Pastor Craig The Heart Farmer

         

Some folks have a direct line to God; what they hear is what they do.

      Nomadic wandering might describe my life of attending churches. Early life experiences birthed a deep mistrust in my soul and kept me on the run for many years. God slowly drew me back to His bosom through some folks who seem to have a direct link to His thoughts. Pastor Craig McLeod is one of  those special dudes, he's like a heart farmer who steadfastly produces faith through the work of his heart.

          On January 27, 2014 I took a page out of Craig's faith playbook. A young man was murdered on the East Side of Buffalo, New York. His younger brother sent me a text message at 6:13 pm saying he'd heard that his brother died earlier that day. I sent a message to the young man who was murdered about 45 minutes after he was killed not knowing he was dead. We were supposed to meet the next day to move some of his personal furniture into his new apartment. At 6:30 pm I received a confirmation text message that he was dead. That's when I took the page out of Craig's character.

          My wife and I made immediate plans to drop what we were doing and rearrange our schedule to go and be with the younger brother. The young man is like a son to me, I try and maintain regular contact with him. My actions were a learned response from the actions of Pastor Craig. Another good friend of mine told me about how Craig had ministered to him and his daughters after his wife and their mom had died. The steadfast heart farmer dropped everything through an act of immediacy and went to become present with hurting people in need. That's the action of a "Doer of the Word." 

          A person who plants seed doesn't just walk away and forget about what he's planted. There's a nurturing process that requires compassion - the kind that Jesus showed to wounded people. Craig planted, nurtured and became a doer. He listened and acted quickly - probably without even thinking. I have found that lack of thinking is a hallmark of true men and women of God. The Word is so deeply embedded in their hearts that their hands are pre-programmed to act without direction. When you hear a fire alarm you head for the nearest door. When Craig hears the Spirit of God he heads for the nearest heart in need.

          During last Sunday's message, Pastor Craig was as deep as I've seen him. The message was inspiring and life-transformational. It was borne from a season with God. Since returning from a few weeks in India, Pastor Craig seems to have reached a place of more excellent preaching. Part of the text for his sermon was from Acts 28:1-6.

Acts 28:1-6 Amplified Bible
28 After we were safe on the island, we knew andrecognized that it was called Malta.
2 And the natives showed us unusual and remarkable kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed and received us all, since it had begun to rain and was cold.
3 Now Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and he was laying them on the fire when a viper crawled out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand.
4 When the natives saw the little animal hanging from his hand, they said to one another, Doubtless this man is a murderer, for though he has been saved from the sea, Justice the goddess of avenging] has not permitted that he should live.
5 Then [Paul simply] shook off the small creature into the fire and suffered no evil effects.
6 However, they were waiting, expecting him to swell up or suddenly drop dead; but when they had watched him a long time and saw nothing fatal or harmful come to him, they changed their minds and kept saying over and over that he was a god.

Here are my "take-away's" from Pastor Craig's heart farming message:

1. When you face trouble - people will gossip.
2. Shake off your fear and trust God.
3. Your integrity will remain when all is stripped away. 

Here is another verse that Pastor Craig threw out almost as a backdrop to his message:

Philippians 1:28 Amplified Bible
And do not [for a moment] be frightened or intimidated in anything by your opponents and adversaries, for such [constancy and fearlessness] will be a clear sign (proof and seal) to them of [their impending] destruction, but [a sure token and evidence] of your deliverance and salvation, and that from God.

          I left the service knowing that I would repeat many parts of his message in several places as I have the opportunity to speak. Another part of the backdrop for his service was the previously announced news that Pastor Craig's wife Carol had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Carol is the leader of Just Joy Ministries. She's knockin' the socks off ladies all over the world with her conferences and teachings. Craig and Carol are part of a family that's been heart farming as doers of the word for many generations. Even Craig's mom Becky is still shaking up the kingdom with an infectious attitude that reflects Christ and instills the confidence of God in folks around her. Their children are planted around the world as spiritual seeds. They have shaken off the chaff of destruction as they grow wheat for God's kingdom.

          Churches that shake off fear are filled with folks who are all shook up - they're dancing in the freedom of the Spirit. They're shaken up with a Holy Spirit contagiousness that breaks up fallow hearts. Through the leadership of Craig and Carol and their team at Life Church, thanksgiving, praise, mercy, righteousness are raining. May the rain of his spirit fall on us! I believe the latter rain is falling on Life Church nourishing a movement of prophetic love that will heal nations.

Hosea 10:12 New King James Version
Sow for yourselves righteousness;
Reap in mercy;
Break up your fallow ground,
For it is time to seek the Lord,
Till He comes and rains righteousness on you.

If you would like to visit Life Church and let some rain fall on you, here is their info:

4928 Seneca St, West Seneca, New York 14224

Phone	716.675.LIFE (5433)
Email	info@lifechurchbuffalo.com
Website	http://www.lifechurchbuffalo.com

Saturday Night Life - Saturdays 4 pm- 5:30 pm

Worship Service Sunday @ 9:00 am & 11 am
Just Joy! Women's Bible Study - Tuesdays @ 7 pm
Real Men - Men's Bible Study - Tuesdays @ 7 pm
Spero Youth Group - Saturdays @ 6 pm

Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody.
Jesus loves you and so do we.