Tag: Pastor

Posted in Bible Journaling, Evangelism, Faith, Uncategorized

Have you thanked your Pastor?

Written by talk2shari Published



October is Pastor Appreciation month! Have you shown your Pastor the appreciation they deserve?There is so much more to be being a Pastor than most of the congregation understands, which is primarily because most people only think about the Pastor one day a week, unless there is a wedding, funeral or illness.  If you ask many people how many days a week they believe their pastor to work, they’d say one or two. Again, a misunderstanding on the life of a Pastor. 

I have the advantage of knowing Pastor’s from all across the globe. There is certainly a difference in how the ministry is approached dependent upon the region the Pastor lives in. America is a blessed Nation, but even here geographical location matte rs. My Pastor moved from a larger city in Florida to very, very rural West Virginia. His prior location had more people in one city than we have in our entire county. Our population is less than 7000 and it’s scattered throughout paved and unpaved roads. My friend Dewey who lives in the vastly populated city of Albuquerque, New Mexico, traveled four hours on a Sunday morning to get to a church in a scarcely populated area. Four hours!!! What would cause a man to do that? A Pastor’s heart. 

In the King Jams version of the Bible I looked up the word “pastor” for relevant texts to begin my journey into today’s post. 

The word “Pastor” is only mentioned nine times throughout the entire bible. (Yes there are other variations, but the title Pastor only nine times) and eight of those were in the book of Jeremiah. Six of those eight verses are not in a favorable light! The final verse is Ephesians 4:11

Ephesians 4:11 KJVS

[11] And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

With the charge to follow in verse 12

Ephesians 4:12 KJVS

[12] For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Perfecting doesn’t mean to make us perfect without sin, but rather equipping us with what we need to continue on in this world. That doesn’t sound like a part time job to me! Not in the world we live in. God didn’t just give Pastor’s that responsibility, He added ministers of the gospel to the work as well and all to feed the body of Christ. A call to my own life through Pastor’s who rightly divide the word of God.

Yesterday afternoon I went to the Nursing Home to minister in song to the residents. Because of Covid I’m no longer allowed to interact with the residents. I walk through a back entrance into the hallway of the unit and sit in a chair with a microphone that is tapped into headsets on the long term care as they sit in their rooms. It’s not ideal for me, but at least I’m there. As I sang a little lady popped her head out of her room which was on my end of the hall. She whispered, “can I set with you?” I motioned to a chair sitting across the hall from me and told her I wouldn’t tell if she wouldn’t. I had forgotten my usual repertoire of songs, so I had borrowed their “heavenly highway hymn” book and was content to sing from it. She sang every tune with me and tapped her little foot and it was such joy to be apart of her day if only for a few minutes. I’m not a Pastor, but I am a minister and privileged to be so. 

When a Pastor “perfects” the body of Christ, he’s equipping them to go out and minister the gospel as well. 

The problem Jeremiah had in his day, is the same problem we have in churches across the country today. Jeremiah gave warning in Jeremiah 23:2 KJVS

[2] Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord.

There’s plenty of fault to go around both from lazy congregations and lazy pastors as to why the church hasn’t kept the true calling as Paul described in Ephesians. I’m not pointing fingers (today anyway) I’m just throwing this thought out in hopes of dinging a few church bells. We need to thank our Pastor’s and Praise God for those who work in the labor of the Lord. Who understand the accountability for souls and take it serious. We need to encourage each other to share the work load… and it is a load of work!

Every day is another opportunity to examine our lives and see what we can do to improve our relationship with the Lord. Today, we can start by taking a few minutes to thank the preacher. Get the love train going for our church leaders!!!  

Posted in Christian Service, Evangelism, Leadership, Life Inspiration

Dear Critic: You are not the Captain of the Gospel Ship

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on Dear Critic: You are not the Captain of the Gospel Ship

In 21 years of salvation, I’ve never once considered walking away from Christ and back out into the world. There’s nothing there I want. After knowing Christ, His love, forgiveness, grace and mercy how could I even consider turning away from the peace that affords. Craziness! But the ministry for which I’ve been called, I can say in the 7 years since then, that I’ve pondered the notion of stepping out of it on a few occasions. It’s not easy being on God’s staff. I hadn’t really thought of it in that capacity until a few weeks ago, but that’s what being called is and it bears a pressure that is unseen to most. I’m not complaining, nor God forbid, am I seeking accolades. Stick with me as I get to where I am going.

This morning as I often do, I scrolled Facebook before getting out of bed just to see if anything happened whilst I slept upon my pillow. I know. That shouldn’t be the first thing on my mind when I get up, but it often is, because it’s handy. But as I scrolled I noticed a post on a pretty popular preacher and one I happen to listen to each week online. The post was one with a headline intended to entice the reader to click the link for more to the story and upon so doing I discovered an outright lie, meant as satire against the preacher. I didn’t know the person who shared the post, it was on a page for Christian bloggers, not on a “friends” page. The post sickened me because I’ve seen God’s people torn down so much lately.

Please don’t misunderstand, no one has been mean to me or critical; but there is an ever increasing awareness that everything I do is under scrutiny by the world because to the unsaved and to many saved people, ministry is a performance.

I was listening this week to the same preacher mentioned on the Facebook post, who had encouraged my soul on the matter of where God has me at in life and he spoke these words, “God didn’t call me to be a performer, and that takes the pressure off of me.” I found great truth in that statement. Too often I look at my ministry, be it singing or speaking, as a performance. It is in that capacity I’ve set myself up to be rated as a performer and critiqued by the world who has no spiritual foundation to do so.

There is one judge, and that is Christ Jesus.

But I live in a fallen world who feels they’re entitled to put every minister of God on trial, be they super star, local pastor, Sunday School Teacher or serving saint.

We’ve not progressed a whole lot in 2000 years in regards to that matter. Apostle Paul said in his day in 1 Corinthians 4:1-5

Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

There’s a manner of judging ministers that’s acceptable. Do they line up with the Word of God? That’s not judging, that good sense. But when it comes to a minister’s heart, there is no place for that in God’s word. I’m not so much concerned with a minister who’s suddenly become rock star status, because usually, the minister didn’t do it. It was the people that launched them there. That too happened in bible days. Paul said in Chapter 3 of 1 Corinthians that they were doing that very thing with him and Apollos. But what happens when they achieve that status is it opens the door for Satan to have greater access as well and more damage to the Kingdom of God.

The danger lies not so much in what the world thinks but what Christians say. A Christian judging a pastor or other servant of God gives a validity to doubt the authenticity of the word of God. That’s what stirred my dander this morning when I saw that post. The fact that a Christian was spreading a non-fact as truth without researching the matter cast a doubt upon a man of God who’s sharing the gospel. That is dangerous ground to tread on.

So before we utter the first word of “critique” on a minister of the gospel or a child of God, we need to understand that they’re not performing, they’re relaying a God given message or ability for the purpose of edifying the Kingdom. Those who cast doubt will one day stand before the Almighty God and give account for that.

They’re style or delivery of the message may not float your boat, but you are not Captain of the Gospel Ship.

Post positive things for the cause of Christ. There’s enough negative Nancy’s out there in cyberspace.

Posted in Uncategorized

Today’s the day!

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on Today’s the day!

Or I guess tonight’s the night – that our church will vote on a new Pastor. For nine months we’ve waited… I find that amount of time ironic, perhaps it’s symbolic of a new birth of new ideas and new direction for my beloved Victory Baptist Church. For me personally it’s been a knot in my stomach that I’ve been waiting to untie. I want this chapter of the unknown closed. We’ve had nine months of leadership that was crème de la crème. As the scripture said in Isaiah 49:10

They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.

We’ve not thirsted, nor been exhausted; we were led by the sweetest waters of the gospel and guided by the Holy Spirit. But it’s not the same as having a full time, committed man of God to oversee the flock. The visionary of the congregation. One of the wisest men of all times, King Solomon himself said, “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” Proverbs 29:18.

A Pastor sets the vision, the goals of the congregation for growth of the Kingdom and the longer we were without someone in that position the further away we became from the previous vision. Although we had great temporary leadership, the uncertainty of what the new leadership would bring always made the direction we were going hesitant.

So what now?

Tonight we vote yay or nay to the new man. If you are a person of prayer, please take the time today to lift our congregation up to the Lord for wisdom and unity. This journey has not been without bridges to cross. There has been more than one side, but the river of life clearly flowed between them both. Wow… I guess I’m speaking very metaphorically. A church the size of ours, and as vocal as we are in a small community gets attention; and it’s not always good. People from the outside look for cracks in the armor of God and it doesn’t usually take them long to find it. We’re not a perfect people, we’re a perfectly loved people. We don’t always agree and sometimes things are said that should have never been said. We’re human and most importantly we’re family. I’d challenge anyone to look me in the eye and say they’ve had a perfect relationship with everyone in their life or that you’ve never stood in need for grace.

Am I saying there is a great division among our people? Nope. I don’t know that there’s any division among our people, but I know that if Satan has his way, there can be.

Here’s my prayer request for you:

  1. Pray for direction
  2. Pray for a unified church
  3. Pray for the Pastor candidate and his family

My prayer for you is that you are a part of the body of Christ and are serving in the congregation of the Lord that He has chosen for you. Being an active part of a local church is vital to your spiritual growth. Choose wisely!

Posted in Christmas, Life Inspiration

A Frustrated Pastor in the winter

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on A Frustrated Pastor in the winter


II Corinthians 13:2 ~ I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:

Can you hear the fatherly conversation “If I’ve told you once I’ve told you a hundred times, and if I have to tell you again, you’re gonna be sorry.” Paul’s getting ready to crack the whip on the Corinthian church, he’s had it up to his eyeballs with their naysaying and questioning of his leadership. Why I landed in II Corinthians 13 this morning I don’t know, but Paul’s attitude really caught my attention in these verses. You can feel his frustration! I loved it in verse 10 when he said “Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.” I don’t know that loving that verse is appropriate. Paul writes this letter to them because if he they could actually hear how he feels it wouldn’t be good!

I feel this Pastor’s frustration. Not that I’m a Pastor or have any desire to be, but I speak in general of his frustration with the church. Just as Paul did, I still have the utmost faith in the church because it is the instrument for which God is using to usher in the return of Christ. And at this present time my own home church is full of fire and it’s spring time in the village. It’s full of great people and awesome opportunities but I don’t want to be caught off guard if there’s a cold front coming in. It’s winter in the hearts of many in the world who have no desire to allow the Holy Spirit to lead a church; because if the Holy Spirit is in charge things heat up and there’s an expectation of right living and servitude.

Jesus came into the world to seek that which was lost and before He left for Heaven He left orders that we were to do the same, under the direction of a Pastor. I guess maybe this scripture was pointed out to me by the Holy Spirit this morning because we are Pastorless, not leaderless, but without a Pastor. And God knows the burden on my heart to see the pulpit filled and my concern for God’s direction. I love being lead, else I’m a sheep wandering around in the field looking for a gate. No I’m not looking to leave, I’m looking for something to do.

My heart breaks for church leaders who struggle to motivate their congregation. I want to come to their church and sit on the front row and be a cheerleader for Jesus. That’s kind of what I do at our church. I want to encourage God’s people! It’s not easy to try and live right (believe me when I say, I fail daily), but it’s a harsh reality when you see the cold nature of people toward “right living.” It’s almost as if a Preacher is meddling because there is an expectation that his people should follow Christ’s example.

My message to you today is “Take care of your Pastor this Christmas.” It’s sometimes as cold in the church as it is in the world, and they can use your warmth. Spread God’s cheer this Christmas season beginning with the leadership of your church, it will be returned with rejoicing!

Posted in Uncategorized

Depreciated Pastors

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on Depreciated Pastors

It’s Pastor Appreciation month, and if you have one you should indeed appreciate the fact. I guess it’s more relevant than ever this year as it is the first year since salvation that I’ve not had a Pastor. Those words really hit me hard this morning, because I’m a spoiled brat in the house of God. I don’t know why He chooses to bless us at Victory Baptist Church like He does, but in the absence of a Pastor on staff, God has sent not only one man, but multiple men who are qualified preachers in the site of God. So as a Pastor is sought I cannot say that I know what it’s like to be leaderless because I do not, nor has the Word of God been lack, we’re blessed. But a Pastor is not only a preacher and leader, (in the words of Matthew Henry) they are magistrates and ministers. Their role in the church is worthy of appreciation.

Jeremiah 3:15 says ~  And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

A Pastor after God’s Own Heart

Samuel said of David that the Lord had sought him because he was a man after His own heart,

1 Samuel 13:14

But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.

It is God’s heart desire to satisfy the body of Christ. To give each member what it stands in need of. Some need knowledge, some need understanding, and all need a captain. Inspired by God in Psalm 78:72 David wrote of himself as the leader of Israel “So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.

A Pastor’s role is not just preaching on Sunday, it’s very much like David’s shepherd days when there would be sheep who stayed nicely in the pen, those who wandered off and the occasional black sheep to be dealt with. There were mild mannered sheep, and bullies. There were ewe’s who didn’t want the shepherd to boss her baby, and there were rams who thought they knew more than the shepherd. The shepherd fed them all. There were bears and lions on the outside that the shepherd defended the flock from; sometimes, they didn’t even know.

To put that metaphor in layman’s terms, there are steadfast members of the church who desire to know God deeper, to them the Pastor feeds knowledge. There are those who stray in and outside the church, to those the Pastor offers guidance and understanding. He is magistrate to those who stir strife inside the church, and minister to those who have struggles in their lives. And on his off hours he’s fighting a literal and spiritual warfare with those on the outside of the church who would desire to rip apart the work he’s doing on the inside.

The world continually depreciates their value, and unfortunately many churches do the same. Please don’t tell me that your Pastor doesn’t need a little lovin’ this Sunday. Give honor where honor is due.