WHAT IS A PASTOR

I rarely read the blog written by our pastor until after I have written mine and the pastor does not see mine until it is posted.  We do not want people to think we collaborated.  This week I broke with tradition (Gasp! Gasp!) and read Pastor Larry’s blog.

Please read FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK at https://larry-fromthepastorsdesk.blogspot.com/

From his blog:  “However, God was in control.  I learned that God was calling me to be a pastor.  As a pastor, I would have to preach, but I was a pastor.  Just like that, I went from someone who had no use for the ministry to someone who was sold out to the ministry.”

He is Pastor Larry.  From the first time I met him, it was PASTOR.  His blog got me to thinking and, he will tell you, he gets very nervous when I start thinking.  After five years, he is still trying to figure out how I think.  (Note to Pastor Larry:  Give up.  You will never figure me out.)

Exactly what is a Pastor?  Isn’t that the same as a Preacher?  Or a Minister?  Or a Reverend?  The dictionary provided a few clues.

Preacher:  a person who delivers a sermon publicly; one whose function is to preach sermons.  Well, he does deliver a sermon publicly, but that is not his main function.

Minister:  one officiating or assisting the officiant in church worship; a clergyman or clergywoman.  Well, he does officiate during the worship service.  He oversees communion, weddings, baptisms, and funerals, but those are occasional and do not consume all of his time.

Reverend:  of or relating to the clergy.  Reverend is an official title earned from years of study.  I am sure many letters come addressed to Reverend Larry Wade, but he still prefers Pastor.

Preacher, Minister, and Reverend are all used to describe persons in the clergy, but, honestly, they do not fit Pastor Larry.  So why does “Pastor” suit him? 

Pastor:  (noun) a spiritual overseer, especially a clergyman serving a local church or parish and Pastoral:  (adjective) of or relating to spiritual care or guidance especially of a congregation.

And there it is.  As plain as day.  He likes the term Pastor because he serves at a local church and likes to tell us what to do.

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A pastor has knowledge and understanding.

Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.  Jeremiah 3:15

A pastor equips the body of Christ to service.

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.   Ephesians 4:11-13

A pastor is an example and will be rewarded.

Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.  And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.  1 Peter 5:2-4

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I do believe his Aunt Evie heard Acts 1:7-8 this way:  “It is not for you to know the time or date the Father will set his authority on Larry.  But he will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on him; and he will be my witness in Tennessee, Florida, Ohio and Indiana and to the ends of the earth.”

I would like to use 2 Corinthians 4:5 this way:

Pastor Larry, you preach not for yourself, but for Jesus Christ as Lord, and you are a servant for Jesus’ sake.

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Pastor Larry,

May the love, peace, and strength of Jesus Christ surround you as you pastor to the family of a lifelong friend.  May memories surround your grief and bring you comfort.

Mary

THE WHOLE BOOK

Have you ever testified in court?  You have to raise your hand and swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.  You no longer have to say, “So help me God.” 

Our son-in-law sent a scripture, Hebrews 6:4-6, and said it was confusing and he had never noticed this verse before.  I told him I would look it up.  I also told him I had the same thing happen to me on a verse about Noah. 

How could I have missed it?  All the times I had read about Noah.  All the times I had heard about Noah.  And yet, someone posted on Facebook that Noah did not shut the door to the ark.  What?  If not Noah, then who?

Genesis 7:16 The animals going in were male and female of every living thing, as God had commanded Noah.  Then the LORD shut him in.

Now doesn’t that beat all?  I always pictured Noah and family pulling and struggling to get that door shut and here the LORD did it.  Bet the LORD didn’t struggle!  Bet the door started up and firmly shut.  Bet Noah was glad!

How could I have missed this?  Sometimes, parts of the Bible are so familiar we rush through them.  We do not ponder them.  And we miss the image of the LORD tucking Noah, his family, and the animals into the ark as if He was tucking his children into bed.

But why do things in the Bible confuse us?

Let’s be honest.  The Bible can be very.. very confusing.  Sometimes it does not make sense.  Sometimes no matter how often we read a passage, we do not understand it.  We cannot figure it out.  I did look into the verses our son-in-law referenced and sent him a few notes.  Then I told him to read the verses before and after. 

Hebrews 6:4-6 is scary.  It sounds like it is impossible for those once enlightened and fallen away to be brought back to repentance.  They are compared to worthless land which only produces thorns and thistles, they are in danger of being cursed, and they will be burned.  Oh my.  Oh my.  No hope.  No hope.  This is very scary because I have “been enlightened” and I still sin.  Am I in danger of being cursed?  Am I nothing more than thistles and thorns?

(Pretend you are listening to a TV infomercial.)  BUT WAIT!  The next verses offer hope.  Verse 9 - 12 Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case – the things that have to do with salvation.  God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.  We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized.  We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

The next verses get even better.  Read them when you have time.

When the scripture is confusing or scary or does not make sense, read all the verses involved.  You might have to read a whole chapter or two or even a whole Book to understand one single verse.  You might even have to read it twice.  Or three times.  You also have an excellent resource called the Minister/Pastor/Preacher.  Do not be afraid to ask questions.

I closed my note to my favorite son-in-law this way:

Don’t ya love the Bible?  It is all of life in one place:  mystery, romance, questions, answers, great grief, great joy, and salvation.  And it takes a lifetime to understand it.

Keep reading.  Keep discovering.  Keep asking questions.  Keep finding answers.

 GETTING OLDER

No, it is not my birthday so you do not have to go shopping.  Getting older – are you ready? – is a daily process.  When the clock strikes midnight, I am a day older.  When the clock strikes midnight tonight, I will be 27,245 days old. 

Oh my.  That is a really big number.  There are probably that many quotes on getting older.

• “The longer I live the more beautiful life becomes.”  Frank Lloyd Wright
• “Do not grow old, no matter how long you live.  Never cease to stand like curious children before the great mystery into which we were born.”  Albert Einstein
• “People ask me what I’d most appreciate getting for my eighty-seventh birthday.  I tell them, a paternity suit.”  George Burns
• “I suppose real old age begins when one looks backward rather than forward.”  Mary Sarton
• “I was thinking about how people seem to read the Bible a lot more as they get older, and then it dawned on me – they’re cramming for their final exam.”  George Carlin

I like – really like -- this one.  Maggie Kuhn stated, “Old age is an excellent time for outrage.  My goal is to say or do at least one outrageous thing every week.”

Over and over we hear:  Old age is no place for sissies.

The other day, while getting my hair cut, I heard a new one and it made me look at getting older in a whole new way.  Apparently, this was first recorded on the masthead of the Gettysburg Times, in 1952. 

DO NOT REGRET GROWING OLDER.

IT IS A PRIVILEGE DENIED TO MANY.

Getting old – a privilege?  Feet that do not want to work right – a privilege?  That weird old age skin – a privilege?  Less hair – a privilege?  Hearing loss, arthritis, squeaky joints, thicker glasses, and a whole list of other “older” conditions – a privilege? 

GROWING OLDER A PRIVILEGE?  YES!  YES!  YES!

When the clock strikes midnight, I am a day older.  I AM A DAY OLDER!  I have another chance to

• see a sunrise and a sunset,
• tell my family I love them,
• receive hugs from my grandkids,
• enjoy lunch with a friend and drink one more glass of wine,
• read a book, watch a good movie, and work another puzzle,
• sip that cup of coffee while watching the waves come onto shore,
• travel and marvel at god’s creations – especially buffalos,
• do or say something outrageous,
• be curious and learn,

and,

• allow my faith to grow.

I absolutely understand that getting older does not always seem to be a privilege.  Illness can take away physical abilities and dementia can steal a mind.  BUT, for as long as I can, I now choose to consider growing older a privilege which many are denied.  I choose to look at each day as an opportunity.  I choose to be outrageous and bold.  I choose to love and celebrate each gift God provides from the stroke of one midnight to the next midnight to the next midnight.

 

 

ONE FRIDAY NIGHT

I remember it like it was yesterday.  I had Friday and Monday off work!  A long weekend and the weather report was HOT.  And more HOT.  I do not do HOT.  I can do warm and sorta toasty, but hot – nope.  Hot means I melt. 

That Friday morning even included getting my hair done.  A real treat.  There were a few last minute errands, but I had been looking forward to this long weekend.  Everything had been checked off my list and I could relax.  I could breathe.  But then suddenly the clock seemed to speed up and I did not want to be late.

Time became a blur.  Mom and dad were getting dressed.  My younger sister was ready.  My older sister was on her way.  And the next thing I knew, I was standing at the back of the church.

It was a small church and it looked soft and warm, with the candles lit.  There were only a few people there.  The minister was smiling and he held an open Bible. 

My dad held my arm and said, “If you want to change your mind, we can leave.”  I wanted to shout, but, instead, quietly told him, “No!  I am not changing my mind.”

There stood Bill and Jim, the Best Man  Jean, my Matron of Honor, was now standing up front.  It was time.

On a Friday night, in a small church, 56 years ago, Bill took my hands.  I looked in his eyes, and said, “I do.”

I would do it over again.  This man, from our first date, had my heart and taught me how to say, “I love you.”  He has worked to provide for our family.  He quickly learned wives can be difficult and hard to understand.  He learned that babies can be loud and fussy.  And they felt so good when they slept with their head on his shoulder.  He realized children grew up way too fast and that grandchildren could be spoiled and sent home.  He supported me as I became an entirely different person than he married and is still surprised with the unique way my mind works.  He has been my chauffer across 49 states and tells me to be careful when I go off without him.  He was my nurse after surgeries and he worries about me.  He prays for me daily.

I would do it over again.

Happy Anniversary Bill!!