It’s graduation season! Don’t
you just love it when this time of year comes around? For most of us graduation
is a far distant memory; it’s kinda hard for us to pull that memory from our
gray matter, but if we try hard enough I believe we could do it. If I remember
rightly, any graduation was an exciting time. I could hardly wait for that day
to arrive. In fact, it seemed that the world would end before I would get the
opportunity to walk down the isle in my cap and gown to the tune of Pomp and Circumstance. When the day
finally arrived it seemed to drag on for eternity; I would think, “Will tonight
ever get here so I can finally graduate?” Well, the time did arrive and
graduation took place, and if I remember correctly, it lived up to all the
hype.
For those who have already
graduated from college, and to the two who are graduating from high school
(Chris Brundage and Christian Roland), we say, “Congratulations!” We know what
you are feeling, we remember the heart pounding excitement this time brings,
and we can almost recall the sights, sounds and smells of that night. We are so
very proud of you. You’ve been diligent and this is your reward. We love you
and always will. Loving you means that we will be there for you when you need
us. We are praying for you. We are putting you in the best place – the hands of
God. Make no mistake, life will get difficult, and we’ve found out that what
got us through the deep waters was knowing that people were praying for us;
we’ll do the same for you.
One of the blessings of being a
part of a small church is that we have had a small number of graduates through
the years. It’s not so overwhelming to remember them and pray for them. They
are not completely out of reach of our memory banks. So, as we think of this
time of year I want to challenge all of us to begin praying for the 2015
graduates and remember our past graduates through prayer. As we pray for them,
ask the Lord to use them as laborers in His great harvest of souls for the
kingdom of God.
Grace & Peace,
Scott
Graduations are upon us! Yes, its that time of year when we
celebrate and congratulate. Every graduate feels a sense of accomplishment that
deserves recognition. At Calvary Church we have a tradition of jumping right in
and recognizing our high school graduates on Graduation Sunday. This Sunday, May 20th is that Sunday.
We will start things off with breakfast at 9 a.m. honoring our graduate Jared
Waters. During this time we will have a basket in which we can put cards and
gifts to bless Jared as he takes the next step. In the fall he will be
attending Auburn University.
One of the reasons we do this is to bring attention to our
graduates so that we remember to pray for them. Prayer truly is the greatest
gift we can give our young people. They face greater trials and pressures every
year. It is both our duty and delight to take them before the throne of grace
and pray for their endurance. We need to pray they make good choices. We need
to pray they study hard and remember what they’ve studied. We need to pray they
excel and find God’s will for their lives.
Reading through Paul’s letters will leave one with a sense
that he valued prayer. He prayed for the churches and he asked them to pray for
him. If we read the Bible as instruction for us, and I think we should, then
prayer needs to be a focused ministry in the church. Prayer cannot be taken
lightly and should not be neglected.
Pray without ceasing…pray
for us. (1 Thessalonians 5:17, 25)
Grace & Peace,
Scott
If you will permit me a little personal reflection this week I would greatly appreciate it. Graduation reminds me of endings and beginnings. For Barb and me it is the end of a long trip...the last chapter in but one book we will write. All of our children have now graduated from high school. I have come to call each of these graduations "sitting on the edge of disaster." Why? Because I feel the wrenching in my entire being as our children step away from us and plunge themselves into a great adventure!
They are not on the edge of disaster, but
we are. Our emotions run wild as we hear their names called and they walk across that stage. I hope you understand our feelings.
I feel the same way about Calvary Church. We are beginning to write the last chapter of just one of the books on our shelf. I spend time at night contemplating how we are going to write these final words. Sometimes it is troubling and sometimes exhilarating! I tend toward the melancholy at times like these. I don't want us to falter; I don't want us to stumble; I don't want us to fail. And maybe I play too much emphasis on us and not enough on an almighty Creator who made us in His image. But I honestly fear that it will end in a mess and the result will be a poorly written chapter that is very disappointing.
All of this reflection brings me to the point of what I am attempting to write this week and I think Paul said it best,
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. (Colossians 3:23-24, ESV)
I want to encourage all of us that what we are doing is primarily for the Lord. If we truly build this building for the glory of the Lord and the good of His people, then we will write this last chapter beautifully. It will be a chapter that we will want to return to and read many times over. It will be a credit to God's majestic glory and a benefit to His children.
What I am trying to say is: let's do something that will be remembered for the right reasons! Let's move away from the spotlight and point others to the wonderful work that God has done and will continue to do. I believe that if we do this then the book we finish this year will be worth the time to read and we will begin to write a new one that everyone will anticipate reading once it is finished...chapter-by-chapter!
Grace & Peace,
Scott
The end of the school year is in sight for our students! This is a great week of celebration as they end another year and look to begin something new and exciting. At Calvary Church we congratulate four of our own: Matthew Bayliff, Alejandra Molina, Matthew Banks and Shelbi Elder.Matthew Bayliff graduated from West Virginia University with a Master’s Degree in Athletic Coaching Education. He is also enrolled in the PGA of America’s Professional Golf Management Program. Alejandra Molina graduated from the University of South Carolina (Upstate) with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. Keep her in your prayers as she will soon be taking the state board exams to become a registered nurse. Matthew Banks graduated from Spartanburg Methodist College. He will be attending Upstate this fall to finish his four-year degree in Physical Education. Shelbi Elder graduated Friday (May 28) from Boiling Springs High School. She plans on attending Spartanburg Community College majoring in Radiology.
Hey, with these four students we’ve got our recreation and health issues covered! Each one of them needs our prayers and support. Becoming successful in life doesn’t happen by accident—it is intentional. They are doing their part and we must do ours. Put their names on your prayer list and pray diligently for God to bless and direct them.
Congratulations Matthew, Alejandra, Matthew and Shelbi. We love you and are proud of you!
Grace & Peace,
Scott
