We have had some remarkable people at CLF. We had some examples of that on Sunday. Dan Reeves did an excellent job teaching through Psalm 56. Stan Welch subbed in to lead worship. But let me tell you of another family: Wesley and Alicia Rea. Last Sunday, June 11, their precious baby girl, Guinevere, was born. Everything went very well, but later, baby Guin had trouble breathing and had a case of wet lungs. So, the hospital put her on oxygen, and Wes and Alicia thought she’d be out of the hospital in 1-2 days. However, things went much slower than they anticipated. Mom stayed with the baby, and Dad manned the house with their three other kids. Finally, on Sunday, June 18, Father’s Day, the baby was released from the hospital after clearing all her tests. So, what do Wes and Alicia do? Well, naturally, they broke the speed limit getting to church! Wait, what? Yep. The first thing they did with their new baby was come to church. That’s the people of CLF!
There are stories like this at every church, I’m sure. But I will do it when I get to ‘brag’ on God’s work at our church. I thank God for people like the Rea’s. They were committed to Christ, raising a Christ-centered family and Christ’s Church. They love the CLF community. And our church is filled with people like them. It’s a unique joy to pastor people like them.
Every Sunday, people arrive early at Jacoby or wherever CLF is located that week and serve. Our Children’s Ministry team unloads boxes and takes them to the CM building. Our sound team does the same in the auditorium or field. Our security team makes sure everyone is safe. Our foyer crew unloads boxes and sets everything up. Our barista team sets up hot coffee and tea. It is a joy to watch and lead.
Hard-Working Pastors and People
I was thinking about this recently as I took some time off. I could have done a better job taking time off over the last few years. I love to work. I love my job. I love my church, and I love serving the people that I mentioned above. When people love the church, it makes pastoring them easy. But it also makes you want to work hard.
When I was younger in ministry, an older man told me, “The ministry is where lazy men can go to hide.” The man who said this was our janitor and facilities manager. He worked hard. He said that many men go into ministry, and the ministry exposes their laziness. The reason for this is that ministry is self-disciplined. You set your own schedule, plan your own meetings, and you’re left on your own for much of the time. So, if you’re a lazy person, that will be exposed. That older man’s wisdom hit a cord with me.
But so did my dad’s character. When I lived at home, my dad worked as a milk delivery driver and a long-haul truck driver. He was always working. He went to work at 1:00 a.m. and returned home in time to catch a short nap and get to my practices or games. He placed a work ethic in me that made me understand that a job isn’t done until it’s done. You stay late if needed to get the job done (this is why I’m finishing this post after 9:00 p.m.). You work hard because you take value in what you’re doing.
But wise words from a hard worker and my dad’s input could only cause me to work so hard. The sacrificial work of my Savior and King has compelled me. No one worked harder and gave up more than Jesus did. But my desire to work hard as a pastor-teacher isn’t because He worked hard, so I work hard (that’s true, but it isn’t the primary reason). It’s because I can’t work harder than Him and because He’s forgiven me more than I care to remember when I’ve been lazy and not honored Him in my work. Further, His power at work in me helps me fight my sinful tendencies to idolize work or myself. He gave me His Spirit to help me do everything in faith, trusting Him to do His work in and through me. This is why the pastors at CLF work hard. The gospel of Jesus compels us.
I see this same spirit in our people. They work hard. They want to honor the Lord. They see their work as a ministry to and for the Lord Jesus. Our people take Paul’s words in Colossians 3:23-24 seriously: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” They are serving the Lord Christ.
This Coming Sunday
This Sunday, June 25th, we will look at Psalm 27. Our service will be at 10:00 a.m. at Jacoby Auditorium on the campus of Umpqua Community College.
During our announcement time, we will have a significant announcement about the direction of CLF and our ministry. If you call CLF your home church, this will impact you, and you won’t want to miss this. We’re excited to share this with you.
Church Locations in the Upcoming Weeks
- June 25th: Jacoby Auditorium at 10:00 a.m.
- July 2nd: Jacoby Auditorium at 10:00 a.m.
- July 9th: Jacoby Auditorium at 10:00 a.m.
- July 16th: CLF Building at 8:00 a.m. at 10:00 a.m.
- July 23rd: One Champion Field at 10:00 a.m.
From the Cheap Seats
- How would you like this shock during your pick-up soccer game: https://bleacherreport.com/post/world-football/f795952b-e34c-45c3-bd25-ddd0ba3c114d.
- The #1 pick in the NBA Draft…and he can’t throw a baseball: https://bleacherreport.com/videos/451536-wembys-first-pitch-goes-wrong
- Ok, this dude is like 6 foot 7, plays 3rd base, hits 470 feet homers, and he runs like this: https://twitter.com/willie_lutz/status/1670961598238801922?s=46&t=ANRRmEDhNWbghelISD7Rvw. That is not fair!
Have a great week!
In Christ,
Dave York
