Sheryl had Bunko last night (the mindless dice game where Christian women gamble for money...but that's another story) so I had the girls. Maddie is sick. Bless her heart. She has a fever and her ears are completely blocked. She reminded me of my father. (my father wore hearing aids after losing his hearing at an early age thanks to the measles.) I had to practically yell at her for her to hear me. They were ready for bed early.
This morning Sheryl took her in and Dr. Leeper pulled out a Shrek sized wad of ear wax (you're welcome). She should be hearing better soon. Turns out she also has Pink Eye and an assortment of other annoying ailments.
I am going to a luncheon today at the Belle Meade Country club to hear about Continent of Great Cities. Grant Boone is working with them and hooked me in. It will be good to see him.
Tonight we are rehearsing more for the recording. Has anyone heard the Avalon song, "You Were There"? Really beautiful! If any of you have song ideas and can send me an mp3 of the song, please do.
I was continuing my thought process on church stuff last night. Elders...why would anyone want that job? In the old pattern (which many CofC's are still following) the Elder position was quite prominent. They were the CEO's of the church. They were the acting Board that passed approval or disapproval on just about everything from parking lots to women reading scripture. But--thankfully, some Elderships have decided to follow a more Biblical example and operate as Shepherds. They have given up the parking lot and financial operations of the church and opted to be about ministry to people. These men (as I have witnessed here--you might have your own stories) have given up the prestige of the CEO type persona for a far less grandiose role. These men give time and energy to loving and serving the body of Christ. They prod and push us to be about that ourselves. They spend time in prayer over people instead of arguing about which minister is over budget. They spend extra time at the hospitals, at funeral homes, in homes of hurting people, at weddings, etc. They pick up the phone and call those who are struggling. They spend their lunch hours in ministry. These guys bleed for those they love.
And yet, much like being a parent toward the teenage years (so I'm told--Lord help me),those they love and care for often take them for granted. We all do it. It's a natural human condition. We gripe and complain. We judge and criticize. We gossip. We wonder why they aren't doing more for us.
In the old model we didn't have to worry about that as much. They had their meetings, their mandates, and their lovely pictures in nice frames in the foyers of our church buildings.
In this new model...the Biblical model, they are in the trenches and hurting with those they know and love and some they don't know. They feel the pain we feel. They carry burdens home with them and sometimes lose sleep over the issues we're dealing with. They feel the gravity of their Spiritual role and yearn for a deeper vision and walk with the Lord. They carry the weight of the love they have for each of us.
I'm thinking about some of our guys at Otter. Great men! I'm thinking about some of the incredible men at Highland--men like John Willis, David Wray, Ronnie Lorenz, and so many more who have hurt and cried, rejoiced and laughed with us over the years. I'm thinking about the elders at College Church in Fresno--amazing men. Every year they outdo themselves in service to us and then it culminates in a prayer where they surround us on the last day and, through tears, pray blessings on us, our ministry and our families. What servant hearts!
Who would want the job of Elder? They bleed for us in many ways and yet we seldom notice. They spend time on their knees for us, and yet we are quick to judge their motives. They quietly serve us in ways we may never know and yet we often want them to do it differently or better. They are just men, and yet we want them to be Supermen. Who would want that job? Thankfully, there are many who are called to it. Thankfully, many of us are in churches where these men lead by example. Thankfully, their Spiritual maturity overcomes our Spiritual immaturity. Thankfully, they are willing to follow Christ and lay down their lives for others...for us. I'm thankful today for those Elderships who have boldly chosen to be Shepherds.
What about you?
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
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9 comments:
We've done a song in church the past couple of weeks called "We Come To Your Throne", and it's quickly become one of my favorites. I don't have an mp3 of the song, but you can see and hear it at www.pclive.org. Click on the video for 2-6-05, and the song starts at about 7:10 in the video.
Wade--
Cool! It was fun to see that video. We love the People's Church. Randy Elrod--the guy leading that day-- is a good friend. Tell him hi! Looks like you guys are doing some cool stuff down there. We need to come back and visit. I'll never forget getting to baptize Meg there a couple of years ago. What a fun day that was!! We miss you guys-
yes, yes, yes, and amen.
i had wondered why we here at port city did not have elders, but shepherds. i now know that they are doing what they should be doing, just what you mentioned. the shepherds at port city are in the process of delegating the responsibilities of budgets and the like the deacons (at least, that is what i am seeing from the way things are going arounf here). it is really different than what i have seen at other churches, and i think it is just what we need. john, gene, jere, kyle, and dave are doing an OUTSTANDING job at here! (could you say a prayer on their behalf anyway and thank God for them?)
i do not envy their position, yet. i hope some day to be able to have a heart for that position. right now i'll just do what i do.
BST -
Song should be in your OC inbox.
(Sorry the file is so large. I converted it at a really high quality, but I can shrink it if need be.)
Thank you, Brandon, for mentioning the servants at College. Of course I was thinking of them while I was reading your comments about elders' roles. They are great men who have figured out that it's more important to show God's love to people than to try and "run things."
I think the hardest thing about being an elder in the early 21st century is that the church as a whole hasn't figured out yet the role of shepherd and we still expect them to do those things that elders always did. When they don't, people complain. It has to be hard to serve the way these men (and in some cases, women, but that's another topic) do and to hear people say that they're not serving "right."
As to the "why would anyone want the job" question, all I can say is that it is an awesome thing to have such a servant's heart. As usual in Jesus' twisted world view, those that lead do so best by serving others. I am keeping all of my shepherds...and all of yours...in my prayers today.
YOU have obviously never played Bunco. Mindless? It requires inTENSE concentration!!
Just talked with Scott about the Emergent service here tonight. We're doing something on Ash Wednesday--which is today, by the way. We'll be following the calendar of Lent on Wed. nights over the next 40 days. It will be a great night. Come, if you're near. Not sure who's leading tonight, but it will be great.
Elders have been such a blessing to our family in all four churches we have attended over the past twenty years. I think the thing I am most grateful for in the Highland Eldership is the way our elders minister to my children. At the last elder affirmation the congregation was invited to submit blessings to the elders on paper. My children chose sixteen elders to draw or write notes to. Sixteen!!!! What a wonderful testament that sixteen of these families had touched my children's lives (and many others)! Thank you God for placing these people in my children's lives and mine. Their service to our family, our church and our community is wonderful!
You Are There is an awesome song. I also am looking forward to the new recording!
Our elders function in traditional roles ... but I love them dearly. They have been fathers to me. I will always love them. Unless they fire me. ;)
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