Oh !

http://theresurgence.com/mdblog_2006-05-24_death_by_ministry

Comments

Anonymous said…
Well, yes, the work of a Pastor is probably one of the most difficult jobs ever.
It would be good to have a list of ten ways the congregation can encourage the Pastor.
Is it right to tell him, 'That was a wonderful sermon.'? Has Satan already told him that? What about 'Thank you for your ministry'?
Perhaps just getting on with things and not making a fuss?
Should we then just accept everything unquestioningly?
Yes, perhaps somebody could tell us how to encourage the Pastor, or is there no deffinitive answer?
Probably top of the list will be,
'Stop asking stupid questions!'
9:06 am
Alan said…
I don't know about ten ways, but:

1) I don't think "good one this morning" is all that likely to be the thing that plunges your pastor into pride, apostasy and perdition.

2) Even better, discuss something from the sermon with him, but try not to choose either the place where he shouted loudest because he thought it wasn't very convincing, or the place where he missed the obvious exegetical point that a two-year old could see (especially if you are that two-year old).

3) Now and again take him out for a coffee, or babysit for him to go out with the missus, or take him to browse a bookshop and talk avidly about the cricket, the family, anything other than the church..

4) Most important - grow as a Christian. He'll put up with anything joyfully if he can see people coming to faith and growing.
2:05 pm
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

One difference between we French and the anglo-saxon mindset is that

I was chatting with the dad of a friend of Gwilym. He works for a multinational aeronautics firm, so he speaks pretty good English (though we stuck to French), he knows that Welsh culture is different from English culture (hurrah !) and ... wait for it ... he has visited Cwmcarn many times. He said, "Of course, one difference between the French and the Anglo-Saxon mindset is that we are very logical while you are very pragmatic." I think I looked puzzled and doubtful... "You must do something", he said, "and if that does not work then you will change and do something else until you find out what does work. We must reflect before we do anything." He's so right. Although the verb 'to reflect' exists in English I don't think I ever used it and I certainly never did it. I MUCH prefer to do SOMETHING than nothing, even if it is the wrong thing. After all, in a crisis to do nothing is usually the wrong thing. However here in France I find that w...
Read more

A bit about music exams in UK and France

They're really different. I think I have already mentioned that while in the UK people generally find a private teacher for their instrument, or do it through a school scheme, here there are municipal music school, conservatoires and so on. The situation is a little more complex than I had first understood, because the schools vary in the rigidity of their organisation: the most, the conservatoires, next the municipals, then the associations. Our music school is an association, but it tends to apply the standards of the municipal schools with its programme of cycles, etc. Britain - grade 1 to 8, grade 8 being roughly equivalent to A-level, pre university/conservatoire. France - 3 cycles, each taking about 4 years, with 3ème cycle being roughly equivalent to grade 8. Theory of music - UK to take grade 8 you need theory grade 5. In France you study theory alongside your instrumental studies, very slowly. Catrin's flute music is MUCH more difficult than the stuff she does in theor...
Read more

Three weeks in Blighty

  We just spent three weeks in the UK. The first week was spent at our mission, UFM's, Summer Conference. We've always enjoyed these times - the conference centres are always clean and comfortable and you get catered for - our children used to think they were hotels. In addition you get some preaching and teaching - this time from an old acquaintance from Northern Ireland - and reports from people who serve in amazing places. We always feel like weaklings alongside the folk who paddle their way up the Amazon, or who work in remote parts of Central Asia. We had to do a seminar on preparing for retirement, which was well-received. Ella took us quietly and smoothly up to Caen for the ferry and we stayed overnight near the terminal before taking the early morning crossing. To get to the conference centre we had to use the M25, and it lived up to its promise. The second week was spent with my sisters and a nephew in a holiday cottage in Tenby. This was a straightforward trip down t...
Read more