The Pastor’s Piece, Pastor Kevin Cernek – FCFI Chaplain

FCFI

January 26, 2025

It’s the dead of winter. If you don’t have to work outside, count your blessings. My dad always said the third week of January was the coldest week of the year. He wasn’t wrong. Last week we had frigid temperatures not only here but all over the entire U.S. It snowed as far south as Pensacola, Florida. New Orleans had 10 inches of snow and it even snowed in Houston, Texas. People in those parts of the country were out frolicking in the white fluff. We simply look forward to warmer temperatures. We never used to call it a Polar Vortex – It was just called cold. And cold always makes everything more difficult and it takes longer.

So, while we make the most of every day God has given us, I hope you find this publication, and especially this page, beneficial. 

When I was a kid in school, in the 8th grade, I got a locker assigned next to a kid who really had a grudge against me for some reason. Between classes he scowled and cursed at me and called me all sorts of things. He did not like me and I did not like him and the sooner I could get out of his presence and away from him, the better. 

Well, one day many years later, I went up to the pulpit to start preaching a sermon and who should be sitting right in the front row – but that guy – along with his wife and three young children. I recognized him right away and had no idea why he decided to show up at our church. I preached my whole sermon with one eye on him and one eye on everybody else.

Here, come to find out, he had gotten saved, loved the Lord, had moved away and was back visiting family and heard I was a pastor and thought he’d come and visit us. Funny – he did not remember hating me back in our childhood. That kid stuff aside, we’re friends now.

Many of us know the 23rd Psalm by heart. Whenever I quote it at a service, I invite everyone to say it with me. I am always impressed with the number of people who join in. Psalm 23:5-6 says: “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.”

Do you know what “Thou anointest my head with oil” means? Well, when the shepherd brought all the sheep into the fold from out on the hillside, after they’d grazed all day and gotten tangled up in the briars and the bushes, he put his staff down in front of the little entry, and only one sheep went through at a time. Then others would wait until their turn. The shepherd would pick up each sheep and check over its whole body. Wherever there was a wound, he poured oil on it and soothed it. Wherever the skin was parched, he rubbed it soft with oil and then he’d set the sheep down and let it go in.

The 23rd Psalm is the shepherd boy, David, writing poetry to God based on his experience. By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he is describing the shepherd’s ministry in the church today. It’s a ministry of caring and restoration. In Jeremiah 3:15, God called His people to repentance with the promise of His graciousness, and He said that if they responded He would give them “shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you knowledge and understanding.” And from that the Holy Spirit takes God’s Word and opens one’s heart to joy and peace. And from God’s Spirit flows blessing and fruitfulness and the praise of the Lord among the nations. I pray that for all of us.

It’s been a busy few weeks if you’re a United States dignitary. A few weeks ago all the former living U.S. Presidents and vice-presidents gathered and sat together along with their wives to pay their last respects to former President Jimmy Carter who passed away at the age of 100. We saw them amicably chatting among themselves or sitting stoically.

Then, last week, most of those same dignitaries gathered in Washington D.C. again, this time to celebrate Donald Trump’s inauguration. As I looked at all those leaders and former leaders together in one room, I couldn’t help but think of the verses that refer to the fact that God raises up government leaders and He takes them down and accomplishes through them what He intends to accomplish – all on the way to the culmination of every knee bowing and every tongue confessing Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father!

1 Timothy 2:1-2 tells us to pray for those in authority over us, that we might live peaceful and quiet lives in Godliness and holiness.

Dear Lord, We pray for our leaders – for all those in authority – for our new president and vice president, our governors, and the leaders of our cities and towns. May they fear your name and make decisions that will bring honor to You and Your best to our people. Give them wisdom and understanding from You. Surround them with Godly men and women. Direct their decisions, that You might bring Your blessings to our communities, cities, states, and nation. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen.

(Kevin Cernek is Lead Pastor of Martintown Community Church in Martintown, Wisconsin).