July 12, 2005

[Rev. Doc]

Learning From Our Mistakes

"I thought about the former days, the years of long ago;"
Psalms 77:5

We can learn from past mistakes. However, learning from the past and living in the past are two different things.

Members of a Virginia volunteer fire department were so proud of their expensive new Hurst tool (known as the "Jaws of Life") that they held a special demonstration last October to show how it could cut into an automobile and rescue people trapped inside. As an appreciative crowd looked on, two fire- fighters quickly ripped a door from a 1966 Buick. They pulled its steering wheel through the windshield and knocked out all the windows.

At that point, a voice cried out, "Hey, what have you done to my car?"

"The man was livid," reported one onlooker. He had good reason to be upset. The firefighters, in the enthusiasm, had cut up the wrong car. Their president promised that the department would pay the owner for the loss of his car. "It was just a mistake," the chief kept saying, "just a mistake."

We learn from what we have done, mistakes we have made. But then we move on, living in such a way not to repeat what we have learned to avoid.

Prayer: Ask God to help you remember lessons He has taught you from mistakes you have made.

"Do not say, "Why were the former days better than these?" You do not move ahead by constantly looking in a rear view mirror. The past is a rudder to guide you, not an anchor to drag you. We must learn from the past but not live in the past."
~Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe

[Locke]

66 Buicks must be hard to get >.>

and Rev, I have a question.
I really want to become a pastor when I grow up. But I see the term reverend thrown around too ( ergo, you )

What are all these titles? @_@

[Rev. Doc]

and Rev, I have a question.
I really want to become a pastor when I grow up. But I see the term reverend thrown around too ( ergo, you )

What are all these titles? @_@

Ministers go by a number of different titles:
Clergy
Priest
Minister
Shepherd
Preacher
Pastor
Reverend
And quite a number that don't bear repeating.

Regardless of the title, they are for the most part God's representatives to specific bodies of believers that we know as the church.

If you would like a position where you are
*Stressed out
*Overworked
*Underpaid
*Have anywhere from 10 to 150 (or more) employers
*Where you can never please everyone
*Are underappreciated
*Where your family lives in a glass house
*Misunderstood in much of the work you do (we only work 2 days a week after all)
*Walk a tightrope in all decisions you make
*And stand responsible in relating God's word to the body
*Constantly struggling to juggle your relationships with God, Family and Church

Then this jobs for you.

And having done it for over 17 years now, I could never do anything else. While some may think I am joking with the above, I'm not. These are very real things ministers deal with on a daily basis (some areas more than others depending on the minister and the church). The average pastor/chruch relationship (of my denomination) is sadly, 3 years. But what a great joy when (like myself) you are able to find the church that loves you just as much as you love them and are able to accept one another and work together for God's Kingdom in unity.

Bottom line: I would never recommend this work to anyone who is not truely called of God to it. And that calling not only includes the minister but their spouse.

[Azier the Swordsman]

Ministers go by a number of different titles:
Clergy
Priest
Minister
Shepherd
Preacher
Pastor
Reverend
And quite a number that don't bear repeating.

Regardless of the title, they are for the most part God's representatives to specific bodies of believers that we know as the church.

If you would like a position where you are
*Stressed out
*Overworked
*Underpaid
*Have anywhere from 10 to 150 (or more) employers
*Where you can never please everyone
*Are underappreciated
*Where your family lives in a glass house
*Misunderstood in much of the work you do (we only work 2 days a week after all)
*Walk a tightrope in all decisions you make
*And stand responsible in relating God's word to the body
*Constantly struggling to juggle your relationships with God, Family and Church

Then this jobs for you.

And having done it for over 17 years now, I could never do anything else. While some may think I am joking with the above, I'm not. These are very real things ministers deal with on a daily basis (some areas more than others depending on the minister and the church). The average pastor/chruch relationship (of my denomination) is sadly, 3 years. But what a great joy when (like myself) you are able to find the church that loves you just as much as you love them and are able to accept one another and work together for God's Kingdom in unity.

Bottom line: I would never recommend this work to anyone who is not truely called of God to it. And that calling not only includes the minister but their spouse.

The Rev speaks the truth. My dad pastored for a few years back..... Doc's post is right on the money.

[Ky Kiske]

while we are on the topic...
I sorta feel like I'm drawn to the ministry.
But I've been conflicted (right now I'm 17 so I have a while)
on whether I should get married before I took a church.
I'm not a Catholic I'm a Wesleyan so I believe that Marriage is fine and
I really wanna get married and share the rest of my life with a wonderful God loving woman. But I then I feel like my time and my energies wouldn't be totally devoted to Him. I'm sort of wanting to indulge my desire for a wife. And I just want to know if that's what my focus should be on?

The reason I ask this is because there was a pastor who had marital problems and it took such a tool he looked like he was half dead. As a result his messages became less and less spiritual. He just wanted to get church over with so he could attend to the needs of his wife and children. It was a sad thing he was a torn and hurt man. No one really could reach out to him because he didn't have time.
I don't want to become like him.
I want to be there for my church and I want to make time for everyone.
But is this possible to do when weighted with the needs of a wife and family.
Also (I am sorry to burden you with questions)
What if I feel sincerily that God is calling me but my wife does not support me and doesn't want to be "the Pastor's Wife" Whose wishes do I adhere to?
I want to follow God but I don't want to lose my wife in the process.
I know I'm young to be worried about this stuff but If I don't develop strategies now when the time comes I may make the same mistake as my previous pastor. Thank you for your consideration.

[Rev. Doc]

I would urge you to take the following steps:

1. Make this a constant priority of your prayers. You want to make sure that this is a clear calling of God in your life. It's not too early at your age to begin making preparations for service.

2. Speak with your pastor about the fact that you feel God may be leading you into vocational Christian service. You will need a mentor to help guide you in the process and he is the best candidate because he has traveled the road you are about to journey.

3. Under the guidance of the pastor you may be asked to share your calling with the congregation. You may and should also be given the opportunity to preach at your church. Your home church is the best starting point. If you are like most of us who have answered the call, you will experience the crushing blow of the first sermon. It's never quite what you want it to be. But with the encouragement of God and your church family, you will have other opportunities to exercise the gift. Preaching like everything else is a gift you develop over time and will not come overnight. Nor can you imitate another's style. God has given you a specific personality and abilities that will show through as you communicate the gospel. So don't even try to copy. You'll be very disappointed in the outcome and the people will see right through it.

4. Don't shortcut your education. Preparation for the ministry will take at least 7 to 8 years of college and seminary work. The temptation will always be there to take a shorter route. But these years not only prepare you with an educational background but also with experience and the ability to persevere. If you do not wish to apply for a full religious degree in college I would encourage either a degree in Phsycology or Education with a minor in Religion. Both will fit in very well with your work in the church and both supply avenues of possibility should something happen in the future in regard to your calling. You can then take a full course of Religion in seminary.

5. In regard to future marriage, never make it a secret what God's calling is in your life or just how difficult that may be for your future spouse. Generally, because we "love" someone we wish to protect them or don't want to lose them because of details. But it will be those details known ahead of time rather than later that will save a marriage. Therefore, anyone you are considering entering into a serious relationship with needs to know that while God is first in your life and they and your family will come second, the church and your work there will have an impact, positive and negative on these relationships. If God wishes for your relationship to continue, I truly believe He will place a calling upon their hearts as well. My wife plays a very important role in my ministry and in the work of the church. However, we let it be known from the time of our arrival that she was not employed by the church and that any ministry she assisted in would be based upon God's leading in her life. I also shared my priorities with our people. God is first in our lives and our family comes second. Therefore I would guard very carefully those times I reserve for family. And as a family, never be ashamed to say, "We need help." Most denominational bodies have counseling available for pastors and families when they face some of the problems that are unique to their line of service.

I don't know if this has answered all your questions. Most likely not because I have put into about 5 points what most experienced ministers can spend 10 to 12 hours talking about with what they have learned. But if I can help in any other way or if you have any other questions I be glad to help where I can.

[Locke]

I will deffinatly pray.

And Seminary lasts that long? yikes... Well I wanted to be a Pastor and a Teacher anyways. lol

I ask not for a lighter burden, but wider shoulders.

[Ky Kiske]

thank you. I will do my best.