Nerbern sounded the horn, but there was no response. Most cab drivers would have driven away rather than risk knocking on a strange door at two-thirty in the morning, but out of concern that someone may need assistance, Nerbern went to the door. A frail voice answered, “Just a minute,” and a tiny elderly woman emerged and asked for help with a large suitcase.

She gave him the address of her destination, but asked him to take the longest route, explaining, “It’s ok. I’m not in a hurry. I’m going to a hospice. I don’t have very long.” Nerbern shut off the meter and drove her around for hours as she relived memories of her life and visited important places.

As the sun rose, she told him she was tired and ready to go. When they arrived at the hospice, she got out her purse to pay the fare, but Nerbern, profoundly moved by their time together, refused to accept her money. She hugged him and thanked him for the moment of joy he had brought to the last weeks of her life.

Nerbern considered his job as a cab driver to be something of a ministry. It regularly provided opportunities to listen as strangers poured out their hearts to him, and, on this night, a chance to give comfort to a lonely, dying woman.

God has given each of us a ministry. It may be our workplace, our children’s school, or just a group of friends with common interests. If we watch for opportunities to enrich others’ lives, we will find them, but it will most certainly mean sacrifice.

May we never hesitate to go out of our way to bring joy or comfort to another.

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Hebrews 13:2

By the end of the day, Drew had collected more than $10,000, thanks to a generous donor who wrote a check for $5000 and Gladewater residents who were moved by the boy’s efforts. While others were astonished by his success, Drew wasn’t particularly surprised by the town’s support. “I was thinking that everybody would come,” he said, when a reporter asked if he was surprised.

Drew didn’t hesitate to act; motivated by his love and concern for his father, what he knew about the character of the people around him empowered him to give all he could.

The Gospel of Mark tells the story of a widow, who, like Drew, gave all she had.

“And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.” Mark 12:41-44

The widow trusted God and gave wholeheartedly. Drew gave out of love for his father, knowing that the people of that small town in Texas would respond.

Christians have confidence in what we know about the character of God. When we love and trust in Him with all our hearts, we are free to give all, love completely and serve unselfishly. Even the most humble gift, from two tiny coins to a 25-cent cup of lemonade, given from a generous heart, is magnified for Kingdom impact.

Fans of the game realize that neither Humber nor those who went before him accomplished the feat alone. Often unrecognized and underappreciated, the catcher’s role in the victory is critical. Crouched low behind the batter and hidden beneath protective gear, his face is rarely seen and he is far less likely to be a household name than the pitcher. Much of his work goes unnoticed as he rigorously studies opposing hitters’ strengths, weaknesses and tendencies and uses this knowledge to signal to the pitcher how to best get each batter out.

While Humber received instant acclaim and attention, few will remember the name of catcher A.J. Pierzynski, who called the game. After the game, Pierzynski said:

“You want it so bad for the guy on the mound. You want him to have that achievement forever, to be remembered forever. It’s a special thing that Phil did.”

The heart of a servant means we are glad to play catcher. We rejoice in the accomplishments of others without envy or jealousy and don’t strive for our own glory or recognition, but for the Kingdom. We do our work quietly and diligently whether or not anyone is aware of or appreciates our efforts.

The Christian life sacrifices personal glory for servanthood and gladly gives the glory to God for all we accomplish, just as Phil Humber, a Christian, does:

“It’s not me … I’ve said it a lot, but God, it’s His timing. I haven’t changed. I’ve worked as hard as I’m working now my whole career. But before it used to be about me, but now it’s not … Whatever we’re doing, we should be doing it to glorify God … “

Let us live for riches far more satisfying than money, for joy greater than fame and fortune — not for what we can achieve, but for what Jesus has done for us.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:3 – 4

Jesse Atkins is an assistant pastor at Faith United Methodist Church on Frayser Boulevard. His ministry interests are healing and ministry to and praying for the sick. Jesse believes his MCUTS training has helped him better understand how to get involved in the community and reach them for Christ. He will receive a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Ministries and, when asked about his five-year plan, says,

“I’m open to wherever God leads me. I hope to be involved in evangelism and healing. Not only for sick people, but for the neighborhoods.”

Diane Ayers serves as a youth minister with Operation Hope and is a youth pastor at Holy Faith United Ministries, Millington. She works with students of all ages to bridge the gap between school and faith as it provides character development training, tutoring and college preparation with at-risk children and teens, from age five to 21. Diane will complete her Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Ministries. Her five-year plan includes,

“Maybe planting a church that is active in community outreach. So many people don’t know God — I’d like to reach out to them and to be active in community development.”

Sherman Mason is an associate minister at Cornerstone Institutional Baptist Church. He and his wife, Yolanda, founded a prison ministry called Saving Faith Ministries, and conduct worship services each Sunday for inmates. Sherman will receive a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Ministries. He credits his MCUTS program with helping him learn how to better recognize others’ gifts and manage his ministry. Sherman describes his five-year plan as:

… furthering my education with master’s and doctoral degrees in divinity, psychology and counseling.

Glenn Payne is an associate pastor at St. Paul AME Church in Lake Center, Mississippi. His primary ministry interest is teaching and preaching and he has taught Sunday School for several years. Glenn believes his MCUTS coursework has helped him “overcome his shyness and become comfortable teaching and confident in the truth of what I teach.” Glenn will receive a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Ministries and his five-year plan is to:

… continue to teach, preach and serve, further my biblical education by pursuing master’s and possibly doctoral degrees and to teach God’s word daily.”

Please join us in congratulating our graduates and lifting them up in prayer as they enter this new phase of ministry.

Related posts:

1. Congratulations, Belhaven Graduates!
2. Student Highlight – Sherman Mason
3. Motivating Yourself

Here’s a message from our MCUTTERS team:

Every day, thousands of babies are born too soon, too small and often very sick. Our team is walking in March for Babies because we want to do something about this. We know you care, too.

If you can’t walk with us, please help by donating to our team. You can do so right on this page. Thank you for helping us give all babies a healthy start!

The mission of March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.

We salute our student team and are grateful to see them put their faith in action.

• Team Members
  • Tish Alexander
  • Gary DeBose
  • Katrina Gordon-Jones
  • Erica Jackson
  • Tina Jones
  • Sylvia Turner
  • Donald Williams
• Learn more about March for Babies.
• Even if you can’t walk in person, walk with them in spirit by donating online or by mail to:March Of Dimes
  Memphis Division
  5384 Poplar Avenue, Suite 107
  Memphis, TN 38119
  (Be sure to specify MCUTTERS in the memo of your check.)

They are almost to their team fundraising goal of $400 — let’s make sure they reach it.

Blowfish, a salt-water fish, contains a poison that is 1,250 times more deadly than cyanide and as much as 160,000 times more potent than cocaine. Less than half an ounce is enough to kill 500 people. Licensed fugu chefs train for 11 years and must pass a rigorous examination.

The difficulty lies in the fact that the tastiest meat is also the closest to the most dangerous part of the fish, the liver. Extraordinary skill and precision are required with little margin for error; one wrong cut of the chef’s knife can mean the difference between a tasty meal and a painful death.

Why would wealthy, sophisticated diners risk their lives for a meal? Fugu aficionados say the flavor is exquisite enough to risk dying for. For some, it’s likely the status and prestige associated with an exclusive dining experience.

Sin is like spiritual blowfish. We’re often drawn to seek pleasure and status and many times we push the limits to see how far we can go without stepping over the line.

A tiny bit of gossip, a little jealousy, unkind names hurled at a stranger in traffic — seemingly minor offenses we are tempted to count as harmless are spiritual poison that separates us from God. It doesn’t take a large dose to harden our hearts toward others and drive us farther from Him.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8

When we walk closely with God and regularly spend quality time in study and reflection, the Holy Spirit sharpens our discernment. The Spirit’s guidance helps us divide the sweetness from the poison and remain strong when the most attractive temptations are the most dangerous.

As we turn our hearts and minds toward the things of God, we become more sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit so that, like the finely-honed blade of the chef’s knife, we may separate the honorable, just, pure and lovely from the poison.

Wake-up calls aren’t pleasant and the sound of an alarm clock is seldom soothing or peaceful, otherwise we wouldn’t be stirred from sleep. Spiritual wakeup calls are no more inviting, yet how we respond to them has lasting impact on the rest of our lives.

Consider David, who, as King, committed adultery with Bathsheba. The coverup that ensued led to the death of Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah. David did not listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and was unrepentant in his sin until a wakeup call from Nathan. Sent by God, Nathan bravely and wisely illustrated David’s wrongdoing with a parable about a rich man who stole sheep from a poor man. As David burned with anger against the man in the story, Nathan confronted him simply and honestly, saying, “You are the man! (2 Samuel 12:7)

David heard the wake-up call. He didn’t get defensive, didn’t order Nathan killed or send him away. He didn’t excuse his sinful behavior, blame Nathan for bringing the message or deny the affair. He simply said, “I have sinned against the Lord.” (2 Samuel 12:13)

Out of his grief and true desire for repentance, David wrote these words:

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit. (Psalm 51: 10-12)

David could have ignored Nathan and hit snooze or he could have had his messenger killed. Instead, he chose to wake up to his sin, face the consequences and make a new start.

There are times when we are called upon to be the alarm clock for a brother or sister in sin, and other times someone may be led to awaken us. Pray for God’s courage to confront sin as honestly as Nathan, and for a right spirit to respond, as David did, with genuine repentance.

Related posts:

1. Lenten Season
2. Tears

Springtime in the south can remind us of that splendor, with colorful azaleas, daffodils, tulips, dogwood blossoms, budding trees and greening grass. Though they seem to provide effortless beauty, these blooms are the result of hard work — from planting and fertilizing to weeding and pruning. Neglect the work and weeds invade the garden and leech crucial nutrients from the soil; fail to water and plants soon shrivel and die in the hardened ground.

The Christian life is often compared to a garden; as plants and flowers are damaged by lack of care and watering, so are our hearts hardened by a lack of Living Water. Consider Jesus’ words to the Samaritan woman at the well:

“Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” — John 4:13-14

Daily time spent reading and meditating on God’s word keeps our hearts soft and porous and makes the weeds of our sin easier to remove. When we allow God to prune for growth, we establish deep roots of faith that will withstand storms and harsh conditions.

Let the beauty of springtime remind us to cultivate the garden of our hearts; to tend the soil, to feed and nurture, and to water deeply with God’s word.

Related posts:

1. Tune Your Heart
2. Be Still

Have you heard about Memphis?
Sure, you’re probably already familiar with our world-famous barbecue. And we’re quite fond of our most famous resident, the King.
But step out of Graceland and off of Beale Street for a moment, and you’ll find a big city primed for big things. We’ve got a rich history, but a richer future.

That’s how Memphis nonprofit City Leadership introduces their new website, Choose901.com. City Leadership’s mission is to “recruit, develop and catalyze leaders,” and toward that end they have developed the site to showcase all that the Bluff City has to offer.

Choose 901’s primary audience is recent college graduates and 20-something professionals. The site is rich with colorful photos, original videos and posts that highlight great Memphis spots such as the Zoo, the National Civil Rights Museum, local restaurants and the historic South Main district.

There are posts about upcoming events like the Beale Street Music Festival and spring food festivals, and photo galleries with a fresh visual perspective on familiar local sights, including the Memphis Type section and the smart phone and Instagram-powered Memstagram. There’s also a store that features Choose 901-themed t-shirts, buttons and coffee mugs, with more merchandise to come.

In addition to ways to enjoy life in Memphis, Choose 901 features opportunities to give back to the community through internships that provide professional development and experience with organizations such as Memphis Teacher Residency, the Church Health Center and Service Over Self (SOS).

To learn more about Choose 901, follow them online:

• Twitter
• Facebook
• Vimeo

We’re excited about Choose901 and what it can do for Memphis. Take a look for yourself.

Related posts:

1. The Greatness of Memphis

Advances in technology change many things about our outward lives; they bring convenience, connectedness and the ready availability of information to which we would otherwise not have access.

These advancements may alter our outward lives, but our inward nature hasn’t changed much in the past 2,000 years. Like us, the people we read about in the Bible were at times selfish, greedy, materialistic, jealous and prejudiced. The stories are not that different from our nightly news reports of adultery, murder, dishonesty and deception.

What has been is what will be,

and what has been done is what will be done,

and there is nothing new under the sun.

Is there a thing of which it is said,

“See, this is new?”

It has been already

in the ages before us. —Ecclesiastes 1:9-10

Nothing in our culture surprises God. He ordained before the dawn of time that there would someday be a printing press and an Internet. He appointed a day for every advance, and He knows what the next one will be before its creators see the flicker of a new idea.

Technology changes, our lifestyles change, but God never changes. Buy a shiny new gadget today and it’s obsolete within a few months; today’s hot Internet trend is tomorrow’s old news. But He is timeless and unchanging:

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” — James 1:17

Because He is the one Constant, we can depend upon him without reservation. As unsettling as change can be, we can rest in the shadows of His strength, provision and comfort. He does not bend to the winds of earthly change, His love does not wax and wane and he is the steady Rock that weathers all storms.