Calvary Blog Page

Well I was able to play in my first game last night. In fact I played in both games last night. As many of you know I usually pitch one of the two games we have each week during the softball season. Well last night, due to the lack of players, I pitched both games. I can type today but if I had to run or even walk far today I would be in trouble. I had not touched a ball since our last game a year ago. I had not picked up a bat since that time. However, God is good to out of shape pastors and he really blessed me in both games. I was able to reach base all but one time while at bat. I caught a line drive, self defense reaction, and made a few other plays. All in all we had a great time and we ended up winning both games.
Team work was the key to our winning. It is the same way when we work together at church. No one was down on anyone else for missing a ball, and we all missed plenty. No one got mad when someone was thrown out, that would be me many times. No one seemed to care if we were a head or behind, we all just enjoyed the time together. Church league is fun when it happens like that. Likewise, working together in serving God is fulfilling when it works like that. Everyone does what God called them to do and God receives the glory. Perhaps this year, when we play our golf scramble this weekend, I can make it through nine holes with the same ball. That is my goal each year. So far it has not happened, but this could be the year. Pray for me I need all the help I can get. Loving being your pastor. Steve

Jesus was the one who said it first. “Open your eyes and look at the fields” Jn. 4:35 (NIV). We tend to move towards the next part of that verse to quickly sometimes. “They are ripe for harvest.” Lets look at the field for a moment before moving to the harvest. Jesus never says anything that has little or no meaning. In fact every word that our Lord spoke is living and has power in it. Jesus told the disciples to open their eyes. Now why did he say that? They were awake and had their eyes open. Well we know that it is a spiritual implication. Open your spiritual eyes and see the people as I see them, waiting, needing and ready to receive their God. The fields are full of lost folks all asking the same questions about spiritual matters. Is there a God who really cares for me? Can He, will He do something about my personal problems? You and I know the answer is yes He does care, He can help anyone, anywhere, anytime.
When I read these verses and process them in light of the up coming Harvest Crusade, I see the field. I see the months of prayer and preparation that has went into making things ready for the harvest. The 93 churches that have laid their theological differences aside to unite together in winning souls for the Kingdom. As discerning Christians we should be able to see a field that has been well plowed seeded and growing. “Open your eyes and look at the fields” the field has been prepared brothers and sisters. The Harvest is upon us. What are you prepared to do? Have you blocked out time to intentionally invite the lost to Christ? Are you going to intentionally, physically, make the effort to bring at least one family to the crusade one night? Every night?
Jesus finishes that verse by saying “they are ripe for harvest”. I was listening to a speaker recently tell of his experience while over in Israel. He stated that he was at the very spot where Jesus had spoke those words recorded in John’s gospel. While setting at Jacob’s well he looked up and to his surprise he saw a large group of Bedouins coming down the hill towards the well. He focused in on the group all wearing their white turbines and white regalia and these words came to him, “They are white already to harvest”.(KJV) Jesus looking up that day could see the people of Samaria coming towards him. Why were they coming to him? Because the woman had went back to town and sowed the seed and the seed never returns void. The field was ripe already for the harvest.
I am so proud of you as a church body. I have had to return to the harvest office two times in order to pick up extra invitations because we ran out. I was so blessed when the WEM team decided to make bees wax candles to hand out with the invitations. It could have been limited to a night of fun for the ladies and connecting with the children. As it turned out, the ladies had fun they connected with their children and the added blessings were they taught their children to do for others. They achieved a goal of helping sow towards the harvest. They built unity in the body as they saw the field in a new light.  I am truly humbled by the members of Calvary Baptist church, and the leadership of our teams because you have caught the vision for harvesting souls for God. I believe with all my heart that we are going to have a great part in the harvest. Why you ask? Because we opened our eyes, looked at the field, saw the opportunities for sowing and reaping the harvest. I am excited for what God is doing and for how honored His name will be. I am praying for you. Pastor Steve