Elder Ordination

 Today I was formally accepted as an Elder at Krugersdorp Baptist Church, for those that don't know this has been a long and sometimes difficult process.
Of course there were a few jokes about getting old to be an elder.
Honestly though while in one sense this is an honour the overwhelming thoughts in my head lie in the recognition of the solemn responsibility that goes with this. It's bad enough that I'm 'serious' a lot of the time anyway, now the 'officialness' of this privilege rests it's weight on top of that.


"For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it." (Titus 1:7-9 ESV)

If it sounds like I'm apprehensive well I am a bit, but in another sense I'm looking forward to serving the people of Krugersdorp Baptist in a more meaningful way. A week or so ago my boss posted a picture with two non overlapping circles, the smaller circle representing our comfort zone and a bigger circle labelled 'where the magic happens' Most of us just carry on living never reaching beyond what we know i.e. in our comfort zone, for all sorts of reasons this is not one of those for me, I'm going to be stretched and whilst I wouldn't use the word 'magic', and I will most definitely not be relying on only my own strength I know I'm reaching into that bigger circle.

Only God has made this possible, in His infinite wisdom he has brought me along a path, which includes a lot of mistakes and failures on my part, that has prepared me for this work, nothing I am or have done in my own strength has brought me here, only my absolute faith and hope (which He gives me anyway) in God through Christ and in the power granted by the Holy Spirit are going to carry me through. This I know "He who has begun a good work in me will bring it to completion at the day of Christ"

For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

(Galatians 2:19-20 ESV)