What Difference Will You Make?

One of the first lessons taught to DSs at our TMF development group was that the paradigms had shifted. I have to admit years ago when I first heard that word I was in Nashville as a guest of one of the general agencies. The General Secretary was talking about paradigms and I was thinking along the lines of the small ten-cent coin that we have and use. So, it was hard to imagine what a paradigm shift meant. The shift we heard has gone something like this: We've gone from being concerned about having 1) Happy clergy, 2) Satisfied congregations, and 3) more members and money. We have shifted from the emphasis being on clergy, congregations, members, participants, money, and facilities to those churches that take seriously the task of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the Lord. As we begin to wind down the year, what difference will you make in making this shift a reality?

A Grateful Heart

As pastors, we face both good and bad. The bad sometimes is unreal. How can people who say they are Christians do/say/act/hurt they way they do? Yet, on we press, led by Christ to love and pray for them. At the end of the day we, with thankful hearts, give thanks for lessons learned and challenges met. We can only do so much; the rest is left up to God. Today is a day set aside by our nation to give thanks. And the best way to give thanks is with a grateful heart. Thank You, Lord.

It's Hard Not To Remember...

image from webpronews.com

I attended Flato Elementary in Kingsville, Texas. I was part of the playground patrol and safety patrol because I was in fifth grade. One watched the playground, the other helped kids cross the street. I was on playground patrol when a second grader approached me close to lunch time and said, "Sir, someone killed the President!" I immediately replied, "That's not funny! Go back and play!" Then the bell rang and we all had to go back to our classrooms for the official announcement, that President John F. Kennedy had been assassinated in Dallas, Texas, of all places. The second-grader was not kidding. I remember that death was followed by the death of one of my favorite aunts, Tia Nina, my grandmother's only sister, had died of a heart attack, I still believe, as a result of that sad day and the sad days that followed. My whole family was glued to the television for the televised drama that followed. The chaos in Dallas, the swearing in of President Lyndon B. Johnson, and the entire funeral. I saw brave Jackie cope without public hysterical crying as I had seen in the few funerals I had attended. I saw John John salute his dad's procession, and little Caroline not really aware it seemed, of all that had happened. Little kids were no longer little kids for that week and the weeks that followed. Adults wondered and worried about what could be next.

We had two television stations I believe in 1963 in Kingsville. Actually, they were Corpus Christi stations, and our favorite was CBS, Channel 10, and I got to know all about Walter Cronkite from his role in broadcasting CBS News' accounts of the death and funeral of president Kennedy. I remember wondering why he took off his glasses and looked away from the camera and towards the clock, and what clearing his throat was all about. Years later I would know it was the first time a national news anchor had come close to crying on air.

May God comfort our nation as we remember such a sad day in our history, and may we let God's love comfort and unite us in the divided country we have become. "One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Setting the Pace as Pastor

As pastors, we set the pace for the congregation. We lead by example. In our vows, we should be at the forefront of those most faithful to them. Our prayer life should be a model to others, that prayer is powerful and it works for those who pray. Our presence at all activities at which we lead and not lead, we should be there as a reminder that we support the church with our prayers for each event and with our presence. We lead in our gifts. We set the pace in giving. In many a church, even though she or he should not be, the pastor sometimes is the biggest giver, and we're talking money not time. We set the pace in tithing. In our service, again, given a servant's heart by God, we seek to serve to the best of our ability. And the places we serve should be beyond the church in a way that models a life of a living church that cares about the entire community, not just the preferences of the local church. And in our witness, we should not be shy nor scared of sharing how it was we came to faith. We should proclaim loudly how blessed we are to have said Yes to the Living and Loving God to be among those called to professional ministry. Putting all of these together our institution of so many years may just become a movement again.