Brunch & Babbling

12/23/2018

Seems we were forced to go back to rain, tis the season, I guess. But, it shall not stop us from our excursion to Lookout (the town) for a great brunch at Cafe on the Corner. That’s really a super little restaurant. It has become one our favorites, so today we introduce 3 other family members to it. We’ll see what they think.

A song came rushing in this morning. “There ain’t no place I’d rather be, than Sittin’ Next To You, Sittin’ Next To Me” —Shenandoah, released in 1990. (I had no idea I liked Shenandoah so much until I started looking up the SIMH these mornings. Their style Country music just grips me, I reckon.)

It seems a bit odd to go to brunch this morning instead of somewhere to church. I know the importance of regular attendance to some folks, and it is to me from a pastor’s perspective (that’s probably not what you’re thinking.) But it is an exceptional day, not just because it is close to Christmas, but in our situation, Ben will be heading back to NY to then go back to Germany. This might be our last get together for this visit. He’s a special young man.

A pastor’s perspective (if proper) concerning church attendance is not the swelling of the crowd. It isn’t self-aggrandizement, a pastor should never have that anywhere in his mind. (If it seems to you he does, stop going to his church.) Neither is it about meeting some goal, either attendance or money, nor to gloat about anything. A pastor should concern himself with his congregation’s desire to meet in fellowship around the word of God and the study of it. If their desire for those two aspects of church attendance has waned, it is his fault. Yes, it is. 

What can a pastor examine to see how the “fault” lies? First, his own faithfulness to study. He must follow the Lord’s plan for study, 2 Tim.2:15. If he is sure he’s true to the doctrine for today, even though he uses all Scripture in his presentations, he can then look to manner and time. Is he talking idle talk too long? Is he boring to listen to? Is he way too long-winded? How can he get these  questions answered? (Here’s where I should say he asks his wife, but I won’t say that.) 

The pastor should practice “face reading.” What are the people saying to him while he is speaking? When he makes a funny, either on purpose or a flub, or tells a funny story: do they laugh? When he makes a salient point, do they respond, amen, etc? These are “face reading” habits. Pastors, above all others should silently read people on this basis. If he never gets personal feedback or sees an attitude change because of a sermon, he really needs to practice these things. If, perchance, you don’t think this is biblical, there’s some parts you haven’t read. Try a steady read of Proverbs, throw in a little Job, especially from ch.35 on, and 2 Cor. 6 through 13, just for these things. (Look up the places where the word “friend” is used.)

Well, that’s probably enough seminary effort for one day. It’s time to move on. 

I’m going to spend my extra time in the next week education myself on a couple of areas I’m probably going to be facing in the next year. I don’t think I can become an actual expert, but I should be able to become aware enough not to get drawn into something spurious. One of these areas has a Federal law written about it (rules and regulations) which is 48 pages of legalese of the hardest kind. So, it’ll take some getting used to for me to just absorb it all. The other area, what I used to know has now become passe` and the jargon has changed, as well. I think it’s going to be a fun challenge to be a part of this endeavour. If you read fairly regularly, you may run into an occasional rant about either or both. If the Lord has no plans to the contrary, I’m looking forward to the new year. 

Please, folks, enjoy the next few days with family and friends! Thanks for reading, the Elder