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WITandWISDOM(tm) - October 29, 2001 ~~~~~~~ THOUGHTS: In real life, the greatest heroes are often found among the most ordinary people. Source: Bits & Pieces, April 25, 1996, Copyright (c) Economic Press, Inc., http://www.epinc.com ~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS: Eight Ways to Encourage Your Pastor by Victor Parachin Part 1 of 3 [Oct. 29, 30, 31] Sometimes pastors are the loneliest people in the church. Often their hours are long, the pay minimal, the criticism considerable and constant. Feelings of disappointment, discouragement, and defeat may begin to plague the best of them. Paul's admonition to "serve one another in love" (Gal. 5:13 ) should encourage us to remember our shepherds. Here are eight ways to make their lives better. 1. Cut the criticism Presbyterian minister Fred Rogers, creator and host of television's "Mr. Roger's Neighborhood," recently gave an address describing the time he was a student at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and attended a different church each Sunday in order to hear a variety of preachers. One Sunday he was treated to "the most poorly crafted sermon (he) had ever heard." But when he turned to the friend who had accompanied him, he found her in tears. "It was exactly what I needed to hear," she told Rogers. "That's when I realized," he told his audience, "that the space between someone doing the best he or she can and someone in need is holy ground. The Holy Spirit had transformed that feeble sermon for her--and as it turned out, for me too." Unlike most workers who are evaluated once or twice a year, clergy are often critiqued weekly after each worship service. It's not unusual to hear people say "the music was poor," "the hymn selection was awful," or "the sermon was boring." We would do well to remember that most spiritual leaders work hard to make worship a unique celebration each week. 2. Pray regularly Ask God to shower your pastor with an abundance of love, hope, joy, faith, peace, power, wisdom, and courage. Pray for your spiritual leader's maturity and growth in the faith. As you pray keep in mind this wisdom from German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: "If you treat a person as he is, he will stay as he is; but if you treat him as if he were what he ought to be, he will become what he ought to be and could be." To be continued . . . Copyright 1999 by Victor Parachin and Christianity Today http://www.christianitytoday.com/ Source: Heart Touchers http://www.hearttouchers.com/ Submitted by John L. Hoh, Jr., http://www.geocities.com/brandedhand/ ~~~~~~~ THIS & THAT: THINGS LEARNED AT BIBLE SCHOOL With your eyes closed for prayer, anything can happen in a room full of preschoolers. Prayer requests reveal a lot about parents. A fire extinguisher is a handy device. Helium tanks should be chained down tightly. Cheap glue adheres to skin. Kool Aid and song motions do not mix. Grand pianos are not as durable as you might think. Offering money always rolls to the other side of the room when dropped. Hand-me-down sound systems can get loud when the adult service is taking communion. Parachute games should not be used in a room with a chandelier. Animal crackers can be sneezed out the nose. Helium intoxication does not render respect in a staff meeting. Source: Sermon Fodder, http://www.yahoogroups.com/subscribe.cgi/Sermon_Fodder ~~~~~~~ KEEP SMILING: A young businessman had just started his own firm. He'd rented a beautiful office and had it furnished with antiques. Sitting there, he saw a man come into the outer office. Wishing to appear busy, the young businessman picked up the phone and started to pretend he had a big deal working. He threw huge figures around and made giant commitments. Finally he hung up and asked the visitor, "Can I help you?" The man said, "Sure. I've come to install the phone!" Submitted by Chalapathi Rao Poduri ~~~~~~~ TRIVIA: RECALLS Does your car have any recalls that need to be fixed? Check out this site for a recall database. Just tell it what kind of car you have and it will give you a list of recalls. This is a good site to check if you're buying a used car. http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls/Index.cfm Source: Computer Tips, http://www.coolnewsletters.com |