Today was an emotional day. My wife and I attended the funeral services of our pastor, Dr. Mark Corts. I want to post one quote from the service that really overwhelmed me with thoughts of the impact this man of God made on my life. His son Steve, pastor of Center Grove Baptist Church in Clemmons, said this:
"When he looked at you and smiled, he made you wish you liked yourself as much as he liked you."
I am in my office right now, just finishing up tomorrow's message and having a few moments of private grieving and reflection. I am thinking about a hundred times Dr. Corts looked at me that way. I still wish I liked myself and believed in myself as much as he did.
In the corner of my office, I have a picture of myself with him, taken on the day of my ordination. Beneath that picture sits the Bible I received that day. I wore it out in a couple of years preaching, so it just sits there now as a reminder of the charge placed on me that day. It is signed by many men, several of whom are with the Lord now. And up in the top corner of the presentation page is the inscription from Mark Corts. It reads:
"May our overflowing God meet your every need and give you a most fruitful ministry."
Under that Bible is a copy of his book, Making Sense of Your Faith, which was published the year I worked under his supervision. Inside it says:
"To Russ, a man God is going to use greatly."
I remember when he signed both those inscriptions. Each time, like a hundred other times, he looked at me and smiled. And he made me wish that I liked myself as much as he did. Today I praise God for the impact Mark Corts made on me. And I ask God to answer his prayer, that I would have that fruitful ministry, and be used by God in a great way.
During the funeral, several folks mentioned Dr. Corts' new book: The Truth About Spiritual Warfare: Your Place in the Battle Between God and Satan. It is so good to see this book in print with a major publisher. Dr. Corts' other books, ShareLife, The Caring Christian, and Making Sense of Your Faith, were all published in-house at Calvary, and it is my hope that this new book will make his wisdom available to a broader audience. When Ken Hemphill was speaking, he mentioned that Mrs. Corts had apologized to him for not getting him an autographed copy of the book before Dr. Corts died. Ken replied, "It's OK. He autographed my life." I would merely say Amen with a host of others whose life bears his imprint as well.
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