FROM YOUR PASTOR’S HEART May 13, 2024

On this rainy Monday morning, I am thinking about all the people who work behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly at Cordova Baptist Church. When we show up on Sundays and Wednesdays, we find the facilities well maintained and welcoming. The shrubs around the building are magically trimmed. The Fellowship Hall and sanctuary are beautifully decorated. The lights and bathrooms are in working order. The kitchen is clean and organized. Even the bulletins and papers on the table in the foyer are neatly arranged. With two different churches sharing the location, it is well-kept.

I recall as a child sharing a room with my older brother. For the boy “Growing Up on Dump Ground Road,” neatness was not a high priority. I was just happy to be able to find whatever toy that I was seeking at the time. I remember rummaging through the closet in search of my baseball glove. It did not occur to me to clean out the closet. And Roy had the nerve to put his junk on top of my important stuff. Yet, I also recall going to First Baptist Church and finding the same sense of order and reverence for the House of God that I find at CBC today.

One of the advantages of having security cameras around our building is that I can see who is coming and going at the church. I do see how these accomplishments come to pass, as I watch the devotion and dedication of our members working around this place. I realize that our pianist does not just sit down each Sunday and immediately know the songs that we are singing. I understand that the broken toilet did not repair itself. I recognize that the decorations from the last holiday did not mysteriously disappear, to be replaced by ornaments for the up-coming season. I know that the beautiful flowers in the sanctuary did not just grow there.

Without naming names and pointing fingers, I want to thank all of our faithful servants of the Lord for their dedicated service to our Cordova Baptist family. I am grateful for the “family spirit” that exists here, as we all contribute what we are able to give. I have been at churches where there was a “hired help” mentality towards the pastor and staff, where we were appreciated for our work. Yet, at CBC we have a sense of family love and devotion that motivates us to work together for the common goal of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. I am grateful to be “Bro. Jim,” not “Dr. Muston!”

Serving in love,

Bro. Jim