelings/needs/wants when it comes to my own pastors have been derived from three contexts. 1) I’ve heard sermons every week for 68+ years. I’ve had at least a dozen or more pastors and other interim pastors along the way. Each had his own set of gifts — some for preaching, some for pastoring, some for administration. Very few had all three of those qualities in large amounts. Some became our close friends. A couple of them were much older than Steve and me. A few were about our age, and others were younger. 2) My dad, in his work with the Alabama Baptist Children’s Home, was in touch with practically every Baptist pastor in the state of Alabama. I heard daddy’s thoughts and did a lot of observation on my own. Frankly, some of those men were absolutely outstanding, while a few were, shall I say, less than stellar. 3) But, now, as “the preacher’s momma,” I tend to know more about what is really going on behind the scenes WHILE I hear my son preach messages with passion and intense preparation.

At my age and after being a Christian for almost 60 years, I don’t have to have a pastor who is my babysitter, the smoother of my ruffled feathers, or my hand-holder when I stub my toe. Surely I have matured beyond that point.

At this stage of my life, I’ve concluded that these things are what I need the most from a pastor:

When he stands in the pulpit to preach on Sunday, I want him to teach me something new. Or at least make a familiar passage or concept fresh. I may be a Senior Adult from an age perspective, but my desire to keep learning hasn’t dried up. I need to know that he has spent a lot of time in God’s Word during the week and in communication with the Father asking Him what he should say to His people. I need to know that he has given top priority to this important hour in the life of my church. Dig it out. Find what God wants us to know, and put it in a context that we can apply and take out the back door with us when we leave.
I need to know that he, or at least one of his “people,” cares when I am going through a serious crisis and that he will genuinely pray for me. If I am a part of a large congregation, I completely get it that there aren’t enough hours in the day to be a close shepherd to 1000 sheep, but I’m counting on him to organize his staff and/or the deacons so that everyone can be touched by someone in a pastoral position when those critical times happen. At this point, let me stop and mention two former pastors who will always be deeply loved because of their demonstration of care and concern for me and my family. My mother died suddenly in January of 1986. Her death put my dad, my siblings and me in utter shock. When I looked up at her funeral and saw Bro. Brooks Barkley there, it meant the absolute world to me. He had driven from Hartselle, AL to Troy, AL because he cared. Then, when Steve’s dad drowned in a boating accident on the Tennessee River in 1997, I can still see Dr. Mark Tolbert and his wife Joy standing behind us for HOURS at the funeral home visitation, whispering encouragement, bringing us water, handing us Kleenex, just loving us and ministering in any way they could. As I’ve already said, I’m a “big girl.” I really don’t even WANT anyone except Steve there when I have an outpatient surgery, for example. I have friends and family for times like that. But, I would greatly appreciate a touch of some kind from my pastor, or his representative, when I’m shaken to my core.
I need to be confident that he has a clear vision from God about the direction of the church and that he is earnestly asking for His wisdom and guidance in how to implement it.

If I need a family counselor, I’ll seek out a trained one.

If I spot a maintenance issue in the church building, I’ll let a member of the maintenance staff know.

If I have questions about a committee decision, I can ask a committee member to clarify it for me.

From watching my son pastor a church WHILE also being a husband and father, I know that bothering him with a hundred petty things only depletes his energy and discourages him. What I do see that he needs from his church members and what I need to give my pastor are these things:

My loyalty.

My support.

My willingness to assume the best and walk in the door each week looking for good things and expecting to find them.

Above all, my prayers. I have the ability and the desire to intercede on behalf of my pastor and his family, asking that God will provide their needs spiritually, emotionally and physically and that God will keep my pastor focused on his task.

Is your church searching for a new pastor?

Have you gotten caught up in putting expectations on a pastor that are unrealistic, maybe even impossible?

Perhaps some of the words I’ve typed will help. And let these verses encourage you.

Jeremiah 3:15 “And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.”

Hebrews 13:17 “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”

1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

5 People Who Went Above and Beyond

09/07/2018 By: CCPearson2 Comments

One of my favorite aspects of being a travel writer is getting to meet new, fascinating and passionate people. Typically, they are the owners of restaurants, B & Bs or historians and tour guides at attractions of all kinds. On my most recent trip to Canton and Cleveland, Ohio, however, the travel/tourism staff members themselves were the ones who impressed me with their professionalism, their work ethic, their knowledge and their courtesy. You might think, “Well, that’s just part of their job.” And, in some ways, you’d be right. But, five people I met in Ohio definitely went “above and beyond” their formal job description. In my opinion, they “went the second mile,” and I was the grateful beneficiary.

In Canton, I encountered Tonja Marshall, the Executive Vice President for Marketing and Communications at Visit Canton. She supervised the necessary details of my trip and devised an itinerary that made sure I saw as much as possible in the time I was in her city. But, here is where she “went beyond.” One attraction on the itinerary was a visit to the Gervasi Vineyard. I wrote about it here on Monday’s blog. It turned out to be a wonderful few hours, and I’m very glad I went. But, I was nervous about it. I don’t apologize or regret my decision to abstain from drinking alcohol, but I didn’t want to cause embarrassment or awkwardness for Visit Canton, for Gervasi Vineyard or for my fellow travel writers in the process. I had communicated with Tonja before I arrived that I was looking forward to seeing the vineyard but that I didn’t drink alcohol, but I had no idea how that scenario would play out. When we got to the wine-tasting event, we were seated in an amazing room with a stunning chandelier made out of wine bottles. Understandably, this place was ALL IN in terms of wine. Imagine me fidgeting and perspiring a bit by now. But, no, as the various wines were served to my fellow travel writers, I was never even offered a glass. My water glass was kept full, but no wine appeared at my place setting. What a huge relief! Tonja had discreetly and carefully handled the situation for me. I didn’t have to say or do anything. She made the experience easy, relaxing and extremely enjoyable. Thank you, Tonja.

Later that same afternoon, our group traveled to Cleveland where we were joined by four more travel writers. That is where I met the staff of Destination Cleveland/TheCLE/ThisisCLE/ThisisCleveland or whatever name you want to give them. 🙂

Kristen Jantonio, Communications Specialist, was indeed a “special communicator” before I set foot in her town. My emails received her prompt attention, and she patiently answered all my questions. (That’s saying a lot when your nickname is “The Queen of Questions.”) I mostly think of Kristen as the person responsible for an exquisite night of dinner at LockKeepers and a concert by the Cleveland Symphony at Blossom Music Center. She saw my elation at having such a wonderful experience. She joined us on other tours and helped me set up my very first Uber appointment, too, but I see her face when I think of that music. Thank you, Kristen.

Nick Urig, Communications Manager, led an informative walking tour of downtown Cleveland, showed us the ropes for ordering dinner at The Greenhouse Tavern and took us to breakfast at the West Side Market Cafe. That is where Nick REALLY came through for me personally. I saw pierogis on the menu (not for breakfast, of course, but yet it was on the menu). And I had never tried a pierogi. Not only did Nick goodnaturedly explain the making of and various types of pierogis, he ordered some for our table, and I got to taste my very first one. It was great! I’m ready for another one! And, as a side note, Nick is tall, attractive and exceedingly polite. I felt safe in that big city when he was with us. That’s huge when you’re a prissy Baby Boomer from Alabama traveling without your husband. Know what I mean? Thank you, Nick.

Stephanie Sheeley, Communications Coordinator, is a fun-loving young woman with a mass of shiny black curls and what I would call “statement fingernails.” Last week they were long and yellow. I found her to be very self-confident. That trait came through one morning when she walked out the door of her house, only later to discover that the zipper on her dress was broken. Her exposed skin in the back didn’t slow her down one bit. She carried on as if nothing was wrong. She also gave me some helpful hints about the hair of my own Ethiopian granddaughter. In other words, she related to me as a person, not just as part of her job, and I liked that a lot. Thank you, Stephanie.

Emily Lauer, Senior Director of PR/Communications, was the one I got to spend the most one-on-one time with. The two of us attended the Indians/Orioles baseball game on a warm Friday night at Progressive Field. That girl knows her Indians!!! She taught me about the HotDog Relay — when the mustard, ketchup and onions race from 3rd base to 1st base. She knew the names and a good bit of the history of each player. She pointed out the guy way up in the stands behind the outfield who played the drum to encourage every Indian batter — and has been doing that same thing for FORTY YEARS!!! She sang along with me to “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” and “Hang on, Sloopy.” She let me talk about my family and show her pictures of my new house, and I heard some about her life and career path. She walked for blocks and blocks with a cast shoring up her sprained ankle and then chauffeured me back safely to my hotel after the Indians pulled out the win. I hope I wasn’t too boring of a companion, but mostly I know Emily went out of her way to be nice and to be sure I had a great time — which I truly did. Thank you, Emily.

I wish I had gotten pictures of all these special people. I do have pictures of them in my mental images of Canton and Cleveland.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus talked a lot about doing the unexpected things, about going beyond what is required, about being exceptionally generous and kind. “Love your enemies.” “Pray for those who persecute you.” “If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.” And the admonition that applies today: “And whoever shall force you to go one mile, go with him two.” (all verses found in Matthew 5)

I’m so glad I got to visit a part of the country I’d never seen before, but mostly I am glad I got to meet these people who made a deep impression and represented their organizations so very well.

VisitCanton

This is Cleveland

Rust Belt or Bible Belt: People Are Passionate

08/31/2018 By: CCPearsoncomment

The Rust Belt refers to a northern section of the US comprised of states formerly associated with the steel industry and heavy production hovering on or near the Great Lakes — Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania. The Rust Belt was also known as the Factory Belt.

The Bible Belt runs through the southeastern portion of the U.S. with the “Buckle” of the Bible Belt settling in Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama — four states considered to be the most conservative or fundamentally Christian in the country.

Last week this prissy Southern Bible Belt girl found herself in Cleveland, Ohio, which, if you don’t count Pittsburgh, might be the “rustiest’ city in the Rust Belt. It was my first visit to this metropolis touching Lake Erie, and I was thoroughly entertained by all I discovered about the city and the Clevelanders themselves. They are a passionate bunch.

I was surprised to learn that they still love Lebron James, even though he left the Cavaliers to go to the Los Angeles Lakers after winning the Cavaliers their first NBA title in 2016. After all, he’s a local boy — one of their own. In addition to the Cavs, they are also avid fans of the Cleveland Browns (in spite of a lackluster record) and the Cleveland Indians (who are currently at the top in the American League standings, central division). Go, Tribe!! I got to see the Indians in action against the Baltimore Orioles, along with a packed house of enthusiastic, hot dog-eating fans. Friday nights are $1 dog nights at Progressive Field. You might want to make a note of that information tidbit.

Watching the Cleveland Indians game.

Dressed up hot dog. Actually this one was served at Happy Dog Euclid Tavern, but you get the idea.

Clevelanders are proud of the famous people who were born in their town — Halle Berry, Paul Newman, Bob Hope, Cy Young, Tim Conway, to name a few, and, of course, James Garfield, the 20th President of the United States. The Garfield Monument at Lake View Cemetery is stunningly beautiful.

Garfield Memorial

Cleveland’s Museum of Art houses more than 45,000 pieces in its collection, and they represent some of the most famous artists ever known. You can spend several spellbound hours gazing at the unbelievable displays, and it’s absolutely FREE to the public!! There is passionate support in Cleveland in order to provide residents and visitors with such a privilege.

One of 45,000 works of art at the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Perhaps my favorite of Cleveland’s treasures is its outstanding symphony. The Cleveland Symphony, always ranked among the Top 5 in the country and recently mentioned as #1, just celebrated its 100th anniversary as an organization. I had the chance to hear them at their Blossom Music Center, the orchestra’s summer home. The orchestra has a passionate following, as evidenced by the fact that I listened completely enthralled along with approximately 10,000 others — many of whom were sitting in lawn chairs on the grassy knoll outside of the large amphitheater and pavilion area. The precision, the skill, but mostly the sound captured and mesmerized me. If I lived in Cleveland, I’d do whatever I could to attend every concert. The passion was completely understandable.

Cleveland Symphony at Blossom Music Center.

I was in Cleveland with 7 other travel writers from around the country, but I was the only one from Alabama. They laughed as I tried to turn them into Auburn fans, explaining that in the State of Alabama allegiance to either Auburn or Alabama is practically required at birth. After all, isn’t that what many of US are passionate about?

The whole trip led me to think a lot about passion and what my passions are. Isn’t it a good thing to be a passionate person? But, am I passionate ENOUGH about the things that truly matter.

I found this thought in JollyNotes.com – “Daily Inspiration for Joyful Living.”

Dear Friends, We need passion to survive. We need passion to thrive! Passion is a wonderful motivator to live life abundantly and to the fullest. On the other hand, the passion for the wrong things can destroy us (God forbid!). I am praying that God will ignite and develop a passion in us for everything in line with His ultimate purpose for our lives, and remove the passion for anything and everything that is not in His purpose for us. May we live passionate, joyful, and fulfilling lives – to the glory of God.

I like that, don’t you? Lives without passion are colorless. Having passion for the things of God, though, will bring us to life — deep, satisfying life.

Here are some Bible verses that point me toward more passion:

1 Corinthians 10:31 – “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

Matthew 6:21 – “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Romans 12:10-11 – “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.”

Psalm 84:2 – “My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.”

Psalm 27:4 – “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.”

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