Wow! Thank you for sharing that. I feel your pain. I have three thoughts on what you said:

1. What preaching does to the set aside preacher is not pretty. This much I know…and it has caused me much grief and yes, bitterness at times, and confusion. But you hit on the primary point of preaching, which is others. If your message made a positive impact on other people, then it is worth the pain of delivering it, I think.

2. A man who doesn’t think himself much of a candidate for leading others is probably more of a leader than he will ever know. People don’t need perfection in their leaders. They need transparency…and THAT is a tall order. I know my own heart too well to want too many other people seeing it in all its naked glory.

3. My wisdom and insight: I have always been better at giving good advice than following it, even if it is my own. So, not much wisdom there: just too much pride. But owning the thing is the first step. Baby steps…

Would love to talk anytime you please. I pray for you and Keli every day (or have since you crossed my path again).

(BTW, there is a good man over there at Chapel Creek getting it done. He was once my Associate Pastor and then yours. Maybe he learned something from us…even if it was wrong? )

I have so many conflicting thoughts on this. Would love to talk them out with you some time. I too am a former pastor. Primary culprit, pride.

I gave my first “post pastor” talk Sunday. I thought i was ready. I wasnt. I hated what it did to me inside, although it seemed to help some others. I like me better as a child of God than a leader of men.

Great post! I just did a quick word search on “boast”. I didn’t realize how many occurrences there were. It made me think how often pride rolls off our lips in the form of a boast. Not only does boasting puff us up, but it also seems to have the natural tendency to puff up the person on the receiving end. I know so many times I feel the need to “one up” someone else’s boast. It seems if we could refrain from the slightest hint of boasting, then that would be one less seed we plant in the heart of others.

Thanks for the devotion! -Rob