A Note From The Heart Of: Pastor Elease EWH Armstrong 

Greetings All, I implore you to allow me for just a few moments the opportunity to pour out of myself and connect with you regarding solutions to the plight of service. 

Conceptually, the driving force of our work ethic is to initiate a means for personal and/or communal needs to be met in the most basic way. We all share in the understanding that we work to meet personal goals and we work to reside in an environment that contributes to the ideal achievement of our personal goals. We make choices.  

Our choices illustrate and reflect for others what our tolerable allowances are; it is information provided that says, "I can deal with this," or "I cannot deal with this." Additionally, it says, "I represent this," or "I do not represent this." And so our choices are a manifestation of our inner self. In this expression, we learn who we are; this person typically is not one most of us can say we are completely satisfied with.  So, in no attempt will I compare the trials and tribulations that testify to the power in us that before the test we never knew was there. 

I therefore learning, as I vocalize my many frustrations to do with things that directly and indirectly affect me, to streamline my choices in a way that is the true representation of who I strive to be and not who I am. I challenge myself and confess it into the atmosphere so that I am held accountable; held to a higher standard than I would normally set for myself to ignite change in those very things that frustrate me. 

Some would say this method is unrealistic, however by basing my method on the biblical concept presented by the Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:6-13, I find the impossible is made possible indeed. 

As I am reflecting on 2007 and the occurrences in the town I reside, a huge gap is there and everywhere. It is found individually, in families, school systems, churches, the justice system, everywhere I turned the gap was there. The gap is compromise; functioning without identity and a solid foundation on which to stand. Consumed by power, trends and the fear of being unknown, we have adopted the disillusioned concept that leads us to believe unity insinuates conformity, when in all actuality it is the innate desire we all have that leads us to seek a place where we fit in. Instead we seek a place to initial our existence but overlook the opportunity to make a real difference by placing our initials on a soul in need, on a dying generation, on a self-destructive government system that denies rights in order to grant rights, on a school system that complacently ignores the challenge of a student in need, but instead progresses them before they are ready because of departmental policy. The gap is inactivity, the gap is ignorance, the gap is a lack of concern, and the gap is compromise. 

Will our eyes be opened in the coming year? Will we burn with urgency? Will we seek out righteousness? Will we speak up? Will we do anything? 

The plight of service was the choice to do less than what we are capable. 

I challenge myself and confess it into the atmosphere. Will you do the same? 

During the month of January there are several activities leading up to the celebration of one of the most influential civil rights leaders of our time. I implore you to unify yourself with an organization and volunteer your time. If you belong to a church find out what your church is doing and if there are no set activities you can choose to make volunteer and unifying a fun group activity.