At the beginning of Pastor Martin's SECOND "Pastoral Theology" book, pictured above, is the Scripture verse from Jeremiah 3:15. In that verse, God promises "And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding." I have just purchased this new book and started to read it, and I am sure that I will be "fed with knowledge and new understanding" of God's Word, just as I was from the FIRST volume!! Anyway, in my 44 years of walking with the Lord, I have been SO blessed to have MANY such shepherds in my life, but yesterday was a SPECIAL day which brought that truth into sharp focus. Therefore, I must write the following!!
Yesterday, way out in Michigan, my FIRST Pastor, Pastor Albert N. Martin, turned 85!! Here he is (in a photo from several years ago).
Pastor Martin authored the book above, has written several OTHER books and pamphlets, and can be heard on sermonaudio and many other places. He was my pastor for 14 years and I go to him (by phone or e-mail and even face-to-face at times) even NOW, if the need arises. He is a TRUE shepherd!! (He is FORMALLY "retired" but a true shepherd NEVER retires.) I cannot estimate how much I owe to the ministry of this man in my life!! God has used him TREMENDOUSLY. Five years ago I compiled a book of testimonials from over 80 others on the occasion of his 80th birthday. More info about this book may be found by searching "A Tribute For Pastor A.N. Martin" on Facebook. (blurb.com has a free preview of the entire book so this is NOT an attempt to sell books here, the book is FREE.)
And then, here in New Jersey, my NEWEST Pastor, 24 year-old Travis Dykes (below), met with his Ordination Council yesterday and unanimously passed his Ordination Exam. He will be officially ordained this Sunday night at our church's Evening Service. This is a photo of him answering theological and practical questions yesterday...
It was THRILLING to see and hear a young man , my NEWEST Pastor, answer question after question with solid, straightforward BIBLICAL answers!! Surely, if a shepherd is to "feed us with knowledge and understanding" he, himself, must POSSESS those things...and Travis does because God GAVE him those gifts!! I'm not a Pastor, and Deacons weren't allowed to grill this young man yesterday, but if I could have I'd have been tempted to ask him "Would you be willing to be imprisoned or put to death rather than deny Christ, if it ever came to that??" (I said I'd be TEMPTED to ask that question, but the reality is...I wouldn't HAVE to, because knowing Travis as I do, I already know the answer.) Apparently his GRANDFATHER was a tremendous influence in his life and what I witnessed yesterday inspired me ALL THE MORE to leave a godly legacy to MY grandchildren.
Yes, yesterday was SPECIAL as my FIRST Pastor turned 85 and my NEWEST one is cleared for Ordination. The two don't know each other or even know OF each other, but they both know the LORD Who has given them both to me as "Shepherds After His Own Heart."
For these two men, and EVERY GODLY SHEPHERD I'VE BEEN BLESSED WITH SINCE 1975, I publicly give God thanks this morning ....and I didn't want to wait 6 months till "Pastoral Appreciation Month" to do so, you see!! The events of yesterday made it impossible to wait that long!! David, (who Scripture ALSO called "the man after God's own heart" and who was a LITERAL shepherd at one point) likened himself to a "ready writer" in Psalm 45. I simply HAD to write this out THIS MORNING, because "my heart IS overflowing with a good theme" (Psalm 45, verse 1, New King James Version, emphasis mine.)
* I blogged here a bit about Pastor Martin's FIRST "Pastoral Theology" book last April 13th. And a THIRD book in this series is planned, Lord Willing!!
No comments:
Post a Comment