Dear Heroes,
Greetings from the land that seems to be melting ever so slowly! March came in this year like a lamb so if the old saying holds true, we should be in for it come the end of the month.
Last Sunday I had the privilege to speak at my friend's 40th anniversary: 40 years at Cambria Baptist Church. Two years ago, Pastor Harkey and the Cambria Baptist Church welcomed my family with open arms at a time we really needed some help. At that time, I was looking for a pastorate and we were trying to begin helping Naomi's grandmother who was slipping into her current state of dementia/Alzheimer's and unable to walk. They even allowed us to stay in their missionary apartment for three and a half months. And all throughout Pastor Harkey took me under his wing, mentored me, and really prepared me for the ministry that God had waiting for me here at Grove. For this week's letter I've included some excerpts from that message:
Today is a day of commemoration and celebration. To put 40 years in perspective for myself, I thought back to what I was doing forty years ago today. How many of you can remember celebrating your ten month birthday? Me neither – but that’s what I was doing 40 years ago today when Pastor & Mrs. Harkey began their ministry here at Cambria. Another way of looking at it from a personal perspective, because Naomi and I began our ministry at Grove Bible Church just 21 months ago, We’d have to stay there until I was 79 years old in order to achieve what we are celebrating today!Statisticians tell us that the average tenure for a pastor at a given church is just 3-5 years and the average number of years in full-time Christian service for pastors at all of their churches combined is only 14-17 years. So the fact that the Harkeys been in the pastorate for 40 years not to mention all 40 years being here at the same church, well, that’s pretty remarkable.
For myself, and on behalf of my family, all of the people gathered here today, and the thousands of others who can’t be here today but whose lives you have touched, I would like to say “thank you.” Thank you Pastor and Mrs. Harkey for your love as evidenced by your generosity, for your godliness as evidenced by your walk with the Lord, for your perseverance and your endurance as evidenced by your 40 years of ministry here at Cambria, and for your example to the rest of us as evidenced by all of these characteristics and many more.
I would not be standing here today if it were not for you. In many ways I really feel unworthy to be honored with this privilege of speaking today. Of all the people in this room, I dare say that I am in the group that has known you for the shortest period of time. Just over two years ago my family took up residence – established squatter rights – in your missionary apartment for three and a half months until the ministry at Grove opened up for us. But during that time you not only allowed us to stay here, but you took me under your wing, mentoring and preparing me for the ministry that God was getting ready to give to me. I couldn’t have scripted a better scenario if I had tried! And if we had time today, I’m sure person after person could tell similar stories of how you both have impacted their lives for the good.
Having said all of that, there is a danger in setting aside a day like today. And like a coin, this danger has two sides. The first is that we elevate Pastor and Mrs. Harkey in such a way that we draw glory away from the God who made it all possible. Isaiah 42:8 says, “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another…” If we even take one percent of the glory from God and put it on Pastor and Mrs. Harkey we commit idolatry.
Almost every time I talk to Pastor Harkey and ask him how he’s doing he’ll either say, “I’m still breathing” or “I’m still alive.” A few years ago, both of those were in jeopardy. I wasn’t here at the time but to hear Pastor Harkey tell it, he was mad at God for giving him the heart attack. I mean after all he had done for God and then God did that to him. So, as he tells it, right there in the hospital he tried to quit being a pastor. But then a nurse would come along and say, “You’re a pastor, right?” Reluctantly he would admit to the fact and then he or she would tell him their problem or concern or whatever and ask Pastor Harkey to pray for them. This happened several times until Pastor Harkey finally realized that God wasn’t going to allow him to quit. It is because of the faithfulness of God that Pastor and Mrs. Harkey have been able to be faithful.
Now the other side of this dangerous coin is that we elevate Pastor and Mrs. Harkey in such a way that we give the impression that in some way they are special and the rest of us, well, we just can’t ever hope to measure up to what they have achieved. Earlier I made reference to my own pastorate in that I’ll most likely never be able to celebrate 40 years of pastoral ministry at Grove Bible Church. And I dare say that most if not all of the people in this room will never be able to celebrate 40 years in the pastorate at the same church. But the fact is there is coming a day that is even a bigger deal than today. And on that day everyone will be rewarded for how they have lived their life here on earth. 2 Corinthians 5:10 says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done , whether it be good or bad.”
This verse tells us that God is going to judge each one of us on our own merits – not in comparison to one another. And what is God going to be looking for on that day? In Matthew 18:4 we read, “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Then in the next chapter and verses 29-30 we read, “And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. 30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.” Flipping over to the next chapter and verses 26-28 we find these words of Jesus, “But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto , but to minister , and to give his life a ransom for many.” We could go on and on through the Gospels and find Jesus teaching these truths over and over again.
In many ways, Pastor and Mrs. Harkey have modeled even this principle for us. Pastor Harkey has told me that he received invitations to go on to other churches, but they only came when he wasn’t ready. Then when he was interested in looking elsewhere, no invitations were forthcoming! In His sovereignty, God has kept Pastor and Mrs. Harkey here at Cambria. But unlike some of his pastoral heroes like Charles Swindoll and Adrian Rogers, Pastor Harkey’s fame has pretty well been centered right here in Hillsdale County.
Having said that, he’s probably one of the best known people and recognizable faces in the whole county. It didn’t matter whether we were in WalMart, Wendys, the Hospital or wherever people would come up and talk to him like he was their pastor – even if they didn’t come to his church! And he took time for each one.
And so we come back to glorifying God by celebrating His servants, Pastor and Mrs. Harkey thus fulfilling the mandate given in Hebrews 13:7-8, “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Pastor and Mrs. Harkey, when we remember you, your messages from the Word of God and when we consider the outcome of your way of life, we are encouraged to follow your example and to imitate your faith. We can do this not because we are anything like you but because we all have the same Lord, Jesus who is the same and today and forever.
The theme verse on the invitation card that came in the mail some weeks ago was Ephesians 6:7-8, “With good will doing service , as to the Lord, and not to men: 8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth , the same shall he receive of the Lord…” As I mentioned previously, today’s celebration can’t hold a candle to the coming day of reward at the judgment seat of Christ.
Last year my wife started a Sunday School contest in which people were encouraged to make 3-D Bible Displays. I brought her display with me today. She took the Daniel 12:3 from The Message paraphrase and made this picture. Using Japanese Origami to make stars she decorated this board and wrote the verse, “"'Men and women who have lived wisely and well will shine brilliantly, like the cloudless, star-strewn night skies. And those who put others on the right path to life will glow like stars forever.” To me this describes Pastor and Mrs. Harkey perfectly. And it is an encouragement to the rest of us. Wherever you find yourself, whatever gifts God has given to you, use them in that place to live wisely and well and to put others on the right path to life. As we remember Pastor and Mrs. Harkey, may they inspire us to in turn live like them and thus, like them, shine brilliantly like the cloudless, start-strewn night skies!
Greetings from the land that seems to be melting ever so slowly! March came in this year like a lamb so if the old saying holds true, we should be in for it come the end of the month.
Last Sunday I had the privilege to speak at my friend's 40th anniversary: 40 years at Cambria Baptist Church. Two years ago, Pastor Harkey and the Cambria Baptist Church welcomed my family with open arms at a time we really needed some help. At that time, I was looking for a pastorate and we were trying to begin helping Naomi's grandmother who was slipping into her current state of dementia/Alzheimer's and unable to walk. They even allowed us to stay in their missionary apartment for three and a half months. And all throughout Pastor Harkey took me under his wing, mentored me, and really prepared me for the ministry that God had waiting for me here at Grove. For this week's letter I've included some excerpts from that message:
Today is a day of commemoration and celebration. To put 40 years in perspective for myself, I thought back to what I was doing forty years ago today. How many of you can remember celebrating your ten month birthday? Me neither – but that’s what I was doing 40 years ago today when Pastor & Mrs. Harkey began their ministry here at Cambria. Another way of looking at it from a personal perspective, because Naomi and I began our ministry at Grove Bible Church just 21 months ago, We’d have to stay there until I was 79 years old in order to achieve what we are celebrating today!Statisticians tell us that the average tenure for a pastor at a given church is just 3-5 years and the average number of years in full-time Christian service for pastors at all of their churches combined is only 14-17 years. So the fact that the Harkeys been in the pastorate for 40 years not to mention all 40 years being here at the same church, well, that’s pretty remarkable.
For myself, and on behalf of my family, all of the people gathered here today, and the thousands of others who can’t be here today but whose lives you have touched, I would like to say “thank you.” Thank you Pastor and Mrs. Harkey for your love as evidenced by your generosity, for your godliness as evidenced by your walk with the Lord, for your perseverance and your endurance as evidenced by your 40 years of ministry here at Cambria, and for your example to the rest of us as evidenced by all of these characteristics and many more.
I would not be standing here today if it were not for you. In many ways I really feel unworthy to be honored with this privilege of speaking today. Of all the people in this room, I dare say that I am in the group that has known you for the shortest period of time. Just over two years ago my family took up residence – established squatter rights – in your missionary apartment for three and a half months until the ministry at Grove opened up for us. But during that time you not only allowed us to stay here, but you took me under your wing, mentoring and preparing me for the ministry that God was getting ready to give to me. I couldn’t have scripted a better scenario if I had tried! And if we had time today, I’m sure person after person could tell similar stories of how you both have impacted their lives for the good.
Having said all of that, there is a danger in setting aside a day like today. And like a coin, this danger has two sides. The first is that we elevate Pastor and Mrs. Harkey in such a way that we draw glory away from the God who made it all possible. Isaiah 42:8 says, “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another…” If we even take one percent of the glory from God and put it on Pastor and Mrs. Harkey we commit idolatry.
Almost every time I talk to Pastor Harkey and ask him how he’s doing he’ll either say, “I’m still breathing” or “I’m still alive.” A few years ago, both of those were in jeopardy. I wasn’t here at the time but to hear Pastor Harkey tell it, he was mad at God for giving him the heart attack. I mean after all he had done for God and then God did that to him. So, as he tells it, right there in the hospital he tried to quit being a pastor. But then a nurse would come along and say, “You’re a pastor, right?” Reluctantly he would admit to the fact and then he or she would tell him their problem or concern or whatever and ask Pastor Harkey to pray for them. This happened several times until Pastor Harkey finally realized that God wasn’t going to allow him to quit. It is because of the faithfulness of God that Pastor and Mrs. Harkey have been able to be faithful.
Now the other side of this dangerous coin is that we elevate Pastor and Mrs. Harkey in such a way that we give the impression that in some way they are special and the rest of us, well, we just can’t ever hope to measure up to what they have achieved. Earlier I made reference to my own pastorate in that I’ll most likely never be able to celebrate 40 years of pastoral ministry at Grove Bible Church. And I dare say that most if not all of the people in this room will never be able to celebrate 40 years in the pastorate at the same church. But the fact is there is coming a day that is even a bigger deal than today. And on that day everyone will be rewarded for how they have lived their life here on earth. 2 Corinthians 5:10 says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done , whether it be good or bad.”
This verse tells us that God is going to judge each one of us on our own merits – not in comparison to one another. And what is God going to be looking for on that day? In Matthew 18:4 we read, “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Then in the next chapter and verses 29-30 we read, “And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. 30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.” Flipping over to the next chapter and verses 26-28 we find these words of Jesus, “But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto , but to minister , and to give his life a ransom for many.” We could go on and on through the Gospels and find Jesus teaching these truths over and over again.
In many ways, Pastor and Mrs. Harkey have modeled even this principle for us. Pastor Harkey has told me that he received invitations to go on to other churches, but they only came when he wasn’t ready. Then when he was interested in looking elsewhere, no invitations were forthcoming! In His sovereignty, God has kept Pastor and Mrs. Harkey here at Cambria. But unlike some of his pastoral heroes like Charles Swindoll and Adrian Rogers, Pastor Harkey’s fame has pretty well been centered right here in Hillsdale County.
Having said that, he’s probably one of the best known people and recognizable faces in the whole county. It didn’t matter whether we were in WalMart, Wendys, the Hospital or wherever people would come up and talk to him like he was their pastor – even if they didn’t come to his church! And he took time for each one.
And so we come back to glorifying God by celebrating His servants, Pastor and Mrs. Harkey thus fulfilling the mandate given in Hebrews 13:7-8, “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Pastor and Mrs. Harkey, when we remember you, your messages from the Word of God and when we consider the outcome of your way of life, we are encouraged to follow your example and to imitate your faith. We can do this not because we are anything like you but because we all have the same Lord, Jesus who is the same and today and forever.
The theme verse on the invitation card that came in the mail some weeks ago was Ephesians 6:7-8, “With good will doing service , as to the Lord, and not to men: 8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth , the same shall he receive of the Lord…” As I mentioned previously, today’s celebration can’t hold a candle to the coming day of reward at the judgment seat of Christ.
Last year my wife started a Sunday School contest in which people were encouraged to make 3-D Bible Displays. I brought her display with me today. She took the Daniel 12:3 from The Message paraphrase and made this picture. Using Japanese Origami to make stars she decorated this board and wrote the verse, “"'Men and women who have lived wisely and well will shine brilliantly, like the cloudless, star-strewn night skies. And those who put others on the right path to life will glow like stars forever.” To me this describes Pastor and Mrs. Harkey perfectly. And it is an encouragement to the rest of us. Wherever you find yourself, whatever gifts God has given to you, use them in that place to live wisely and well and to put others on the right path to life. As we remember Pastor and Mrs. Harkey, may they inspire us to in turn live like them and thus, like them, shine brilliantly like the cloudless, start-strewn night skies!
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