etcoc The blog of Pastor Jeff Williams, The Church of Corinth

Pastor Jeff Williams

A term that has become a recent buzzword for many young people is ‘random.’ I find this to be very identifiable to some of the various thoughts I have as a pastor, husband, father, boss, coach, friend, etc. My goal is to write from time to time these random thoughts in this blog. Hopefully these expressions can be a help to others or at least be therapy for me...

My kids

Jeff Williams May 20th, 2009

I can’t believe how much my children have grown lately. I have enjoyed every age, but this is certainly new territory. It is gratifying to see some of the qualities we worked so hard on when they were little actually flowering in their character and personalities. And it is fun to just hang out with them now, have intelligible conversations, and feel like they actually comprehend what is trying to be taught or conveyed.

“The father of godly children has cause for joy. What a pleasure to have children who are wise.” Proverbs 22:24 NLT

District Fine Arts

Jeff Williams May 19th, 2009

I was so proud of all of our kids at District Fine Arts a couple of weeks ago. They conducted themselves and performed with grace and dignity. I believe they should have placed higher in some categories, but of course I am bias. I am a big believer in the Fine Arts program, not necessarily in way it is set up, but in the benefits each youth receives as a result. It certainly develops their talents and prepares them in ways that only the future can acknowledge.

Catalyst Youth – Fine Arts

Jeff Williams April 30th, 2009

I was so impressed by all the Youth entries as they demonstrated their talents at the Fine Arts service this past Sunday night. Sherri and I fought tears the entire evening. I was so proud of our teenagers.

I am looking forward to competition on May 8th and 9th at SAGU. They are going to do great!

My Birthday

Jeff Williams April 30th, 2009

I want to express my thanks to everyone for all the Birthday expressions I received last week. Your outpouring of love touched me very much. I am truly blessed.

Youth Service

Jeff Williams April 1st, 2009

For those that missed this past Sunday Night’s Fifth Sunday Family Fun Night featuring our Catalyst Youth, you missed it! What a heart for ministry! The Youth worship team did a great job leading worship. I love their genuineness! And Matt Sullivan, only 17 years old, delivered an outstanding message with poise and anointing. I am very proud of them all. Robert and Stephanie Jordan are doing a tremendous job as Youth Pastors! We are sure blessed here at TCOC!

Return on Investment

Jeff Williams March 25th, 2009

We, as His disciples, understand that ministry is about giving and sowing into the Kingdom without expecting that the harvest will be returned within our knowledge, understanding, or even lifetime. But every once in a while a return on your investment comes back in a very encouraging fashion. It is a gentle reminder of why the Sower of Seed in the Gospels cast the seed everywhere, not just on the fertile soil.
This week a visitor came to the office, filled out a giving envelope and put in a healthy donation. The following note was written on the inside:

“Thanks, you loaned me some money and it wasn’t forgotten. God Bless.”

Sermon Response

Jeff Williams March 24th, 2009

I often get e-mail responses to some of my sermons. They are all great feedback and enlightening. I would like to start sharing some of those with you. Here is one from this past Weekend’s message:

The message today was straight from the Throne of G-d. The Spirit of G-d which lives inside of me confirmed this over and over again.

As followers of Christ we have two sets of eyes: Physical and Spiritual. Before we were filled with the Holy Spirit we had only one set of eyes. The Light of G-d was not in us and His Holy light did not direct us. It is easy to understand how lost people stumble around because they walk in darkness. But why is it that Christians will do the same?

Why do Christians stumble around in darkness?

In 1 John we see one possible reason: As Christians we have to “walk in the Light”. By walking in the Light our sins are exposed and the Holy Spirit convicts us. No one likes to be convicted. It makes visitors to our church never come back. It causes members of our church to stop working and causes them to try and find fault with the Leadership or with each other.

You know many times G-d uses people to point out our sin. Like when our Pastor steps on toes in the message. Vicki and I have been married 28 years. Did you know that sometimes G-d uses my wife to shine the Light of G-d in areas of my life I would prefer remain dark? Yep I know it is shocking, but true and actually it is often not sometimes. Now even my children are used by G-d to straighten me out!! How cruel is that? Shocking as it may sound my children are good at it. Yep they can smell hypocrisy from 10 miles away.

So, tell me, how do we react with our wife or children point light into dark areas of our lives? Well many times we lash out. We say, “Hey I am the parent here not you!” “I have been this way all my life and you knew it when you married me.” I have to confess, I have done this and it makes me sick. “Sin will take you where you do not want to go and leave you there longer than you want to stay.”

My prayer is simple and unoriginal: Psalms 139:23-24

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

My promise is also simple and unoriginal but new to me: Psalms 84:11

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good think will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”

Vicki, you keep pointing out sin in my life when you see it and Jake, Amanda and Hannah, I desire to walk the walk and not just talk so you hold me accountable to the Truth of G-d’s Holy Word.

You are my witnesses; Keep me true to Him !!

Your Husband and Dad,

Kent

A Note From the Pastor

Jeff Williams February 18th, 2009

Today is my daughter’s twelfth Birthday! Very hard to believe that she is… that I am that old! She can now go into the Youth Group. I am not sure I am ready for this. But I am so proud of her. She is the most honest and rule-following little girl I have ever known. She likes to only listen and watch things that are nice… maybe not always the most wholesome, but nothing with violence or evil in it. Praise God she takes after her mother. Praise God that he is good to us even when we don’t deserve it.

“Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], but you excel them all.” Proverbs 31:29 AMP

A Note From the Pastor

Jeff Williams February 3rd, 2009

Crisis is defined as: a dramatic emotional or circumstantial upheaval in a person’s life.  It seems this term is being used more and more all the time to describe life, marriage, financial matters, etc.  People are facing issues that are rattling their entire existence and shaking the very foundation of their lives.  Sometimes I have to question sometimes how strong their foundation was to begin with, and if Jesus is truly their Cornerstone.  But in either case, crisis may be the very thing that stirs a person to turn in the right direction.  The change that must take place sometimes needs crisis to ‘force the issue.’  I like another definition for crisis: a condition of instability or danger leading to a decisive change.  It is often an indecisive walk that creates instability; an incubator for crisis.

 

“If you fall to pieces in a crisis, there wasn’t much to you in the first place.” Proverbs 24:10 MSG

My daughter is turning 12

Jeff Williams February 3rd, 2009

Sheridan’s 12th birthday is this month.  I was reading back over some old newsletter articles and came across one about Sheridan… she was and is a cutie!

 

ATTENTION!

 

 

I ENJOY MY CHILDREN!  Sheridan is a small “bundle of joy” and “too much to handle” all rolled up into 30 pounds.  On the days she does not have pre-school, and no other kids are around, she can literally wear a person down with her “attention getters” and little commands.  I don’t know how many times I have made the 100 yard jaunt up to the house from my office after an insisting phone call, only to be shown a piece of paper displaying her masterpiece of colors and markers.  She demands attention, using her irresistible, well-polished charm and manipulation (innate in every female) already perfectly crafted at age four.  How can I ignore that?!?!  Yet, when I want her attention, especially to tell her something important or to discipline her, the conversation goes something like this: Sheridan, I want you . . . Sheridan, look at me . . . look at me please . . . I want you . . . look at me! . . . Go upstairs . . . Sheridan, Sheridan look . . . go upstairs and . . . look at me right now . . . it’s time to brush . . . Sheridan, you better look at me!  . . . Right now! . . . Go upstairs and . . . SHERIDAN!!!!  My “one sentence order” turns into a ten-minute repetitious speech of tyranny!  How so with our relationship with our Heavenly Father.  He loves us so much that He puts up with our constant commands and shortcomings, our selfishness and failures.  Yet when He wants to tell us something we are too busy or refuse to listen.  We twist His words or simply disagree.  Even at our most spiritually mature state, we are still children of God who need His discipline.  “My child, don’t ignore it when the Lord disciplines you, and don’t be discouraged when he corrects you.  For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and punishes those he accepts as his children.”  Hebrews 12:5b, 6 NLT

 

 

 

 

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