|
Sixteen years ago, my wife had been in the hospital nine times in a diabetic coma and she was down to 80 pounds. I had two heart attacks trying to take care of her and run an environmental engineering company with over a million a year in sales. So I came to Peak & Eastside hoping just to sit on the back row and go to Heaven.
Being the Prodigal Son of this congregation and the greatest of sinners, I have never thought that I am worthy to be the minister of the Main Street Church of Christ. Prior to 15 years ago, there is nothing in my life that does not bring me shame. The truth is, I have failed at everything I have ever done in life but this … I have spent 9 1/2 year of my life in prison mainly at the Federal Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas for multiple bank robberies and weapons violations.
Sixteen years ago, I walked the aisle here, confessed my sins, and dedicated what’s left of my life to Jesus my Lord. Brother W. O. Scoggins, who had served here as an elder for over fifty years, encouraged me to preach and teach again. He cared not that my name was Mud. He just had that unique ability to look beyond what I was and he could clearly see what I could not … all that I could become in Christ Jesus. I must confess I don’t believe that he is now ashamed because his heart was always with preaching the gospel and the poor.
After teaching Sunday School and preaching Sunday nights for a few months, the congregation set me apart as evangelist and I refused any pay. I served for three years as an evangelist, associate minister, janitor and cook for each Sunday’s fellowship meal under the minister Brother Bill Cofer whom I helped bury several years ago.
Ivy Conner was hired as the preacher and I continued to help him to the very best of my ability, always believing to the very end that he was my friend and brother. I supported his radio program and indeed paid much of the broadcast cost personally.
Because of unfaithfulness regarding filthy lucre, the responsibility of this place fell upon me nine years ago when there were only 40 of us left. God had well prepared me in the furnace of affliction and his discipline I had well-learned.
We immediately found ourselves under lawsuit by ungodly men for $120,000.00 plus legal fees over a flim-flam scam perpetrated by the previous administration regarding a computer and copy machine. Being a poor Church with no money or assets, this property was in great jeopardy. I immediately sought counsel from:
We:
It was a near thing, but God delivered us from the snare of Satan.
Sixteen years ago, there was over a hundred seniors here when I began burring them. Nine years ago, there were only 40 of them left and I have buried all but five of the 40. I loved them all, visited with them in their homes, in the hospitals, nursing homes, protected them, fed them, and served them to the very best of my ability.
I must confess, I have a dog in this hunt. In 1903, the Kelly family and the Lawson families left Tennessee on covered wagons and came to Peak and Main (as it was known then), and helped establish this church. My grandparents were buried here in the 1930s. My parents were married here in 1928, and I was born here in 1944. My parents were buried here in the 1980s. As a boy, I well remember rushing to Lakewood to beat the Baptists to Wyatt’s Cafeteria. And to really tell the truth, beat the brethren from Pearl & Bryan and Sears & Summit too.
To all those I have sinned against or offended with my life, I beg you in the name of Jesus to forgive me. He has ... and now I finally walk in His paths, preach His word to all the world, minister to the poor, the meek and the down trodden and I will sing His praises forever with the saints in glory.
|
