Pastor Appreciation

    I appreciate what the Christian radio stations are trying to do. After all, you’re not going to hear “Pastor Appreciation Month” being promoted in church! So the Christian radio stations do their best this one month out of the year to encourage church members to express appreciation  to their pastors. And I want to thank all four of you that I’ve heard from.  Hahaha -- I’M KIDDING!
    In all honesty, most of us pastors are not crazy about Pastor Appreciation Month.  Not that we don’t want to be appreciated. It’s just that it feels forced...and a bit awkward for us. It is a bit like someone coming up to you and reminding you that your wife’s birthday is in a couple of days and encouraging you to get her something, when she is standing right next to you. We feel a bit like the wife standing there hearing all this, and then receiving the card and gift a couple of days after.
    If you already bought the card, go ahead and send it :-). But, I have a couple of requests. Here’s what I, and other pastors on staff would like most:

1. Please pray for me and my family every day. Pray for God’s power on my/our ministry. Pray that we be bold, loving and faithful in serving Him and you. Pray that God keeps us on the straight and narrow, and that our lives and families would be examples to the church and community.
2. Stop gossip, criticism and backbiting (at home and church).  I’m not just talking about us (though we’d really like it if you didn’t gossip about us), I’m talking about negative talk about anyone in the church. You know how it bothers you to hear your kids argue, complain, or dis each other. We feel that way when we see church members doing the same. You have the power to do as Barney Fife so famously put it, “Nip it in the bud!”
3. Sit in the front rows. Hahaha! I know that’s a tough one! But honestly, not only do you give me the impression that you are genuinely interested in what is going on, you send that message to visitors as well, when the front is filled in. Inversely, you send the opposite message when you fill the auditorium from the back to the front. Please? For me...just this one month?
4. Laugh at my jokes. Ok, now I’ve gone too far. I get it. I need to tell jokes that are actually funny in order to get laughter.
5. Support us. We won’t always be right. We have a lot of weaknesses and have lots of room for improvement. But whether or not you think we are making a mistake, we are responsible to God (and not really to you) for those decisions. You won’t have to answer to the Lord for decisions we are responsible for making. But you will answer to the Lord as to whether or not you support us with a cheerful attitude. We sincerely work and pray for God’s power and guidance in leading this church to effectively accomplish our mission. Whether or not you support us has no bearing on our decision-making–that is wholly dependent on God’s Word and the guidance of His Spirit. But knowing you are with us, makes it a lot more enjoyable.

        That’s exactly what the author of Hebrews said, “Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you”  (Hebrews 13:17 NIV).

    So thanks for the gift cards, the encouraging notes, and the other special things you have done for us this month. But more than any of that, we thank you for your support. It’s a privilege to serve God by serving you. I’m really glad to be at The Bridge. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else! (Except, maybe Maui––hahaha.)