"The Call" -- October 2013 Cedar Creek Church of God Newsletter

           

 

 

          Do you smell that? That, my friends, is the smell of fall. Autumn is my most favorite time of the year. Some people do not like the gloom of the turning of the leaves, and that is understandable, but this season is the harvest season. The idea of “harvest” represents a special place in my heart. Being a farm boy, harvest is a time that we reap the rewards and benefits of our year-long labors. Being a pastor, harvest is a time reminding me that “the fields are ripe and ready for harvest”. It is a beautiful reminder that our work as a Christian is never finished.

           

            How are we doing in the harvest? It seems as though times are getting tougher for soul-winning efforts. Sin is at the fingertips of the populace. Never underestimate the power of God, however. This past Wednesday night was one of the best services that I have been a part of at Cedar Creek. Hearts were tender after the scary event that happened at South Greene. One young lady made a first time commitment to Christ and salvation. Several other students decided that they were not where they needed to be in their relationship with Christ and prayed for a renewing of their minds in Christ. It was a two hour service filled with the Holy Spirit, and for that I am grateful. I can think of no better way to spend time, and I am very thankful to be a small part of those life-altering decisions.

 

            As we roll into the last quarter of 2013, we are staying busy in the youth department at Cedar Creek. As most of you know, we have just returned from fall retreat in Crossville. This was a good time of renewal and fellowship. We see friends at events such as this that we rarely get to see. Thank you for your support and prayer for this event. Also lately, this past Friday we sponsored a meal here at Cedar Creek for the South Greene Rebels football team. They were a thankful bunch and I was glad that we could extend a little love and ministry to that local group of young men. I very much appreciate all of the help that the people of the church offered. I could not have done it without you, as this turned out to be a pretty big undertaking.

 

            Upcoming, we have several things on the horizon. It is already time to start preparing for next year’s big events. Next year is an International Youth Convention year, and it will be held in Nashville, July 5-8. As always, this is a great experience for our youngsters as well as us older ones. This is an expensive journey and we will have to begin preparing for such an event soon. Since our potato crop (which was a rotten, but well-meant flop) is finished, we can now move on to other options. We will begin finishing the T-bird project soon. Also, we are again planning a Christmas banquet on the first Saturday night in December. Go ahead and mark your calendars! We have a couple events coming soon as well. Two of our annual events are creeping up on us fast. In this month of October, we will take our annual corn maze trip. Then, before you know it, winter retreat will be here. The date for these two events are to yet to be determined, so keep your eyes and ears turned toward the bulletin and weekly announcements.

 

            As we go into this harvest season, please be in prayer for the youth group. I cannot get John 4:35 out of my head. The fields are ripe and ready for harvest and it is our responsibility to be diligent harvesters. Pray that the Holy Spirit go before us and prepare the way so that lives can be changed for the better and forever.

 

Blessings & love to you in this wonderful time of year! Enjoy those leaf piles, pumpkin pies, and bon fires!

 

Pastor E.J.

A Lifelong learner...

 

        Lord help me to be a lifelong learner. What does it mean to be a lifelong learner? What is the importance? Well, here is a little plowboy mentality for you... If you're stuck on a hill, (life metaphor) and you're not pulling forward, then you're backing up. That is to say, if you are not advancing, then you're retreating. We live in a world that does not sit still. Being idle is not an option. Since "we are called according to His purpose" as not only ministers but as Christians and human beings, we have a responsibility to continually better ourselves so that we are of a greater value and worth. Again in plowboy terms, the more you know the more you can do. The better our ability the better our impact.
 

         How does one become a lifelong learner? In my opinion, it is a matter of will. We either choose to have the learning mindset, or we choose to be stagnate. The irony of the matter lies in the fact that we will always learn, rather we want to or not. We will learn by experience, mistakes, and success if by no other means. However, if we take the initiative, our learning experiences can multiply extensively. Again, how? We should read. Reading is the gateway to knowledge. I can't sit here in my fancy little office chair and tell you that I absolutely love reading; that would be a lie. It is a love-hate relationship for me, but I am working on it. I pray that God grant me a love for reading, not just a respect. It seems I enjoy it more daily. Nevertheless, we should all be reading and growing in knowledge. What should we read? The Bible is a given. It is a necessity to read God's Word. We cannot live the Christian life the way that it was meant to be lived without hearing from God. The best way to hear from God is to listen to what He says. That being said, I think we should read a variety of things. This variety will broaden our scope of knowledge. I read Christian ministry books often. I read periodicals often. Some of my favorite periodicals are The Greeneville Sun, Group Magazine (a magazine for and by youth leaders), H.O.G., The Angus Journal, etc... I even read modern pop magazines; not because I particularly enjoy them, but because this subject matter will help me relate better with my students. I read books relating to counseling and psychology. I read military and political history. I read financial inspiration books. I read text books (yes even outside of class). I read emergency personnel handbooks and standard operating procedure manuals. I will even read the occasional owner's manual. What you read is up to you, but I humbly suggest stepping outside your comfort on occasion.

          In addition to reading, one could also open up to the idea of furthering their education to some degree. There are endless possibilities in this arena. Yes, sometimes it will cost time and money, but I believe the effort to be worth it. At the urging of my father, I went to college. I was the first generation of my family to graduate from college. The material I learned at Milligan was amazing, but even more important is the ideal instilled within me that learning is important. I have recently enrolled in a local educational opportunity started by a local congregation and offered to all. It is called The Church of God Bible Institute. It is a two year, online learning opportunity taught in the format of a collegiate style. There are these opportunities as well as others to tap into. If you cannot commit to university learning, try a local community college and take a class at a time. Research your options. I attend seminars often; these too are great learning opportunities. One of my favorite recent endeavors is venturing into the world of chaplaincy. I would love to one day be able to serve as an emergency services chaplain, if the Lord directs. I expect this to be in a volunteer capacity, but what better way to volunteer? With this in mind, I have started taking a few ICISF (International Critical Incident Stress Foundation) classes to both prepare me for future chaplain possibilities, but also to gain important knowledge in my full-time ministry at Cedar Creek.

          Being a lifelong learner is a responsibility placed on us all. We should have the desire to always better ourselves for the advancement of others as well as our own benefit. Here's a final thought in plowboy terms, and I hope it applies to you as well: I don't know if I'll ever be a genius or not, but it won't be for lack of trying.

Good luck in your educational endeavors. Love & Blessings,

Pastor E.J.

"The Call" -- CCCOG Newsletter Article for August

         

            Ready or not, here comes August. July has been a little bit of a breather for me, as I am sure it has for many of you as well. I always enjoy celebrating our Nation’s independence on July 4. It was a little rainy this year, but it was still an enjoyable season. We should not hasten to be thankful for this great and wonderful country in which we live. As July continued, Kasey and I took a week’s vacation and spent some time at the beach. It is a beautiful sight to see. As the waves crash in, I see God’s handiwork. A little time at the golf course and a little time at the beach and I was ready and anxious to get back to work. I always enjoy traveling, but I also enjoy coming home. I am rested and ready to hit this August hard. August is when youth group season starts. As a matter of my opinion and observation, I think the most effective time for youth ministry pretty much follows the school year. I think when school starts and lives go back to normal, things fall back into a routine. Church life and youth group are no exception. This is a time for youth pastors like myself to capitalize on the opportunities to build relationships with the young people. Students will never get serious about Christ unless they can see a real relationship with somebody who is exemplifying Christ’s love. This is a Biblical challenge to us all. 

 

               Looking ahead, I would like to share some of the opportunities that lie around the corner. A couple of those opportunities are extremely exciting. August the 14^th will be a special service for the youth at Cedar Creek. We will be having our back to school bash. This is an opportunity to kick off the season with a bang. The students have been urged to invite several friends to this time of food, fun, and fellowship. It is an opportunity to welcome new students from the high school as well as a reminder to some of those who are returning. Please pass the word along. Also currently, several of the students are trying hard to restart our drama ministry. They are practicing often and putting their heads together in a strong effort. Their hopes are to possibly travel to sister churches and present a service of drama, song, and Word. I am excited as well; I love seeing them motivated for the cause of Christ. Moving into September, we will be hosting a Public Servant Appreciation Sunday. This was again an idea from the students. In remembrance of the 9-11 tragedy/season, they decided that they would like to publically thank the public servants (police, fire, EMS, etc…) that serve our community selflessly every day. Therefore, we are going to acknowledge their service on Sunday the 15^th by offering a special service in their honor as well as a banquet to follow. There will be more about this in the September issue of The Call, but please be in prayer for this event already. Also, if you would like to be involved, please see me. September also holds the Tennessee State C.O.G. Youth’s Fall Retreat. It will again be at Camp Crossville this year and the dates are September 20-22. It is always a fun, Godly experience, and this year will be no different. The speakers will be Tiger Brooks and Dough Hallock while worship will be led by the popular Julian Drive. The cost of this trip will be $40 and a deposit of $20 will is due by August 28.  

 

               I am excited about what is ahead for the coming year. I am confident that God will bless our lives and His ministry. Most of you know already, but I would like to publicly share a bit of excitement. If everything goes well, Kasey and I are going to be parents sometime around the end of January. We are excited and nervous as well. We would appreciate your prayers. I see all of the little ones running around here at Cedar Creek and I am excited about adding another one to the bunch. I can think of no better place to introduce our child to the love of God than here at Cedar Creek. I know that our Church family will help us in that process. 

 

As for now, may God bless your back-to-school ventures and I hope that the coming season will bring us closer to God and each other! See you Sunday!

 Blessings,

Pastor E.J.

What's it Mean to You? Independence Day!

         

What does Independence Day mean to you? That's a question that deserves an answer. In all fairness, I'll go first. What does Independence Day mean to me?? Well, I suppose I am a little more patriotic than some. It seems that my generation and those that are following don't seem to have a lot of respect for the holiday. I believe they appreciate the United States of America, but I feel as though the love and adoration is not there. Maybe this is an epidemic that spans a majority of generations; maybe even those before me.... Anywho, back to the question. What does Independence Day mean to me.....

-- It is the day that represents the absolute best nation in the world. She may not be exactly what I think she should be, but the United States of America is still the best nation in the world.

-- It represents the pride that I have for the three young men from my youth group that have joined the armed services. May God bless them and protect them for their willingness to serve. 

-- It is a day that represents my grandfather, Brent, who served in the air force and worked hard the rest of his life so that I could benefit today from his labor. He died too young, but his legacy lives on. This is the American way that I am fond of.

-- It is a day that represents my grandfather, Harry, who was crippled with Arthritis but still worked hard to provide for a large family. This too is the American way that I am fond of. It is this dedication that is lacking in today's society!

-- It is a day that represents everyone else's grandfathers that served and came home with scars that most of us couldn't see.


-- It represents American classic cars, Route 66, drive-in movies, and malted milk shakes.

--It is a day that represents all of the sacrifices made by people that I'll mostly never know who died for millions of people who they would never know.

-- It represents a vast multitude of public servants who are not military, but who are fire fighters, police, emergency personnel, etc. (many who volunteer their time) and who also dedicate their lives to the bettering of their communities. In turn, this makes our Nation stronger and better. They represent an attitude that should be, but is rarely prevelant. That attituted is one of service.

-- It represents September 11, 2001

-- It is a day that represents, fields full of cows, corn fields, steel mills, coal mines, semi-trucks, and every other imaginable means of hard work. 

-- It is the day that represents the cousin I never knew because of shrapnel from the viet cong.

-- It is a day that represents a group of then tyrants, now founding patriots who formed a set of standards in the late 1700's that I believe were God-inspired and are now being negatively and selfishly manipulated.

-- It is a day that represents time with family, cook-outs, fireworks, and fellowship.

-- It is a day that will from now on be bittersweet for some relatives who are planning on laying their loved one to rest on July 4, 2013. May God comfort the family and lengthen the legacy of Wayne Woolsey.

-- It is a day that reminds me of how much I love these United States. I'd fight for them today, if called to do so.

-- It is a day that represents, LZ-Xray and other heroic efforts throughout our Nation's history.

-- It is a day that represents good music -- everything from banjos to steel guitars to slap bass to cellos to sythesized guitars.

-- It is a day that I desire to be respected and cherished by the coming generations. Here is my plea: Be proud!! Fly the Flag. Wear the red, white, & blue! Play the patriotic music. Stand tall and respectful when the Star Spangled Banner is played. Thank a veteran often. Boycott those who stomp on the flag. Vote for the principles that this country did, does, and should forever stand for. Know that you are directly responsible for the direction of the United States of America. Become active in government, no matter what your age. Most importantly, make sure that God is first in your life. God cannot be taken out of America if He remains within her patriots and government officials. Go to the top, friends, and take God with you!

-- It is the day that represents the absolute best nation in the world. She may not be exactly what I think she should be, but the United States of America is still the best nation in the world.

What does it mean to you?

July 2013 Article in "The Call" --- Cedar Creek COG Newsletter

          

          I can only remember one better June in all of my days. This has probably been the busiest June in all of my days, but it was right up there with the best June ever! I think I’ll choose to be careful here; the best June in the life of E.J. was the one back in 2008 when my lovely wife and I were married. She is the one God chose for me and definitely is a blessing straight from heaven. Nevertheless, June 2013 is going to be one to remember as well. It started with church camp. Camp Greene is an event that I am not directly responsible for, and for that I am thankful. I could not begin to fill the shoes of those who direct such events. It is a bird of a different color. I did take great joy in participating in what I hope was a helpful manner. Roles and strategies aside, here is the point: God works through church camp. I saw souls saved, lives changed, friendships made, friendships repaired, etc… Souls were saved!! Heaven is rejoicing because of the fruits of the labor of those who manned Camp Greene. I almost feel guilty, though. I was amazed at God’s awesome participation during church camp, and I should have been expecting it. Then came vacation bible school at Cedar Creek. This too was an amazing event. I am not sure about quantity, as the numbers might have been a little bit off, but the quality was (as it always is) amazing. There were knights adorning the halls of faux rock, there were dukes, earls, kings, queens, and every mid-evil creature imaginable. “Kingdom Rock” was the theme. Most importantly, there was an atmosphere focused on educating children about the ways and love of God. I was extremely excited to be a part of this event, too. A huge “thanks” goes out to those who helped with and helped orchestrate such an amazing event. Also, thanks go to God for His guidance and blessing. If you read this newsletter locally, and you have children, please put Cedar Creek’s VBS on your 2014 to-do list. You and your children will not be disappointed.   

            There are some exciting venues on the horizon for the Cedar Creek Church of God Youth Group. I cannot divulge all of them in this month’s letter, as some of them are still in the processing stage. However, I will give you a little taste of the excitement that lies ahead. We are now one year away from IYC 2014. Next year’s international youth convention will be h eld in Nashville. Since it will be so close, we are going to do all that we can to take full advantage of this ministry opportunity. We are now entering the heavy planning stage for this event, so your prayers are much appreciated. Also, the youth group is excited about a couple of mission-minded opportunities that lie ahead. These, again, are still in the processing stage. We are excited to divulge our decisions, but it may take a couple of weeks to finalize them. A few fundraising opportunities are developing as well. The potato crop will be coming in within the next month or so. You do not understand how excited I am to see these young men and women dig an acre of potatoes! If you are interested in supporting the youth group by purchasing some potatoes, please be in contact with me pretty soon so I can put you on the order list. The Thunderbird project is making headway as well. It has been in the shop for the past month or so, but I expect the students to be polishing her out in no time flat.

           

So far, it has been a busy summer. Some people who study youth ministry patterns say that ministry stops during the summer. Some go as far as to cancel services in June and July. With all due respect, these people have missed the mark. Well, at least for our neck of the woods they have. Sure ministry patterns change during the summer. A youth pastor must minister to those who show up. A minister might even have to change methods a little. Families are gone on vacation and (as frustrating as it may be at times) trips to the lake and golf course slip in on occasion. We as ministers must not waiver. Those who negate summer ministry should have been at Cedar Creek this past June; The Holy Spirit sure was there, and for that I am thankful. This June was no off-season, nor do I think any June should be.

 When you get the next newsletter, our summer will be winding down. Students will be gearing up for school, and the youth ministry will be planning accordingly. I hope that you enjoy the rest of your July. I pray that God protects and blesses you during this season of fun. We serve an amazing God that will “never leave nor forsake you,” but “life more abundant” is there for the taking should you choose to draw nearer to God. Choose well my friends, as the choice if yours!

 Blessings, prayer, and love in your direction,

Pastor E.J.  

VBS directors are a special breed!

 

   I know it's been a couple of weeks since I've posted, but I promise it's not because I haven't wanted to. So, what's been going on? Vacation Bible School, baby!! What a week. My last addition to this blog was about how I thought there will be a special place in Heaven for church camp directors. Well this is true, but I have now added "VBS directors" to that list. VBS directors are underestimated. A common misconception is that their responsibilities stop with preparing a snack and providing a craft. This may be the case with a make-shift, half-hearted attempt at VBS, but this should not be the case if children's ministry is a priority at your church.

     Our VBS crew started preparing for the big week months ahead of time. The theme for VBS this year was "Kingdom Rock." It was a mid-evil, knights and castles type theme. Our crew built a castle on stage, fashioned rock walls throughout the entire building, created knights in shining armor to adorn the halls, and then focused heavily on the curriculum. This was a major event. It is true, the director has to make sure that there are people in charge of snacks and crafts, but they also have to make sure every child is registered, that there is a crew-leader for every age group, and that there is ample time, ability, and resources for the entire event.

When all that is done, they have to fend off the nay-sayers (generally an older-minded, negative, self-centered congregant) that speak their negations on why we should never decorate the church or act in such a way. If they had it their way, you could only come to church if you were over 50, wearing a tie or dress, knew exactly where to sit, and were cleared and approved only and directly by them. This is the kind of thing that a VBS director has to put up with. It sounds familiar, as I myself deal with some of the same things as a youth pastor. This may be why I have a special place in my heart for someone who is willing to battle Satan and his attacks to minister to children. Following God's call is never easy, but it is the right thing to do.

My hat is off to you VBS directors of the world. May God richly bless!!

God's tool of evangelisim -- the teenager.

   

 

      Have you ever noticed a reverse evangelism effect in youth-aged congregants and their families? By "reverse" I mean the children coming to church and bringing their parents instead of the parents coming and bringing their children. I have noticed this phenomenon on several occasions. I find it powerful, amazing, and often times overlooked. Here is what has happened some at Cedar Creek. Students get extremely involved in youth activites and God starts dealing with their hearts. This is a good thing. It is my desire to see students grow closer to God. In turn, they follow the Holy Spirit and dedicate their lives to God. This too is the way it supposed to work. In many cases, however, these students live in a home where Christ is not the center. I have seen many a tear shed from a teenager in earnest prayer for her or his parents to be saved. This breaks my heart. There is a good side of this story though. On occasion, parents will start coming to church with their kids. Honestly, I believe it is a wonderful approach used by God. Most everyone around here at least acknowledges the existance of God. They may not be sincere about their individual involvement, but they love their children enough to want them to be close to God. In turn, when their children want to go to church, they sometimes end up going with them. In the best of these situations, the parents are saved and become dedicated to walking with Christ. How wonderful! God works through a teenager and I love watching it go down!

There is a special place in Heaven for camp directors!

      It is a selfless act that all too often goes unrecognized. Anybody who has ever worked with youth and/or planned a week-long event knows the difficulties and abnormalities that can and will arise. As I've mentioned in another post, when good things are happening Satan is going to work overtime to try to destroy them. An example of that would be the most current camp issue. The camp directors found out on Monday that the speaker for the week was laid over in California and wouldn't make it in time for the first service. Happenstance you say? No, says I! Blame it on the devil. It happens every time. You can bank on it. However, "greater is He that is within [us] than he that is within the world." Our God provided as He always does and an amazing local speaker stepped up and offered an amazing first service. Needless to say, I am looking forward to what God has in store for this coming week.
  The local summer camp here in Greene County is logically deemed Camp  Greene. Camp Greene is a local hot spot for summer God activities. I never took the opportunity as a child and teen to enjoy this occasion, but I have grown to love it as an adult and youth pastor. It seems that God is blessing this particular camp. It is my understanding that the camp had been diminishing in participation in past years, but it has exploded in the past five. The reason for its recent success is (along with God's blessing) the willingness and eagerness of individuals to take the reigns and seriously devote time and effort to this cause. For the fear of leaving someone out, I am not going to name names. However, my hat is off to those who dedicate weeks of their year to this occasion.

     I enjoy assisting with camp for several reasons. First, I enjoy seeing the students grow closer to God. That is a main objective in my life, and I thoroughly enjoy it. Also, student ministry is about relationship building. If you can't build effective relationships with the students then they're not going to open up when it is time to deliver God's word and offer other ministry. Camp is a great opportunity to build on those relationships. Camp time is also a time of unity. Unity is a big part of God's plan for the Church and it is a part that is overlooked and ignored way too often. Adults in the Church could learn quite a bit from the students at camp. I love seeing them mingle with those from different congregations. That is the way it is supposed to be and it is exemplified well at Camp Greene! I’m not sure if you know it or not, but there will be no denominational divide in Heaven. Finally, I enjoy camp because I am not in charge. I know that sounds selfish and I hope you'll forgive me. However, all year long I am in charge and responsible. It is nice to be out of that role once in a while. I offer my assistance every chance I get and I try to be there as much as I can, but I am not the one in charge... and it's nice. There is nothing wrong with being the bus driver and the cat-herder for a couple weeks. Again, thanks to those who put forth such an effort to deliver God's word and love to a generation who all too often are getting overlooked. There is a special place in Heaven for people like you!

I've Been Published!! E.J. Swatsell on Scrap Metal -- Ha Ha

   

     I've been published by Group Magazine! I realize it's just a 3x5 article, but its right there in the May-June 2013 edition on page 29. It may not mean much to many people, but I'm tickled pink! For those of you who don't know, Group Magazine is a bi-monthly periodical about youth ministry and for youth ministers. It is a fountain of encouragement and knowledge. If you are in youth ministry, this is a must have. If I'm not mistaken, there is a e-copy available as well. Check it out... seriously.

     The article that was published was about a fundraiser that we do at Cedar Creek. It actually all started as a joke. I was standing in the narthex of the church one Sunday morning talking about fund raising options and an older friend and youth group supporter jokingly stated that we should sell scrap metal, because its price is high at the moment. He was joking, but it struck my interest quickly. When something like that gets stuck in my head, I might as well explore it or I'll never get it out of my noggin. One thing led to another and we started the process.

    

Here is one of the most important factors about fundraising in a rural congregation. Most members of a rural congregation have had to work hard all of their lives. They are more than willing to financially aide a cause, but not until that cause works for it. They've worked hard for what they've got, and they naturally expect teenagers in a youth group to do the same. Remember that and fund raising in the rural congregation will go a lot smoother.

     Since I grew up on the farm and still farm a little, I have access to equipment such as trailers and such. This made the scrap metal collection process easier. It was definitely a God thing, as we started with one small dump trailer load of metal. By the end of our first drive we had collected over $15,000 in scrap metal. We frequented the scrap yard so much that we were on a first name basis with the owner. He would usually add a couple cents on the pound when he saw us coming; since it was for a good cause and all. There were even congregants asking us to come clean out their garages, which we did gladly because a good sized garage usually equals about a ton of metal. Then there were a few people who donated old silage trucks that were no longer usable. They robbed what parts they needed and we rolled it up on a trailer and hauled it off.

A thing to remember is that different metals sell for different prices. An example would be that scrap sells for around a dime per pound but good copper sells at $1.40 per pound. Aluminum is also higher. Scrap yards also accept old car batteries and radiators at a higher price than scrap. Again, with God's blessings and the assistance and support of the community, scrap metal collection worked out well for us. Will it work well for you? I'm not sure, but I know that if you're willing to work it is definitely worth the effort. Happy scrapping!

Coonhounds & Ministry: James Chapter 1

 

 

James 1 2-4:

 

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

 

 

            I would like to start off by saying that I am a very happy person. God has blessed me tremendously and I know that He is the source of all my blessings. I have been blessed with a wonderful family who loves me. I have a wonderful “job” that is, in fact, so good that I am hesitant to call it a job. I have a wonderful church family that is supportive of my ministry (God’s ministry through me) at Cedar Creek. I could go on and on and on and I probably should instead of starting this next paragraph. The truth is God has blessed, and I am thankful.

            Having said that, I would like to address the nature of humanity. Please, don’t expect Aristotle or Plato, but hang on for profoundness… It doesn’t matter how good you’ve got it, there are going to be shaping experiences in your life. To the best of my calculations, I have those experiences at least quarterly. I’ll share one of them with you, and I’ll follow up with a reasoning behind the madness. Maybe you’re going through a “shaping experience” and we can laugh at this one together.

 

Coonhounds & Ministry:  

            I was an avid raccoon hunter for a total of about six months. It was a grand idea of mine, just not a very successful one. The idea was rooted in sincerity, as I wanted to find something in common with a certain group of young men within our youth group. It was a relationship building opportunity. Looking back at it, this was not the best idea I’ve ever had. After working all day on the farm on a Saturday (which is important because I was scheduled to preach “big church” the following morning), I decided to take my mediocre-at-best dogs for a run with some of the boys from the youth group. I loved these dogs, but their trainer (me) was definitely lacking. Anyhow, we turned loose at a place called Saw Mill Holler up above Cedar Creek. It was supposed to be a honey hole. Right out of the truck, the dogs struck a trail and hit it hard for about 50 feet. Then they stopped like you turned off a light switch and took a dead left toward some houses and away from any feasible raccoon. My first thought, “I’m too tired for this, what was I thinking?” I looked down at my fancy little tracking system and ol’ Charlie was leaving the country. 100 feet turned into 1600 yards in a heart beat. He was gone. So, we walked down the trail, got in the truck, and headed in that direction. The good dog, Buster, met me at the road when he heard the truck crank. He was too old to be interested in what was taking place. Charlie, however, had winded a female companion somewhere down the road and I was the last thing on his mind! I followed the tracking system and found that he was behind a house and trying franticly to get into the dog pen. Well, the house was fenced in and you don’t just go snooping around somebody’s house at nine in the evening, so I waited at the road. To make a long story short here is how this went down: A neighbor finally came out carrying a shotgun wanting to know why in the world I was lurking around the community. After he figured out who and why I was, he went with me to the home of Charlie’s attractor. The said home owner was gone and the wife was scared to death. She proceeds to lay a fine bead on my forehead with her Glock… admirable, but unfortunate at the time. By God’s grace, she understood the art of raccoon hunting and recognized me. “Go ahead and get him, help yourself,” she said. So I go around back and step over a conspicuous, knee-high electric fence. Come to find out, that fence was designed to keep their pet, 1000 pound boar hog from attacking the neighbors. She didn’t tell me about him, but I quickly found out. I finally got Charlie by the collar and was leading him back to the truck when he vomited stolen cat food on my boot. That, my friends, is pretty much the sum of it.  

 

 

 

            I have since retired from hunting. I liked working the dogs, but the end result always required the killing of the coon. I guess I’m getting soft in my old age, but I don’t enjoy that like I used to. There’s always a moral to a story like this. In this case, there are several. First, not all ideas, though good intentions, are successful. Second, never take an electric fence for granted; it is there to either keep something in or keep something out – or both. Thirdly, Satan will use any tactic possible to distract good things from happening – as in the following day’s sermon, in my case. Lastly, and most importantly, James 1:2-4! This scripture is a grand reminder that through trials (even those in our lives much more serious than the above) we can become stronger in our faith and closer to God. Life will catch up to us. Bad things, sad things, crazy things, and ridiculous things are going to happen to us; especially when you’re trying to live right. When sin came into the world, Satan made it his goal and last-ditch effort to try to trip everyone up in anyway that he can. It is not easy being a Christian, especially one trying to serve in the ministry. Finances will be tight. Toes will be stumped. Wedding bands will be lost in hay fields (literally, not metaphorically). Equipment will tear up. All of this will happen at the most inconvenient time. There is hope yet! Remember this quote from my father: “If the devil is not working on you, he probably already has you.” Even though we are waging war with Satan in this daily spiritual battle, Christ won the war for us when he died on the cross! That’s pretty significant. Also, in 1 Corinthians 10, Paul tells us that nothing will ever be placed on us that we can’t handle. That is also good news. When it all boils down, James 1 is enlightening. The trials that we are going through are the same ones that God is using to teach us endurance. It is that endurance that will allow us to “fight a good fight and finish the race.” Consider it joy!

 

 

 

June article in "The Call" -- CCCOG Newseltter

            Well, we made it again. We made it through one of the busiest seasons in youth ministry. It starts with egg making in February, and ends with graduations in May. This year was a successful busy season. Eggs went extremely well and state youth convention was one of the best that I had ever taken part in. All of these successes are to the glory of God, with the assistance of the prayer warriors and supporters of the Cedar Creek Church of God and beyond. I cannot believe May flew by as quickly as it did. It has been a very productive May. We started with our all-church fellowship dinner that I think was a great success. We had a good time with the cook out and the movie projected on the wall in the Christian Activities Center. Times like these are priceless, as good Christian fellowship is one of the glues that hold relationships together. It was also a great opportunity for fundraising for the youth group. Thanks for your support in this endeavor. Later in May came graduation time. On the 15^th of May, I had the opportunity to assist in the United Baccalaureate service of Greene County. This is an important event that should be supported heavily by local congregations. It is the last truly Christian event within the local county school systems. We are concerned with the lack of Christ in our school systems, so we need to support this event as much as possible. This year’s baccalaureate was a good one as Mr. Steve Fitzhugh brought the word preceded by the Advanced Chorus from Greeneville High School. Both venues were amazing and the Lord spoke during the service. It is also during this service that the Doer of the Word Scholarship is presented. One male and one female from each school are presented a $1000 scholarship earned by their sincerity to walk with Christ day in and day out. This is not a political award, as it is student-chosen to avoid such an issue. I am proud to say that one of the recipients of this year’s Doer of the Word Scholarship is from our youth group here at Cedar Creek. Congratulations to Mr. Dallas Malone. The following Saturday was graduation for several of our students. I am proud to have been a small part of their lives during this time. I have really enjoyed watching them grow and mature in the Lord as well as in life. I continue to pray that God will bless them as they continue onward in this crazy journey we call life.

 

            Right after graduation is a great time to get the summer ministry started. We had two “kickoff” gatherings for two of our ministries. On the 26^th of May, we had a pool party/Bible study at the home of Micky and Tammy Reaves. This was to kick-off our Sunday night youth group series. The numbers are not as big on Sunday nights as they are on Wednesday, but it is still a welcoming environment for the students as well as the Holy Spirit. On the 24^th, we had our College-Age summer kickoff at the home of Kevin and Julie Kinser. It is an overwhelming epidemic throughout the church that students are kind of dropped after they graduate from youth group. I refuse to allow this to happen at Cedar Creek. We have poured too much into the lives of these young men and women to merely abandon them after graduation. God has directed me to do all that I can to keep these students connected. Therefore, I will do my best. Because of their busy schedule with college and/or the work place, and because my main focus must remain on the youth group, I cannot offer a great deal of time. However, I do not think it requires a great deal of time to be successful. We have a wonderful college-age Sunday school class and we are starting this monthly bible study. College age students (along with anyone else) are also invited to observe during youth group on Wednesday evenings. These students know that they have graduated and are no longer youth group members, but they also know that we here at Cedar Creek welcome them in all facets of ministry. Please continue to keep both of these ministries in your prayers.

 

            The summer is usually a regrouping time in youth ministry. Many families are on vacation and are absent from church. Many of our students are gone to camps or are attempting to hold down a summer job. This makes for some vacancies within in our group during this time of year. I do not allow that to hinder ministry. I do not slow down much during the summer. Some do, and that is perfectly fine. However, there are still students out there who, quite frankly, have nothing to do. I take advantage of that. I am planning some day trips and a retreat for the summer. The number of students may not be huge, but I expect a good twenty or thirty to participate in these activities. My philosophy for the summer is this: plan ministry opportunities often, and those that can come may come. It may be a different twenty every time, but that is perfectly alright. So, if you will, please continue to pray for our group. Pray for the safety of the students and for the success of the ministry. Said success is completely related to our allowing Christ to work through us. Success in ministry is measured by the will of God being accomplished. That is my goal, as I am sure it is yours as well.

 

Thank you for your continued support and prayers. May God bless you during this warming time of year and may we all continue to remember the source of all blessings and prosperity.

 

 

With love and prayer,

 

Pastor E.J.

Memorial Day in today's rising culture....

     What do you think about when you think about Memorial Day? If you ask a teenager that question, you would be surprised at some of the answers. There are a few that will offer an admirable answer mostly expected by an aging generation such as mine and those before. However, the majority will say things like "the day when the public pools open" or "the weekend we go to the lake" or "the start of the cook-out season." Maybe I'm overly patriotic, but it means much more to me and I think it should to the coming generation as well. To me, Memorial Day is more of a season than a day. It is a season of remembrance. It is the season when I especially remember my loved ones who have gone before. It is decoration weekend for the cemetery at which a lot of my family is buried. It is the season when I especially honor our veterans... all of them: those fallen, those returned, those missing, and those active. I'm quite positive that I share these sentiments with at least a few fellow patriots. However, what are we doing to pass down the meaning of Memorial Day to those coming generations? Is it important enough to share?? I think so.

 

 

     Memorial Day Season, 2012: Members from the Cedar Creek COG Youth group took a trip. The best I remember, there were five of us total. (See Youth Ministry Foot Note) We made a day of it, but I was on a mission. It was my mission to teach these students the importance of Memorial Day. We met at the church and piled in Polly (the name of our 1992 15 Passenger Ford blue-suede suite on wheels) and headed to town. The goal was to attend the Memorial Day Service at the Andrew Johnson National Cemetery. The purpose was two fold: first to visit the cemetery, second to hear the key-note speaker. The speaker was a World War II veteran by the name of Paul Shelton. I met Paul a few years ago when he started attending the Flag Branch Church during my time there. He is a very personable fellow, with a powerful story... I wanted the kids to hear it. The best I remember, the service started with the reading of the numbers of the fallen from Greene County. There was a welcome and then Paul spoke. He spoke of his experience in the Battle of the Bulge, I do believe. Nevertheless, he told his story with passion and emotion still lingering from those days some 60 years ago. He told of the friends he lost and the Purple Heart he'd received. The moment that I saw tears in the eyes of the girls of our youth group was the moment that I knew the day was a success. Of five students, only one had been to the cemetary before and three of them had never witnessed a 21 Gun Salute. I might not have preached to those kids that day, but I definitely ministered to them. They now understand a little more about how God has blessed our Nation and about the sacrifices that were made so that we could be where we are today. Are we loosing this knowledge in today's generation? If we are, whose fault is it? What are we going to do about it? As for me and my house...

 

 

 

 

Youth Ministry Foot Note: Often times during the summer, you plan things with big expectations, but because of conflicting schedules and other competition, the turnout is not very big. Do not be discouraged, it is a natural phenomenon throughout the youth ministry world. I've learned that you plan things and execute them with those who show up. It will probably be a different five or ten students the next time, but at least you are ministering to some during this slow time. 

Pick Your Battles Respectfully -- Sunday Night Service

     Sunday evening service is a source of conflict through out the entire Church as we know it. It is no different at Cedar Creek. There are those who believe that there should be no Sunday evening service at all. They believe that this time should be reserved for "family time" or rest. On the other side of the spectrum, there are those who believe that there should always be Sunday evening service and that it should always be in the sanctuary as traditionally it has been for ages. Before we dive into this topic, I think that it is very important to remember that we are all Christians and that we are commanded to love one another. That being said, I will now divulge my opinion on the matter. You are forewarned.
   
     Youth ministry is a different bird. As in other realms of life, if you are going to attain your goal, then you must do so by whatever means necessary. In the case of youth ministry, the goal is to be a mere tool which God can use to win souls and disciple Christians. Getting back to the topic, I think it is extremely important to be in God's house as often as possible. Maybe this is because I absolutely adore the concept of God's love for me and I consider it to be the least that I can do to show up at Church. This is beyond the fact that I am paid staff and expected by check writers to be at the services. I do not like the fact that people sometimes take the church concept too lightly. To me, there is nothing more important in life than our responsibility to Christ.  If you really want to have "family time" have it at church. What better place is there at which to have your family? Now before you hang me, I realize that issues conflict, and I have no problem with that. Things such as work, vacations, emergencies, and accidents do happen. It is to be expected. Enough of that, I think you get the drift.

     Being a youth minister, you are often times caught in the middle on issues between the youth group and "big church." There are generational gaps that will, for various  reasons, never be bridged. It is the job of the youth minister to keep Christ at the center of all debates while keeping dissension and disagreement to a minimum. I'm getting to the meat and potatoes, hang with me. At Cedar Creek, the youth group historically does not attend Sunday evening service. They just won't. Since I am adamant about twice Sunday worship, I have tried it all. I have tried bribing them with trips to ice cream parlors and restaurants. It may seem shallow to some, but do not forget the time they would spend in corporate worship before hand. Before you get all worked up, it didn't work. None of it worked. You can't push a chain. If they don't want to be there they're not going to come. Me being the analytical type, I wanted to know why they didn't want to be there. It wasn't making sense at first. I knew at least some of them truly loved The Lord. Then it hit me... They weren't feeling reality. Today's coming generation won't fake it. If they feel someone else is faking it, then they're out. We get mad because they won't come to church on Sunday night when it is our own fault. They see our lukewarmness and disengage. Skeptics are going to claim that they are choosing things of the world instead of church, which might be the case for some. However, this is just an avoidance of of the truth. Lord help us.

     I've come to the conclusion that I have a couple of options here. I can abort Sunday night ministry and blame it on the pagan culture, or I can adapt. Ok extreme conservatives, I didn't say "succumb" or "yield", I said "adapt." Even though it is looked down upon by some, I have started a Sunday night youth service. To be honest with you, I catch some flak from some of the older members. Nonetheless, it is going good. God is working, and (as much as I desire to please everyone) it is His approval that I seek. We still have a long way to go. We are probably running around one quarter of our numbers of a Wednesday night, but it is quality. I would rather minister to 15 in a small group or "destination unknown" setting as to sit beside three in a Sunday evening corporate worship setting. I know God is working in our group and I am very appreciative. Again, I would never want to inhibit the "us verses them" theme, because we are all in this together. If I had it my way the sanctuary would be packed three services a week with all ages of God's people enjoying true worship in unity. Until then, I've got to do what needs to be done.

Sorry for the long post, thanks for reading.

Thunderstorms, Leaking Roofs, & Fire Alarms -- All a part of the ministry!

     Wednesdays are usually routine. During the school months, I come into office around nine or so and work on finishing up the night's lesson for that evening. At 11:20 I head over to the local high school (South Greene, 3 miles from the church) and eat lunch with the students over there. The administration of that school is more than willing to allow me to spend some time with the students. (More to come on this topic later) On any other normal day, I would leave South Greene and head to town quickly to put my check in the bank and catch up on any errands that might need to be taken care of. After that, I'd head back to Cedar Creek to get things ready. Students usually start showing up around 3:30 after they get out of school.

     Well, yesterday (5-22-13) didn't work out so well. To say the least, it was a crazy day. It was the first Wednesday that the students were out of school for the summer. Therefore, my weekly lunch plans were altered as there was no school to eat at! Understandable... not too big of a deal. So, I met some kids at the YMCA to work out with them during lunch time. This is a great opportunity for ministry (more to come on this topic as well!) Since the weather was nice, I rode my motorcycle as is usual. When I left the Y, the skies turned dark and were starting to open up just as I got home. The Lord watched over my ignorance and allowed me to get home before the storm hit. I was appreciative.

     This storm was just the starting point of the craziness. I grabbed some tuna salad for an after-workout protein snack, swapped vehicles, and headed back to the church. FYI, the church is about five miles from my house. When I left the house, it was not storming, raining, or threatening to do so. I made it half way there, and I had to pull under a Bradford Pair at Solomon Lutheran in order to keep from getting the car beat to death by hail balls. Mind you, according to The Weather Channel Desktop, there was a 30% chance of an isolated thunderstorm. I appreciated the isolation. I finally made it back to church only to sit down at my desk for about 30 minutes before another storm came through. This storm was more intense. I looked out the window to see our landscaping escaping and our flowering pair trees disintegrating. It was craziness. Then came the leaks. It was raining so hard and for so long that our fairly-modern building was leaking in places that it had never leaked before.

     Here is a note for all of you individuals that are contemplating the ministry. First off, if you are thinking you are called into the ministry, pray hard about it and don't rush into it. However, also think about this: Satan would not put thoughts of Kingdom expansion in your head. If you are read up (the Bible) and prayed up, and the ministry is on your heart, then God is probably tugging your heart's strings. Secondly, there is much more to a pastorate than preaching, teaching, and visiting. Sometimes you have to pull out coolers to catch the leaking storm water. Sometimes you have to figure out how to reset the fire alarm when the roof leaks on a smoke detector and sets the system off. Yep... that happened. The fire alarm was activated for several hours before the smoke detector could dry out and the system could be reset. With the help of my admirable administrative assistant, we silenced the alarm, but the strobes continued to flash. It was humorous to watch the faces of the senior members of our congregation as they walked in for their portion of Wednesday evening service.

     Ministry continued. We, as all good youth groups do, played dodge ball, worshipped to YouTube videos (Whom Shall I Fear by Tomlin & Gold by Britt Nicole), and completed our service with prayer and a sermonette by yours truly. I spoke on using your gifts for the purpose of the Kingdom. God gave us the ultimate gift by the sending of His Son. The least we can do is offer our talents to Him in return. 1 Peter 4:10 was the text, an appropriate one I suppose. Lesson for the day, expect the unexpected and plan on rolling with the punches!

Here We Go....

Well, here we go. I thought I'd try it... Why not, right?

Welcome to the blog of E.J. Swatsell. Odds are, if you're reading this, then you already know me. However, here is a quick little bio to give you an idea of who I am and what I do.

Born in '86.
Greene County TN Native.
Camp Creek Elementary School
Graduated South Greene High School in '05.
Traveled Europe in '07
Married Miss Kasey in 6-7-08.
Graduated from Milligan College in '09 with a degree in History and strong concentration in Bible.
Been on the farm all my life, worked my way through school.
Hired full time at the Cedar Creek Church of God as an Assoc. Pastor/Youth Pastor in 2010.
Currently farming on a part time basis... if there is such a thing.

Love my God, Love my family, Love my (God's) ministry, Love my friends,  Love my Country, Love the country, Love the farm, Love Harley's & Hotrods, Love life in general.

What to expect: This blog will be all over the place, I'm sure. However, expect highlights of rural youth ministry and the life of a rural youth pastor. Expect tips, tricks, what has worked and what hasn't.

Hope a few people get some enjoyment out of this endeavor. If nothing else, it will serve as reflection for me.

Blessings,

E.J.

More to come later...