REVERNEND CHAPPELL

image courtesy photobucket.com

Pastor Chappell was a large man somewhere between austere and country.

He was use to ministering to people of Oklahoma South and since some of the people in our church had migrated from the south they wished to have him come to be the new pastor of our church.

There were certain characteristics that defined him; one being he had a very loud voice. I don’t mean just loud I mean extremely loud, one that would hurt your ears. When he saw the microphone he said I won’t be needing that and he was right.  He had a wife and daughter both of which were very skinny. When talking to them he toned his voice down a great deal otherwise they would have been deafened.

Such a kind man was he, and I liked him a lot.

Due to the fact his experience had been preaching to rural people who worked late on the farm, church always started after dark.  He was in the habit of not starting his preaching until later in the evening. Our church on the other hand started at six on Sunday evenings with what we called an Evangelistic service. He just couldn’t get comfortable preaching the evening service while it was still light.  He once told me that something had to be done because we were working against GOD by not waiting until dark to preach.

This became a problem and some contention arose because by getting out of church by 8 there was time for the members to go out and fellowship or have people over for refreshments especially for the young people.

The pastor was gracious but about a year of “working against” GOD was all he could take and he resigned and moved to Arizona to minister to the American Indians.

As it turned out it was best both for him and the church, even though he was a good man he was in the wrong place.

1 Corinthians 12:14-16 14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason [a]any the less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” If they were all one member, where would the body be?”

It is important for both the church and you for you to find your place in the body of Christ because it is there you will be most successful.

There have been times when my wife and I have had to fill in because someone had failed to take their place in the body. We were glad to do it but we were just a fill in.

Romans 12:6-8 So in Christ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

No one can replace you for you have been given your place, your job, your responsibility in the body of Christ. If you neglect to fulfill your calling the cause of Christ will suffer.

Realize this; You are very important in the kingdom of GOD.

You will enjoy this song:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGcz0AOxLSc

This post is linked to Laura’s Brag on God Fridays.