Clergy Appreciation
Posted by: bigguyhereagain <bigguyhereagain@...>
One of the most profound statements I remember hearing my father make
while growing up was, "Son if I didn't love you I would just let you
run wild." But my dad did in fact love me-so much so that he taught
me right from wrong-even if I didn't agree with him at the time. Well,
as I look back, I now know that dad was correct nearly 99% on everything
he told me. OK, the fact of the matter is he was closer to 100% correct,
but I hate to admit it.
Have you ever noticed how a pastor is so much like a father? He is
constantly telling you the truth, regardless of its popularity. That is
why some organizations and denominations call their pastors and leaders
Father. I mean think about it; they are constantly giving you advice
you feel you already know or think is totally incorrect-that is until
you get a little more spiritually mature. I think the connection
between a biological father and that of a spiritual father truly is LOVE.
October is Clergy Appreciation Month, and maybe we should consider it
Father's Day for our spiritual well being. This special event each year
presents a great opportunity to say "thank you" to our pastors and their
families. Clergy Appreciation Month is a special time that congregations
set aside each year to honor their pastors and pastoral families for their
hard work, sacrificial dedication and provision of multiple blessings.
It is typically scheduled in October, but can be held at any time that
is convenient for the community and church.
Although Clergy Appreciation Month celebrations are most intense during
October, appreciation and affirmation of our spiritual leaders is
appropriate throughout the entire year. Pastors and their families live
under incredible pressures. Their lives are played out in a fishbowl,
with the entire congregation and community watching their every move.
They are expected to have ideal families, to be perfect people, to always
be available, to never be down and to have all the answers we need to keep
our own lives stable and moving forward. Those are unrealistic expectations
to place on anyone, yet most of us are disappointed when a pastor becomes
overwhelmed, seems depressed, lets us down or completely burns out. And
we certainly never blame ourselves for their "failures."
That's why God has instructed us to recognize His servants. 1 Timothy
5:17 reads: "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double
honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine.
The good news is that we can make a difference. Clergy Appreciation Month
is one way we can counter the negative erosion in the lives of our spiritual
leaders with positive affirmation.
There are two ways to help your pastors and their families feel appreciated.
First, figure out what you can do personally to recognize and honor these
leaders. A simple card, an invitation to lunch, a promise to pray for them,
or an offer to baby-sit, wash a car or mow a lawn make wonderful statements.
The next way to help is to share the concept of Clergy Appreciation Month
with others in your congregation and to challenge them to join you in some
kind of formal planning. You might consider a special service of affirmation,
a dinner, or planting a tree in their honor. The sky is the limit!
The most powerful weapon against the pressures faced by every pastor is
prayer. Please stop and take just a moment and pray for your pastoral
staff-pray for each pastor's family-pray for them all year long! When you
discipline yourself to pray for your pastors and their families on a
regular basis, great things happen. So, pray for your pastor's sake-for
your sake-for your congregation's sake-for your community's sake. What a
difference you can make!
So, the next time your pastors preaching is stepping all over your toes,
just remember, if he didn't love you he would simply let you run wild.
1. Give God what's right -- not what's left.
2. Man's way leads to a hopeless end, God's way leads to an endless hope.
3. A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing.
4. He who kneels before God can stand before anyone.
5. In the sentence of life, the devil may be a comma, but never let him be the period.
6. Don't put a question mark where God puts a period.
7. Are you wrinkled with burden? Come to the church for a face-lift.
8. When praying, don't give God instructions - just report for duty.
9. Don't wait for six strong men to take you to church.
10. We don't change God's message -- His message changes us.
11. The church is prayer-conditioned.
12. When God ordains, He sustains.
13. WARNING: Exposure to the Son may prevent burning.
14. Plan ahead -- It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.
15. Most people want to serve God, but only in an advisory position.
6. Suffering from truth decay? Brush up on your Bible.
17. Exercise daily -- walk with the Lord.
18. Never give the devil a ride -- he will always want to drive.
19. Nothing else ruins the truth like stretching it.
20. Compassion is difficult to give away because it keeps coming back.
21. He who angers you controls you.
22. Worry is the darkroom in which negatives can develop.
23. Give Satan an inch & he'll be a ruler.
24. Be ye fishers of men -- you catch them & He'll clean them.
25. God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.
I do not mail idea-central unsolicited. If you are receiving this newsletter from me it's because you have subscribed to this mailing list. If you receive this newsletter and are not a subscriber then someone, other than me, has forwarded it to you.
| Normal Subscribe: | idea-central-subscribe@welovegod.org |
| Normal Unsubscribe: | idea-central-unsubscribe@welovegod.org |
| Web Subscribe: | idea-central-allow-subscribe@welovegod.org |
| Web Unsubscribe: | idea-central-allow-unsubscribe@welovegod.org |
| Email Group Owner: | idea-central-owner@associate.com |