ClarkeComments.com

Hello all:

Well…I did my first sermon last Sunday, and it seemed to go pretty well. I compared the churches in Jerusalem and in Corinth to my congregation and the problems that we are having. It made a few people mad I’ve heard, but directly, of course, I’ve heard nothing but good. One of our former elders suggested I persue preaching, but I already know I have no interest in doing that for a living….

Work has been insanely busy since I got promoted. We are waiting to move into our house, and I am busy trying to make new contacts and deal with problems, as well as deal with the political attention I am now receiving from above.

We also had our “TNT” program that I talked about in one of my prior posts. It seemed to go very well. We had two or three hundred kids in our building and I heard nothing but good on that.

So….at the moment, everything is very good, other than the busyness…and I’m finding I’m not praying as much as I was, but I am going to work on that.

Anyway, I hope to have some time on my days off to read and think about then come and write something more meaningful.

-Clarke

Hello all:

One of my kids in the youth group I lead is dating a guy that attends a large independent Christian Church. He comes fairly often with her, and I try to expound on the fact that the two churches aren’t that different and come from the same heritage.

On Sunday morning, she went to church with him at his congregation. She then came for Sunday night service at ours. While she was at his church, she invited the youth group there to come to the monthly devo and movie night that we hold once a month. I was pleased to hear that.

I was pleased, until she told me the youth ministers response. He said to her, “I don’t feel comfortable having my kids go visit a church that doesn’t use musical instruments.” He also told her that he was afraid his kids “might think a capella worship is better,” than worship with an instrument.

We certainly aren’t the only ones with a hand in our division…..

-Clarke

Hello all:

I will be preaching my first sermon ever this Sunday. I haven’t written it yet, but I think I’m going to compare the Jerusalem church in Acts to the church in Corinth, and then compare and contrast those two churches to my own congregation.

If any of you have any tips, I’d love to here them….I’m never preached before and I’ve not ever taken any classes on it so I’m trying to do it all from notes I was given by our minister and what I can find online.

-Clarke

Hello all:

I’d like to thank you all for your prayers. I got the promotion I was hoping for, and my employer is now trying to get the house ready for us to move into as quickly as they can.

I found out on Monday, and since then I’ve had little free time. I assumed my duties as a corporal on Tuesday, and this coming Thursday I’ll be moving my office out to a brand new duty station.

Its very exciting, but time consuming. Things should slow down on Thursday or Friday, I hope, until we move. Once we are completely moved in thing should settle down into a normal pattern.

Again, thank you for all your prayers and support.

-Clarke