Last night was a very special night for me. Last night September 19th I officially received my ordination as a minister in the Church of God Reformation Movement and I have to be honest - to me it's a big deal. See it's an accumulation of nearly 4 years of studying, reading, writing papers, and committing my life to a service of ministry in the congregation.
I know that a piece of paper inside a frame isn't going to make me a good preacher or a loving and caring pastor, and I know that the only one that really truthfully ordains an individual to preach the Word of God is God himself. But I do appreciate the fact that men and women in the Church of God Reformation Movement do not just hand out ordinations to anyone that comes along and says I want to be a preacher; I honor the fact that they take the time to look at the individuals, to look at their dedication, to look at their study ethic, and look at their lives, and then go into prayer in an effort to discern if this individual is truly called by God. Some people would disagree and say that's up to God only, but I wholeheartedly agree with the process of determining an individual's calling.
I would like to thank my family for their support and understanding of the time that I have spent in doing the requirements to receive my ordination.I would also like to thank the many people that have been praying for me over the past several years while I have been in the process of receiving my ordination. More than anything I would like to thank my Heavenly Father who has watched over me, helped me, and given me strength while working through this process.
One other thing that made last night very special to me was the fact that Pastor Rudd was the one who preached the ordination service and presented me with my certificate of ordination. Pastor Rudd has meant a great deal to me over the past five years and I would really like to thank him for all he has done for me, not just as an individual going through the ordination process, but as an individual now walking and growing with Christ.
Pastor Rudd, I thank you for: being a spiritual father for me, being a Christ-like example for me, being a preaching mentor for me, for being faithful to God's word as an example for me, for being willing to be the man God placed in my life to lead me to Christ, and more than anything for just being a friend to me.
Yelp, last night was pretty special, but that wasn't because it was a ending to some long process and now things are done. I know down deep in my heart it was special because it marks the beginning of a new section of the pathway that God has placed in my life. And I would like to say: Dear Heavenly Father - I'm willing to walk it (with You)!
Philippians 1:21 "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain"
A servant of HIS,
John Deyton
Monday, September 20, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
It's Football Time
It's football Time in Tennessee, I know this is a saying that has been made famous by announcers for the University of Tennessee but when I say it's football time I'm referring to the football that my son plays.
I love watching and being involved with Eli playing football; and I believe I enjoy it more because he loves to play. Now I know, as a parent, were supposed to be proud of our children no matter want; but I'm really proud of Eli. Because truth be told, he's a real good football player, I don't know what the future might hold as far as a career in football but you never know. As far as right now it brings joy to my heart to watch him play.
The other thing I enjoy is helping to coach these young men in a sport that I love. I started playing football when I was six years old and played up to my freshman year in high school, until a knee injury finished my football playing. I have to say some of my favorite memories come from playing on the football field, when I was younger.
And now I feel blessed that I can be involved with these young men, and I hope that one day they'll say their fondest memories came from playing on the football field when they were younger and just maybe I would be involved in that time that they enjoy.
This year Eli has moved up to the next phase of football and is playing in the Midget division, and I have to say things are a little bit different from when he played in the Pee Wees. But not only did Eli move up, I moved up with him and am now helping coach the team that he plays on. One of the things I'm truly enjoying this year is getting to coach with Phil Waddell; and one thing that has become very obvious over the past month worth of practice is: That this is a game and this is a sport - and Phil coaches the sport as he should. But Phil goes beyond the sport and uses this opportunity as a ministry to reach out to these young men.
As for Phil and me and the other coaches Roger and Keith we all have one thing in common and that is the fact that we love the Lord and are brothers in Christ. And at this time the good Lord has truly blessed us with an opportunity to take these young men and show them our love and respect for each other and we pray more than anything that they don't just learn about football but that they learn what it's like to be a follower of Christ.
Of course as coaches of the team we would like to win every game, but more than anything I pray that we may be used, that all of these young men would win in life.
A servant of HIS,
John Deyton
I love watching and being involved with Eli playing football; and I believe I enjoy it more because he loves to play. Now I know, as a parent, were supposed to be proud of our children no matter want; but I'm really proud of Eli. Because truth be told, he's a real good football player, I don't know what the future might hold as far as a career in football but you never know. As far as right now it brings joy to my heart to watch him play.
The other thing I enjoy is helping to coach these young men in a sport that I love. I started playing football when I was six years old and played up to my freshman year in high school, until a knee injury finished my football playing. I have to say some of my favorite memories come from playing on the football field, when I was younger.
And now I feel blessed that I can be involved with these young men, and I hope that one day they'll say their fondest memories came from playing on the football field when they were younger and just maybe I would be involved in that time that they enjoy.
This year Eli has moved up to the next phase of football and is playing in the Midget division, and I have to say things are a little bit different from when he played in the Pee Wees. But not only did Eli move up, I moved up with him and am now helping coach the team that he plays on. One of the things I'm truly enjoying this year is getting to coach with Phil Waddell; and one thing that has become very obvious over the past month worth of practice is: That this is a game and this is a sport - and Phil coaches the sport as he should. But Phil goes beyond the sport and uses this opportunity as a ministry to reach out to these young men.
As for Phil and me and the other coaches Roger and Keith we all have one thing in common and that is the fact that we love the Lord and are brothers in Christ. And at this time the good Lord has truly blessed us with an opportunity to take these young men and show them our love and respect for each other and we pray more than anything that they don't just learn about football but that they learn what it's like to be a follower of Christ.
Of course as coaches of the team we would like to win every game, but more than anything I pray that we may be used, that all of these young men would win in life.
A servant of HIS,
John Deyton
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