Mel Gosser

I decided to become an elder early in my christian life.  An elder in my church Claude Crane, mentored me and by his example I was motivated to become an elder.  My favorite scripture is Acts 20:28-38

[28] Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of *the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood. [29] For I know that after my departure, vicious wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock. [30] Men will arise from among your own selves, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. [31] Therefore watch, remembering that for a period of three years I didn’t cease to admonish everyone night and day with tears. [32] Now, *brothers, I entrust you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build up, and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. [33] I coveted no one’s silver, or gold, or clothing. [34] You yourselves know that these hands served my necessities, and those who were with me. [35] In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
[36] When he had spoken these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. [37] They all wept a lot, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him, [38] sorrowing most of all because of the word which he had spoken, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.

A lighthouse stood on a lonely rock,
It’s beam shone ever bright.
Each day the aged keeper climbed
to the top and checked the light
For many years the thin old man
climbed up the creaking stairs
Each day he checked and cleaned the light,
though he had other cares.
One day, as he looked out to the sea
a boat came into view
It was supplies for the old light keeper
The boatman, though, was new.
He was a bright and happy lad
with seldom a serious thought
All he cared about the job he had
was what the money bought