Here's an article and interview posted by Cultwatch.com. Are you participating in any of this? Are you OK with this? Does your Pastor aspire to such things?
How Pastors Get Rich
I believe many Christians are drifting like sheep without a shepherd, even though the Shepherd has come. Beware of wolves in sheep's clothing, especially those staring back at you from the mirror.
Happy because of Jesus,
Pastor James
Showing posts with label pastor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pastor. Show all posts
Monday, July 10, 2017
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Pastor Russ Moyer
News-Record Obituary for Pastor Russ Moyer
See the audio player on the right for "Meditations for Pastor Russ Moyer" from Rolling Roads Baptist Church on Sunday March 15, 2015.
Friday, November 7, 2014
Blessed by PBA Annual Meeting
Last night's Piedmont Baptist Association meeting was a great experience. I really enjoyed seeing several people that I hadn't seen in a while, some in ten years! What's not to like about being among people who truly are "friends in the business" of Christian ministry and outreach? Especially when they come up to you, remember your name from years ago, and genuinely express interest and best wishes for your work! Not to mention the encouragement of knowing others who are not only plodding along in pastoral ministry, but also who are active and intentional in support ministries that reach our church members outside of the walls, encouraging them during the week. The (sort of selfish) take away from all this is that I'm almost certain to reduce the feelings of isolation that have dogged me during ministry. If I will plug in firmly to this family of Christians to which I obviously belong, God will use them to help me stay encouraged. Unhealthy isolation is no good in any context; and it is abundantly clear to me that in pastoral ministry it leaves one wide-open to big time discouragement. And we all know where discouragement leads. Will you help hold me accountable to this PBA family? Will you consider taking an active part in locally cooperative activities along with me?
Also, this meeting was historic in that it was the first time the annual meeting has been hosted in a predominantly black church. This enabled us to have a likely unique worship experience with the St. Paul's Youth Choir. One concern that was expressed openly was that many on the 2015 leadership team are sporting bald heads (on purpose mostly). What does this mean? 2 Kings 2:23 says "Go on up, you bald-head! Go on up you bald-head!" but in this case let's hope for much different results as a truly cooperative PBA impacts the Triad in every way, in every nation, every neighborhood, and every neighbor.
Also, this meeting was historic in that it was the first time the annual meeting has been hosted in a predominantly black church. This enabled us to have a likely unique worship experience with the St. Paul's Youth Choir. One concern that was expressed openly was that many on the 2015 leadership team are sporting bald heads (on purpose mostly). What does this mean? 2 Kings 2:23 says "Go on up, you bald-head! Go on up you bald-head!" but in this case let's hope for much different results as a truly cooperative PBA impacts the Triad in every way, in every nation, every neighborhood, and every neighbor.
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Urgent: Ephesians 2:8-10 needed badly!
So people say, "we have a lot of churches needing pastors." And I say, "Well, ain't nern called me yet." Then they says, "Problem is ain't none them churches y'ed want no how."
This is coming from people and clergy who ought to know better, and is being repeated, sometimes meaner than others: "You wouldn't want to go there and pastor." [The meanest was, "They ought to close down and give their property to (local megachurch wannabe)."]
Well, call me dumb, but I think that attitude is a problem. It reveals an insanely unspiritual corporate job/career/professional viewpoint of Christianity that STILL creeps me out.
The issue has never been whether or not churches have problems. Or whether some got's more problems than others. Or whether Christians got problems. Or whether churches can sin like crazy.
The fact is Christians is people. And people in groups can sin much more efficiently than they can by themselves. Isn't it all about redemption and healing through dependence upon God? "...and that not of yourselves...."
How do I know this? Because I am one of em. Yep, ministers is people, too. And people sin, some more one day, some less the next day, some quite well, some with difficulty. Point is that there ain't no church more broken than I have been, or even am. Welcome to earth!
So what church is good enough for me?!? That is the criteria for a call in this modern megachurch goin' straight to h^ll, world loving man-centered religion?!?
Better this: What church am I good enough for? Now THAT question only God can answer, folks.
Our attitude ought to be one of dependence on God and not our own perfections. If churches have to be "good enough" to call a pastor, then God help us all. We all have to come to the end of ourselves spiritually, realize that we have a need for God as individuals and in community, humble ourselves, give over our sin to the power of God, and accept and receive his forgiveness and redemption. This is about love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. I hope.
Now, don't that sound better than "get your act together or die?" I'm telling you, there is no grace left in modern megachurch goin' straight to h^ll, world loving man-centered religion. It's all about performance, perfection, and spiritual self-sufficiency. "How do you stack up against the big dogs?" No one tells you that the "big dogs" got that way by...(the spiritual equivalent of free beer).
Here's to all them imperfect churches out there without perfect pastors, waiting for Superman. (He ain't coming, especially if he says he is.) "...we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we might walk in them..."
I just mean...dern y'all. Fix this attitude now and stop discouraging one another.
This is coming from people and clergy who ought to know better, and is being repeated, sometimes meaner than others: "You wouldn't want to go there and pastor." [The meanest was, "They ought to close down and give their property to (local megachurch wannabe)."]
Well, call me dumb, but I think that attitude is a problem. It reveals an insanely unspiritual corporate job/career/professional viewpoint of Christianity that STILL creeps me out.
The issue has never been whether or not churches have problems. Or whether some got's more problems than others. Or whether Christians got problems. Or whether churches can sin like crazy.
The fact is Christians is people. And people in groups can sin much more efficiently than they can by themselves. Isn't it all about redemption and healing through dependence upon God? "...and that not of yourselves...."
How do I know this? Because I am one of em. Yep, ministers is people, too. And people sin, some more one day, some less the next day, some quite well, some with difficulty. Point is that there ain't no church more broken than I have been, or even am. Welcome to earth!
So what church is good enough for me?!? That is the criteria for a call in this modern megachurch goin' straight to h^ll, world loving man-centered religion?!?
Better this: What church am I good enough for? Now THAT question only God can answer, folks.
Our attitude ought to be one of dependence on God and not our own perfections. If churches have to be "good enough" to call a pastor, then God help us all. We all have to come to the end of ourselves spiritually, realize that we have a need for God as individuals and in community, humble ourselves, give over our sin to the power of God, and accept and receive his forgiveness and redemption. This is about love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. I hope.
Now, don't that sound better than "get your act together or die?" I'm telling you, there is no grace left in modern megachurch goin' straight to h^ll, world loving man-centered religion. It's all about performance, perfection, and spiritual self-sufficiency. "How do you stack up against the big dogs?" No one tells you that the "big dogs" got that way by...(the spiritual equivalent of free beer).
Here's to all them imperfect churches out there without perfect pastors, waiting for Superman. (He ain't coming, especially if he says he is.) "...we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we might walk in them..."
I just mean...dern y'all. Fix this attitude now and stop discouraging one another.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
CEO-ing the sheep
An excerpt from Left Behind in a Megachurch World by Ruth Tucker:
"According to Rob Marus, Southern Baptists are particularly tuned into the megachurch mentality because they, perhaps more than any other denomination, measure success in terms of numbers of baptisms or converts. 'The more conservative and evangelical the church, the more important growth is,' he argues. 'It becomes almost a jockeying contest to see how many you can attract, how many you can convert, and how many you can baptize.' It is no accident that every one of the presidents of the Southern Baptist Convention int he past two decades has been a senior pastor of a megachurch." (p.93)
CEO does not automatically equal shepherd. Success is faithfulness.
"According to Rob Marus, Southern Baptists are particularly tuned into the megachurch mentality because they, perhaps more than any other denomination, measure success in terms of numbers of baptisms or converts. 'The more conservative and evangelical the church, the more important growth is,' he argues. 'It becomes almost a jockeying contest to see how many you can attract, how many you can convert, and how many you can baptize.' It is no accident that every one of the presidents of the Southern Baptist Convention int he past two decades has been a senior pastor of a megachurch." (p.93)
CEO does not automatically equal shepherd. Success is faithfulness.
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