Asking for Forgiveness, and Forgiving Others -- A Christian Way of Life

At Lent -- Asking for Prayers and Forgiveness, from God and From Others

Thanks to all of you who make up our church family.  You are special to God and to all of us here.  Everyone is important. We appreciate you and all that you do.  May God bless you and keep you. May God take you on a deep journey of prayer and Bible reading in this year of 2012.

It has been a long, hard winter for many of us – not in a weather sense, because it has been mild in many ways, but in the sense that our church has been bombarded with much sickness and trial during the last few months.  As one of our elders on session put it, “we have been under a heavy attack of Satan.”  I must agree with his assessment – the evil one attacks when churches make progress for the Lord.  Our outside the box approach to local mission has stirred the devil’s nest,

We learn in James 4:7-10 the secret of turning back the devil: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.  Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” We have to be firm, and steadfast, and watch each other’s back.

It has been a difficult time for many in our congregation, and the pressures caused by illness have been felt by many families.  I, too, have felt this anxiety and pain, not only in the ongoing physical struggles of my own mother, but in every prayer that I pray and every tear that I cry for ailing people and hurting families. For many of us it has been spiritually challenging as we strive to fight the good fight of faith. We get exhausted, but we must never give up. (Gal. 6:9).

Lent is a time for reflection and repentance.  So I repent of my sins and shortcomings, to God and to my church family and friends. Sometimes in our tiredness, even with right intentions, we make mistakes or we say things wrong.  And the sad thing is that an errant statement can injure a relationship that has been built on many good things.  It happens often in our world, where a lot of good is outweighed by one mistaken act. Surely, only God can help heal things, and we need to ask for His healing touch, to repent and learn and try to do better in the future, with His help.

Sometimes I miss the mark.  I regret it when it happens. Please forgive me for that.  I apologize. I want to serve God and the congregation well.  I strive to do as God leads me.  May God help me care for His flock.  Please pray that I might clearly hear and serve God, and love His people.
A pastor must hear and serve the Lord, and a congregation must trust and pray that the pastor is striving to do just that. It is important for you to pray for a pastor to be led by God.  That is where the sermon message comes from – God’s Spirit moving in the mind of the pastor, and the congregation, illuminating the Word for sharing with the people.  I am worth nothing withoutGod’s  help.  I am a broken person, a sinner saved by grace. Praise God that flawed human beings can be used by God.  The Bible attests to this fact.  Jesus is our strength, filling our gaps.

Without a doubt, any pastor faces the sometimes harsh reality that his or her time in a particular church is temporary.  At some time, every pastor moves on to another church, or to heaven.  It is how it is.  A call to a particular church, or churches, is a temporary call within a greater call.  The call on one’s life to serve God as a minister is for a lifetime.  But for a particular church, it is a limited time.  That is why every Sunday should be cherished, every prayer remembered, and every sermon acted upon.  We only have a limited time of ministry together, and we need to make the most of it.  The truth is this -- a pastorate is but a snapshot in time, a union that God blesses for a while, and then He brings about something new. That is the continuing pattern.

“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.” 1 Tim. 1:12 It is amazing that our Lord would take an undeserving sinner who has no business even being a child of God, much less serving in the public ministry, and train him, then call him to publicly proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. That is what the Lord did for the Apostle Paul who wrote those words to a young pastor and co-worker, Timothy. That is what he did for me, too. That is what he does for all who are called to be pastors. Not one called servant of the gospel is deserving of the call. All praise is to Christ!

On my knees in prayer, I look back and see that the Lord has enabled me to walk remarkable roads with our church family over the past seven years – praying, caring, in sickness and in health, witnessing God’s blessing in marriages, God’s healing touch, God’s compassion in funerals, God’s joy in baptisms and the Lord’s Supper.  We have seen many prayers answered and people healed.  Sunday after Sunday the Word has been preached, and the Lord has been worshipped, and we have had blessed times. I am thankful for each moment of mutual ministry.

I feel God still has more for us to do together in His mission in this time and place.  I ask for your forgiveness, your prayers and your support as we serve the Lord Jesus Christ as His church.

                                IN CHRIST, Pastor Glenn Wilson

Andrae Crouch Jesus is the Answer

Jesus is the Answer For the World Today

Years ago, the great Christian musician Andre Crouch wrote a song entitled, "Jesus Is The Answer." The chorus goes:

"Jesus is the answer, for the world today.
Above Him there's no other. Jesus is the way.
Jesus is the answer, for the world today.
Above Him there's no other. Jesus is the way."

Is Jesus still the answer today? The answer is, "Yes, because Jesus is "the Christ, the Son of the living God," He is everything we need, but sometimes we get a bit confused about what it is we truly need. You see, we live in one of the most self-centered, corrupt, greedy, narcissistic cultures in history. The chief goals of most Americans, are self-fulfilment and personal advancement. The leading question of our day for many is, "How can I be happy and satisfied?" Everything is about "me, me, me.”

That is not the Christian mantra – it is Praise God and Thank You Jesus.  It is Come Holy Spirit.  It is love and care for our brothers and sisters in Christ.  It is “we, we, we.”

This self-focused, corrupt, greedy, narcissistic culture, has destroyed many a marriage, and many a home. This self-focused, humanistic, narcissistic culture has reshaped Christianity in America. The gospel and Jesus have become a product for sale, packaged and marketed to a consuming public. Salvation has been transformed into a road for personal wealth and prosperity. The purpose of religion has become a means to help us get what we want, rather than man's forgiveness of sins and a right relationship with God.

James begs to differ. He tells us in James 1:27, "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." Potential converts are now being told that knowing Jesus, coming to Jesus, can make them happier, satisfied, successful, and prosperous.

Too many Christians are asking Jesus how He can fulfill their lives, instead of asking Jesus how they can serve in His kingdom. Narcissism (the worship of self,) embraces hedonism (the worship of pleasure,) which robs us of any genuine concern for others, and is taking a whole generation of servants away from the church! Narcissism and hedonism lead to an empty existence, and eventually to death! Some people, have tried to fill that void and emptiness with drugs, alcohol, sex, entertainment, materialism, and other things, but they are not the answer!   Jesus is the answer!

Yes, Jesus is still the answer.  True discipleship is denying self, taking up a cross, crucifying our flesh, and following Jesus! The Christian life is making it our passion and determination to let Jesus live His life in and through us! Jesus is still the answer if you are asking the right questions. Questions like: the following Questions People Should Ask:

How do I deal with my sin?. Jesus came into the world for this purpose. We need a Savior! Before Jesus can help us in any area of our lives, we must first deal with our sin. John the Baptist would point you toward Jesus and say, "Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." The repentant thief who hung on the cross beside Jesus would say, "All you have to do is admit you are a sinner, deserving nothing but an eternity in Hell. Look to Jesus, believing that He died on the cross for your sin! When you do that, Jesus will wash you whiter than snow." From Paradise, the thief would shout, "Jesus is still the answer."

How can I become more sensitive to the needs of others around me? The woman who suffered a hemorrhage for years, spending her savings to find a cure, without success, would tell you about a day she found Jesus. He was thronged with hundreds of people, pushing and shoving to be near Him. In her desperation, she reached out to touch the hem, the corner tassel on the edge of His outer garment. The second she did so, Jesus stopped and asked, "Who touched me?" She would say, "Out of all those people, Jesus sensed my need and stopped everything to heal me. Now I am more sensitive to those around me." She would say, "Jesus is still the answer."

How can I face the rejection of the world? Mary would tell you about the way the citizens of Nazareth treated her Son when He visited His home town. They refused to see Him as anyone more than the "son of a carpenter." Jesus said, "A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and in his own house." On one occasion, they attempted to push Jesus off of a cliff overlooking the town. Eventually, everyone would walk away from Jesus. Anticipating the coming rejection, Jesus said, "Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me." Observing the rejection of her Son, Mary would tell us today, "Jesus is still the answer."

How can I learn to love people who are different from me? The Samaritan woman would tell you about the day Jesus broke through the barriers of ancient bigotry and class hatred, to enter her world. She would tell you how Jesus risked everything to include her in His kingdom. It all began with Jesus asking her for a drink of water, and treating her kindness. She would tell us, "Jesus is still the answer."

How can I forgive others? In Luke's account of the crucifixion, we are told that Jesus cried from the cross, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." Following those powerful words we read, "And they parted His raiment, and cast lots." Gambling is vice, and vice is sin. Those hardened Roman soldiers who were gambling at the foot of the cross, had to be shaken when they heard those words. God's forgiveness included them! It included those who nailed Him to that cross. It included those who cursed Him, beat Him, and crowned Him with a crown of thorns. Surely those who stood in the shadow of the cross that day, who witness first hand the power of Jesus to forgive others, would say, "If Jesus could forgive us, how can we not help but forgive those who hurt us? " Jesus is still the answer."

At the end of his life, John Newton, the author of the beloved song, Amazing Grace, said this, "My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things, that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior." At the root of every question is man's sin. It is sin that separates us from God. God has made the supreme sacrifice by giving us His Son Jesus, the answer for the world today. Jesus is still the answer for man's greatest need, the forgiveness of sin. Praise the Lord!

"Micah 6:8" Help Us Do Justly, Help Us Love Mercy, Help Us Walk Humbly With God!

Be Your Brother and Sister's Keeper -- Helping the Needy and Oppressed

Christian Social Justice -- Standing Up for Your Fellow Men and Women in Need

In matters of social concern, the biblical Christian should know God’s heart well. God has a special interest in the welfare of those at the lowest end of the social ladder: widows, orphans, legal aliens, and others who are oppressed or disadvantaged in society (Jeremiah 7:5-7). Recognizing this, modern Christians must lead the world in striving for social justice.  We need to work for societies where all people can be treated fairly and justly in the economic system of the country. 

People need to work, but they also need safe workplaces and fair aned equitable pay.  A society where income inequality is as huge as America today is an unjust and unfair society.

What are the Key Biblical Principles of Social Justice?

Let us determine what the Bible teaches about social justice. While the scriptures have plenty to say about justice, it is important to distinguish passages concerning the “outcome fairness” required by distributive justice from passages involving the “procedural fairness” required by a society’s economic or remedial justice systems. It is even more important to consider each “distributive” passage in context – to understand that some social action can be mandated and performed by the state while some is to be done lovingly and voluntarily by private groups (including churches) and individuals.

Proverbs 31:8-9 says, “Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.” This and many other biblical passages make it clear that every human being has a God-given, unalienable right to life and liberty in society, which includes the right to be free from oppression and affliction, whether at the hands of human or natural forces.

Conversely, every human being, especially society’s leaders, has a God-given moral duty to protect fellow human beings from social injustices whenever and wherever it is practical to do so (Prov. 3:27-28). The prophets Amos and Micah spent much of their ministries condemning leaders in Israel for failing to practice social justice. They stressed the “integral relationship between true spirituality and social ethics” (The New Open Bible 1003). Scores of other scriptural examples and passages abound on social action and justice.

The fundamental basis for pursuing social justice goes back to the fact that every human being is created in God’s image and thus has intrinsic value. Furthermore, Jesus makes it clear that God’s law can be summarized in two commandments: love God and love your neighbor (Luke 10:25-37). He explains further that “love thy neighbor” means helping people in need until they can become self-sufficient as illustrated by the so-called Parable of the Good Samaritan. In fact, all people have a moral duty to help other people who are disadvantaged in society. According to scripture, the church and the state play distinctive roles in addressing those needs.

On the one hand, the theocratic nation of Israel had a responsibility to practice distributive social justice in a statist sense as prescribed in the Mosaic Law (Old Covenant). Deuteronomy 15:1-11, for example, details how debts were to be forgiven every seventh year as one means of providing for the poor. This shows how Israeli society was expected to relieve the burden of debt on those who were unable to succeed in the marketplace of that day.

Another example of state sponsored distributive justice in Israel involved one form of tithing. Deuteronomy 14:28-29 states,

At the end of every third year you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in that year, and shall deposit it in your town. The Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance among you, and the alien, the orphan and the widow who are in your town, shall come and eat and be satisfied, in order that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.

Christians have a first priority is to practice the law of love directly on their fellow man. This means to give care to anyone in need, beginning first with one’s own family (1 Tim 5:8), then fellow believers (Gal. 6:10), and even to every human being (Gal 6:10; James 1:27-2:26; cf. Rom. 13:1-10). Sharing the love and good news of Jesus Christ can and should be a part of the Christian’s sharing ministry (Matt. 28:18-20; cf. Acts 3).

Early Christians, for example, demonstrated how a system of distribution could be set up to meet the needs of everyone within a local church community (Cf. Acts 2:43-45, Acts 5:1-11, Acts 6:1-6). This communal sharing was a voluntary method of meeting pressing needs within the church.

The Apostle Paul similarly demonstrated how voluntarily meeting the needs of Christians in other church communities was important (cf. Acts 11:29-30, Gal. 2:10, Rom. 15:25-27, 1 Cor. 16:1-4). In fact, unlike the tithe of Israel, Paul showed that Christian giving for needy brothers in Christ was to be generous, voluntary, equitable, cheerful, anonymous, and in the name of Jesus Christ. This giving out of love instead of obligation truly glorified God. (cf. 1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 8-9, Matt. 6:2-4, Col. 3:17, 1 Cor. 10:31). It is helpful here to reiterate that, under the New Covenant, Christian charity was to be voluntary, not coerced by the state or any other institution.

Finally, it should be noted that the early church used great care in discerning who should receive their social support. For example, a widow was to be put on a list for permanent, life-time support only if she met certain criteria. Paul sets these down clearly in I Timothy 5:3-6: she must be at least 60 years old, “left alone” without family or presumably any other means of support, a woman of prayer, married only once, and a reputation for good works, among other things. In contrast, Paul admonishes the Thessalonians to withhold their social care to those unwilling but able to work: “if anyone will not work, neither let him eat” (II Thess. 3:6-15).

We Can Learn from the Prophet Amos in Times Like These

There is much we can learn from studying the prophets of the Old Testament.  One that we need to focus on in times such as ours is  Amos. The Prophet Amos belongs to a period about a century after the Prophet Elijah and nearly a century before the Prophet Isaiah, and about two centuries before the Prophets Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel. Amos declared himself to have been of humble birth.  He was the non-prophet prophet.


His parents were not illustrious; and he was not educated among the sons of the prophets. Like David he was a sheep tender, a farmer, upon whom the Lord poured His Spirit with mighty power, sending him to proclaim the disasters sure to come upon Israel unless a change of course should turn aside the deserved punishment for transgressions against God's commands.


The brunt of the Prophet's message fell against what is called the Northern Kingdom after the split following Solomon, what we know as the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel. The Divine method of presenting the matter is noteworthy. The Prophet's message began with the adjoining nations: (1) Damascus, the capital of Syria, on the north, is mentioned as being in line with the Divine retributions; (2) the Philistines, on the west; (3) Tyre, to the northwest; (4) the Edomites, to the south; (5) the Ammonites, nearly on the east; (6) the Moabites, also to the south; (7) Judah, to the south; and lastly, the center of the Prophet's message, Israel--the ten-tribe kingdom.
 
This denunciation of Israel occurs chiefly in chapters 3-6 and in chapter 7:9-17. When the Prophet had gone so far as to tell openly of the fall of the reigning dynasty, Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, interfered, bidding Amos to return to his own country. But under the special power of the Holy Spirit, using him to deliver a particular message, the Prophet Amos refused to return home until he had accomplished what God had given him to do.


Amos pleads with the Israelites that they return to harmony with God and thus avert the calamities which must otherwise be expected. The history of that time shows that it was a very prosperous period, not only for Judah, but also for the ten-tribe kingdom. The prosperity was of the earthly kind. Riches were accumulated. But these were in the hands of the great few; and the Prophet proceeds to warn the rich that the poor were being unjustly dealt with.
 
Amos speaks of a \pronounced need for social justice.  Justice was not rendered in the Israel courts. Instead of the sweets of Justice, those who appealed to their courts, if they were poor, got wormwood--that is, bitterness, disappointment. The Prophet declares that righteousness was cast down to the earth; that equity was not a matter of primary consideration. He proceeds to point out that bribery was rife; that wealth, power and influence could accomplish almost anything. He proclaims boldly that there must be a turning from this condition; and relief could come only from turning back to the Lord and doing good and right deeds to honor God.
 
What did Amos find when he came north? He found pride (6:13-14), plenty and splendor in the land, elegance in the cities and might in the palaces. The wealthy adorned their summer and winter residences with costly ivory (3:15) and their couches with damask pillows (3:12) on which they lolled to enjoy sumptuous feasts. They planted pleasant vineyards and anointed themselves with precious, fragrant oils (6:4-6; 5:11). Their women, whom Amos called "fat cows of Bashan," drank wine from bowls (4:1).
 
Due to the sharp contrast between poor and rich and the fact that the wealthy seemed unconcerned for their less fortunate contemporaries, Amos was sent by God to decry the injustice of it all; "you do not even know how to do right" (3-10), he accused. Because of this, he said, the poor are afflicted, exploited and even sold into slavery (2:6-8; 5:11), and corrupt judges (5:12) do nothing to correct the situation.
 
When Amos saw the cruel gaps between "the haves" and the "have nots" , the way the poor were treated, the idolatry and the shallowness of their worship services, he became very angry. He said:


"I hate and despise your feasts,
I take no pleasure in your solemn festivals.
I reject your sacrifices
Let me hear no more of your chanting
But rather let justice flow like water
And integrity like an unfailing stream." 5:24

The Prophet Amos was especially commissioned of the Lord to give this message of repentance and of the need for fairness. Hence he could not keep silence because of prudence or for any other consideration, but must speak his message with boldness.   And that he did!
 
 In our day we are still called upon to help the poor and stand up for the powerless, to speak for those without a voice.  We can help the poor by active participation in charitable organizations, through our financial support of charitable organizations like food pantries and the Salvation Army.  But we also need  to be working to change unjust structures and laws that help to keep the poor poor.
 
Certainly we must work to help with the immediate needs of the poor for food, medicine, clothing and shelter. I am very grateful for the support of my local churches for the area food pantries and care teams.. Through Christian stewardship of time and talent, hundreds of people are helped.   Charitable organizations and those who financially support them live the message of Matthew 25:30-46, I was hungry and you gave me to eat . ..
 .
 Works of Justice Are Also Needed




  Works of justice seek to bring about systemic change institutions. Advocates in this area seek to change laws and business practices that create great injustice and inequity in society.  In our country over 50 million people do not have health insurance and many folks are living below poverty levels.


In recent times the great prophets of social justice, followers of Amos and others, have been Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Archbishop Romero, Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Tutu and Nelson Mandela and Susan B. Anthony (who fought for voting rights for women in our country). Many other men and women have been killed or jailed for speaking out against injustices. But, as a result of their advocacy millions of men, women and children have better lives today. In real ways social justice is more demanding than works of charity in that advocates often meet a lot of strong resistance and even violence as they seek to bring about systemic change.
 
But both are needed. Without the work of charitable organizations the poor would die as social advocates lobbied to remove the causes of poverty and injustice. Without the work of social justice advocates women would still not have received their right to vote and black people would still be treated like second class citizens.


We need to follow in the footsteps of Amos and Jesus and speak God's truth to power.  We need to be prophets of God in our own day.

Reclaiming the Prophetic Voice --Putting God First -- We Need to be God-Pleasers, Not Human Pleasers!

Where are the prophets of our day, speaking to power for the powerless?  Where is the modern day Amos or James, or Moses or, yes, Jesus?  Where are the Christian leaders who will serve God first, not men and women, but God? 


The sadness is that so many pastors are afraid to speak up for fear they might lose their "jobs."  If they speak truth to power they might get in trouble with the session, the board, the earthly powers that be.  Our contemporary system of finding and hiring and paying pastors seems to often work against the power of the prophetic sermon or powerful social action.  Many contemporary pastors are neutered by the system humans have created.


We must always remember that being a pastor is not simply a "job."  It is a calling that initiates with God.  And we are ordained and commissioned to be God's ambassadors, to speak forth God's Word and principles with power and clarity.


In our world, just as in the time of Amos and Jeremiah and Micah, there is a burning need to speak God's truth, not matter how negative the earthly consequences may seem.  Serving God has to come first.  Indeed, if you serve God rightly, that is how the people are really and justly served.


We must return to a reverence for the Hebrew prophetic tradition of speaking truth to earthly power, of standing up for God and God's allegiance to the poor and disenfranchised, of giving voice to the powerless in a broken and often evil world.  We need more preachers like Amos and Moses and Isaiah, like Stephen and Paul and Peter, and yes, Jesus, speaking God's truth to earthly power.  In the richest nation on earth we have shocking income inequality,with 25 million people unemployed or underemployed and 50 million people without access to proper health care. 


Yet we often seem to major in the minors, clamoring for things that pale in comparison to hunger and sickness and injustice.  Sadly, for many Christians thier pro-life stance seems to end at the birth of a human being, not in the rigors of that ongoing life.   Sadly, many people seem far more concerned with fear of gays and illegal immigrants, than in feeding the hungry and healing the sick.


Priorities are misplaced and the great truths of the Bible are turned on their end to please men, not God, because there is so much more in the Bible about the evils of greed and political corruption, and the need for social justice and helping the poor, than there is about sex.  But too many pastors major on sex, the easy target, rather than greed and avarice, because that might get someone in power, in their church or community, upset with them.  They allow lies to go unchallenged, and injustice to fester and grow.


The whole idea of speaking forth God's prophetic Word in prophetic ways has been lost to many.  Too many people in today's churches see pastors only as helpers; that ours is a helping profession, counted alongside doctors and nurses and emergency responders and teachers and social workers.


But being a minister of God is more than being a helper.  It is to also be a shepherd, which is a guide and a protector, one who leads beside still waters for a refreshing drink and rest, and, as David did, one who fights the lion and the bear when they threaten God's flock.


Pastors need to first serve God and proclaim God's Word and encourage people to pray and wash in that precious, life-giving Word.  They need to be prophetic, being God-pleasers first, not human-pleasers.


“Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10

Our aim must be higher than comparing ourselves to others.  When we take stock in our own lives, we need to do so in light of Who we are trying to please.  As servants of Christ, our only desire should be that of doing His will, of serving Him and doing what He guides us to do.  As we evaluate our ministry, our work, our activity, our speech, our thoughts need rest only in our Lord’s pleasure. 

Are we living lives that honor God, living in humility, in love, and in peace? Are we faithful to His call? Are we serving to gain notoriety, success, or popularity in a human or worldly sense? Or are we doing what we do as a willing and cheerful sacrifice of praise for the righteousness we have in Christ, our risen Lord?  Are we fully living for Jesus?

God loved us while we were yet sinners.  He gave His life that we might have His life within us.  In Christ we have all we need to bring glory to Him.  May we lay aside our need to please humans, and live only to magnify Him and point others to Him.


In my own life, as a minister called by God, I must seek to please God first in my life and ministry.  I must strive to preach the unadulterated Word of the Living God, for it is the Word in its pure form that is supernatural, cutting like a two-edged sword.


My own calling as a pastor is to God first and foremost.  When the time comes for me to leave the churches where God has now placed me to preach His Word faithfully, I am assured that God will use me where God chooses -- but God will continue to use me, because pastors have a lifetime call, and we will serve God in some ministry capacity until we leave this earth.


Every pastor lives with the sometimes harsh reality that a call to a particular church or churches is temporary.  Either you will move to another church one day, after the purposes God has given you in that particular church have been fulfilled, or you will go to heaven.  Sometimes the brokenness of the world and the evils of the devil seem to short circuit this process, and the time in a particular church is shorter than anyone would have planned, but even in the best of circumstances, a pastorate is a temporary call within a greater call.


But, as a minister called by God, i am  convinced that God will use me even when my days in these two blessed churches that I serve are over.  God may take me to a storefront or a street corner, but there will be things to do until that day God calls me home.  And there is no doubt in my mind that God will take care of me and provide for my family, whether I go back to driving a truck or a bus, or work again on a farm, or teach in a university or callege. 


Never forget that Paul was a tent maker and Amos was a farmer, which may have aided them in being boldly prophetic.  The simple truth is this -- Where God guides, God will provide.  That is a holy guarantee.


The important thing for pastors is to always put God first, and not get in a ditch trying to please men and women before God, or trying to build one's own "earthly kingdom", instead of working for Christ's kingdom.  We must be God pleasers first, not human pleasers.