The Journey Continues: Mark & Elspeth George
My journey this week took me to Lockhart, to old friends Mark and Elspeth George, who I knew from my days at the Baptist Academy. Both have ministered without pay for years at Pegasus, a residential treatment center (RTC) in Lockhart. It is licensed by the Department of Family and Protective Services of Texas to care for 175 boys, ages 7-17, with the mission of providing care for abused and neglected adolescents. Additionally, for the past five years Mark has been chaplain at the Caldwell County Jail in Lockhart.
I count it a blessing to know these two powerful servants. The sermon below was delivered at Pegasus by Mark George as part of his ministry.
“I have struggled with this sermon. You see I’ve only got 30 to 45 minutes to give a message that is supposed to last until next Sunday. What can I say that will so impact your life that you will want to change your life? And how can I say it in such a way that you will want to respond? Every speaker struggles with these questions at the time they come to give you a message.
“After two years, I’ve seen many of you come and go. Many will try to do what is right and then mess up. It’s not that you don’t know right from wrong. It seems that you sometimes just ignore the correct decision you should make or you jump into a reaction without the pause to ask, 'what are the consequences?'."
“Most here have said; I believe in Christ and that you want to make a change in your life. Unfortunately, some will leave here and misbehave and end up on the wrong path before the week is out. To me it seems simple – just do what is right and don’t do what is wrong. Always let your no be no, and your yes be yes. You see, in this way, you will always be known as an honest man. And sometimes, honest men make honest mistakes. Will you be forgiven of an honest mistake? Of course, you will. But a dishonest person can ruin his life and all those around him.
“'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.' Matthew 16:24
"When we make that decision to go down the path of God and do what is right everyone should see a change in us. The change should be so noticeable that the old self is not there to recognize. Sure, physically we will look the same.
“You will eventually go back home to where you came from, and when you arrive people will say: ‘Isn’t this the boy that did this?’
At first all they will see is your physical appearance, but there should be such a change in you that no one will recognize your behavior.
“This brings me to my point; every Sunday we want to bring you to the crossroads of making a total life-changing-commitment, which will be so complete in your life that no one will recognize you. In other words, you will be a transformed and renewed person according to the scriptures and become a disciple of Christ
“I’m asking you to become disciples for Christ. While you’re standing at this crossroads, ask God for the ancient path and the good way. If you have already done this, it is time for you to be baptized turning from your old nature and beginning a walk down this ancient path that generations before you have followed.
"Time after time Jesus has waited on you, and now he is waiting again, so open your heart’s door and let Him come in! ”
Mark’s life verse is:
“I knew what I was ordained
to do.”
Psalms 139:16
