joescheets

Several weekends ago here I wrote a blog I titled, “How Do You People Write Sermons & Stuff?”

A question that may well precede it is, “Why Do You People Write Sermons and Stuff?”

First Big Reason —

How can people call for help if they don’t know who to trust? And how can they know who to trust if they haven’t heard of the One who can be trusted? And how can they hear if nobody tells them? And how is anyone going to tell them, unless someone is sent to do it? That’s why Scripture exclaims,

But not everybody is ready for this, ready to see and hear and act. Isaiah asked what we all ask at one time or another: “Does anyone care, God? Is anyone listening and believing a word of it?” The point is: Before you trust, you have to listen. But unless Christ’s Word is preached, there’s nothing to listen to. (Romans 10:14-17, the Message version)

— Not real subtle.

But really real.

Let’s pick up there later.

For now, to whose sermons are you and I listening today?

Dr. Harold B. Kuhn, professor and hero in real life, had one in a well worn brown leather case. It was the first one I’d ever seen in real life, outside of a magazine or a catalog. I was enamored and enthralled immediately. 

Nina Morwell, a real life friend since childhood, sourced the following about them and the people behind them, for whom and for which I’m grateful — 

“Humility leads to strength and not to weakness. It is the highest form of self-respect to admit mistakes and to make amends for them.” — John Jay McCloy

Humility?

Self-respect?

Mistakes?

Amends?

Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. — Colossians 3:12

In what all are you clothing yourself today?

Compassion?

Kindness?

Gentleness?

Patience?

And…humility?

[QUICK REVIEW: “The very nature of ministry lends itself to the care of others and the neglect of oneself.” True or False? RSVP It’s a line from Passages of a Pastor, a book I pulled off my shelf while working on a recent project. When Zondervan published Cecil Paul’s book in 1981, it came highly recommended.

Back to Passages of a Pastor: “The very nature of ministry lends itself to the care of others and the neglect of oneself. This becomes apparent in the pastor who physically burns out in his middle years and suffers with a major heart attack in his later years.” That was published in 1981, remember. Since then our understanding and appreciation of pastors beyond he/his has become more normative. Denominational governance has encouraged and implemented efforts at wholistic health of all in ministry. With varying degrees of acceptance.]

Surely we can do better as we continue to move into/through/beyond COVID-19 and its attendant restrictions.

MY PRACTICAL QUESTION: what are some workable ways that we as the people who by the grace of God are the Church, both laity and clergy, can move further beyond “the neglect of oneself” as a ministry standard? RSVP through any of the usual ways.

Greatly appreciate you and your ideas!

[QUICK REVIEW: “The very nature of ministry lends itself to the care of others and the neglect of oneself.” True or False? RSVP It’s a line from Passages of a Pastor, a book I pulled off my shelf while working on a recent project. When Zondervan published Cecil Paul’s book in 1981, it came highly recommended.]

Back to Passages of a Pastor: “The very nature of ministry lends itself to the care of others and the neglect of oneself.

This becomes apparent in the pastor who physically burns out in his middle years and suffers with a major heart attack in his later years.”

That was published in 1981, remember.

Since then our understanding and appreciation of pastors beyond he/his has become more normative.

Denominational governance has encouraged and implemented efforts at wholistic health of all in ministry.

With varying degrees of acceptance.

MY OBSERVATIONAL QUESTION: Borrowing lines from an old ad campaign and an old song, have we “come a long way” or is it true that “we’ve still got a long way to go” in our understanding and practice of healthy ministry? RSVP, any of the usual ways.

Thanking you in advance and looking forward to seeing you back here tomorrow.

QUICK REVIEW: “The very nature of ministry lends itself to the care of others and the neglect of oneself.” True or False? RSVP

That quote is a line from Passages of a Pastor, a book I pulled off my shelf while working on a recent project.

When Zondervan published Cecil Paul’s book in 1981, it came highly recommended.

MY YES/NO QUESTION: While much has changed in both culture and church since then, is our understanding of the “very nature of ministry” the same? Yes or No? RSVP

Again, I look forward to hearing from you; any of the usual ways will work.

“The very nature of ministry lends itself to the care of others and the neglect of oneself.”

True or False?

RSVP, any of the usual ways.

See you back here tomorrow.

Everything was pretty much perfect. 

But then last year happened.

— Noah, a child narrating

a Netflix film about

his mother’s accident

In retrospect many of us could say the same thing.

A year ago we knew there was a threatening virus on the horizon. We saw, read, and heard about it.

Since then we’ve experienced it, and its ramifications, in one form or another.

How are you coping with it all moving forward? I’d love to hear from you in any of the usual ways.

Together, let’s keep reaching forward to what lies ahead. (Philippians 3:13)

Everything was

pretty much perfect.

—- line from a Netflix show

Hit the pause button with me.

Pull over and adjust the rearview mirror.

Do what this old song says —

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost
Count your many blessings name them one by one
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done

Count your blessings, name them one by one
Count your blessings, see what God hath done
Count your blessings, name them one by one
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done

— Do what that old song says, and you’ll be amazed at how long of a list you have.

Let’s pick up right there tomorrow.

For now, join me in naming and counting.

Same for individuals, too…

see Matthew 15:1-20 for details.

Nations do not die from invasion;

they die from internal rottenness.