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TRUST JESUS TODAY

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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Pastor (11/30/06)
     He was my friend, my pastor when I was ten, one of those friends you see for not years but talk like its just been moments. When I was twenty five, and my mother had not long left, he came running to speak with her. I’ve attended many churches through time but never did I feel as at home as when I was a kid there at Cedar Temple Baptist Church. Craig C. Freeman, Pastor, was busy with many activities to help others. I wondered even then how he had time to take care of himself since he was not paid by the church but made his own money and yet took care of so many people. There was always the Christian camp in the summer, the New Year’s party at his house, the getting of the kids together to visit the nursing homes. He was there throughout, and he always had the Good News to share.

     He was not a tepid preacher nor was he an angry speaker, he was real, and he was very good, and though I can’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t believe in the Lord, Brother Freeman made me understand that prayer and my walk with God weren’t sprints three times a day like hurrying to remember to brush your teeth, they were between the lines of daily regiment. Prayer was asking for grace in the moment to moment, in getting out of bed, in turning on the television; Breath and decision and signature, in remembrance of Him.

     Brother Freeman taught me many things I hold to today, of which that is foremost. He also taught me that we can show and we can tell others about God but we can’t make them listen. In other words, we can’t save people on our own power, because we have no power on our own, only Jesus can do that. It is up to them and their walk with God. So I respect Brother Freeman very much, and knowing him has made me strive to be a better Christian in my own daily journey.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
julie wood
12/09/06
Pastor Freeman sounds like a wonderful person! I like that this piece was titled with his name--that grabbed me, because character sketches of individuals are always interesting.

The character here would come more alive for me if dialogue were included, along with descriptions of specific events and/or details of his gestures, mannerisms, facial expressions, and so on.

My favorite line in the piece was comparing a walk with God to "sprints three times a day like hurrying to remember to brush your teeth." A delightfully vivid and original way to communicate how we get bound up in meaningless ritual.

Great message!
Catrina Bradley
12/12/06
Thanks for this heartfelt story about your childhood pastor. I like this line and will remember its message: (ps - "Breath" doesn't need to be capitilized after the semi-colon.)
"Prayer was asking for grace in the moment to moment, in getting out of bed, in turning on the television; Breath and decision and signature, in remembrance of Him."
Jen Davis
12/14/06
How wonderful to have had a pastor that has been both your friend and an inspiration. I also liked your description of remembering to brush your teeth and the other examples of daily activities.