The Little Things

Rosie reminded me the other day that little things pack a powerful punch in regards to the Christian life.  Those things seldom talked about that make someone’s day. 

Rosie is blind and spends most of her day either lying in bed or sitting in her wheelchair, taking in the sounds of familiar voices.  She is sweetness personified!  Jesus is her best friend and she is quick to talk about him to anyone who visits her.  Her infamous saying is, “God loves you and I love you, and there’s nothing you can do about it!”

This 86 year-old victim of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a widow who was never blessed with children, so she poured her life into her husband and church work.  Boy, does she have stories to tell!

Because of swallowing problems, Rosie has been forced to eat her food pureed.  I refer to it as “grown up baby food.”  Each time I visit her, she mentions – several times – what she wouldn’t do for a piece of barbecued chicken.  Note to self:  “One day make her day!”

Recently, Rosie woke up experiencing severe melancholy.  Sadness captured her heart and she asked the Lord, “Do you really love me and are you really with me?  Lord, I need to know you haven’t left me.” 

Rosie then petitioned the Lord:  “If you really love me, then have someone bring me barbecued chicken today.” Tears flowed as the little woman prayed in earnest. 

While traveling mid-morning to visit Rosie, I had a lot on my mind, and barbecued chicken was not one of them.  However, as I turned west toward Rosie’s skilled living facility, the thought entered my mind:  “Buy Rosie some barbecued chicken.” The Lord made it easy for me too. Immediately to my right was a Kentucky Fried Chicken! 

Minutes later I found Rosie in the dining room preparing to eat her pureed food.  I said, “Rosie, it’s Chaplain Roger and guess what?  I brought you that barbecued chicken meal I promised you.”

Rosie began to cry and then her crying turned to joy.  She shouted for all in the room to hear:  “You DO LOVE ME,” she yelled.  That little lady cried, shouted and praised the Lord for five minutes before she settled down to eat her ”finger licking good” chicken tenders, smothered in barbecue sauce.   After telling me her story, I too rejoiced.  That day a mighty woman of God, who suffered a temporary lapse in faith, found renewed assurance of God’s love and concern for her through a barbecued chicken meal.

You see, sometimes God uses little things to speak to us and to impact us in huge ways.

Pastors are Gifts!

Pastors are special people.  Everyone needs one.  I appreciate the five-fold ministry (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers), but strongly believe that pastors are chosen to facilitate the ministry of the other four—all for the building up of the body of Christ.  In other words, pastors are heaven-assigned leaders, who are called “to tend” or “shepherd” local churches. 

Every ministry that happens in the local church needs to be filtered through the vision of the pastor (but that’s another blog!)  The Bible teaches that they are gifts to the Church (Ephesians 4:11).  It seems, however, some churches want to exchange their gift after “opening it up!”  How sad.

When I was growing up, the Lord blessed me with three wonderful “gifts.”  These shepherds loved and regularly prayed for me.  While I don’t recall specific sermons, I do remember the way they blessed my life.  I told my churches over the years that they would not remember sermons I preached, but they would remember the way I treated them.  That’s true about relationships in general.  The acid test of true Christianity is the way we treat people.

Pastor Herb and Eunice Strahsburg founded the Jefferson Assembly of God (now Covenant) in 1956.  I still hold dear his departing words to me.  He said, “Rog, stay true to Jesus.”  He modeled faithfulness and perseverance during his 17-year ministry in Jefferson.  Much of who I am and how I approach ministry is due largely to his example.  I was honored to be one of three speakers at his funeral in 2013.

I met Gary and Nannie Lentz in 1973.  God sent this precious couple to Jefferson, if for no other reason, than to encourage me.  The Lentz’s had four young sons, but still found time to include me in their family activities.  Snacks after church, visitation, hospital calls, ministry trips, babysitting, praying at the altar, a strong love for the things of God, and their “realness” impacted my life during the 18 months they were my pastors.

During high school I occasionally attended youth meetings at the Jefferson Church of the Nazarene.  Pastor Don and Thelma Hoffman hold a special place in my heart.  Both have transitioned to heaven.  His musical ministry, solid Bible preaching and love for people; along with Mrs. Hoffman’s personal ministry to me following my mother’s untimely death, cemented my heart to theirs!  Jefferson sure has been blessed with wonderful shepherds over the years.

We at Hope Community Church pray often for all the churches in Jefferson, asking the Lord to bless their pastors, to give them continued favor in the community and souls for their labors.  These heroes of the faith are “elders who rule well (and) are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.  For the Scripture says ‘You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing, and the laborer is worthy of his wages’” (2 Timothy 5:17-18).

If you haven’t told your pastor lately that you love and appreciate him or her, do so today!   

A Different Set of Rules

A major credit card company used to advertise, “Membership is a privilege.”  Leadership in the local church is also a privilege!

Those who lead in the Word and Worship need to understand that they “play by a different set of rules.”  Children and youth leaders are also held to higher standards.  Churches do well to run background checks on all who work with our “precious ones.”  Actually, most church insurance companies make this a requirement.

What should we look for and expect in the lives of those who have “stage” time? 

1.     Not perfection, but a consistent lifestyle that speaks well of the Christ they represent.

2.     A teachable spirit that exudes a positive outlook toward life and people in general.

3.     One who understands and possesses a love for spiritual authority. Those who cannot submit to authority must never be allowed a place of leadership.

4    A cooperative, not competitive attitude.  We’re not on American Idol or The

       Voice.

5.     A spirit of excellence, always working to improve their talents.

6.     A team player that always has the backs of his co-laborers.  Good leaders always remember they are just one part of the “whole.”  They are mandated to speak well of the entire leadership team.  No gossip allowed.  We at Hope Community say, “We are a no-drama church!”     

7.     Finally, one who continually rids his life of offenses, grudges, bitterness and anger.  Many potentially effective people have disqualified themselves from leadership because they hold on to past hurts.  Those who choose to nurse and rehearse their offenses begin to view life and any potential ministry through a “clogged” filter.  Their body language and their words betray them.  They become toxic around others and the work of God.  None of us like to be around negative people, and pastors dare not allow such people to be “front and center.”  That kind of “stuff” transfers easily to other people! 

My heart’s desire is to see leaders and future leaders rise up in wholeness and allow the Lord to use their gifts to build His kingdom.  Healed leaders who shed the hurts of their past and come into a brand new day and anointing understand they are expected to play by a different set of rules. And do so gladly! This is a privilege, not punishment!