High Cost of Low Living
Hey Friends,
Monday night Michele, Emily, and I went up to spend the evening at our Kidz Kamp X-isle. It was great. Our new Family Pastor, Chuck Carringer, is going to be awesome. As we walked up I was mobbed by kids hugging me. They came running from every direction. About the time I thought it was over another group heard I was there. It was so cool, I must say. Most of those kids participate in our Kid K’nex Ministry and are not in the sanctuary on the weekends. But they knew who I was and they loved me. I love to be loved, especially by the kids.
We hung around and talked and went to the evening service with them. It was super to watch them worship, even the 2nd graders got into it. That was not available when I was a kid. Later in the evening I was helping our Exec. Pastor, Josh Whitehead, build a fire. He has been overseeing our kids ministry for quite a while. He is amazing. As the kids were still hugging me, Josh looked at me and said, “Look how these kids look up to you – DON’T DO ANYTHING STUPID!”
Before you try to take up for me, I appreciate the comment more that you know. I love doing ministry with Josh and appreciate his accountability and care. He was at a church where the pastor fell into immorality and it devastated the church, but even more the kids. Some children even asked if they needed to be baptized again since the fallen pastor had baptized them. How sad.
As leaders, many people look up to us - DON’T DO ANYTHING STUPID! The cost of sin is severe for the leader and their ministry. I hope you have a Josh in your life, he is a gift from God to me and FPC.
There is a high cost to low living and we never see the price tag until it is too late.
Just a thought.
Yours to count on,
Pastor
5 Comments
Thank you PC for today’s blog. You know you never really do think about what people are thinking as they watch your walk in Jesus. Thank you for being who you are. God is awesome!!
Wish your blog had a “Like” button like Facebook does! I’d be likin this one, for sure! So glad you spend time with the kids. My kids still talk about Larry Fields at Central Baptist coming to camp and doing cannonballs with them at the pool. It’s a memory they treasure. And these kids will be stronger in their walk, knowing their pastor cared for them. Thank you for taking the time! Have a mah-velous day!
“Don’t Do Anything Stupid”…I love Josh! He just tells it/ says it like it is. As a Pastor/Teacher you are certainly held to a high standard. As Christians we all are!!! Tough for you is that people expect a “perfect” Pastor. Shew, I am, have been, and will continue to pray for you and all our staff as the enemy would love cause a stumble. I pray that people realize that you guys are human too, yet bombarded more heavily by the tempter and join in prayer for you all. Thanks for going to camp and loving on our children. After all those hugs, you’ll be looking forward to next year;) John
I really like this post! I think this goes for anyone that is Christ-follower. I’m reminded of this everytime the cashier treats me like the enemy instead of the customer, someone cuts me off in traffic, or when my little girl wants me to play puzzles with her instead of updating twitter/facebook.:) We have to be different on purpose, and that means holding ourselves to a higher standard than the rest of the world. I’m with Josh-don’t do anything stupid!
** My identity abbreviated only to not advertise me as a
‘pastor’s pet’ **
Guidelines I use when considering my pastor…
God called the Pastor not me,
Pastor is accountable to God not me,
God knows how to perfectly handle the Pastor, not me,
If necessary, God will correct the Pastor, not me, (in some cases a board of elders “that does’t include me!)
If you notice a shortcoming of Pastor, tell God, not me,
Do you want the responsibility and unrealistic expectations of being a Pastor? NOT ME!
When correcting ourselves, use our HEAD;
When correcting our Pastor, use our HEART!