Pastor Appreciation Month

It's Pastor Appreciation Month.  Yea, I know, I'm a Pastor, I probably shouldn't be writing about this.  But...I am.  It feels a little weird but I am asking you to hear me out.
Up until two years ago, I didn't really know that October was Pastor Appreciation month.  I won a year free Chiropractic care because a Dr. here in Fernley did a contest of people to nominate their pastor.  I won and when I asked why they were doing this they told me it was Pastor Appreciation month.  I never knew we got a whole month!
I remember playing in a golf tournament in Orlando Florida at a really, really nice golf course because a guy a few years before wanted to show his appreciation to his Pastor.  So year after year he put together this golf tournament.  Nice course, nice meal, nice door prizes, and a nice time.  I met the guy, talked to him for about 30 minutes and walked away thinking "Wow, if everybody thought like he did, this would be the best job in the world!"
Actually, it is a very nice thing to do.  I really appreciate the appreciation!  But the truth is that anybody, anywhere, doing any job appreciates appreciation.  Who wouldn't?  We like to know that someone, somewhere out there, recognizes what we do and why we do it.
I read articles about how we Pastors ought not to expect any appreciation and should be fulfilled by just simply knowing that God is pleased with me.  That's true and I understand what they are saying, but I got to be transparent, that is really hard!
Don't get me wrong.  I love the Lord and I can't believe He would use me, but He does!  I am thankful for that.  I love my job...most of the time.  I love being able to reach into people's life and see victory come to people's life.  Good stuff.  That in itself is appreciation.  But...I DO love it when people tell me how I affected their life. How, maybe, I made a little difference in their family or relationship with their spouse or co-workers.  I like to get an anonymous note left on my desk, saying "Thank you for all you do!"  I got to tell you, I love that stuff.
Over the years, I got a lot of cards from people in the church.  I have kept them all.  I wish I would have printed off the emails I have received as well.  Because to be truthful, email is replacing Hallmark.
So what is my point?  I think all of us can be more appreciative of people around us.  I know I can show more appreciation to a lot of people from my wife to those who serve the community to those who try to  make my day a little better by simple service.
To be perfectly transparent, it is a little weird having an appreciation month for something I love doing and feel divinely compelled and called to do it.  I don't think Pastor's need a month...I think they need a note, a hug, a word of encouragement.
Just like anyone else...we ALL need that sometimes, don't we?
So let me start this:
I want to say thank you to my wife who holds our house together.  Who has to put up with a lot being a Pastor's wife.  Who loves me in spite of me.  Thank you Gay for all you do, especially for me.
I want to say thank you to so many who serve at Journey in volunteer form.  Tim who does the behind the scene stuff.  Kevin who serves quietly.  Walt who helps people to experience God's work in Mexico.  Small group leaders and hosts.  Youth leaders.  My sound booth team!  The praise band...all of you are awesome.  Thanks to my leaders who support the kingdom work of the church.
I want to say thank you to the men and women of the North Lyon County Fire Department and the Lyon County Sheriff's department for the protection they provide me and my family every day!
I know I could appreciate people more and truth be told, so could you.  So what do you say?  Maybe we could start appreciating people today.
We should start calling it just simply "Appreciation Month".
Take care,
Rod

Obedience...ugh

I have a new puppy in the house.  Her name is Belle.  Belle is a Chocolate Labrador Retriever.  She is a beauty.  She keeps me entertained by her pure joy and excitement over the smallest of things.  When I come in the door, her tail starts going so hard that her butt wags too!  I really love Belle and I love almost everything about her.  Notice I said "almost everything"...
After having my Yellow Labrador, Lady for 13+ years, it is rather hard to deal with some of the stuff Belle tends to do.  Lady was always very obedient, heeded commands (until she got old, then she was just cranky), didn't chew on stuff she wasn't supposed to chew on and basically could be trusted in the house alone when you were gone for a few hours.  She was a great dog who I miss very much.
Belle, I love her, but man she is not very obedient.  And let's face it, a dog can be cute, smart, and funny, BUT if she is not obedient, she is not a very pleasing dog.  I love Belle, but she drives me crazy because sometimes she is just not very obedient yet.  When she doesn't obey, all that cuteness disappears and I only see rebellion!  I am not a big fan of rebellion.
It's not unlike us with our relationship with God.  God is not a big fan of rebellion either.  Now don't get me wrong. God loves us, He adores us, I think we sometimes make God laugh.  But God wants more than us just looking good, doing some good stuff every once in a while, and entertaining Him.  He wants obedience.  When we don't live obedient lives, we live rebellious lives.  Rebelling against God.
1 Samuel 15:22 But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.
Make no mistake, God loves you.  He is so glad you are happy and enjoying life!  But His greatest desire is for you to be happy and enjoying life while offering Him your obedience to His will and way.
Take care,
Rod