Who, What, Where?

Posted on January 27, 2011 by shepherd

I had a friend write and say, “Be careful what you say on your blog–you don’t want someone from your church to read this and figure out who you are.”Kevin Bacon

He is right, of course.  If any of the people from back home in Southern California heard about all of my exploits here in the plains of Texas, they might call my mom up in Ontario who might tell my old college prof from Harvard who might let it slip to his brother-in-law in Arkansas whose crazy sister is married to her cousin from Austin whose name is E and then it would be be bad.

If there are only 6 degrees of separation from anyone to Kevin Bacon, I am probably only 10 degrees from you.  So it is possible you might know me.  It is possible someone might read this blog who probably should not.

All in all, I guess if someone from my church gets a good read of this blog, perhaps they will understand a little more about the pastor who loves them.  Or maybe they won’t read that carefully and I can learn to put my communication skills to work in the marketplace.

Would you like fries with that?

Posted in Personal | 3 Comments

Justification

Posted on January 27, 2011 by shepherd

No, not the justification that comes through the cross, the kind necessary when you buy new furniture.

Recently we bought new furniture for our house.  Every time someone comes by and they make a comment about the new furniture, I jump to say, “We have always had ratty furniture and we just decided it was time to get some new–so we spent money from the sale of our house to get some.”

It is like I am worried they will think they are paying me too much.  Or maybe I worry they will think me irresponsible with my money.

No one has even said anything remotely like that.  What is wrong with me?

Posted in Church Life, Personal | 3 Comments

Friends or Ministry

Posted on January 27, 2011 by shepherd

Over the years, I have pondered what the difference between social and ministry contacts.  What is the difference between meeting a friend from church and an official pastoral call.

Here is why it matters.  I have an expense account to help cover the costs of ministry meetings–lunches, admission to games, etc.  Today I meet with E who is the one who reviews all of my expenses.  He invited me to lunch and signs off all conversations, “I am looking forward to it, my friend.”  So do I turn in the expenses of meeting with him?

He doesn’t see this as “work,” but as “friendship.”

Here is the truth of the matter.  I would not be friends with E or with any of the people at this church had I not accepted the call to come and be their pastor.  So, in a sense, all of the contacts I have here are “business” contacts and, strictly speaking, work related.

If I meet with someone and they “feel” like we are friends, I am doing my job well.  If they “feel” like they are a task on my schedule, I am not doing my job very well.  If they “feel” like another line in my calendar, I cannot really minister to them at all.

To further complicate things, I really do care about the people I pastor.  That is because this is not just a job, but a calling.  But it is also my job.

If I turn in the expense of meeting with E, will it undermine my relationship with him (tenuous as it is?)

I think I understand how people–especially elders–see what I do.  If I am calling on someone else in the congregation, I am doing my job.  If I come to see them, I am coming as a friend.

I don’t think I will turn in the expense.  I want to be his pastor.

Posted in Leadership | 2 Comments

Work, Work, Work

Posted on January 25, 2011 by shepherd

Confession time.

At its heart, what I do is a lot of reading, thinking and writing about God.  Not a bad job.

Today, I read a few chapters in two different church leadership books, read over and over a chapter in a Gospel, and wrote some devotionals and talked to a brother about his deepening discipleship.  These are the kind of days that make you willing to put up with all the garbage that fills the rest of the time.  :)

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Dangerous People

Posted on January 25, 2011 by shepherd

I have been swamped busy and missed updating yesterday and today is almost over.  I will share one little nugget.

My wife had a lady over from the church for coffee.  Girly stuff with little cakes and stuff, I am sure.  Light conversation for an hour.  Then the lady said, “Are you liking things here?”

W said, “Yes, we are going to like things just fine.”

She answered, “If you don’t, you can just move on.”

Nice.

Did I mention, she is E’s wife?

Posted in Church Life, Leadership, Nuts | 4 Comments

Powerpoint

Posted on January 23, 2011 by shepherd

My last post was a little depressing.  So I will share something I am really happy about.A Disciple of Jesus

Today I am preaching about the calling of the disciples–really just the naming of the 12.  Nothing very profound in the text–a list of names.

The angle I am preaching is that these ordinary men changed the world.  Then I run through a bunch of slides of people and talk about what Jesus’ disciples might look like today.

But what about Judas?  He is listed at the end of the list of disciples.  Judas, the one who betrayed Jesus.

What do we do with him.

I wanted to make the point that he looks like we do just like the other 11.  I am using my picture.  I think it will work well.

Risky.  (by the way, I wish I looked as cool as this guy!)

Posted in Preaching | 1 Comment

Ready for Church

Posted on January 23, 2011 by shepherd

I have spent the last couple weeks in turmoil at church.  Mostly frustration with E.

E is a bully.  I don’t like bullies.

I have a sinking, sick feeling about going to church.  I don’t think it is supposed to be this way, but it is.  Funny how this kind of thing can even make our time with God something to be dreaded.

I am in a small group with E.  It meets today too.

Can I go back to bed?

Posted in Personal | 2 Comments