Some people think preachers aren’t real people. Some preachers don’t come across as real people. The pastor of my home church always wore a suit. No, really. I mean always. I saw him working on his house one day wearing a coat and tie. I prayed (and I wasn’t even saved at the time), “Dear God, don’t make me be a preacher. They’re weird.”

Every time he came into my dad’s drugstore, he was wearing a suit. It could have been 7:00pm, and he had that suit on. We lived on the Gulf Coast. In the summer it was ninety degrees, and the humidity was higher than that. You could sweat sitting down. He never came in without a suit.

I remember having a discussion with my youth minister James Miller about this. I was in the car with him one day and I asked him if he was really a preacher. When he asked why, I said, “Because you don’t always wear a tie.” He said something like, “So if I don’t wear a tie or my shirt collar backwards, you don’t think I’m a minister?” I wasn’t sure how to respond. I do know that when I was growing up, he was my minister in good and bad times.

Some people expect the preacher to sit around singing psalms 24/7, read the Bible every waking moment, and pray during the in-between times. When I first came to Sherwood, Terri and I went to see a movie at the local theater. We ran into some young people from the church who were shocked to see me there. They said (and I quote), “We didn’t know preachers watched movies.”

I found that reaction amusing if it hadn’t been so unreal. Was the ministry portrayed to those young people in such a way that the preacher didn’t seem real? The facade of perfection doesn’t help anyone and deceives no one. Being known for what you are against more than what you are for is not New Testament.

For too long Christians have had this idea that preachers aren’t human. I know why. Preachers for too long have portrayed themselves as having it all together. The attitude comes out something like this: “If you were as good as me, you wouldn’t have any problems.” Yeah, right. Let me talk to that preacher’s kids, and I bet I’ll get another side to the story.

I believe a pastor, or a Christian for that matter, needs to be intensely spiritual and completely natural. I don’t understand when preachers change their voices when they get in the pulpit. I don’t understand when we get wrapped up in the externals rather than the internals. God judges the heart, not whether we’re wearing a suit or watching a movie. Of course, there are certain movies we shouldn’t watch, but you get my point.

I remember one day seeing Adrian Rogers out jogging. The pastor who was with me said, “I didn’t know Adrian jogged.” I’m trying to figure out why that was a revelation to him. I loved to hear Ron Dunn talk about how he and Kaye would spend Fridays going to as many movies as they could. I would imagine it was a good mental break for Ron after being in church four days a week doing conferences. After listening to some church people, you need to go see a good shoot-em-up once in a while. Ron was as deeply spiritual as anyone I ever met, but he was down-to-earth as well.

What brought us together was not our doctrinal preferences or our styles of worship. What brought us together was a common understanding of the necessity of revival and awakening in America. We are all concerned about the spiritual condition of the church. We are concerned about carnality within the church and apathy that seeks to lurk like a dark cloud over American Christianity. There is a sense that we are headed toward devastation and judgment if we don’t become desperate for God.

Through the years, I’ve attended conferences where preachers with a variety of interests, emphases, and theological positions have been present. I also remember the time when, if you weren’t Southern Baptist, you wouldn’t be invited to speak at the Southern Baptist Convention Pastors’ Conference. That, in my humble and accurate opinion which I highly respect, was the utmost display of arrogance. It would seem we felt we had the corner on the spiritual market. I know one thing—most Southern Baptist churches I’ve been in don’t have a clue about the Holy Spirit. Fearing that God might control one of our meetings, we seek to control.

I remember hearing criticism when presidents of Pastors’ Conferences starting inviting men like John MacArthur, Chuck Swindoll, and John Maxwell to speak. While in private we preached their sermons, used their leadership principles, and read their books, some didn’t want them on “our” platform. Again, pride or at least jealousy.

I have attended and spoken at conferences where I might not be on the same page theologically as one of the speakers. They probably don’t adhere to my position on some subjects. I’ve been told by more than one preacher that emphasizing revival is old school and that we only need to preach evangelism and church growth. Such a statement shows an absolute ignorance of the history of revival. Revival in the body always results in evangelism of the lost.

What troubles me about the direction of many conferences is they look like a very bad attempt at making vegetable soup. The variety of speakers indicates an attitude of “cross all the lines we can and get the biggest crowd we can.” Or, “differences never matter.” I beg to disagree. If a preacher doesn’t believe in the Triune God and has to clarify his position on that, he is not an evangelical, no matter how popular he might be.

If a preacher is asked if Jesus is the only way and he begins by, “Well, I feel…” he is not an evangelical and doesn’t belong on a platform with people who understand the gospel and the person of Jesus Christ. He belongs with a liberal, Bible denying crowd.

Recently there was a conference on revival that captured the attention of many. The speakers were varied in their backgrounds, all of them known throughout the Christian community. One of the speakers was taken off the website because he apparently challenged some of those present, including a few preachers. You can only find his message on YouTube. Apparently, the pastor didn’t appreciate a rebuke from his brother. The guy who was censored has messages posted all over the internet. It’s not like you can’t figure out where he is coming from. I might not agree with everything he says, but he has a heart for God which is evident.

Let me go back to the vegetable soup analogy for a moment. When my mom made vegetable soup, she would take several days of leftovers out of the fridge and throw them in a pot, and we would have another “meal.” The ingredients varied in content, flavor, and amount, but the mix worked. It had a flavor you would identify with vegetable soup. Sometimes, in our efforts to be cutting edge, or to relate, we try to throw people together who, in reality, are not on the same page. That can be a tightrope or a tragedy.

In revival, our preferences become secondary. Our agenda is placed at the foot of the Cross. Our desire for our way yields to His way. Our self-promotion becomes self-denial. Our one goal is to walk as one with the Spirit of Christ. Non-essentials are cast aside so that Christ might be glorified and magnified.

I am a small part of the OneCry Initiative (www.onecry.com) and grateful to be a part. This movement is for those interested in revival. It will cross denominational lines, theological lines, and generational lines and will hopefully bring together God’s people to cry out for revival. If we can’t agree on that, then there is no hope for America.

I’m praying this “soup” has the right mix of ingredients with an aroma that is pleasing in the nostrils of God.

How Do You Kill 11 Million People? is based on facts and history—something our culture seems to ignore these days. I was a history minor in college. I have over 10,000 books in my library. I have an entire section on history. Why? Because I know that failure to learn from history means we’ll repeat the same mistakes others  committed in the past. It is one of the most important books I’ve ever read. I cannot stop telling people about it. Why? Because truth matters.

This book is not about political parties, but it does ask the question, “Does it matter if our politicians tell the truth?” On both sides of the aisle and in all branches of government we are seeing ethics violations and laws made in the interest of special interest groups instead of the American public as a whole. This is dangerous. It could be deadly.

Based on carefully researched studies into how an educated and enlightened society could be overtaken by Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party, this book matters. Why? Because it could happen to us…or our children. Andy is not trying to be a troublemaker; he’s doing us a favor by being a troubleshooter.

Martin Niemoller, an initial Nazi supporter who ended up opposing the regime was arrested in 1937 by Nazi authorities and imprisoned until 1945. He was a Lutheran pastor who formed a resistance movement and preached against Hitler and Nazism. In his most famous statement, Niemoller said, “In Germany they came for the Communists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up.”

An old farmer woke up one morning frightened. The old grandfather clock in the farm house struck 14 times. He started running around the house trying to pull up his overalls, all the while yelling, “WAKE UP! WAKE UP! It’s later than it’s ever been before!” Ladies and gentlemen, it’s later than it’s ever been before. These are dangerous and dark days, and we need to wake up.

This book reminded me of an old story about the preacher Billy Sunday. Someone said to him, “You rub the cat the wrong way.” Sunday said, “Tell the cat to turn around!” This book will rub people the wrong way who are comfortable with lies. It’s that convicting. That’s why some will want to ignore it or even try to demonize the author.

America is fractured and fragmented into hundreds of special interest groups and parties that scream for their rights, while nobody seems to care about what happens to the country. Andy Andrews cares about this country. He cares about truth. He must be read and heard.

I am surprised that, for the most part, the mainstream media has not picked up on this book. Maybe it frightens them. Maybe they are afraid of the extremists in our culture. To be honest, I wonder why, when they want every little morsel of dirt on a politician, they wouldn’t promote a book that speaks to the problem and offers a solution.

That was the problem in Germany. Hitler took over the country because good people did nothing. We can’t let that happen to us. We must act. Step one, read this book. Step two, buy one and give it to a friend. Step three, join me in praying that this book cannot be ignored. Step four, pray for Andy. He has done due diligence in his research on this subject.

This newest book from Andy Andrews is not a Democratic or Republican book—it’s a book for America. It’s for red states and blue states. It’s for a concerned electorate. It’s for men and women who care about truth and love their country.

Don’t read this book if you are politically correct. Don’t read it if you care nothing about the kind of country your kids grow up in. Don’t read it if you are okay with leaders lying to you, from both parties and in all segments of society. Don’t read it if apathy is your middle name.

But, if truth matters to you, if you love this country and long for a return to a culture that values truth, you must read this book. If you care about family values, you have to read it. If you are concerned about the kind of country your children and grandchildren will inherit, you have to read it.

It is my opinion that this book could be used to wake up America. In the Old Testament book of Hosea you will see a verse that says, “Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord.” Fallow ground is unproductive and undisturbed. We have fallen into the trap of being asleep at the wheel. We must wake up before we end up in the ditch.

Let me encourage you…no, beg you. Buy the book. It will take you 15-20 minutes to read. Then write a review of the book on the Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and CBD websites.

Finally, tell your friends. Get the word out. Be a person who is identified unashamedly with the truth. If you don’t, it may be one of the most tragic decisions you’ve ever made. The failure to act, could lead to disaster.

Don’t hesitate, do it now….

For the truth,
Michael Catt

It would be easy to coast. After all, we’ve made four highly successful movies through Sherwood Pictures. They’ve been seen by millions around the world. We could easily live off the applause of others for having the vision to start this ministry. We could pat ourselves on the back until we get to the retirement home and then have others come in and tell us what a great ministry we’ve had.

It would be easy to coast. I’ve been here 22 years as pastor. I’m “settled, secure, and satisfied,” but at the same time, I still have a mountain to climb. I think about Caleb. He was 85 years old when he asked for a mountain. If an 85-year-old can still have passion and vision, a 59-year-old has no excuse. The church or the pastor who decides “we’ve built enough, borrowed enough, done enough” loses momentum that can rarely be recaptured.

It would be easy to coast. I’ve written more books than I ever expected to write. Two of them have made the bestsellers list. But I have other books in me—at least I hope I do. I want to get better as a writer, preacher, and communicator.

It would be easy to let our ReFRESH® conferences coast. We’ve seen God bless these conferences in the past, so it would be easy to go into autopilot and just do a conference. I can’t. I want to see God use this conference in a significant way to impact pastors around the country.

To be frank, I see many people my age, both in the pew and the pulpit, who start coasting once their kids are raised. They relax, take their foot off the gas, and hope to coast into the winner’s circle. It won’t happen that way. It can’t happen that way.

I find myself with a greater vision than I’ve ever had in my ministry. I am asking God for more than ever before. I am believing God for more than ever before. I am asking God to allow Sherwood to do something so significant that it will be remembered for generations to come. I have a big God who has done big things in the past. I’m simply following the flow of biblical history and asking Him to do “exceedingly, abundantly beyond what we could ever hope or imagine.”

As I reflect on the beginning of a new year, I see unprecedented opportunities. I see God-sized potential. I see no need to stand on the shore and sing “In the Sweet By and By.” This is, like every moment, when you ask God for a vision that will honor and glorify Him, a moment that could impact eternity.

I’m not making a resolution on New Year’s. I’ve already decided before Christmas that I am available to God.

Theme Songs for Bible Characters
Noah: “Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head”
Adam and Eve: “Strangers in Paradise”
Lazarus: “The Second Time Around”
Esther: “I Feel Pretty”
Delilah: “Bad Girls”
Job: “I’ve Got a Right to Sing the Blues”
Moses: “The Wanderer”
Jezebel: “The Lady is a Tramp”
Samson: “Hair”
Salome: “I Could Have Danced All Night”
Daniel: “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”
Joshua: “Good Vibrations”
Jeremiah: “Joy to the World”
Solomon: “Mother-in-Law”
David: “Dancing in the Streets”
The Macedonians: “All the Gold in California”
Peter: “I’m Sorry”
Peter: “Walk on the Water”
Prodigal Son: “Life in the Fast Lane”
Samuel: “Eli’s Coming”
Esau: “Born to be Wild”
The Three Hebrew Children: “Great Balls of Fire!”
Judas: “Bat out of Hell”
The Kings at Bethlehem: “When You Wish Upon a Star”
Jonah: “Got a Whale of a Tale”
Elijah: “Up, Up, and Away”
Nebuchadnezzar: “Crazy”

Getting Older Lines
- Now that I’m older…here’s what I’ve discovered. I started out with nothing…I still have most of it.
- When did my wild oats turn to prunes and All Bran?
- I finally got my head together, now my body is falling apart.
- Funny, I don’t remember being absent minded.
- All reports are in. Life is now officially unfair.
- If all is not lost, where is it?
- It is easier to get older than it is to get wiser.
- The first rule of holes: If you are in one, stop digging.
- I went to school to become a wit, only got half-way through.
- It was all so different before everything changed.
- Some days you’re the dog, some days you’re the hydrant.
- Nostalgia ain’t what it used to be.
- I wish the buck stopped here. I could use a few…
- It’s not the pace of life that concerns me, it’s the sudden stop at the end.
- It’s hard to make a comeback when you haven’t been anywhere.
- The only time the world beats a path to your door is if you’re in the bathroom.
- If God wanted me to touch my toes, He would have put them on my knees.
- Health is merely the slowest possible rate at which on can die.
- It’s not hard to meet expenses…they’re everywhere.

Finally…Tips Rejected by Martha Stewart

Old telephone books make ideal personal address books. Simply cross out the names and addresses of the people you don’t know.

Avoid parking tickets by leaving your windshield wipers turned to fast whenever you leave your car parked illegally.

No time for a bath? Wrap yourself in masking tape and remove the dirt by simply peeling it off. Apply red nail polish to your nails before clipping them. The red nails will be easier to spot on your bathroom carpet.

Forget planting flowers – buy silk ones and avoid watering them.

To remember your family, request that at your death, instead of flowers or memorials, they make a monthly payment on one of your credit cards.

____________________________________________

I hope a few of these have brightened your day. A merry heart is a good thing. God loves a grouch, but He has more fun with those who have a sense of humor. Smile folks!

A little boy was sitting in church one day when the offering plate passed by. He didn’t have any money, so he tore off a piece of the sermon note page and wrote, “I give myself.” I’m not sure how much was given in cash and checks that day, but that little boy gave the best offering.

Paul wrote about the Macedonians and told us they first gave themselves. What an example. If the church of the 21^st century would give of itself and its substance, we might be able to make a dent in this world. The Muslims are able to build more and do more because all Muslims are committed to giving 2.5% more than the church of the living Lord is giving, with members who are supposed to have tithing as the base of giving. In our efforts to live in a capitalistic culture, the first thing we cut out is God’s church, the Bride of Christ. While we wear designer clothes, the Bride is expected to be prepared for the Bridegroom wearing rags.

I’ve known people who give based on an emotional appeal, but this is not the best way to give. We should give based on biblical principles, not the passion of the moment. One is a gift of obedience; the other can be a gift of emotion that may not be repeated.

Spurgeon once told the story of a man who boasted that his religion had been a very cheap investment, costing him only a few cents a year. Another man said to him, “The Lord have mercy on your little stingy soul.” Spurgeon said, “If a man has no more religion than that, if he has not a religion that will make him generous, he has no religion at all.”

I might add—if my religion allows me to take God’s money on vacation with me, I have little or no religion. How I bless God for the obedient members of this fellowship who send their offerings in when they are going to be out of town. Others make sure they catch up when they get back in town.

It reminds me of the story from Flywheel where the car salesman sold a car to a minister. Remember how the salesman ripped off the minister in the deal? Then the minister prayed that God would treat the salesman the way the salesman had treated him. Now what would happen if God treated you like you treat Him in the area of finances?

Some of the most generous people I know are not rich. In fact, we have widows and others who are living on Social Security who give faithfully every month. I wonder what God thinks about those who have jobs, benefits, nice houses, and expensive cars who give a token to the church. Seriously, how do you think that’s going over in heaven?  Watch out, don’t let prosperity destroy generosity.

I believe that those who give the most have the most left. When I give, I’m expressing my love for God and my faith in God as my provider. I can’t out-give God. My giving is not a matter of what’s in my checkbook; it’s a matter of what’s in my faith book. Do I believe God? Will I take God at His Word? Do I think I know my needs more than God? The counting committee at the church counts what we give. God counts what we keep.

Nearly half of the parables from the lips of Jesus have the use of money as their main subject. Ian Barclay wrote, “It is sometimes said that we should give until it hurts. But Jesus teaches that it should hurt when we cease to give.” Jesus said more about money than almost any other subject. Why? He knew men’s hearts. We are greedy and covetous by nature. If we don’t learn to give, we lose at life and lose treasures in heaven.

What if God was building your home in glory based solely on what you are giving? What if He translated your gifts to the church into materials for your eternal home? Would you be in a mansion or a shack? Would you even have a roof over your head?

The world is made up of givers and takers. While the takers may eat better, the givers will sleep better. The takers have it all in this life. The givers have treasures in heaven; the takers show off now. The givers will be revealed in glory. What we spend here we lose, but what we send ahead we have for all eternity.

Vance Havner said, “God hates a false economy that is out to reduce a budget instead of receive a blessing.” Andrew Murray wrote, “The secret of true giving is the joy of the Holy Spirit.” God is a giver in creation, in redemption, in sustaining us, and in a thousand other ways. If we are His children, we should have His nature. His nature is to give…is yours?

I’m convinced we can’t see true revival until America repents of self-centered living and starts to understand sacrificial living. We must re-prioritize our check writing—first the church, then our bills. The church check should be first, not last. God doesn’t bless leftovers. If you want left-over blessings, be a left-over giver.

How’s your giving? When was the last time you gave? Did you give the first fruits or the leftovers? Your checkbook says a lot about the condition of your heart. It reveals your priorities. It will also be used on the Day of Judgment to reveal how important the church and the Great Commission were to you. Are you ready for God to look at your checkbook? He already has. Is He pleased?

I am excited to announce the release of a new book, Inspired by Tozer, to which I had the honor of contributing a chapter. Today is the official release of the book, and you can purchase a copy here or here.

Published by Regal Books, this is Lauren Barlow’s first book. She is the drummer and singer for the popular band BarlowGirl and is an avid reader of A. W. Tozer. The following excerpt is from Regal:

“When A. W. Tozer talked about worship, people listened. Tozer lived and wrote a century ago, casting a vision of authentic faith that has taken root in the hearts of each new generation. Lauren Barlow is one who has been prodded by Tozer. Now she and a stellar lineup of artists, writers and leaders who have also been inspired by Tozer have created a book of 52 digest-sized, melt-your-heart, inflame-your-passion readings. Invited contributors include Darlene Zchech, Louie Giglio, David Platt, Ken Kasica of Skillet, Bart Millard of Mercy Me, John M. Perkins, Max Lucado, Natalie Grant, Toby Mac, Kirsten Haglund, Lisa Bevere, Randy Alcorn, J. I. Packer, Shane Claiborne, Kenneth Ulmer and more.”

Spread the word to your family and friends, and pick up your copy today. This book would make a great Christmas gift!

I remember watching Johnny Vaught and Bear Bryant on the sidelines during great games between two legendary coaches. I remember Archie Manning running around to avoid tackles, building a legend that lives in the hearts and minds of every Ole Miss fan. Archie’s Army was faithful. He made other players better by his tenacity.

When I went off to seminary, I would call my folks and listen to the games on the radio, and then my dad and I would talk about the game. It was a fall Saturday tradition.

In the 1950s and ‘60s Ole Miss was one of the dominant programs, not only in the Southeastern Conference, but also in the nation. At one point, we held the record for consecutive trips to bowl games. Ole Miss football was pageantry, the stuff of lore and legend.

As an adult, I’ve enjoyed watching great players like Patrick Willis, Mike Wallace, Romero Miller, Deuce and Dexter, Michael Oher, Kent Austin, Ben Jarvis Green-Ellis, and dozens of others. Of course, Eli Manning stands as one of the all-time greats at Ole Miss.

A few years ago I had a chance to eat breakfast and spend several hours with former Coach Billy Brewer. We talked life and Ole Miss football. I liked Brewer. He loves Ole Miss to this day. There were some great years under Brewer. We had a few great years under David Cutcliffe and Houston Nutt.

I’d like to forget the Steve Sloan and Ogeron years—those were like a nightmare. We lost our status as a powerhouse. We lost our edge in recruiting. We lost our swagger, and somewhere along the line we settled for mediocrity. In a sense, the school has never recovered. We have had a couple of great seasons, and then we drop down to average, mediocre, or, as we have in the past two years, the bottom of the Southeastern Conference.

I’m not a fanatic. I love to watch the games. It ties me to my past, my dad, and great memories. But, unfortunately, most of what I have now with Ole Miss is a fading memory. I’m hoping the new coach can “return us to the glory days,” but that may not be possible.

But this article is not about Ole Miss football. It’s about the church in America. Once churches stood strong, now they are boarded up. There was a day when the church was a light in the darkness, now the lights are off on Sunday nights. Once you could find a vibrant church on street corners in our metropolitan areas. Now, those churches have been torn down, closed up, or relegated to insignificance.

The average church in America is satisfied with mediocrity, and they are so apathetic that they don’t care they are dying. Changes need to be made, but they are unwilling to change. Leadership needs to accept the seriousness of the problem and face it head on, but power brokers would rather preside over the death of “their” church than find a way to breathe new life into it.

It’s not that there aren’t any recruits—it’s simply that we aren’t willing to go after them. We are too satisfied and self-centered. We love our preferences and refuse to change. We’d rather fight than find favor with God. We lack power, but we keep telling people we’re alive. The church that Christ died for is dying. We are building fortresses and protecting programs. God wants people and faith.

We need new leadership. We need a fresh breeze of the Spirit to blow the cobwebs out. We can’t keep going down this path and expect this country to return to God.

People who aren’t willing to change need to resign or be removed. Pastors who aren’t willing to preach the Word should resign from the church and work in retail. We don’t have time for the silliness and senseless, aimless wanderings. I’m weary of preachers who can’t call people to repentance for fear of losing their jobs. John the Baptist or one of the Old Testament prophets wouldn’t make it in my denomination. We’re too starched and self-assured to allow a prophet to come in and kick us around in hopes of waking us up.

The cage needs to be rattled. The offices need to be cleaned out. We should make everyone resign from committees until we can find godly people with biblical objectives. It may take a while, but, frankly, no leadership is better than some of the leadership I see in churches today. The “holding the fort” mentality needs to be replaced by a group willing to storm the gates of hell.

The cost of buying out Houston Nutt at Ole Miss is six million dollars. They will willingly pay it. Why? Because winning is the bottom line. Someone at Ole Miss isn’t satisfied with just competing; they want to win, no matter what the cost. They believe it’s a change worth six million dollars and another rebuilding season. Will it work? Who knows?

The difference between Ole Miss and the church is there is at least an admission of a problem. There is dissatisfaction with the direction. People are tired of losing. No one hates Nutt; he’s a great coach. But he wasn’t getting it done. Someone has to go. The Athletic Director will be next. At least they will admit there are problems.

What will it cost the church to get right and get on track? I don’t know, but it’s costing us now more than we can calculate to do nothing.

The church sings Sweet By and By and Sweet, Sweet Spirit, and On Jordan’s Stormy Banks, clinging to hymnals while the world goes to hell. How sad that a secular university has more insight into the need to do SOMETHING than the church does. We do NOTHING and wonder why we are losing our children and youth to the world, the flesh, and the devil. The American church is aging, gray, and dying. The saddest fact to me is that most don’t care as long as they can take a bus trip to Branson and eat at a buffet.

Ole Miss is willing to pay a high price for a change. Try to suggest a change in the average church, and you’ll get an ugly business meeting where people refuse to repent before a holy God for making a mess of HIS church. We don’t need change for change’s sake. We need change that requires us to take a hard look at the Scriptures. God has not stuttered. We just aren’t listening.

In the average church, the stands are empty; the season ticket holders aren’t buying anymore. There are no tailgate parties because it’s not worth showing up for the service, which is cold, predictable, and boring.

The church I grew up in ran almost 600 in the 1960s. Today there might be 40 people in a facility that will hold 900. The church I served in college relocated to get away from people of color. They are growing, but I doubt if they’ve ever admitted they moved because of racism and their ungodly prejudice. The church I served in seminary is closed down, out of existence. The church I served in Texas had 1,578 my first Sunday on staff. Today they’d be lucky to have 200. A church in the city I live in now was running 1,000 in the 1970s. Today they have a facility that seats 1200, and they are running a few hundred.

Have I made my point? The church is one generation from the coffin, and we are whistling our way to the graveyard.

We don’t need to throw the baby out with the bath water. Jesus loves the church and died for the church. Honestly, the church in America doesn’t look like what I read in the book of Acts. Acts is supposed to be the norm, not the exception. If our churches are praying, repenting, changing, and adjusting to get back to Acts 2, someone needs to be fired. Someone needs to resign, or we need to start praying for funerals.

Here’s a thought. If the horse is dead, DISMOUNT! HIT YOUR KNEES! REPENT AND CRY OUT TO GOD BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE.

Sometimes, those of us who pastor have a hard time sharing our glory. If we are insecure or lack self-esteem, we can become threatened when a staff member gets attention or praise. We can become obsessed with who gets the credit. God is concerned that He receives the glory. Some pastors want a good staff, but not too good. They don’t want any light to shine but their own. That’s arrogant and egotistical. It is the opposite of Christ who empowered His disciples to do “greater works” than Himself. But then, I’ve met a few pastors who thought they were the first in line for an open seat in the Trinity.

I was a youth minister for fifteen years. I can tell you that the pastors who inspired me were the ones who treated me as if I added value to their ministry and to the church. The ones who looked at me as someone less than a real minister were hard to serve. In that situation a staff member has to remember we serve the Lord first and foremost.

If you want staff to honor you, honor them. Value their input. Seek their advice. Surprise them with a bonus or a blessing. They may have a better idea than you have at the moment. Yes, the pastor is the boss and the buck stops at your office, but be secure enough in Christ to let your staff do their jobs and honor them when they honor the Lord and serve the people. The greatest compliment that can be paid to a pastor is that his people love the staff he has assembled.

When I took a six-week sabbatical a few years ago, our church staff stepped up to the plate. We had additions every week, and our numbers increased. One of the comments I heard frequently upon returning was that the people had a greater appreciation for our staff than before. They were able to shine without me here. They were able to prove to themselves and the church the value they add to the team. If you can’t let go of the reins, you are holding on too tight.

Through the years I’ve met leaders who talked teamwork, but in reality they were driven by their own egos. They made Vince Lombardi look like a ballerina. You can never build team spirit if the ego has to be fed on a daily basis. Don’t be afraid to let a staff member preach in your absence. Don’t hold back in acknowledging their good work—publicly and privately. Find ways to tell people you are proud of them. Think of it this way: if the staff is good, it makes you look better. It means you are a good leader. You have the ability to recognize other leaders. If that alone motivates you, then a low motive is better than no motive.

I look back with great fondness on my time serving with Dr. Charlie Draper. It was my first full-time church. I was young and green as a gourd. He loved me, listened to me, respected my opinion and helped me understand what ministry was all about. I am forever indebted to a pastor who took me under his wing and taught me truths I’ll never forget. In many ways my relationship with Charlie was the bar by which I measured all other staff/pastor relationships.

5. ALLOWING PAST HURTS TO INFLUENCE PRESENT DECISIONS
If you are a pastor, eventually someone is going to hurt you. Some staff member or lay leader is going to cut you deeply. You’ll receive anonymous letters—don’t read them. Some staff member will leave shooting over his shoulder. Some laymen will violate a confidence, and people will be hurt by what they think you said. It’s reality…deal with it.

There’s a great book out entitled Hurt People Hurt People by Sandra D. Wilson. It’s an excellent resource if you’ve been burned by someone in the past. Also read the classic, Well Intentioned Dragons by Marshall Shelley. Both of these books have helped me to gain perspective on the times when I’ve been wounded.

We have a choice: we can carry this baggage and hurt into the present and future, or we can let it go. Try carrying a suitcase around for a week. Take it everywhere. Sleep with it. Take it to lunch. Tiring isn’t it? That’s a small picture of what carrying around a hurt can be like. If we are going to last in ministry, we have to realize that hurt goes with the territory. John Mark hurt Paul when he bailed out. Demas disappointed Paul when he left him. All of us have to move on. To love is to risk being hurt. To minister is to risk rejection. To care is to risk being misunderstood. To fail to love, minister, and care is to risk becoming a cold-hearted person who carries the title of minister but doesn’t have the heart for it.

I know what it’s like to be fired from a church staff. I know what it’s like to have a staff member turn on you. It’s not fun. Maybe you’ve been wounded and hurt. For a season it is easy to become defensive and guarded in all other relationships. But we can’t stay there. We have to move on. At some point we must get before God, seek forgiveness, give forgiveness, wipe the slate, and press on.

(If there are persons troubled by a past hurt, I would strongly suggest reading Ron Dunn’s Surviving Friendly Fire. I had the privilege of helping Ron research this book. It is one of the most helpful books you will ever read.)

6. THE UNGUARDED HEART
My list of friends who are no longer in the ministry because of affairs, pornography, and inappropriate relationships is so long it makes me ill. I’ve watched good men, who let their guard down, become statistics and casualties of war. It can happen because of unprayed over decisions, laziness, lack of focus, lack of discipline, or a host of other reasons.

All of us need to be careful about counseling women when we are alone. The times are different. We are no longer given the benefit of the doubt. My policy is to never enter into a long-term counseling situation with a woman. While I might agree to one or possibly two sessions, I quickly recommend them to a female staff member, a lady in the church who might be able to minister to them, or a professional counselor. All around my office I have pictures of my wife and kids because I want everyone to know I’m committed and off limits.

The battle is in the mind. One of the greatest books I’ve read on this is Warren Wiersbe’s book, The Strategy of Satan. Remember, we are in a battle and the devil is picking us off like ducks in a carnival. David was a man after God’s own heart, and he fell because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time looking at the wrong thing. There are too many casualties in the faith. Why? They didn’t guard their hearts. All have been lured into or enticed by immorality. With one it started with internet porn. With another it began in a counseling session. We can never be too careful. We live in a dangerous time. Satan is like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

7. THINKING, “I’VE EARNED THE RIGHT”
The longer we are in the ministry, the harder it is to keep a servant heart. We can begin to think we are entitled to perks. We can begin to abuse the office or the power entrusted to us. We can lose our first love and first call that was bathed in innocence and joy. If we aren’t careful, we’ll begin to live only for the power and the perks.

I’m afraid the longer we stay in one place the more subtle temptation is, “I don’t have to do that anymore.” We can suddenly find ourselves wanting to be treated like a shepherd while treating our people like goats instead of sheep. It’s easy to start thinking, “What can I get out of? Do I really have to do weddings and funerals anymore? Why do I have to go to the hospital?” If we aren’t careful, the thing that will define us is what we don’t do, not what we do.

I’m ashamed of what’s happening to this generation of preachers. We are more excited about what we don’t do than what we do. I’m weary of meetings where preachers brag about the fact that they don’t do hospitals, weddings, or even funerals. Some think they should get the Congressional Medal of Honor for canceling Sunday night services. Pastors, we are here to serve, teach, and equip. We can’t do that preaching one message a week and playing golf five days a week. Get in the trenches. Mingle with the people. Love them. Serve them. Pray for them. Help them. Feed them. It will make all of us better pastors. In return, we’ll have better people.

Someone told me a long time ago, “You’re only as good as last week’s sermon. People have a short memory.” That’s true. Don’t abuse your office. Don’t assume or demand privileges. Jesus came to be a servant shepherd. Are we better than our Master?