Stop, Look, Listen and Feel
Four words I learnt from my CPR training 20 years ago. STOP, LOOK, LISTEN & FEEL. Its been a year of christian leaders in trouble and falling from grace so to speak. Two weeks ago Victoria Osteen was in court with husband Joel Oseteen. Its not a pretty sight to see a pastor being cross examined in court of allegation of assault. The revelation about Pastor Paul Cain’s homosexuality lifestyle and execcessive drinking is unbelievable. Revivalist Todd Bentley who is the main guy behind the so called ‘Lakeland Revival’ has been stepped down because of an affair with one of his staff, and now it’s Michael Guglielmucci.
I think it’s time for every Christian leader to STOP, look listen and feel. STOP and ask am I too busy doing the Lord’s work that i have ignored the Lord of the work. Take time off to refocus. LOOK at yourself, look at your family. Remember your first church is your family, that’s where you practise leadership and integrity. LISTEN to your wife, your leaders, your mentors. Be accountable. Listen for advice but most of all listen to the voice Gods Spirit in your heart. Lastly FEEL the pulse of your ministry. Is it in a healthy position. healthy relationships. What makes you tick and what makes the ministry tick. Whats the driving force behind everything you do. Is it money, fame, numbers or glory. A pastor friend of mine gave me this advice last year, he said “Minister and lead from both your head and heart”. We pastors are no angels…..well even 1/3 of the angels fell. Do yourself, your family, your church and the Body of Christr a favour, STOP, LOOK, LISTEN, and FEEL. Today!
Pastor Ronnie Fynn, 
Pastor Ronnie Fynn 12:22 pm on August 24, 2008 Permalink |
To Mike Guglumuchi, eversince we became aware of your sitauation we becan to do what is expected of us by the head of the church, Jesus Christ. We are to remove the plank accross our own eyes so as to be able to remove the spec out of your eye. We do this by immediately examining our own lives and then praying for you. This is how we remove the the spec from your eyes without engaging in further damage by trying to do this with the blindfold of the plank accross our own eyes. Jesus did not encourage condoning the sin. He simply said, the damage has been done, now engage yourself in the repair work and not further damage. My wife, my family, the church and I love you and are praying for you.
Planetshakers Insider 5:57 pm on August 23, 2008 Permalink |
Tough question…
Often, part of the problem is that the thin line between faking it and getting it is blurry.
Let’s take prophecy as an example…
More than a few people felt convicted that they were told (by the Holy Spirit) that Mike Guglielmucci would be healed of cancer – obviously not in the way that was described though.
The Holy Spirit is quiet – so quiet that it’s essentially silent. How can we help but fake it sometimes – even when we think we get it?
Joseph Branchflower 3:52 pm on August 23, 2008 Permalink |
Great post! I know as a pastor myself, I am always challenging myself. I can’t go the “got it all together” route. I have had so many pastors tell me that is a fatal flaw, but if I can’t build a church with transparency, then what am I doing? I believe we are in an epidemic of the lack of fearing God. All we hear about is His love, but Jesus told us to fear him, (tremble at his word). No matter how professional we are, how great of a communicator, we all have to realize that our flesh is always waiting to sabotage what grace has given us. I pray that God would wake up any other ministries that are living in the shadows instead of the light, and that He would restore in private and save the destruction that the enemy wants to reap.