Sunday, April 27th, 2008 | Author: Larry Diehl
A Thought….
Would a full-time pastor be considered bi-vocational (or something else) if they were trying to serving the will of God and the church board?
Hmmm…
And if applicable, how would one reconcile with Matthew 6:24?
Sunday, 27. April 2008
Larry, sounds like someone is stepping into the activist arena.
Monday, 28. April 2008
It is so easy for a minister to get lost in the shuffle of meetings, phone calls, demands and questions. You can easily get caught up in all the noise that you confuse God’s desire with mans wants. Thanks
Monday, 28. April 2008
This is only an issue for those that allow immature people on your board and that are not grounded with the same convictions. The pastor is to lead and be the example for all his members.
Monday, 28. April 2008
Ricky,
Most often a pastor is brought into an existing congregation. Church boards & pulpit committees typically hire the pastor. How does your statement apply in this case. Hire a pastor and they in turn fire the church governing board? In some organizations when a new lead minister is called, all the staff is removed and the new minister hires his new staff, some old & some new. I just don’t see your point.
Monday, 28. April 2008
To Paul,
Ricky makes perfect sense. Why would you consider moving to a trouble church. The pulpit committee is a reflection of the entire congregation. I would never allow a board or committee to control my decision. If I am the pastor, I have been placed there as the authority of that church to lead, direct, discipline and nurture.
Monday, 28. April 2008
Henrietta & Ricky,
blah bluzzz thuzithie pukerizik WHAT lucizutic blamicisssss IS cuzzintilizik YOUR brizzikly PROBLEM uglics zippitttyicly
Cat Lady
Saturday, 10. May 2008
Cat Lady you make me laugh. Good for you. It sounds to me like Ricky and Henry are on the same board.
I shudder when I hear statements from a Pastor, as Henry claims to be, that put them high up on a pedestal. A leader must remain humble and remember they are not above any other. A leader must also correct with love and sound scriptural advice, which I have not seen from Henry. I have also never seen Henry write anything that brings Glory to the Father, he only asks for Glory to be brought to himself. May God direct your path and show you how to lead with Love and compassion.
Saturday, 10. May 2008
Did you leave or were you asked to leave? You sound very angry and full of hatred. People in glass house shouldn’t throw stones. I aim might be off and you know what happens then, don’t you.
Saturday, 10. May 2008
Ricky L. how do you get anger and hatred from that comment. Really you need to grow up and read the entire comment.
Sunday, 11. May 2008
Ricky if you are commenting on my post in a shrinking denomination. I did leave. I had to. I stayed there for a very long time out of love for alot of people, not God. It got to the point where I was not attending church to worship God but out of my duty to the congregation, Works. I grieved for a long time for the loss of several good friends. They became my family and my family disowned me for leaving. I was never asked why or what happened only good riddens. I loved the people very much and still miss them but I had to remove myself from the Body. It happens, we just grow in different direction. People, check on those people who have left your congregations, ask them why, what happened, don’t just let them go without seeing where their heart is, you may be the reason they fall away from God. I thank God I had a great relationship with a person who got me through that grief and kept me focused on God’s will for me. I take very seriously my connection to a body of believers, and my desire to please God. I am sorry if you got anger from me that is not what my emotion is only more it has become remourse for those I once loved.
Sunday, 11. May 2008
Are you shire your really over it, it sounds like there needs to be forgivness on both sides for closure. Maybe you can make the first step and contact them. Thats the Jesus thing to do.
Sunday, 11. May 2008
If you hurt as much as you say you did, maybe since you have matured in your faith you should make a connection with those that you left behind. They just might be as broken as you were. Someone must make the first step to reconciliation, so why not you. Best wishes and seek His strength.
Sunday, 11. May 2008
Thank you for your kind words. I have seen some of them since leaving and extended my love for them, and it was extended back but there is no longer a relationship with them and I venture to say there probably never will be again. Too bad. But it happens too often among brothers and sisters and it needs to STOP!!!!!
Sunday, 11. May 2008
Terri Jo, sorry to hear that. Do you think that if you extended your hand again they could possibly change. You admit you have, why not them. It’s encouraging to heat people wiling to do what is right in God’s eye’s. Keep the faith.
Sunday, 11. May 2008
Terri Jo
I was also in this situation and it really never got better. It’s been 6 years and in a small town it is difficult at best. People are very judgmental and condemning even when they are walking in darkness.
Sunday, 11. May 2008
Terri Jo, one doesn’t need to leave the body. One needs to submit and work through the problems. You can’t run from your children or husband, you must work through it. This is the common immature action taken by people, flee. I don’t need to take any of this stuff you the pastor, I’m my own person. I can think and do for myself.
You need to go back and make amends and ask for forgiveness for you lack of faith in God. This is sin in pure form. If you are a part of the body you must. If you are as you say growing you realize that this is step that you must take.
If people would stop trying to control and manage and let God these things would not be happen as often, but I agree they do far to often. God had placed men in position of leadership and we are to submit to that authority. He is your earthly shepherd and cares about your sprituality health.
Heed these words if you really want to grow as a Christian
Sunday, 11. May 2008
Ricky, I am sorry but I do not agree with you. The bible clearly states that if you have a fellow brother or sister hurting you, you are to go to them and try to solve, which I did. If things do not get better we are to bring in another brother or sister to mediate, which I did. Things still continued to spiral downward. After about 3 years of trying to come to an agreement still no solution. I watched a man who I dearly admired and loved become very angry and bitter toward any individual who tried to step in his way of what he thought was the way he wanted his church to run. I do not believe the church belongs to any one person.
I do agree that God chooses both men and women for leadership positions, however when dictatorship gets in the way of spiritual leading one must ask themselves was it God who put this person to lead or their own selfish desires.
I know that I have made the right decision in my spiritual walk, however I still see this church body I left so angry and damaging to the Christian community that is not doing things the same way they are. I do continue to pray for these people, which was very hard for me to do in the beginning, and I know God will choose what is right for that church body.
You have been a very important part of this blog to date as I have watched you go from very confrontational to almost caring about God’s people. I am not sure if you are Christian or not, but some of your statements I am sure come from the heart.
God Bless
Sunday, 11. May 2008
I cannot believe a man of God could be so far off and have an entire congregation agreeing. It sounds more like it was you that has the problem. I do love the Lord and would never endorse such behavior.
Yes, the counseling path you say you chose is biblical, but did it really happen like that or was the shoe on the other foot. Over time we tend to twist words and thoughts to support our cause.
What decisions have you made in your life that are right as you put it. Do you go to church and where or just call yourself a self made Christian. You question my sincerity and faith, it is strong. How’s yours?
If the church you have spoken is so spiritually dead, did you try to contact the governing board to rescue it from herself or did you leave it to die. That is if this is the real case.
Sunday, 11. May 2008
My Terri that is horrible, my prayers go out to you and that church. Have you found a new church home? I can hardly believe such things are happening, I’ve been accused of having my head in the sand and not seeing the real world. God Bless sister
Sunday, 11. May 2008
Hi Terri that is horrible, my prayers go out to you and that church. Have you found a new church home? I can hardly believe such things are happening, I’ve been accused of having my head in the sand and not seeing the real world.
God Bless sister
Sunday, 11. May 2008
Ricky, I should have said, many had left over the years for the same reason I did. Although it took me a lot longer due to the fact that I loved so many of the people there. Including my once wonderfully kind and generous Pastor.
I will not claim that I played no part in the problems. I did try to stand up for what I believed would help some of the many problems, right or wrong I tried. Only to be told I and so many others were wrong, we were to follow the Pastors convictions and that was final.
I do have a wonderful Church. Pastor Larry is my husband and my spiritual leader and the Church I attend is God’s.
Many of the friends I have talked about in my past posts are also worshipping with us, they left when they were given and ultimatum to stop associating with my husband and I or they would not be allowed to teach, sing, or participate in any church plays. Does this sound biblical to you???
The decisions I have made were to stop relying so much on what I was told and to find out the truth for myself, through God’s word. I continue to pray more, study more and try to live transparent.
You can’t go to the governing board when the board was one family and no one would speak up to the Pastor, their father. As far as going to the Association, why to tattle?
It was much easier just to remove myself. No one can take care of the church like God can. He will decide what is to happen. My prayers for them are genuine and not selfish. God will prevail. I pray they do not die, but live and live for God alone.
I would never question your sincerity and faith, It is not my place. I am sorry if you got that from my post. God Bless
Sunday, 11. May 2008
Without more facts, I will no longer discuss this matter with you. I will not be a part of a pastor bashing party.
Sunday, 11. May 2008
Ricky L.
Ah Hu, what is in your coffee cup dude?
Sunday, 11. May 2008
fair enough, didn’t mean for that to happen. let’s get back on the real subject.
Monday, 12. May 2008
Ricky L.
I don’t know you but it appears for the many posts that you have an agenda. Why do you need more facts? And I do not see any as you put pastor bashing going on. Are you affiliated with the church that Terri Jo spoke?
Has she said something that has made you uncomfortable, maybe exposing. I just don’t get your post. It really looks like you were fishing to get her to say something and when she did it wasn’t what you wanted to hear so you just tried to kill the subject.
Let’s get to the core and see what it really looks like!
Monday, 12. May 2008
Devil Dawgs I totally agree I got the same exact impression! Gotta love the Devil Dawgs ability to snoop out the truth.