whbae Posted June 17, 2006 Share Posted June 17, 2006 Michelle, I understand "to make a point" like show and tell type of thing. I am not sure if I will go along with it. I think there are some other alternatives one could utilize to prove a point. I don't have to drink an alcoholic beverage to prove a point, do I? Well, I think I am too conservative a guy. Whbae Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle Posted June 17, 2006 Share Posted June 17, 2006 Hi Wonbae--I wouldn't say "too conservative." Conservative, yes--too conservative? Nah. You are a product of your upbringing. You are conservative on Club Adventist, but there are conservatives and liberals here--you're not the only conservative! <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nuff sed Posted June 17, 2006 Share Posted June 17, 2006 A "Pastor" is a shepherd of his flock. Make it a priority to make "pastoral visits" to your members whether you think they need it or not. I was born "in the church". My father was a denominational employee as I also later became. The only "Pastoral visit" that I recall was when my pastor came over about twelve years ago to discuss the Memorial Service for my son. When I brought up the topic of "visitation" many years before that in a Conference Committee meeting, a "well known" Union Conference Secretary informed me that he wouldn't visit me either. "Conference workers don't need visiting".... I did notice, however, that I hadn't been translated as yet. Visit your members....even if one them is the G.C. President! Regards, Gladussee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whbae Posted June 17, 2006 Share Posted June 17, 2006 I would like to tell you my own experience with several different pastors in my church in the past. I have been attending this particular church over 20 years. The pastors came and gone. My wife used to be a SDA, but she has not attended this church ever since I start to attend. I am not an obsecure person in the church. I have been a deacon, a head deacon and declined eldership at this church because my wife not being a SDA. There has been only one black pastor, John Nixon, many of would know who he is, came to visit with us. No other ministers even asked me why my wife is not attending the church. Once I called one pastor and I asked him if I could talk to him as I am having some trouble with my daughter. His reply, as a pastor, told me that I should go see a lisenced psychologist! He now is occupying a high position in our denomination in CA. Lazarus, if you read this post, you should give some thought on these. I am not bitter, I just feel that many(most) pastors are at our churches as a job to earn the bread and butter, not as a shepherd Sad! whbae Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators lazarus Posted June 18, 2006 Author Moderators Share Posted June 18, 2006 </font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr /> Lazarus, if you read this post, you should give some thought on these. I am not bitter, I just feel that many(most) pastors are at our churches as a job to earn the bread and butter, not as a shepherd Sad! whbae <hr /></blockquote><font class="post"> I really don't agree that most pastors see pastoring simply as a job. I believe that most pastors care. I know that I have never been able to visit all the people I've wanted to. As a child, I remember elders would do alot of visiting and pastors would do the more challenging or specially requested visits. Visitation is not the reponsibilty of the pastor alone. I'm truely sorry you have had the experiences that you have had. Quote Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities. The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence. Einstein Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil D Posted June 18, 2006 Share Posted June 18, 2006 Lazuraus, I have a ....thought...for you... My desire is that, as you take on the senior position of Paster, that you be yourself... And that you be the full person that you should be...notice that I said "should be" and not "can be"...Many people have you pegged, because you are "pastor"..and they have thier ideas of what they think a pastor should be...But I did not give you permission to conform to thier ideas/ideals as pastor....OTOH, I did give you permission to be pastor as YOU see it..You have studied for this all your life. You have explored all the nuances of what the bible means by the word "pastor". Only you know what you are capable of, and I give you permission to be all that word implies... I don't want you to conform to my idea of pastor...becasue I will never grow....I did not give permission for you to conform to your congregations idea of pastor because they will never grow... But if you will allow me, let me give a few ideas, of what a pastor means...You augment what you can.... A Pastor should be able to love each member of the congregation more fully than any other member. And not just in good times, but especially in hard times as well....A pastor should be a leader, as one who leads a flock, looking over his shoulder to make sure all are following him...He should be able to turn over the leadership to the lead sheep, while he gathers/rescues a weaken or lost lamb. A pastor should be able to coax each member to love each other just that much more fully. A pastor should teach what is right, convey it in lean times, live it in hard times...A pastor knows many things, and is a repository for for mercy and forgiveness. A pastor knows how to give hope, and give it tangibly... And most of all, a pastor not only knows the mind of Christ, but also is a living conduet for Christ to His flock. That means he can hear our Lord's words to him, and listens and obeys them.... Not that many pastors can do this...Let alone balance it with a life with thier family....It can be done...but only thru the Call that was given you, by Christ..... ---------------------------------------------------- How's that for laying a burden on you? <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> Quote Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve.  George Bernard Shaw  Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cleverdics Posted June 18, 2006 Share Posted June 18, 2006 Whbae I hear you say that you are longing for someone to listen to you so that you can talk about your daughter and wife. I am willing to do so, if you are prepared to talk to me via email. I can't come to your home, but I can ask the Holy Spirit to mediate between us. This may not help now, as I think you are talking about events of the past, but it is a genuine offer if I can help. I can come to your home via email, every night. I now see that your concern about the wearing of jeans in church covers some deeper disappointments. regards Everyday. Quote Being Christian is really simple. Look after your family and your mates, feel sorry for the idiots and leave the rest up to God. She'll be right mate! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whbae Posted July 1, 2006 Share Posted July 1, 2006 Lazarus, Yesterday, I received my Ministry Magazine, June, 2006 issue. There is an article you might be interested in reading. The title is "Expectation for a pastor: seven principles from a church administrator" written by Reinder Bruisnma. Whbae Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Shane Posted July 2, 2006 Share Posted July 2, 2006 </font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr /> God has taught me how important it is to simply care for people. Its good to preach, teach, but God has called me to offer pastoral care. To show the love of Christ to all that I come into contact with in a pastoral capacity. <hr /></blockquote><font class="post"> <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif" alt="" /> "above all things being fervent in your love among yourselves; for love covereth a multitude of sins" 1 Peter 4:7 I am impressed with the humility it takes to even ask this type of question. God bless you. A youth pastor helps the youth deal with peer pressure, drug/alcohol use, smoking, worldly entertainment, dating, staying in school/going to college and sometimes conflicts with their parents/siblings. Youth pastors were quite important in my life as a young man. A senior pastor must also be concerned with the health of the families. It is a terrible disgrace when a couple gets divorced in a church and the pastor didn't even know they were having problems. I am not suggesting that pastors can save troubled marriages. I am suggeting that they should know which ones in their congregations are in trouble and hopefully be trying to help them in some way. A senior pastor needs to minister to broken families as well. "Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. " (James 1:27) I consider divorced spouses to be in the same category as the widows of James 1:27 and often times the children of divorce are indeed fatherless. Fatherless children, especially boys, need mentors. </font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr /> I remember elders would do alot of visiting and pastors would do the more challenging or specially requested visits. <hr /></blockquote><font class="post"> When a pastor does all the work, he actuallies denies the members of the church the blessings God has intended for them. Many of the jobs people think of as traditionally being of the pastor can, and should be, done by the members in the church. BUT in most churches the members (sheep) will wonder around lost and confused without a leader (pastor). If you can get your congregation active in actually doing the work, I am sure that upon judgement day you will hear the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant." Quote Pastoral Family Counselor... Find me at www.PostumCafe.com Author of Peculiar Christianity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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