CHURCH SIGNS: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY (YOU CAN PLAY THE THEME TO SET THE MOOD).

Southminster Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis, IN

 Whenever Becky and I drive on the I-74 from Indy headed toward Cincinnati (or returning), we make sure that we're paying attention to the right side of the road after going under Thompson Road (again, just before the Thompson Rd. Overpass on the left when returning). Because just past the bridge is the above sign, reminding us that Jesus Never Fails.

Another Indianapolis church also blesses us when we drive by it. We've seen churches with the words "Jesus saves" posted. But the Bible Study Chapel has on their building "Jesus saves and keeps." The two extra words are inspiring (let alone important and Biblical). It takes looking for; it's best seen when turning from Emerson Ave. Northbound onto the I-70 Eastbound. (It's easier seeing the church than finding where it's at.

Christians United Church, also in Indy (on Mithoffer between 10th Street and Washington) has great signs as well. They have a marquee which they change, and sometimes they have different thoughts that play off each other. My favorite was when we saw it say in one direction, "Lord, forgive them: they don't know what they're doing," and in the other, "Lord, forgive me: I don't know what I'm doing."

 

Our former Church, Arlington Avenue Baptist Church (on the corner of Shelbyville Rd. and Arlington Ave., Indianapolis) also had a marquee. When we had more children, we would have on the sign "We're praying for you,..." and then mention one of the schools that our members are attending.

I keep telling my friend, Pastor Richard Walton, that we ought to post "We're praying for you, School of Hard Knox." He never took me up on it. 

I've mentioned some signs that excite us, and I'm putting pictures of others as well. However, there are some that make us cringe. 

We've seen signs with deep spiritual messages like "Less hate, more pancakes," or "Go Fish." True, sometimes it seems like half of the thought is on one side of the marquee and it's completed on the other. When it had the cliche "You can change the world" on one side, the other added, "For love's sake." That makes more sense, but with the church's location on a winding road, it isn't logical to think that some people will pass it going one direction will remember the first half and put it together with the second.

Church signs, bumper stickers, refrigerator magnets, memes, etc. can be used to point people to God. But do we sometimes try to get a laugh or present worldly wisdom instead of using this as an opportunity to glorify God and draw others to the truth of God's Word?

Note - the last two signs are from Eastwood Baptist Church and Faith Family Church, both in Cookeville, TN.

PASTOR APPRECIATION MONTH, PART 1 OF 3 - MY PASTORS.

"All My Rowdy Friends Are Preachers!" L-R Dr. Leroy Thomas (Founder & Professor of Pastoral Studies, Southwestern College), Bob Irvine, Dr. Jeremy Couture, Josh Jacobs, Richard Walton, Dennis King, Bill Scott, Mark Mirza (Common Thread Ministries, Bishop Robert Lyons (hospital chaplain), Gary Stump, James Lawson (cartoonist).

How many of you are aware that October is Pastor Appreciation Month? It's fitting that Pastor Appreciation Month ends with Reformation Day. 

The next three days I will develop the theme. Yes, we need to appreciate the pastors in our lives, starting with the men who are preaching the Word of God from the pulpit. But I also want to honor others who fill that role though not the office. Some may be pastors from the past who are pastoring from heaven through their writings and inspiration. Some are current pastors who have no idea I exist but who inspire me through books or TV/Radio ministries. Some have helped pastor me as a teacher or as a friend.

Today, I'd like to start by thanking the pastors I've had in my life (including youth pastors), which I'll do in chronological order. Some I have comments about, and others I will just mention. All are worthy of honor.

1. Rev. Evans, Fullerton Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). I'm trusting my over 60 year old memory for the church's official name and the pastor who was there when I moved at age 9 from the hicktown of Fullerton, California, to the metropolis of Skull Valley, Arizona. I do remember he had a daughter around my age.
2. Merle Heatwole, Skull Valley Community Church. I may not have his name spelled correctly. 
3. Ken Gordon, Verde Baptist Church, Cottonwood, AZ.
4. Ken Kunneman, Manzanita Baptist Chruch, Kingsman, AZ. I'm not sure I got his name correct. While at that church, I was introduced to cults, and an Anabaptist history view. A year later after returning to Cottonwood, Ken taught an elective on future things at camp, which I attended with Ken Gordon's son Tim (who was two years ahead of me in high school).
5. Denny Leeds (Youth Pastor), Verde Baptist Church. 
6. Henry Atkenson, Verde Baptist Church
7. Jim Woods (Youth Pastor), Verde Baptist Church
8. Joe LoMuscio, Cactus Baptist Church, Phoenix, AZ
9. Jim McCormick, Cactus Baptist Church. When I started attending there, he was an associate pastor, and became senior pastor after Rev. LoMusio took the pastorate at Temple Baptist Church, Fullerton, CA. (NOTE- I walked past Temple Baptist on the way to school before moving to AZ.)
10. Joe Magliato, Sonlight Christian Center, Orange CA. One claim to fame - his wife had a brother named Carman. Yes, that Carman.
11. Mark Cola (College/Career Pastor), Sonlight Christian Center.
12. Roger Hosier, Antioch Baptist Church, Orange, CA. Roger had the honor of marrying Becky and I.
13. Bob Irvine, Bethel Baptist Church, Phoenix, AZ
14. Bill Hackett, Valley Christian Assembly, Phoenix, AZ. 
15. Rodger Buck and 
16. Bob Johnson, Bethel Baptist Church, Valley, NE. Rod, Bob, and I were co-pastors.
17. R. B. Adamson, Victory Baptist Church, Bowling Green, KY.
18. Don Finto, Belmont Church, Nashville, TN.
19. Jerry Badgley, Calvary Church of the Nazarene, Nashville, TN.
20. Dennis King, Stonebrook Baptist Church, Nolensville, TN. If you're familiar with Experiencing God, Henry Blackaby wrote it with Claude King. Claude is Dennis' brother.
21. Mike Wilson, Calvary Chapel, Bowling Green, KY
22. Jeff Adler, Simhat Yeshua Messianic Congregation.
23. Jeff Seward, Horizon Christian Center West, Indianapolis, IN. Becky and I attended Simhat and Horizon at the same time. (Also, while I was sitting under the teaching of Jeff and Jeff, I also had a supervisor at work named Jeff.)
24. Gary Stump, Arlington Avenue Baptist Church, Indianapolis, IN.
25. Bill Scott, Hunter Road Bible Church, Indianapolis, IN
26. Richard Walton, Arlington Avenue Baptist Church, Indianapolis. Richard has the honor (or not) of being my pastor for the longest time - 16 years, not counting serving as an associate under Rev. Stump for a year when I had previously been at Arlington.
27. Tommy Johnston, Castleton Community Church, Indianapolis, IN.
28. Dr. Jeremy Couture, Northside Baptist Church, Indianapolis, where Becky and I currently attend.

I would like to thank each of these men for their leadership and for being a blessing to me, and especially their faithfulness to serving the Lord Jesus Christ.

Does anybody else have a pastor they want to thank?