January 2, 2016

The Shepherd's Corner

THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER

I really enjoyed our New Year’s Eve’s Service and Celebration. Seeing you come to God to give Him thanks for what He has done in 2015 and asking Him for His continued guidance in 2016 truly blessed me. Seeing you smile and laugh—and of course, dance—also made me happy. So, thank you for coming and participating.THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER

I really enjoyed our New Year’s Eve’s Service and Celebration. Seeing you come to God to give Him thanks for what He has done in 2015 and asking Him for His continued guidance in 2016 truly blessed me. Seeing you smile and laugh—and of course, dance—also made me happy. So, thank you for coming and participating.

Personally I would like to thank you for making it a memorable evening. There were those who thought of and planned the evening, those who prepared and set-up the decorations, those who transported and set up the equipment, those who prepared the food or brought the food and drink, and those who picked up the trash and cleaned the hall.

When I saw many of you right away without being asked just start picking up stuff and begin sweeping after the party was over, I felt really blessed. Right there and then I did not see a professional church; instead, I saw a spiritual church. And, was I glad to see it! Make no mistake, I do believe in professionalism. There is definitely time and place for professionalism in a church. But, the breath of the church is to be spiritual, not professional. When we pitch in, when help one another, and when we give, we are being spiritual.

In his book, Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire, Jim Cymbala, pastor of Brooklyn Tabernacle, writes, Jesus “is concerned not only whether we’re doing God’s work, but also how and why we’re doing it. At the Judgment Seat of Christ, his main questions for me will have to do not with the growth or the budget of the Brooklyn Tabernacle, but with why I pastored this church—in what spirit.” Well-put and so right on! As we begin the New Year, let us keep up the good work. Let us guard our hearts as we do His work at His church!

Pastor Paul

Personally I would like to thank you for making it a memorable evening. There were those who thought of and planned the evening, those who prepared and set-up the decorations, those who transported and set up the equipment, those who prepared the food or brought the food and drink, and those who picked up the trash and cleaned the hall.

When I saw many of you right away without being asked just start picking up stuff and begin sweeping after the party was over, I felt really blessed. Right there and then I did not see a professional church; instead, I saw a spiritual church. And, was I glad to see it! Make no mistake, I do believe in professionalism. There is definitely time and place for professionalism in a church. But, the breath of the church is to be spiritual, not professional. When we pitch in, when help one another, and when we give, we are being spiritual.

In his book, Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire, Jim Cymbala, pastor of Brooklyn Tabernacle, writes, Jesus “is concerned not only whether we’re doing God’s work, but also how and why we’re doing it. At the Judgment Seat of Christ, his main questions for me will have to do not with the growth or the budget of the Brooklyn Tabernacle, but with why I pastored this church—in what spirit.” Well-put and so right on! As we begin the New Year, let us keep up the good work. Let us guard our hearts as we do His work at His church!

Pastor Paul

More Shepherd's Corner Articles

The Shepherd's Corner - June 19, 2016
THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER Fathers come in various shapes and forms—physically, mentally, and spiritually. In a perfect world we’d be blessed with good and God-fearing fathers but we don’t live in a perfect world. Far from being wonderful, some fathers are harmful to the welfare of their children...
Read More
The Shepherd's Corner - December 3, 2023
Today marks the first Advent, the four weeks that lead to Christmas.  It behooves us then to fix our hearts and minds to the birth of Jesus, Our Blessed Savior.  God’s willing, beginning from today I will preach on this topic from the perspectives of the four Gospels.  You see, each...
Read More
The Shepherd's Corner - February 11, 2024
First, I would like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to visit my mom in Indonesia.  Thanks to your prayers, she is now making good progress.  While there, I flew to Malang and spent a day to visit with friends in the seminary who are ill.  By the grace of God, they are [&hel...
Read More