Me? Well, I’ve been to Charlotte several times this week, since my Dad was in the hospital down there. We got to bring him home yesterday and he seems to be some better than he was before. He still needs your prayers, so I would appreciate you remembering him when you pray. Besides that, I have had a funeral and some other folks who are sick in the hospital and in Hospice. But, that’s the life of a Pastor. I wouldn’t take anything for it! There is something satisfying about ministering to people. I guess it’s something that comes with the call to be a Pastor, but I also think it is an honor to minster to folks in an hour of need in their lives. to pray with them, comfort them and visit them is a privilege from the Lord. It seems to me that reaching out to the hurting is something the Lord Jesus would do if He was here. In fact, He said this: 

Matthew 25:34-46  

34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  

35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:  

36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.  

37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?  

38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?  

39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?  

40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.  

41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:  

42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:  

43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.  

44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?  

45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.  

46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. 

Now, I know the context. This is the judgment of the nations, which will take place after the Tribulation. If, that is, our eschatology is correct. Be that as it may, there is a principle in those verses that stands true across the ages. When we serve His people in His name, we are, in effect, serving Him. When you look at ministry from this perspective, you don’t mind the miles, the time and the 2:00 AM phone calls. When ministry is done for His glory, in His name, and for His people, it transforms a drudgery into a privilege. at least, that’s how I see it. So, get out there and serve others. Be a blessing by minstering in His name. He will be honored. He will get the glory. Others will be served. You will be fulfilled in your walk with, and work for, the Master. Think about it.

Alan Carr