The Perfect Pastor

I came accross something I found to be rather amusing and astonishing:

The Perfect Preacher

He condemns sin, but never hurts anyone's feelings.

His sermons are “right on” for the other person, who really needs to hear that,and never longer than 20 minutes.

He works from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p. m. in every kind of church task,from preaching to janitor.

He makes $250.00 a week, wears good clothes, buys good books, has a nice family,drives a good car, and gives $75.00 a week to the church.

He smiles all the time with a straight face because he has a sense of humor that keeps him seriously dedicated to his work.

He makes 15 calls a day visiting church members, spends all his timeevangelizing the unchurched, and is never out of his office.

He has a burning desire to work with teenagers,and spends all his time with older folks.

He and his family attend all church functions and smile,while members pick and choose what they attend.

He leads the council and congregation with visionand always lets the members have their way.

- Author Unknown

It has been kind of awkward not being in the loop, so to speak. I have been so busy with my own life experiences that I have neglected to faithfully blog as I have privately devoted about a little over a year ago. My vow is to do much better amid all of the seemingly logical excuses I have to 'not blog'. After all - we ALL have things going on. Mine are all too common - trying to get ready to next year's calendar of events/vision/etc. for the church I pastor; finals; tired; funerals; etc. But I have made an astonishing discovery (atleast I think I have) the past week - the entire point of a blog is that the blog serves as a healthly outlet amidst life's tedious upheavals and constant strains. I plan to not only write more, but read more. I have a strange little pet peave - persons who always write blogs and recieve the blogging comments/encouragements of others; but can NEVER be found returning the favor. I know how precious it is to get an occassional comment of encouragement from someone in the blog world; I think it would be nice if I do the same - atleast as time permits. Right now I am reading through Joel C. Gregory's book 'Too Great a Temptation'. I typically read autobiographies and memoirs throughout the year, but particularly between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I had the opportunity to read Gregory's work back in '95, taking it off my father's shelf. To think that 13 years have past and I still have not purchased my own copy (I took it from his shelf yet again!) is a terrible indictment, in and of itself. I will have to review this book once I complete it; but there are so many things (nuggets) entailed within the pages - many that I didn't even notice 13 years ago, as a high school sophomore who had only been preaching about a year - and had NO idea I would one day pastor.

It is funny how things can change!!!

Infallible

Infallible has two meanings; one is "without error" the other that "it fulfills its intended function." A dull knife can be an infallible knife if you use it to cut butter. You will weaken the statement by putting in that word. I know it's your pet word, and it's the pet word of a lot of people, but it isn't as strong as the words "without any mixture of error."--from Interview Concerning Hobbs' Defense of Baptist Faith and Message Wording on the Bible

Revival in Brownsville

I have been away for a short minute; but I pray that all is well! At this time I am away in revival in Brownsville, TX - just a few minutes away from the Mexican Border. I am preaching for one of my brothers in the ministry, Rev. Leroy Roundtree, and the St. James Baptist Church. This is my eighth year here serving as the evangelist; and it is kind of bitter sweet. Next week, the Roundtree family will relocate to Baltimore, Maryland - and the Lord has opened up some doors for he and his family; for this I am grateful! Of course, I am somewhat saddened because I will miss them and seeing them atleast once each year.

I am praying for them as they make their transition; and for the St. James church family as they seek a new pastor in the coming months. Also, please keep me in prayer - finals have begun; and I am looking forward to the break prior to completing my last semester next month.