I have a confession to make. I hesitate to say it. I really don’t want it to be misunderstood. But here it is:

I dread Pastor Appreciation Month.

Ever since Dr. James Dobson’s Focus On the Family organization started promoting October as “Pastor Appreciation Month” back in the early 1990s, it has become more and more of an annual event on church calendars. Hallmark prints greeting cards just for the occasion (of course). Christian bookstores have big displays promoting it. You can even buy T-shirts that say things like “World’s Greatest Pastor”. (And they look an awful lot like the ones that say “World’s Greatest Dad” and “World’s Greatest Mom.”)

Don’t get me wrong. I appreciate being appreciated. I was brought up to honor pastors, and I have expressed my appreciation to my own pastor, and others who have mentored me over the years, more times than I can count.

This month we have a guest columnist. I had an article in mind, but when I read this letter from Kim Collins, I thought it was too important to bury in the inside pages. So, to quote the Lord Jesus, “He [or she] who has ears to hear…”

Dear Church Family,
I have a story and a confession to make to you. The story is about the 23 kids we served last year during the school year… every day of the week for the whole 37 weeks they were in session. These kids ranged from kindergarten through 8th grade, they come from all types of backgrounds and with a wide variety of needs but they all have one thing in common. They all need attention and love. Some days they didn’t have much homework so they just needed an adult to play a game with, some days they needed encouragement to get through tough homework assignments that just didn’t seem like much fun. We taught them everything from cooking, painting, pottery, to how to build a fire, build a wood bench, or plant flowers. It was loud, and a little chaotic but we there one place they knew they were safe and loved. We have even gone to play board games at the nursing homes on a regular basis. They’ve grown over the past three years while we’ve been doing this and it’s been a privilege to watch.

Now for the confession…we’ve decided to cut back to just two days a week this year. We have a faithful group of volunteers that can cover easily two days and be able to help the kids well… each day needs a “in charge person”, a cook, and three helpers. So, for two days we are good… and honestly, I’m OK with that but the kids are not. They will come the two days (everyone’s coming back even for the two days) but the comments I get are we so want to be here every day. So, I’ve been arguing with God. I truly believe there are some of you also having those thoughts pop into your mind… I should get involved… I could make a difference…that sounds like fun…you know those God nudges. I am still open to having the club at least 4 days a week if we have the volunteers step up that can cover the other two days. This is a once a week commitment, to cook or help with homework or to lead a workshop, play games, just hang out with the kids. So, if you’re ready to stop arguing with God then give me a call, text, email… you won’t regret it. I’ve had each of the volunteers make comments on how much they love those kids… and I know you will too.

Thank you for your love and support,
Sincerely,
Kim Collins

Even after all this time it always surprises me when people tell me they listen to our church services on the radio. I suppose about once or twice a month someone will tell me that they listen, or a church member will tell me of a friend or neighbor or co-worker who listens to our broadcast. Many people have told me that they listen to part of our church service on the way to or from their own church.

I was kind of intimidated all those years ago when the deacons told me that the morning worship service was broadcast live on a local radio station. This was about three days before I preached in the morning service for the first time. I did my best to forget about the radio broadcast. I wanted to focus on the church service, and just let people listen in.

I’m glad we broadcast it live, “warts and all”. I have no interest in delaying it a week or two so we can edit it and make it “slick” and polished. When I have the rare opportunity to listen to a Sunday morning church program, I’m much more interested in live broadcasts than in the ones that are “produced”. No offense to those who go to the effort to edit; I just think hearing a live church service on the radio (or watching one on television) is much more compelling. Even with mistakes, or the occasional few moments of “dead air”, or the “holy hubbub” that’s heard when we greet one another (or when listeners can hear how off-beat we are when we clap to songs!), I still think its best. We are who we are, and we do what we do. Of course we want to try to be our best and to do better, but this isn’t a sales presentation. It’s a worship service. And I’m glad that people want to listen in. Read More »

I love Easter. We’ve just come through what for pastors is the most wonderful and exhausting time of the year (along with Christmas). But I love it. I love sunrise services, shared breakfasts, and the increased crowds on Easter Sunday. But most of all I love the Truth that Easter celebrates.

I don’t love the view of Easter that equates it with springtime, the yearly cycle of birth-death-and rebirth, and some vague sentiment of “what Easter means to us all”. I especially don’t love the claim that Jesus’ resurrection was a myth.

I’m with the Apostle Paul: if Jesus didn’t really rise from the dead, “we are of all people most to be pitied.” (1 Cor. 15:19) If I didn’t really believe that Jesus rose from the dead, I’d quit the ministry and go get an honest job.

There are what are called “minimal facts” about the death of Jesus and what happened next. That means that even disbelieving, skeptical scholars admit the following: Read More »