There is a series of photographs along one wall In the narthex of my church.
These are photographs of the pastors my church has been fortunate to have had since we opened our doors in the late nineteenth century.
Their names and the years they have served are clearly displayed.
I have looked over these photographs and there is something special about them (and I'm not just referring to the facial hair early on).
What is special to me is to see the continuity in my church from its beginning especially when the church itself has undergone big changes in its history.
One of the biggest changes my church has undergone has been in the language used during the worship service.
The first pastor had to accommodate a congregation of Czech immigrants to Texas who spoke Czech either exclusively or primarily.
As time went by an English service was incorporated and it eventually became the primary service.
Later on, the Czech service was eliminated altogether.
The photographs also remind me that I have only known three of these pastors personally.
From my personal experiences with them, I know that their styles of preaching were as different as their personalities.
I am fairly certain that held true for their predecessors.
Yet, God called each of these pastors to the ministry and each answered the call and brought the gifts they were given by God.
The call to ministry is not God's only call.
God gives us talents and abilities suited for His call to our service.
Romans 12:6-8 (NET) - And we have different gifts according to the grace given to us. If the gift is prophecy, that individual must use it in proportion to his faith. If it is in service, he must serve; if it is teaching, he must teach; if it is in exhortation, he must exhort; If it is contributing, he must do so with sincerity; If it is leadership, he must do so with diligence; if it is showing mercy, he must do so with cheerfulness.
God gives each of us gifts to be used for His glory and this passage of scripture reminds us that those gifts "must" be put to the proper use.
There are some who incorrectly assume that God would not use them for one reason or another.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Paul once persecuted the early church.
Acts 9:1-2 (NET) - Meanwhile Saul still breathing out threats to murder the Lord's disciples, went to the high priest and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, either men or women, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
Paul's life was never the same after he answered the call he received.
Some of the most powerful testimonies come from those whose lives were transformed when they responded to His call.
If you have not yet made yourself available to His call, I encourage you to do so.
Your life as you know it will never be the same.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeet.byethost3.com on Friday, March 4, 2011.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I'll be back here on Friday, March 11, 2011.
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