Last night we started surprise meetings to honor our pastor for his faithful service to our church for the last 20 years. It was fun to be part of the welcoming parade. One of the young men in our church chauffeured them down the street, and we were lining the street with signs and balloons. Then, while Pastor Surrett was being driven around a few other streets, we all went to the church and waited there with signs and balloons. Everybody cheered and clapped when the Surretts arrived.
One of the neat parts about it was that apparently the Surretts had no idea this was going to happen. Pastor looked quite shocked when it was announced that the church had been planning it for 2 years. We had meetings last year whenever he went away on vacation or went other places to preach. Everyone was in on it, even the little kids, so we felt they did a good job keeping the secret.
There were two preachers last night – Evangelist Paul Crow and Evangelist John Beazley. Here are some tid-bits from there sermons.
Paul Crow (from Epehesians 5:14-17)
The enemy is busy sowing destruction while we sleep.
Waking up is a positive response to the light.
Some believers are asleep because they won’t expose themselves to the light.
When we awaken, our muscles activate; when we are asleep, we are not doing anything.
As a Christian, you should be seeking the will of God for your life.
John Beazley (from Philippians 3:13,14)
Our goal should be to pursue Jesus Christ with everything we have.
As long as we have little intimacy with God, we will have little impact for God.
The key is not discipline or determination, but dependence on Jesus.
Paul pressed toward the prize, which is Christ-likeness.