Author - Clay Corvin

Charles Salter loved his wife and children intensely and without reservation

He talked about them, was proud of them and spent time with them

Charles loved Jesus and constantly sought His direction and guidance

Quick to share his faith – consistent in living a Godly life

His family and friends were of particular importance to Charles

Charles was careful not to complain-He didn’t want to burden others with his problems

He had a strong sense of honor and always did His best

He loved his community and his country

Trustworthy in his personal and professional life

He knew what it meant to give his word

Loyal to his colleagues, his employer, his church, his family, his friends and Jesus

Charles could always be counted on to be there

Helpful to anyone that needed help

Charles was quick to jump in and do what needed to be done

Friendly to those that cared for him and those that didn’t

He was always a positive factor in any setting

Courteous to the kind and unkind

He made a decision early in his life to be polite and well spoken

Kind to friend and foe alike

It was in his nature to be kind to everyone

Obedient to the Lord, and in all areas of his life

Charles always practiced doing the next right thing, period

Cheerful in his heart, in his manner, in his thoughts

He loved people and enjoyed being with them

Thrifty with his money and yours and generous to the Lord

He lived carefully and practically and provided for his family

Brave and courageous of heart- he did things right

Difficult situations and difficult people didn’t scare Charles

Clean of mind, clean of heart, Jesus occupied his thoughts

Charles knew how important it was to let Jesus guide your thoughts and actions

Reverent to the Lord – he was a man that understood we have an awesome God

Charles had a healthy fear of the Lord-the beginning of wisdom

A real man, a wonderful friend, a great colleague- now with Jesus

We are sad- heartbroken- we were blessed to have you – adieu

CLAY CORVIN August 28, 2015   http://www.claycorvin.com

John loved people
His first words – “How can I help?”
He was concerned about your needs
Always quick to pray for a needy student, friend or fellow faculty member
He would do his share of the work and yours too
John knew how to fix mechanical equipment and he fixed cars
For those who could pay, for those who couldn’t pay
Many hundreds of Seminary students had a car because John fixed it

John loved his family, deeply, thoroughly and consistently
They talked about stuff and things – he wanted them to have the best
He strived for them to be the best and they all know Jesus
John was quick to remind you that your name was carved in God’s hands
That Jesus didn’t have an eraser – Christ took us, kept us and walked with us
I can fix that John would say and would give beyond giving to you and for you
He was your friend without airs, no judging, always there
John was a special person that just cared for others like he cared for his family

A friend, a confessor, a good listener
His humility legendary, never self-serving
A hard worker, you came first with John
John loved the Lord, he shared Jesus
Loved by his students
An indefatigable and tireless worker
John didn’t see himself as a great leader – he was
He didn’t seek accolades – he has them in the halls of heaven

John was our friend
He cared for us
He loved us as best he could
Best regards to Jesus and your Father – We already miss you brother

Clay Corvin August 24, 2015
http://www.rememberme.com

GOD has a Word for you – Jesus
Creation is groaning in bondage – Jesus
The truth has been presented to us – Jesus
Christians act like pagans – Jesus
God’s Word to you – His saving Word – His healing word – Jesus

How can we learn to believe?
How can we teach others to believe?
How can we communicate the Gospel?
What can we do to lead the lost to Christ?
A life focused on Christ, available, usable, open, loving is the How

Jesus is the way
Christ is the all-inclusive Word of God
He is the Alpha and Omega – the first and the last
Jesus is the heir of all things, the boundary of history
Everything we need for a God-like life is found in Jesus

Jesus is the Creator
Everything comes from His hand –absolute, complete, total
He is the originator of all life processes
Before Abraham was born I AM
Jesus is Lord of all – He is Lord indeed

Jesus sustains all things
He is untouchable, unseeable, unweighable, pure force
Everything exists in Him
All things are maintained by Him
Jesus is God’s everything, just like God, He is God

Jesus is the redeemer
He satisfies our deepest need
He is our God connection-the only way to the Father
Our world desperately needs to be redeemed
Jesus was the blood sacrifice-His blood pays the price for our redemption

Jesus is greater than angels
He is not a servant
He is the Son of God –He has all authority from the Father
He is the beginning and the end, the originator and sustainer
The heir of all things, Jesus Christ is our Savior

Clay Corvin August 22, 2015
http://www.claycorvin.com

YOU – PROVERBS 4:20-26

The Christian Walk is a call for YOU
Outlining the who, what, when, where of a daily Christian Life
Let me say again and again-Pray, walk and do
A Christian is called to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord Jesus
We don’t tell others how to walk this way-we share the Gospel
The Lost always act like the lost-dead in their trespasses and sin
We commend ourselves to walk this way-His Words caution YOU

How then shall we live? What are the things we do?
Pray, read God’s Word, listen to the Holy Spirit, be an ambassador

Read the Word of God
Our lives are a work of grace-Jesus loves you
He tells you about his love, his mercy and grace
Packaged in the Bible-a living Word to his children
Guiding us to live Godly lives, forgiving lives, and consecrated lives
Remember his Word, Jesus is alive, the Holy Spirit quickens our soul
His Word brings health to our physical body, it is living in us

Discipline your life-learning to be kind and gentle – people need Jesus
Set aside grudges-bear evil for no one – confess your sin and change
Give the Lord Jesus your bad thoughts
He will remove your stinking thinking and give you positive thoughts
He made us, He knows us, daily surrender to Him-do what He says

Watch your mouth – set aside cursing – don’t do it
Swallow your hard words – stop your gossip
Today proclaim in word and deed that you will only say good

We have eyelids so we can close our eyes to lustful evil
Pornography out of your life – quit lustful thinking
Remember discipline – when you start down the evil road
Grab yourself as soon as you can and ask Jesus to put you back on His road
Run from sexual sin – it capitavates your soul
You cannot be whole caught up in sexual sin – Jesus will cleanse you

People count with Jesus – you certainly do – He died for you
Everyone you see – saved or lost – count with Jesus
We are called as a Christ partner to make sure they know they count
Proclaim the Word of God in love – especially to a brother or sister
Be the Word of God to the Lost – love them, pray for them, live kindly with them
Jesus is Lord, He is Lord of all – The Christian walk is a call for YOU

August 1, 2015
Clay Corvin – http://www.claycorvin.com , http://www.virtualtravels.com

The Staple Singers are one of my favorite groups.

They hit it big in the late 60’s at Stax Records and recorded several of their songs at the historic Muscle Shoals studios.  Roebuck “Pops” Staples began singing with the family at his brother’s church in Chicago.  He kept their singing tight and professional.  They sang for a long time before they hit it big.  The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section were with them on their most popular recordings.  Two of their covers- Otis Redding’s “Dock of the Bay” and The Band’s “The Weight” have been very popular.

I know you’re thinking “what does Clay know about music?”  Truthfully very little.  Jason Waggoner, a Seminary Music Adjunct Professor, is one of my favorite musicians.  My favorites are The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Allman Brothers, etc. as you well might expect from a person who was a teenager at the beginning of the 60’s.  I do love Rock and Roll and yet I do love Jazz, especially New Orleans Jazz.

I’ve listened to Mavis Staples sing “I’ll Take You There” maybe a thousand times.  I love that song.  It really will take you there.  There are several things I want to tell you about that song.

I NEVER NOTICED  that she called on each one of the musicians in the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section to play individually.  I missed it.  It’s about 1/3’ of the way thru the song and I think by that time I’m so overwhelmed at the wonderful opening and Mavis’ reverie.  In reading an article about the song I actually went to my I-Tunes and played the song, listening to it because I couldn’t believe the author was right.  How could that be?  How could I have missed something as obvious as that?

APPLICATION: You may have thought this was simply about The Staple Singers.  It isn’t and although I love their music the Lord began working on me.  I wish that I was a better learner.  I want to be a better learner.  Here goes:

1. We minister in obscurity most of our life.  The Staple Singers (their last name is actually Staples) were relatively unknown until the late 60’s but they had already been singing nearly 20 years when their 15 minutes of fame came along.  They didn’t sing to get famous-although I’m sure they thought about.  I’m sure they sang on stage with very famous people.  The Rolling Stones loved their music and just about everything about Muscle Shoals Studios.  They sang because that is what they did.  They were good at it, they knew and they kept doing it.

2. We are called men and women of God. They sang because that’s who they were.  You and I minister because that is what God-GOD!- called us to do.  When you face uncertain days and hard times REMEMBER your calling-look at your HOLE CARD.  Why are you doing this?  Certainly not to make people happy-we are doing this because as Paul noted we must tell everyone about Jesus.  If you are doing what you are doing without a call and Jesus isn’t the focus of your life-ministry is going to be a hard slog.

3. Check how you think about the Gospel.  Some after preaching to others for 20, 30, 40 years don’t listen to their preaching.  It become perfunctory, old hat, easy and they forget that when they stand to preach, when they go to minister, they are standing together with the Lord being HIS hands and feet and voice.  Ministry is a sacred thing and that includes feeding the hungry, preaching to the masses, clothing the homeless, and helping the helpless.  Oh it also includes loving the unlovely.  Oh yes you might say that I’ve not been called, I’m just a layperson.  If you are part of the Body of Christ you have been called.  Jesus brought you to the ministry.  I’ve pastored homeless missions, prisons, current co-pastor a drug rehab church ministry here in New Orleans and I’ve been doing this since 1976.  I have been called as a preacher to the masses and as best as I can-often times failing-I’ve done my best everywhere I speak.  I’m not erudite, I don’t have the best speaking voice and generally I dress poorly and have to be reminded to speak up.  That reminds me of one of Dr Landrum Leavell’s sayings: STAND UP, SPEAK UP, SIT DOWN!  But you and I must tenaciously wrest everyone we meet from the darkness.  It’s is an awful thing for a person to die not knowing Jesus.

4. Don’t be surprised when you discover a new truth.  Just like me listening to I’ll Take You There all those times and never noticed what turned out to be a big thing on the recording.  Yes I knew the song and in my mind could catch Mavis’ tune and it would take me there-relax, let go, don’t worry, etc.   You nor I know everything, even when we have committed it to memory and worked with a Bible Book for 20 and more years we don’t know it all.  Only the Trinity is eternal.  Jesus knows everything and is God’s everything.  My thinking is that I look for every opportunity for the Lord to teach me, especially when I am preaching or teaching.  The Holy Spirit will convict us of new truth that we have missed all of our life.  Jesus loves us and will use us as much as we will let Him.

5. Don’t quit-keep moving forward.  Yes each one of us get discouraged by our sin.  We certainly are sinful creatures.  If you feel you are without sin dear brother or sister, get with Jesus and ask HIM over the next 7 days to point out your sin.  If you last 24 hours without going to your knees I would be surprised.  The Staple Singers were never an “A-List” group and yet they made a very significant contribution in Rock Music.  They were there right at the beginning.  They influenced a whole generation of British singers some of whom are still “A-List”.   Mavis today is one of the significant Gospel Music voices and her collaboration with the Band in the 70’s is legendary.  This side of heaven few will know what you and I are doing and I assure you that is okay because the Lord knows.  I can’t remember all of the churches I’ve preached in where one or two deacons or a couple of ladies have been the strength in that Body of Christ.  My word to you no matter how bad it gets or how bad it is don’t quit.  Always keep short accounts with Jesus about your sin.  Now is always the right time to repent.

I meant to write a lot more than this and may revisit this one day but for now I think I’ve gotten everything I was thinking about the Staple Singers out.  Jesus is Lord.  We need each other.  Don’t hold in your hurt, find someone to talk about it with.  Jesus loves you.