CONFESSIONS OF A PASTOR

     When I see a dentist, I think of how many times I have brushed my teeth.  When I see my banker, I wonder if I need to balance my account.  When I see my doctor, I realize it is time for an annual physical.  When I see athletes, I think of my own exercise or lack of it.  What comes to your mind when you see or think of a pastor?  Many people see us notches above the rest of  humanity.  And to be sure, more is expected of leaders.  But I share with you a few confessions from a pastor.
     First, I am tempted like everyone else.  A lot of people think that pastors are immune from moral failings of other people like stealing, lying, or being sexually unfaithful.  That is why the moral failings of pastors make such big news.  Long ago I accepted the fact that I am human and can fail like anyone else.  Several years ago when our children were home, my wife, Marie, and I took our four children to KC to eat out.  On the way out of the restaurant, I saw $100 in $20 bills lying at the door.  That would help a lot toward paying bills that go toward rearing children!  But Marie and I looked at each other and we both knew that someone had dropped the money on the way into the restaurant.  We went back in and found the very grateful people who were looking for their money.  No one would have known.  We were tempted.
     Second, I don't always like doing ministry.  Now, I have to tell you that it is a great joy to serve as a pastor and the people of FBC have been supportive through the years.  I wouldn't have done anything else!  However, there are times when I have not felt like preaching, conducting weddings, or performing funerals.  I recall the story of the son who was awakened by his mother and told it was time to get ready to go to school.  He complained, made all kinds of excuses, and pleaded not to go.  Finally, his mother exclaimed, "Honey, you are the principal now and so you have to go!"  I agree with whoever said that one aspect of maturity is doing what we need to do even when we don't fell like it.  For the most part, I find that "doing" ministry brings back the "feeling" good about doing ministry.
     Third, I make mistakes. Someone has said that when pastors get together they either "complain" or "brag."  (This is not a tendency just among pastors!)  It is easy to slip into a fellowship of criticizing all the things that are wrong in church members.  And it is also easy to slip into bragging about attendance, baptisms, building programs, and ministries.  What is more challenging is to celebrate victories where appropriate and to admit mistakes when they are made.  I have had more victories than I deserve.  But I also have made my share of mistakes.  Like everyone else, I have to apologize and go on.
     Fourth, I hurt like other people.  People get hurt in churches sometimes by fellow members and sometimes by staff members.  But I also get hurt.  God has taught me through the years not to take things personally, but I still get hurt.  Someone has said, "A pastor has to learn how to toughen his skin without hardening his heart."  The other day I was speaking with a hospital chaplain who formerly served as a pastor.  When I asked why he left serving as a pastor, he said, "You win people to Christ, baptize them, marry their kids, bury their dead, and then they get mad and leave."  I laughed out loud!  What he was describing is something I have experienced.  I guess I wouldn't be worth my salt if I got to the place where I couldn't feel hurt.  However, I can't dwell on hurts.  I must move on.
     Fifth, I have spiritual needs like everyone else.  The practice of ministry requires being in touch with a lot of religioius matters.  One has to prepare sermons, plan worship, and that takes a lot of time in Bible study and thoughtful prayer.  However, the prepartion of sermons and leading in worship doesn't translate einto spiritual nurture and growth.  I face the same kinds of distractions that others face that would keep my life out of focus.  When the Apostle Paul compares the living of the Christian faith as a race, he becomes very personal:  "So I do not run aimlessly nor do I box as though beating the air; but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified."  (I Corinthians 9:26, 27)
     Not every pastor may share the same thoughts.  I would not intend to express the experience of other pastors.  I only know my own feelings.  Hopefully they will contribute to better understanding about the role of the pastor.

BACK TO ROOTS

     This Saturday, September 11, Marie and I will take a trip to central MO and visit the Hickory Hill Baptist Church which is celebrating her 150th birthday.  Marie was "born and reared" in the church.  She is the youngest of six children born to Herbert and Ruth Hahn, who lived about a mile from the church.  Earl, Marie's brother, still lives near the area as do her sister, Bertha Busch, and sister, Ruth Jane "Janie" Morrow.  Earl and Curt Busch are still active deacons in the congregation.
     My father, Charles Cox, served as pastor from appropoximately 1962 to 1966.  It was during those years that I first met Marie Hahn.  I "robbed the cradle."  She was almost 18 and I was 23 when we were married.  Our friend, Ortrie Smith, has always said she was "40" when she was born!  Reared in GAs (Girl's Auxiliary and playing the piano) Marie felt God's call on her life at a young age.  We started dating in 1969 and married in 1971.  We were married in the church and my father, Charles Cox, performed the ceremony.
     While a student at Southwest Baptist University I began to feel God's nudging to serve as a pastor.  It was at Hickory Hill Baptist Church that I preached my first sermon.  With several type written pages in hand, I finished the sermon in about 10 minutes and went home with aches like the flu.  I told my Dad I might never do that again.  But the people were patient and the Lord was gracious. Hickory Hill Baptist Church licensed me to preach.
     Marie and I will be buried in the Hickory Hill Cemetary which is "out back" of the church facilities.  We would already have a stone up but Marie thinks she is too young to think about those things!  Looking forward to seeing friends and sharing some thoughts about the past and future.  Also looking forward to a delicous meal.  Regardless of how fancy the restaurant or expensive the fare, some of the best food I have ever eaten has been in the basement of Baptist Churches.  (We can out do the Methodists any old day).
     Where would we be without roots?  Thank God for them.

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

    There seems to be a lot of confusion about how much religion can be in the public schools.  There are a lot more freedoms than sometimes thought.  The Christian Educators' Association, Inc. has tried to get the word out.  Here is true-false test.  See how you do.  The answers are below.  Don't cheat.  It's like school!  (1) Students can pray before and after the school day, at recess and lunch, but not at other times.  T   F   (2) A teacher is allowed to use the Bible as a refrence source in the classroom.  T  F   (3)  The school board may pray before or after the scool board meeting.   T   F   (4) Students may leave the classrooom and school grounds during the school day for religious/moral training.  T  F  (5)  A music teacher does not have to include religious music if he or she doesn't want to.  T  F  (6) The  school may decide to allow non-curricuilum clubs to meet after school on school grounds and not allow a religious cllub to meet on school grounds after school.  T  F  (7) In l963, the U. S. Supreme Court ruled that prayer was not allowed in public schools.  T  F  (8) Science teachers can teach evolution, but are not allowed to discuss the bibilical account of creation.  T  F (9) It is illegal for students or teachers to evangelize their peers.  T  F  (10) A teacher may withold the portion of his or her union dues that funds a union's political stances that are in conflict with the teacher's religious views  T  F     Answers:  (1) False (2) True (3) True (4) True (5) False (6) False (7) False (8) False (9) False (10) True

How did you do?  Surprised at all?  What do you think?

HOW OLD IS TOO OLD?

  Just read in the WESTERN RECORDER about Duncan Smith who celebreated his 100th birthday on July 1.  He has been a long-time pastor in Western Kentucky.  Just this month he preached a sermon at the West Providence Batist Church.  He used James 4:13-16 and it sounds like a terrific message, "What is Your Life?"  He said that a person has six lives-- what the world knows of you, what your friends know of you, what your family knows of you, what your church knows about you, what you know about you, and what God knows about you.  Interesting and to the point!  Retiring is sort of a modern invention, isn't it?  Can you think of Simon Peter, Apostle Paul, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Billy Graham, or Mother Theresa retiring?  How does one know when he or she is too old?  What do you think?

"Don't Ask,Don't Tell!"

  The Southern Baptist Convention is battlling President Obama's administration's efforts to repeal the, "Don't Ask/Don't Tell" policy.  The policy had banned openly gay members from serving in the military.  Chaplains, both active and retired, have been asked to weigh in on the issue.  SBC chaplains may have some clout.  When combined with evangelical groups, they make up over 1,000 chaplains.  The total of faith groups serving as chaplains as of March of this year according to the Department of defense:  Southern Baptist Convention 448, Roman Catholic 252, Assemblies of God 119, United Methodist 110, Seventh-Day Adventists 43, Church of Jesus Christ of latter Day Saints 37, Orthodox 25, Islam 10, Judaism 21, and Buddhist 1.
   So what do you think?

Atheists are Uniting!

   Marie and I live in Lousiville when I was attending Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.  So I know the location of a new billboard along Interstate 65 near the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center.  The billboard reads:  DON'T BELIVE IN GOD?  YOU ARE NOT ALONE. It was placed there by the Louisville Coalition of Reason which is a part of a national organization, United Coalition of Reason.  Atheists are getting active about sharing their views these days.
    I wonder what should be the attidude and response of believers?  Even though avowed atheists make up only about 4% of the population, their positions deserve a response.  For one thing, the question on the billboard can send believers seeking for truth. There is never any reason for Christians to shy away from the truth whether it is in theology, science or philosophy.  To the question, "Is there a God?, there are so-called rational "proofs" such as the ontological argument, cosmological argument, teleological argument, moral argument, and the historical argument.  And of course there is the argument of an experience with God.  Stuart Hamblin, gospel song writer/singer of another generation, was sitting in a plane by a man who professed, "I do not believe in God."  "That's sad," Hamblin responded, "I just spoke with him this morning."
    Second, the question can also help us know how to respond.  It does no good to get angry with atheists or anyone!  I Peter 3:15 says, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with GENTLENESS and RESPECT."  Atheists have every right to express their thoughts.  In America, we have the freedom of religion--- even the freedom not to believe. We need to express concern and love and not hate.  Atheists are often people who have been hurt, disappointed, or disallusioned.  They need us more than anyone.
     What do you think?

pets in heaven

New book out by Franciscan Friar Jack Wintz, WILL I SEE MY DOG IN HEAVEN?  A question I have been asked sometimes by members!  The author thinks you WILL see your dog in heaven.  No surprise  with these Franciscans.  The local Episcopal church always has an annual blessing for pets of all kinds and sizes.  I thought about taking our former cocker spaniel, Kramer, to be blessed in hopes that he would quit trying to ride our cat.  The author relies on the Genesis account to provide evidence there is a wonderful harmony  for both humans and animals.  He also sees the Gspel message as having saving impact on the entire human family.  What do you think?  I know I draw the line with cats!     Pastor Cox