(Tim) Last Lord's Day, our sermon was preached by a second year student at ClearNote Pastors College. He's half Arab, has never known his Dad, and never been to college. He came to Church of the Good Shepherd a couple years ago with a ring through his eyebrow, a spike through his tongue, bleached hair, and the hunger for God's Word typical of those who are brand spanking new Christians fresh from paganism and pool halls.
He doesn't have BibleWorks, Logos, or Gramcord on his computer, but he's read Calvin's Institutes and has thought carefully about the challenges Jonathan Edwards faced in Northampton and Stockbridge. He's dirt poor, but by faith he and his wonderful wife have already been blessed by God with two children.
Why do I write this? Listen to the sermon and you'll know...
This was David Abu-Sara's first sermon.
David's typical of the men enrolled in ClearNote Pastors College. Forget the seminaries that are in bondage to the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools. Come to Bloomington, instead, and be blessed by fellowship with David and Jake and Lane and Joseph and Jody and Phil and David and Michael and Steve and Lucas and their godly wives; the mentoring of the men of Church of the Good Shepherd; and the careful leadership and instruction of Principal Stephen Baker and Elder David Canfield.
We still have two vacancies for entry this next Fall, but you need to apply right away. And please keep in mind that applying doesn't guarantee acceptance.
Guilty as charged minus the eyebrow ring. I would never do a thing like that!
And you forgot to mention my tattoos. :)
Posted by: David Abu-Sara | Tuesday, 19 May 2009 at 09:33 PM
David's sermon was very good. I couldn't help the tears when I told him so after the service. The memory of the first time I saw him and wanting to protect Vanessa from him, and how the Lord has brought them through so much; separation, reunion, marriage, 2 babies, the Pastor's College...
Posted by: Tim Bayly | Tuesday, 19 May 2009 at 09:44 PM
oops, that was actually Mary Lee posting above. I don't actually think Tim cried after sermon. I also don't know why my computer thinks I am Tim.
Posted by: Tim Bayly | Tuesday, 19 May 2009 at 09:46 PM
That is funny - now I know what he was alluding to in the sermon! But to see him now, the tenderness in his eyes and the ready smile -- I can hardly believe anyone ever needed protecting from him!
Kamilla
Posted by: Kamilla | Tuesday, 19 May 2009 at 09:54 PM
An eyebrow ring would look cool on you Dave! :-)
Posted by: Chantal I. | Wednesday, 20 May 2009 at 12:56 AM
Marylee,
I was confused too by the post. Don't worry, I've posted things as Ginger and Ginger as me on the blog before, computers get weird ideas sometimes.
"Forget the seminaries that are in bondage to the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools."
The results really do speak for themselves. David's sermon was excellent. I have a habit of burning good CGS sermons to CD and giving them to people - David's will certainly be one of those.
Posted by: Clint Mahoney | Wednesday, 20 May 2009 at 08:56 AM
Tim, There's a word missing in the second line. He's half Arab, has never *----* his dad."
Posted by: Andrew Henry | Wednesday, 20 May 2009 at 11:52 AM