A Small matter of respect
Gentle Reader,
This month is Pastor appreciation month and all over Pastors are being told that they are appreciated. I mean how many professionals do you know that still make house calls? I do! And many others serve without pay, work long hours (I mean 10-12-14 hours a day every day) Not just a couple hours on Sunday as is portrayed in the comics.
These pastors, much of the time are considered less than professional despite the fact that many spend more hours in the study of the Bible and ancient languages (like Hebrew, Greek, Coptic, Sumerian, Babylonian, Egyptian, Aramaic) To name just a few.
Now keep that in mind while I tell you two stories both true and each with it’s own message if your are a thinker (if your not you have entered the wrong blog and want the Brittany Spears blog which you can find 3 blogs over and take the next road to the left).
The first story you can find in the Bible in the Book of First Kings around Chapter 16 where we find a King of Israel named Ahab(whose name means "fathers brother" he was in the sight of God evil! And He takes a wife called Jezebel (whose name means "Baal exalts" or Baal is a husband to") Baal was the supreme male divinity of the Phoenicians or Canaanite.
And enter the man of God called Elijah (whose name means "My God is Jehovah") Now you have more or less the complete cast of characters.
The story is rather simple and takes you into a moral dilemma which will lead into our next story. The dilemma is this an evil Mam in God’s sight marries an equally evil woman who takes it upon herself to kill 1000's of God prophets (we would say today God’s people) those who speak rightghtenous on behalf of God. And we have a conflict between Ahab and Elijah over who the people should follow. God (the Living creator or Baal a man made idol . Rather like following the idols of today, materialism, secularism fill in the blank_____) So this is way to exciting for me to recount you have to read it for yourself Chapter 18 of 1st Kings and on... The end is the destruction of the prophets of Baal and the end of Jezebel.... You need to read or in some of your cases reread the account. (Which BTW is history,)
The moral well read on Gentle Reader. Now for the next story. At our little complex tonight they are having a Pastors appreciation jubilee. I was invited (Nice huh?) But another pastor who also lives here was not! Why? Maybe they didn’t like him or maybe it was because he was black! When I ask why I was told well he doesn’t do anything (or words to that effect). I then ask why the invitations read Pastor so and so and Pastor so and so and Mr. Callaghan. I again was told well we thought that since we know you so well that it would be ok to invite you that way "To which I replied "I am a rev. or a pastor or a Dr. when pastor are being singled out for appreciation" To use the title Mr. It is not appropriate, nor is it to allow other pastors to be recognized and to not invite another simply because he "doesn’t do anything" or because he is black!
I told the committee that I would not attend. If God has called a man (regardless of your opinion whether you like him or her) he/she should always be treated with respect.
So Gentle Reader, what do you think? Did I overreact? Or what would you do?
Personally I don’t need the accolades of men when God has given His approval.
Romans 11:29
"For the gifts and CALLING of God are without repentance."
Respect one another, Gentle Reader, or not...
Denis
Gentle Reader,
This month is Pastor appreciation month and all over Pastors are being told that they are appreciated. I mean how many professionals do you know that still make house calls? I do! And many others serve without pay, work long hours (I mean 10-12-14 hours a day every day) Not just a couple hours on Sunday as is portrayed in the comics.
These pastors, much of the time are considered less than professional despite the fact that many spend more hours in the study of the Bible and ancient languages (like Hebrew, Greek, Coptic, Sumerian, Babylonian, Egyptian, Aramaic) To name just a few.
Now keep that in mind while I tell you two stories both true and each with it’s own message if your are a thinker (if your not you have entered the wrong blog and want the Brittany Spears blog which you can find 3 blogs over and take the next road to the left).
The first story you can find in the Bible in the Book of First Kings around Chapter 16 where we find a King of Israel named Ahab(whose name means "fathers brother" he was in the sight of God evil! And He takes a wife called Jezebel (whose name means "Baal exalts" or Baal is a husband to") Baal was the supreme male divinity of the Phoenicians or Canaanite.
And enter the man of God called Elijah (whose name means "My God is Jehovah") Now you have more or less the complete cast of characters.
The story is rather simple and takes you into a moral dilemma which will lead into our next story. The dilemma is this an evil Mam in God’s sight marries an equally evil woman who takes it upon herself to kill 1000's of God prophets (we would say today God’s people) those who speak rightghtenous on behalf of God. And we have a conflict between Ahab and Elijah over who the people should follow. God (the Living creator or Baal a man made idol . Rather like following the idols of today, materialism, secularism fill in the blank_____) So this is way to exciting for me to recount you have to read it for yourself Chapter 18 of 1st Kings and on... The end is the destruction of the prophets of Baal and the end of Jezebel.... You need to read or in some of your cases reread the account. (Which BTW is history,)
The moral well read on Gentle Reader. Now for the next story. At our little complex tonight they are having a Pastors appreciation jubilee. I was invited (Nice huh?) But another pastor who also lives here was not! Why? Maybe they didn’t like him or maybe it was because he was black! When I ask why I was told well he doesn’t do anything (or words to that effect). I then ask why the invitations read Pastor so and so and Pastor so and so and Mr. Callaghan. I again was told well we thought that since we know you so well that it would be ok to invite you that way "To which I replied "I am a rev. or a pastor or a Dr. when pastor are being singled out for appreciation" To use the title Mr. It is not appropriate, nor is it to allow other pastors to be recognized and to not invite another simply because he "doesn’t do anything" or because he is black!
I told the committee that I would not attend. If God has called a man (regardless of your opinion whether you like him or her) he/she should always be treated with respect.
So Gentle Reader, what do you think? Did I overreact? Or what would you do?
Personally I don’t need the accolades of men when God has given His approval.
Romans 11:29
"For the gifts and CALLING of God are without repentance."
Respect one another, Gentle Reader, or not...
Denis
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