As a pastor, you just can't avoid doing some counseling. Counseling Biblically has some real advantages. God's Word is truth and as such gives us a lot of answers. When someone is mad at someone else, the Bible is clear; its ok to be mad, but you have to move toward forgiveness and reconciliation. If someone is treating you badly, you do not have the right to treat them badly. The right thing is the right thing even when it is not what will make you happy or help you the most. Many Christians seem to stumble over these simple truths. We want to explain why we don't have to follow that particular thing or why our behavior doesn't fit that particular Biblical truth, but the Bible says what it says and we either heed it or we don't. It never ceases to amaze me when professing Christians spend a lot of time and emotional energy explaining to me why their behavior, although clearly not the Scriptural response, is ok based on the bad behavior of someone else. Yes, people treat us badly, yes, we are sometimes cheated, hurt, or misused. But Christ specifically addresses issues like that. If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If you are forced to walk a mile, volunteer to walk two. Bless those who curse you, love your enemies, pray for those who mistreat you. Do not return evil for evil. It is not very often that I have seen that response when Christians begin to fight. Whether it is between two members in a church, between two Christian spouses, or between two factions made up of Christians, the response is usually counter attack, counter charge, and a focus on what is wrong in the other persons behavior. The one thing you are hard pressed to notice is the one thing that is strongly encouraged in scripture. Love and gentleness, no matter how you are being treated. I'm not holding myself above this. I fall into the all too human trap myself and God is working on me. May we all be inspired by the example of Christ who spoke not a word when accused and as he hung on a cross, unjustly and unfairly convicted, prayed that God would forgive those who framed him and hung him there. Now that's a Biblical response!!

Well, Easter has come and gone. It was a good weekend. SonRose service was fun with a good turnout. Breakfast was a great time of fellowship. It was great to see everyone come out. Sunday School was amusing with the powerpoint malfunctions making the quizzes easier!! Oh well. Everyone who participated in the morning service did a great job and everything went smoothly. I am so thankful for the team of people who work so hard to make things go well. That is what church is about. The team. Now comes "Stump the Pastor." There have been some good questions submitted. I hope this is a profitable service and inviting to people.

Well, the service is over. It looks like God used it. The testimonies went really well. Jon really blew me away with his testimony. It fit so perfectly. There was some great fellowship after the service was over. All the glory for the service goes to God who makes everything work together. On to Easter!

Well, it is almost upon us. I am excited, but also a bit apprehensive about tonight's service. I have worked really hard on it and have everything put together. A big part of tonight is focused on atmosphere. A worship experience is more than just an exercise in thought, it is an exercise in feeling. Worship is not only about feeling, but feeling is am important part of worship. I have tried to put together a different kind of service tonight that will carry us along on a consideration of Christ, his sacrifice for us, and our responsibility to Him. I want the scripture, the testimonies, and especially the music, to speak to us in our head and our heart. That is why I am excited and apprehensive. It is hard to know ahead of time if the program will accomplish this or not. Time for prayer. At least I am feeling better today. Not 100%, but at least a lot more functional.

I find it interesting as I read the coverage of Barak Obama's speech on race. Some people absolutely loved it, others, many from the republican side (or Clinton side) have been harping on the fact that while Obama clearly and completely repudiated the comments of his former pastor, he did not denounce or distance himself from the man. There are many commentators and commenters that seem to feel that Obama can not deal with this completely unless he totally divorces himself from his former pastor. Interesting... Often, Christians are criticized for not only hating the sin, but hating the sinner, or at least appearing to. They are considered narrow minded for not even considering those who have a viewpoint different from their own.

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