In the past several years we have noticed changes taking place in our style or custom of worship. Evidently, in the minds of many these changes indicate a greater spirituality. This raises the questions, such as: Am I more spiritual if I raise my hands during the singing of a special hymn? Does it indicate that I am more spiritual if I loudly applaud after the soloist, trio, or quartet finishes singing? Am I indicating the depth of my spirituality if I proclaim a few hearty “amens” at certain times during the pastor’s sermon?

Leaving a church after serving as pastor has never been an easy decision to make. The same can be said of resigning my position at Rose Hill Church this past July as Associate Pastor of Senior Ministries. Each church served over the years has created new friends and special fellowships. This has proven true at Rose Hill.

Another Christmas Day will soon be here. In many of the businesses across the land, it began several weeks ago and each year the Christmas displays show up earlier. With many decorations available we are prone to forget the reason for this special day of the year.

Getting the unsaved into the church and winning themto the Lord is only a part of a pastor’s responsibility. Early in my ministry someone remarked, “Get them in the church, but be sure the back door is closed,” simply implying that some will leave if they are not truly established in the faith. In reflecting back over my pastoral ministry, I will have to acknowledge that I sometimes did not do a good job in grounding the new convert in the faith. In reality, there is more to it than simply gaining a new member.

In Psalm 34:8 we find these words of David: “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” It was written after he changed his behavior toward Abimelech (refer to 1 Samuel 21:11–12). David calls “…on the congregation to praise the Lord for their salvation. And after affirming that God is good to those who trust in Him, he instructed the people how to live a good long life” (The Bible Knowledge Commentary, OT 819). The Lord is good. Those who taste and see will experience happiness if they are true worshipers.

It was only a few months ago that we heard of Dr. W. Burkette Raper’s serious illness, but somehow we believed he would improve within a few weeks. When he was unable to attend the OFWB Convention when it met in May, we became more concerned and Free Will Baptists and many, many others lifted him up in prayer. At that point, we couldn’t imagine not having Dr. Raper around for many more years; but such was not to be.

We live in a fast-paced world. Such wasn’t the case a generation ago, although many thought so back then. The modern highways take us more quickly to and from our destinations. We rush from place to place with little thought about others. We often feel that we are the only one facing the pressures of a modern-day society. We are prone to live in our own little world with little, if any, concern and thought about others.

Most Free Will Baptists now know that Cliff Gray has announced his retirement. Cliff came to The Press 28 years ago. At that time I had never heard of him. I was serving as pastor of First Church in Kinston. The organist was Mrs. Nina Grace Register, a lady who has been quite active in her church and denomination over the years. We were briefly discussing the new president and she paid him a very high compliment which I will not reveal. Raymond Clifford Gray was new to most of us, but we would get to know him and appreciate him in many respects.

Many physical landmarks have disappeared from the landscape in my lifetime. Such will be the case in everyone’s life as the years and decades pass. I ride down the rural roads that are familiar and notice how things have changed. A country store has disappeared from the scene at a certain crossroads, a store that served the community folks with the many necessities of day-to-day living.

The second Sunday in May each year is a very special day. For those whose mother is deceased it is a day of fond remembrances. For those whose mother is living it is a day to honor her.