I met Russ a little over three years ago when I lived in Tennessee. Amy and I were unmarried, expecting a baby, aimless, clueless, and at eachother’s throats. Desperate for the Lord’s help and direction, we started attending the church that we would eventually be married in and join as members. After a very brief time of talking to a couple of the pastors there about our situation, they, without hesistation, told me that we should start attending a small group, particularly the one led by Russ.
Probably one of the most insightful things they could have told me. Amy and I grew in our understanding of Christ, our relationship with eachother, and our relationship with God’s people during our time in that group. I learned more about the Gospel packed into that short time than I can ever recall before, and I learned much about being a Christian husband and father just by seeing it modeled in their home. I think I can honestly say that no one else has made me want to be more like Christ.
All this to say . . . the man can preach, too. He was recently elected to the eldership of his church and has had a couple of occasions to preach on Sunday mornings. I listened to a podcast of one of his recent sermons (only his second time preaching ever) . . . on Psalm 14 and sin. Holy crap. Tore . . . me . . . apart. Seriously one of the best I’ve ever heard. God has seriously gifted him with the ability to clearly communicate the Gospel.
Gives me some encouragement for whenever I start to preach. Russ is a high school art teacher by trade, not a seminary-trained preacher. I’m a computer network administrator . . . again, not a seminary-trained preacher. Knowing that God has gifted me, in some measure, to teach, I can only hope to have a modicum of the clarity that I heard in this sermon.
(You can . . . and should . . . hear the sermon in question by clicking this link.)
(edit: Fixed audio link to sermon. Whoops.)
6 comments ↓
Art teacher, you say? It is a little known fact that teaching art is the surest path to full time vocational ministry and skill in the art of preaching.
Rae, I sense the Lord is calling you to become an art teacher. And then a preacher. That’s the way all the cool kids do it.
I thought you’d appreciate this, Greg.
Unfortunately, the only art I’d be skilled at teaching would be the art of sucking at art, and I don’t know how many schools are hiring for such a position.
Have you BEEN through the contemporary wing of most art museums?! There is MUCH money to be made in the art of sucking at art.
http://www.moma.org/collection/browse_results.php?object_id=34633
The above is a link to a piece by Jean-Michael Basquiat- a very prominent modern artist. This untitled piece can be seen in San Fransisco at the Museum of Modern Art.
I believe in you, Rae. I know you have it in you to suck this bad at art. Keep the dream alive!
I already have a job.
Unless you’re trying to tell me something . . .
Rae,
I laughed so hard reading these comments! You said some totally awesome things about Russ. I hope he knows! Hmmmm the art of sucking at art……..I CAN DO THAT! See for yourself…http://susanlprince.truepath.com/katieart.html
Excellent sermon, by the way. Thanks for featuring this and providing the link. I listened to it last week and called Russ to tell him how much I appreciated it.
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