The Shepherd’s Voice
The Shepherd’s Voice is one of our pastor’s communications extension to the Church, our friends and the world. He uses it as a way to reach out to our faith community while providing spiritual insight and perspectives to the sermon messages and events and issues of our day. We are welcomed and encouraged to comment on any of the messages by clicking the “Fine or Main Point” link you want to comment on, going to the bottom of the page and filling in and Submitting the Reply at the end of the message. Most of the blogs have audio playback so we can listen to as well as read them. We hope you are blessed and inspired by our Shepherd’s Voice.
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May '17
Unsustainable Thursday May 25. 2017
25
May '17
Greetings Family
Why would a person blow themselves up to kill other people? The method one uses to kill another person is secondary to the reason people kill other people. The bible teaches us that Cain killed his brother Abel as they were talking in the field – Genesis 4:8. Abel did not do anything to Cain nor threaten or attack him. Yet, Cain rose up against his brother and ended his life.
What drove Cain to deprive his only brother of his life? Jealousy? Envy? Greed? Whatever the motivation, Cain believed removing his brother from the earth was the preferred method of resolving the object of his motivation. Thousands of years later after that first murder, people are repeating what Cain did nearly every time someone kills another person. Unless someone is being attacked and they kill their attacker as an act of self-defense, they are repeating what Cain did to Abel. There is therefore plenty of blood on a lot of hands.
Countless people have died who were just like Abel. Many, and perhaps most, caught in the crossfire like the recent 22. They were not threatening anyone nor attacking anyone, yet someone rose up against them just like Cain did and deprived them of their life regardless of motivation. The US is on pace to spend $600 billion dollars on defense next year. That is more than the next eight biggest national defense budgets in the world — combined! Yet, money designed to help relieve human suffering and improve human living conditions are threaten with cuts. What an immoral and unsustainable allocation of precious limited resources!
The world is on a collision course of destruction led by this continuous buildup in military spending around the world. At some point the dam is going to break and all this repressed hostility and destructive power is going to be unleashed onto all mankind with devastating results. If someone doesn’t take the moral high ground and begin to love and talk to their brothers, share their resources, looks for ways to resolve differences without killing, be humble enough to say “I’m sorry”, then the killing will only escalate to the point that hundreds, thousands, and even millions could die in future attacks instead of the tragic 22 last Monday.
Blessings
Pastor Jordan
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May '17
Explosive Wednesday May 24, 2017
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May '17
Beloved
As many of you may have heard by now there were children among the 22 people killed and 59 injured in a suicide attack after an Ariana Grande concert at Britain’s Manchester Arena which occurred Monday, May 22nd as concert goers were leaving the concert. The attack has been called an “act of terror” by British authorities who are still investigating the case and making arrest in connection with the bombing.
These random acts of violence have become an all-to-common occurrence in our global society as people choose violence as a method to address their grievances. And while such acts are justifiably called cowardly, brutal, and savage, there are a lot of dirty hands to go around. According to a report in September of 2016, the United States and Great Britain are the world’s number one and two exported of weapons in the world. In fact, just a few days ago on his recent visit to Saudi Arabia, President Trump announced a $110 billion dollar arms deal to that country. In response, other countries in the region will feel they must arm themselves to counter what they perceive as a threat to their national security.
As a result of all the arm sales by the US and others, the world is becoming a powder keg waiting to explode. Jesus said “they who take up the sword, will perish by the sword” – Matt 26:52. Terrorist attacks are symptomatic of a world whose priority is more on how to kill people than help and save people. More on this tomorrow. Let’s pray for the victims and their families on both sides of these horrific attacks. For there is plenty of blame to go around.
Blessings
Pastor Jordan
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May '17
Credit Tuesday May 23, 2017
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May '17
Greetings FB and Friends
While as a student and a teacher, I noticed that some students received credit for a group project that didn’t contribute much toward completing the assignment. As a Christian and pastor, I have noticed something similar in the church.
As Christians, we all have been given the assignment of spreading the gospel and making disciples of all people. And if we are honest, many in the church are contributing little or nothing to that assignment. Yet, these same ones will be ready to share in the credit for the results achieved by those who did the work. But unlike school, God will not assign credit to individuals based upon what the group achieved. If we want to receive credit for completing the assignment, we must have the work to validate our claim.
I would urge all Christians who want to share in the glory of God’s Kingdom to become active participants in the campaign to save souls and reach the world for Christ. I have found spreading the gospel and making disciples to be a labor of love with the potential of eternal reward that anyone can be a part of. A reward not only for those who do the work, but also for those who are the recipients of their efforts.
So, don’t rely on the work of others to secure your seat in glory because it won’t. But do your own part in completing God’s Great Assignment so He will say to you “Job Well Done!” for the work you, and you alone, will get credit for.
Blessings
Pastor Jordan
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May '17
Worship Speaking Monday May 22, 2017
22
May '17
Greetings Church
Considering the importance of yesterday’s message, I would like to have communicated it more effectively than I feel I did. Mind you, all messages are important, but this one was particularly meaningful for people in the church today.
A growing number of people in the church are saying “It is vain or empty to serve God” and “What profit has it been in keeping God’s commandments?” – Malachi 3:14. People are saying this not so much with their lips as they are with their worship. The worship of a growing number of people lacks commitment, sincerity, passion, and spirit. People have put the cares and desires of life in this world before a God first relationship with God. This leads to immorality of all kinds, disobedience, inconsistence, and worship not worthy of God.
The true believers know the value of having a first-class relationship with God and the benefits of serving God. True worship is based on a deep love and reverence for God and unshakeable belief in His promises as found in scripture. They know God not only takes care of and provides for His own here and now, but the best He has for His Special Treasure (Jewels) is yet to come. So, what are you saying with your worship? I hope you are saying “Yes Lord!” Have a great Monday!
Blessings
Pastor Jordan
Comments
19
May '17
Unborn Friday May 19, 2017
19
May '17
Greetings Beloved
Diagnosing the times we are living in is important in affecting the culture. Each individual must live and adjust to the times and culture they find themselves in. We have no control over the time, place or condition into which we are born. Had any of us been born 500 years earlier, we would not have been born in the United States because it didn’t exist.
Furthermore, in 1517 our ancestors lived in a world significantly different from the one we are in today. It would have been nearly impossible for them to imagine what daily life in our world is like just as it is difficult for us to imagine what their life was like day to day. Likewise, it is nearly impossible for us to predict or imagine with any certainty what life for our descendants will be like 500 years later in 2517 and for them to imagine what our life is like now.
One thing we can say and know for certain. In 1517, some people believed in Jesus Christ and kept the gospel alive because we have it today. Those people affected their culture in their time to preserve and pass the gospel on to generations yet unborn. It is our time now to do what they did so that 500 years from now someone yet unborn will have you to thank for preserving and passing on this gospel of Jesus Christ. We must be faithful in our time and affect our culture just as they did before us.
Thank you for allowing me to share with you this week. Have a safe and happy weekend! Hope to see you in the Lord’s House on the Lord’s Day.
Blessings
Pastor Jordan
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May '17
Help Thursday May 18, 2017
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May '17
Hello Family
Only two days left this week and another one will pass into history. Take a moment and reflect on the first 3 days. How have you used the time God gave you so far this week?
Was it all used on yourself and family or did you use some of it for someone else? Did you call or visit anyone to see how they were doing? Did you take time to listen to a problem or situation someone wanted to share with someone? Did you compliment someone on something that helped to brighten their day just a little bit? Did you take time to ask someone how they are doing and mean it? Did you take time to pray for someone other than yourself or family and for their needs?
Following Christ means we care about the people made in the image of God who struggle daily with the trials of life and most of them without knowing Jesus as Lord. Tough as we may have it, remember that everyone is struggling with life. When we take some time to bring a little joy in another’s life we are doing what and sharing what God has done for us in Christ Jesus.
With two days left, let’s look for opportunities to let people know there is Someone who really cares about them. And we can do this by using our God-given time on someone other than ourselves. For I’ve discovered, that we receive help when we give help.
Blessings
Pastor Jordan
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May '17
Sovereign Wednesday May 17, 2017
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May '17
Greeting FB and Friends
If given the choice, most people would like to do anything they want to do as they please, when they please, where they please, how they please and with whom they please without interference from anyone or answering to anyone. Does this describe anyone you know or even how you really feel? If it does, don’t feel too bad because by nature we all want to be sovereign.
From the time we are born, we don’t like being told what we can’t have or what we can’t do. We don’t like restrictions. God is the only One who has no limitations on His will. For the rest of us, faith is about coming to terms with our natural desire to be sovereign and the realization that a sovereign God has placed restrictions on our desires.
If you woke up today and you said to yourself, I am going to live today within the bounds God has placed on my life, then your faith is alive and active and you are moving toward God. If you did not say this to yourself, then you are still playing the sovereign game and moving away from God.
There is only One King and Sovereign and it is not you or me. The sooner we acknowledge and accept this fact and begin to live within His Sovereign will, the happier and blessed we will be. Happy birthday wife! I still love you!
Blessings
Pastor Jordan
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May '17
Real-Time Tuesday May 16, 2017
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May '17
Happy Tuesday Family and Friends
I hope everyone had a good day yesterday. By that I mean, nothing happened to challenge or shake your faith in Christ. We were glad to hear that Chiquita R. surgery was successful yesterday and that she is at home recovering. If you have a moment, you might want to call her or say a prayer for her.
One of the aims of this blog is to help you experience your faith in ways you may not have before. An active or live faith causes us to see things, see people, and experience life in real time. Real time causes us to be aware of how precious each moment of life is. Real time causes us to look for God in the things around us. Real time causes us to see how in need the people in our world are for Christ. Real time makes us aware that we only have a short time to do whatever we need to get done. Having an active or live faith puts our hearts and mind at ease like knowing you have made all your preparations and there is nothing left to do but wait.
If you are not enjoying your faith, if your faith is not alive and active, if you don’t share your faith with others then it means that you are not moving toward God. More about this on tomorrow. But for now, look for God as you enjoy the rest of this day!
Blessings
Pastor Jordan
15
May '17
Good Mother Monday May 15, 2017
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May '17
Greetings FB and Friends
I was so glad to see many of you yesterday as we gathered to fellowship and worship together on another Lord’s Day. In addition to it being Sunday, it was also Mother’s Day. We attempted to make the day special by presenting all the mothers with a rose and a video card.
I must say that being a good mother does not require having a biological child. Being a good mother is more about the role a person plays in someone’s life than about giving birth or providing material needs. But a good mother needs to be a cultivator of honest things, a friend, a counselor, a constructive critic, a disciplinarian, an encourager, a motivator, an example and a teller of truth among other things. These few but important roles will help to guide a person in the right direction and help them to make good choices.
A person doesn’t have to have a biological child to fulfill these roles. And what helps even more is when the mother knows and follows our Lord Jesus Christ. So again, Happy Mother’s Day to all the women with or without a biological child of their own who are providing all the things that a good mother does for a person regardless of age who needs a mother in their life. Have a good week in our Lord.
Blessings
Pastor Jordan
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May '17
Showers Friday May 12, 2017
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May '17
Greetings FB and Friends
Can you believe it has been a week already? Monday I asked if you woke up thinking about “Saving Souls”. And now, here it is Friday the end of the week. Take a moment with me as we reflect back on our week.
What did we accomplish this week? How was our walk with Christ? Did we do anything this week for the kingdom of God? Did we help anyone see the Lord this week? Regardless of our answers to these questions, those days are gone and today is going. Days are like rain showers. They come and bring needed water to the earth and then they are gone. Each shower is unique and special only lasting a while before it passes on never to be seen again.
Our days are unique and special too with only one chance to do something good and worthwhile with it before it too passes on. Our gift of days is not endless, so let’s try to make each one count toward something meaningful and lasting.
I like to end this week by saying happy birthday to my sister Patrise Webber, to Quinby Black, and Burdia Evans. Thank you for sharing a few minutes with me this week.
Looking forward to the Lord’s Day
Pastor Jordan
