THE REALITY OF PASTOR/TEACHER IS THIS

What a good day on Sunday. Most preachers it seems that I have known over the years, and have worked with (and there have been a few, believe me) don't seem to see the reality of the church as it really is.

"Let's give the impression that the church is really great, and there are no problems." I would hear a pastor say, "Let's put a spin on the problem and make it seem a bit better than what it really is."

Just before the pastor would leave the church, resign, go to another church, quit, for various other reasons, the church body would believe every thing was alright in the father's house.

It's amazing how many pastors are out interviewing for another church, without the knowledge of anyone in the church. "Everything is just great, except I am leaving the moment I can get another church."

It's amazing how many church elders are looking for pastors of churches, while the preacher is wishing to get another church to pastor. But if you ask the pastor, everything is okay in their present church.


How many churches have I attended, and was available to pastor the church, but the church pastor search committee was not interested. They were interested in someone who was already pastoring a church that they were not happy in. On several occasions the preacher that came to the church was not going to stay in the church for long. Think of that. A touch of sarcasm there.

How many times have I heard from members in a church, "I wish the pastor would just leave." While at the same time, the pastor has no clue that is thought by any member. Why? Because those same members would deny that they said that at all.


Some pastors seem to be clueless to the situation in their church, and find themselves in trouble because they are not in touch with their membership.

So how do you know if you should stay as pastor of the church you are in? Try to stay honest in your mind as to the reality of what is going on in the church.

July 2008 I was asked by Bob Temple to come to speak with him at Rivers of Joy Baptist Church. This was only to help the members out in their time of need. I went with fear and trembling.

While I was so excited about preaching and teaching, and so overwhelmed, the reality was, I believed there was no way this was going to work out. After all, I knew I was just about the opposite in style from the former preachers. Well not really all that different, but I had come to approach ministry and preaching a little different. Our doctrine was about the same, and our love for the Word was the same.

So Bob said I should preach in the morning and he would preach in the evening. So for three weeks that is what we did. Then on the last Saturday of July the deacon called me to come to the church for a meeting with him. We had a good meeting and we expressed our concerns and beliefs and the situation at the church, (which was not good at all). He asked and I agreed to become pastor of the church, if the members wanted me also.

So that Sunday evening, the church voted either to call a pastor or to shut the door, as the deacon said. The membership said yes to me coming as pastor. The doors to the building stayed open.

Now fast forward to July 2009 (almost) and I can say that I have really loved the experience of the last year. The joy of preaching and teaching over the last year has filled my soul and heart and mind so much that you can't imagine.

The experience that Charity and I have had has just overwhelmed us with great joy, and humility. I am humbled at the love the folks have given us.

I had just about given up on ever pastoring another church, I was sixty you know. But I was thinking I was a very young minded sixty. So I just settled in and was sad.

The church that I had attended for almost four years just didn't seem to find a place for us to really serve. And so we finally gave up and left, sadly I might say.

We started attending another church in town, and it was as if they didn't know we were even there either. I was getting this idea that we weren't really liked.

But God, in His time, must have felt sorry for us, kidding. When I believed the door was completely closed, He by His grace, opened up a place for us to love people, be loved by the people, and have a chance to preach and teach and pastor again.

For the first time in our ministry, we have worked in a church from day one to now, and have enjoyed every Sunday. It's a miracle. Maybe sixty is the age, I don't know, but Charity and I have loved this ministry so much.

I hope this is the real reality of what is really true. I hope the people at Rivers of Joy really love us as much as we really love the work and ministry and people at ROJBC.

Shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

I just posted yesterday the message I preached Sunday Evening from Philippians 1:21. To Die Is Gain, If I have Lived for Christ Today. These who have died with the world mourning for their lost, died in vain most likely.

Actress and model Farrah Fawcett lost her long battle with cancer today dying at the age 62, June 25, 2009.Her family, friends, and fans hoped and prayed that she would somehow recover from her life threatening illness but unfortuately that was not the case. She will always be remembered for her sexy role as "Jill Munroe" (pictured left) on the hit 70's TV show "Charlie's Angels," as well as for the movies she starred in like "The Burning Bed" and "The Poor Little Rich Girl."'''==

What can I say, Farrah was born February 1947, I will be 62 in October. I liked her hair, I guess. Of course I liked Lee Major's whom she was married to for several years.

But as to all of us, we have been given life on earth for a period of time, than we die. What we do with our life on earth will be to the glory of self, and those whom they want to please. Sometimes there are those who get caught up in TV, etc. and are forced it seems to do what is expected of them. There life is not there life but that of what they have made it to become.

It seems most of the time, they are not really happy, but are forced it seems to do what they really would not do.

Often what we see on TV or the screen is not really what people really are. The media will try to kill about every one that is in public.

I really do not know a lot about Farrah. After Charlie Angels' I didn't follow her. Only in the last year when she was sick and death was near did the attention get on Farrah. And the fact that she was dying and a Roman Catholic. Of course now, she will be said to have gone to Heaven...

Well, I am not the judge. Do I wish she she is? Yes? But.......

This pass week we know of three famous people who have died. They had the world at their hands. They lost their soul in doing what they believed the world would like.

"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." (Mark 8:34-38)

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While I hate to put these two people in the same post, I don't want to post about MJ anyway. But I do believe some things need to be said anyway.

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FOOTNOTE ON THE OTHER PERSON WHO DIED JUST JUST HOURS AFTER Farrah, whom I had no desire to know or listen to, but who had a soul and that is lost forever: He wrote

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He is dead at the age of 50. He had everything the world offered--but no Jesus.

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The liner notes from an album of his, and he quoted the final lines from William Ernest Henley's famous poem, Invictus:

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.

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Those are not the words you want written on your tombstone.

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When tens of millions know your name

And honors swarm about your head

And fortunes rest on your great fame

And then you die.

Well, you are dead.

When you've been great beyond degree

And slept with fame and danced with pride

And you've become an industry

And then you die

Well, then, you've died.

Your fame and wealth won't buy a place

In God's eternal realm of light.

No, that's found only by his grace,

And you chose self

Worm, fire and night.

by Jim Swindle

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ANOTHER COMMENT MADE IN THE DEATH OF mj

• From here we create our own standards of what we think a good person ought to be, but even by our own standards we fail to measure up. Only by deceiving ourselves are we able maintain any level of respectability and righteousness. Often during these pursuits, we find ourselves engaging in all kinds of aberrant behavior simply trying to measure up to our own standards. In it, we are clinging to our own righteousness in order to appease the God we know is there. For many, even in their suppression of the truth, will create a God to their liking and will try to appease him (Rom 1:23), but the God of scripture tells us that all our righteousness is like filthy rags, and he wants nothing to do it them (Isa. 64:6). But, praise God, He then goes on to tell us of the remedy that he has offered in Christ Jesus for all of us have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God (Rom. 3:23) . You see, God the Father sent his son to die upon the cross to bear the punishment for all who will believe in Him (John 3:16) in order to bring us into a right relationship with Him and give us the peace we are seeking.

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To paraphrase John Donne, when we hear that someone has died and we wonder for whom the bell tolls, there is a sense in which it will always be tolling for us. It is a constant reminder of our own frailty, telling us to be cognizant of our own end, and to ponder what awaits us afterward, and whether or not we are living life the way it should be lived; to the glory of God (Psalm 39:4).

God Bless,

Doug Eaton

FOR ME DEATH WILL BE OKAY

To Live For Christ, Death is Gain from charles e. whisnan t on Vimeo.

What We Shall Experience in Heaven from charles e. whisnan t on Vimeo.

Audience Analysis
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From Philippians 1:21 we speak about the benefits of the saints who die and go to Heaven.

The Suffering For Christ's Righteousness Seen

They Suffered for Christ from Charles E. Whisnant on Vimeo.

NOW THE OUTLINE OF TODAY’S MESSAGE

1A THEY BELIEVED THE RIGHT THINGS: THEY RECEIVED THE WORD OF GOD AS THE WORD OF GOD AND NOT AS WORDS OF MEN

2A THEY HONORED THE SAINTS BY FOLLOWING THEM

3A THEY PERSEVERED IN SUFFERING AND STOOD AGAINST THE OPPOSITION.

They kept their faith in the teaching of paul, and protected themselves from anything that would cause them to lose their faith or cause them to fall out of use for the lord Jesus Christ

14 “For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:”

in Judea -- The churches of Judea were naturally the patterns to other churches, as having been the first founded, and that on the very scene of Christ's own ministry. Reference to them is specially appropriate here, as the Thessalonians, with Paul and Silas, had experienced from Jews in their city persecutions (Acts 17:5-9) similar to those which "the churches in Judea" experienced from Jews in that country.

in Christ Jesus -- not merely "in God"; for the synagogues of the Jews (one of which the Thessalonians were familiar with, Acts 17:1 were also in God. But the Christian churches alone were not only in God, as the Jews in contrast to the Thessalonian idolaters were, but also in Christ, which the Jews were not.
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of your own countrymen -- including primarily the Jews settled at Thessalonica, from whom the persecution originated, and also the Gentiles there, instigated by the Jews; thus, "fellow countrymen" (the Greek term, according to Herodian, implies, not the enduring relation of fellow citizenship, but sameness of country for the time being), including naturalized Jews and native Thessalonians, stand in contrast to the pure "Jews" in Judea (Matthew 10:36). It is an undesigned coincidence, that Paul at this time was suffering persecutions of the Jews at Corinth, whence he writes (Acts 18:5,6,12); naturally his letter would the more vividly dwell on Jewish bitterness against Christians.

even as they -- (Hebrews 10:32-36). There was a likeness in respect to the nation from which both suffered, namely, Jews, and those their own countrymen; in the cause for which, and in the evils which, they suffered, and also in the steadfast manner in which they suffered them. Such sameness of fruits, afflictions, and experimental characteristics of believers, in all places and at all times, is a subsidiary evidence of the truth of the Gospel.

This church followed the Preachers, they followed the Word and then they followed the church at Jerusalem. They patterned their lives after the Church. I patterned this church after the “Shepherd’s Conference, Grace Community Church, Sun Valley California.

The pattern of suffering, and persecution.

A great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; Persecution Strikes the ChurchActs 5:16 — 8:3
And they were all scattered throughout Judea and Samaria, except the apostles (Acts 8:1).

The time of “favor with all the people” Acts 2:24 is over. Acts traces the Satanic attack on the church in Jerusalem as the Jewish authorities that killed the Lord Jesus turn against His people (3:1-6:7).

The irresistible force of the church will not be stopped as the church continues to multiply disciples—

We read of the church expanding beyond the city of Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria, just as the Lord Jesus had said in Acts 1:8.

The church at Jerusalem set the pattern how to deal with persecution. And the church at Thessalonica followed their pattern. They were experiencing the same kind of suffering from their own countrymen. Acts 17:4-9

SUFFERING IN CHRIST, FOR YOUR STAND FOR CHRIST IN RIGHTEOUSNESS IS THE TRUE TEST OF DISCIPLESHIP.

Spirituality is an absolute
Maturity is a process.

Handling suffering. This book was written to suffering Christians.

The soul permeated with a devotion of truth will stand the fiery test of life.

Our love for the Gospel is tested by what we suffer for it.

You go along with the soft pace, along the stream of the world, do as others do…sit down and take your ease…you will not suffer.
But you take up the cause of Christ, act for Christ, you will meet with spite as men and the devil can possibly throw at you.


Note some verses on Suffering in Righteousness of Christ

• Jeremiah 2:11
  Matthew 5:10-12
  John 15:18-20
  Acts 14:21-22
  Romans 8:35-39
  2 Corinthians 4:8-11
  
  2 Corinthians 12:10
  2 Timothy 3:12
  1 Peter 4:12-14,16
  1 Peter 5:10
  
  What kind of suffering in the United States, in Ohio, in Scioto County would you say we would encounter in our righteousness for Jesus Christ?
  
  I really do not believe in Scioto County, that any pain is inflicted upon those who live a righteous life. Physical or psychological pain or distress often occur in our lives. Yet there are all kinds of trials, difficulty that will occur in the life of everyone.
  
  
  This church was the kind of people to be happy for:
  
  1. They received the Word as God’s.
  2. They followed the pattern of the saints in Jerusalem.
  3. They stood firm in Christian fortitude in suffering.
  
  
  Rivers of Joy Baptist Church, Minford Ohio.
  
  Check out GrowByLearning.com website.
  Check out cwhisna.blogspot.com
  Check out ccwhisnant.livejournal.com
  Check out mychurch.org/riversofjoy.com
  Check out vimeo.com/user1396238/videos
  

WHAT IS MEANT BY EXPOSITORY PREACHING

What Is Expository Purpose Preaching from Charles E. Whisnant on Vimeo.

A FOOTNOTE ON THIS IDEA OF PREACHING:

Some people here at ROJBC are new to preaching. Some simply stop by to see what’s going on. Some have little or no experience with what we mean by preaching. I think it will help you listen to this message (and others) if I say a word about preaching.

What we mean by preaching is expository joy.

Preaching As Expository Delight

Expository means that preaching aims to exposit, or explain and apply, the meaning of the Bible. Every sermon explains and applies the Bible. The reason for this is that the Bible is God’s word, inspired, infallible, profitable—all sixty-six books of it. The preacher’s job is to minimize his own opinions and deliver the truth of God. Therefore, it is mainly Bible exposition—explanation and application.

And the preacher’s job is to do that in a way that enables us to see that the points he is making actually come from the Bible. If they come from the Bible and you can’t see that they come from the Bible, your faith will rest on man and not God.

The aim of this exposition is to help you eat and digest some biblical truth that will make your spiritual bones more like steel, and double the capacity of your spiritual lungs, and make the eyes of your heart to be amaze with brilliance with God’s greatness, and awaken the capability of your soul to experience the kinds of spiritual enjoyment you didn’t even know existed.
Preaching is also delight—expository delight. This means that the preacher does not just explain what’s in the Bible, and the people do not simply understand what he explains, but the preacher and the people rejoice over what is in the Bible as it is being explained and applied.

Preaching As Worship

Preaching does not come after worship in the order of the service. Preaching is worship. My job is not done if I only see truth and show it to you. The devil could do that—for his own devious reasons. My job is to see the glory of the truth and to savor it and triumph over it as I explain it to you and apply it for you. That’s one of the differences between a lecture and a sermon.

Preaching is not the totality of the church. And if all you have is preaching, you don’t have the church. A church is a body of people who minister to each other. Part of what preaching does is equip us for that. God has created the church, so that the church flourishes through preaching. That’s why Paul gave young pastor Timothy one of the most serious, exalted charges in all the Bible in 2 Timothy 4:1-2: “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word.”

If you are used to a twenty-minute, immediately practical, relaxed talk, the understanding of preaching that I just described doesn’t lead there. I won’t preach twenty minutes but twice that long; I do not aim to be immediately practical but eternally helpful; and the condition of my soul is not relaxed but standing vigilantly on the precipice of eternity speaking to people any of whom this week could go over the edge.

A overview of the week forthwith

The week always begins with Sunday. And this past Sunday was so good for Charity and I. Our 40th wedding anniversary was on the 14th. So we thought Sunday would be a great day to have a celebration. Since we have had 40 years of church ministry together, why not have a celebration at church.

Having having our sons and daughter up was so good. We had a great time. The only stress I had was the preaching, and the special song that Charity and I sung. Its on video on one of my websites. Several people who love us, said we did well for the first time together.

The afternoon service was also good. Bill Bower MC the service, and Bob Temple spoke, and then Johnny Edwards gave us a mini concert of songs. We were happy to see so many guest for the day. While attendance is great to have, (its good to have people come) we had fifty six for the day.

On Monday Charity and I had a nice date. That was very nice.

One Tuesday thru Saturday, Charity was working at Union Mills.

One Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, I was at Mex Itali for a few hours. I clean off the tables, made the best cream butter anywhere, twice this week, I also have a great time talking to many of my good friends. Ira Fowler is one of my best at work friends who comes in to eat everyday. I really work there to see my good friends. I enjoy working at Mex Itali, and thankful for the time I work. While that is true, I am looking forward to leaving in October, at the latest.

I took off Thursday to take a day off just to hang out at house and do a little work. That was really fun.

On Wednesday we had a great service at Rivers of Joy Baptist Church, I had a lesson on Creation. And in the course of the lesson there were a few questions as to my knowledge of the subject. And the question was ask, "HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU ARE RIGHT?" (Click) So I posted a brief thought on that idea. More to come on that idea later.

I video Sunday Morning service, and Wednesday Evening lessons. I download from the Kodak onto Kodak Easyshare softwear, this process takes a while. Then go over to Vimeo.com and they download from Kodak. This process takes for ever it seems. About three hours per 20 minutes of lesson. Thus Sunday Morning which was the shortest message in my history was just one video. Wednesday Night which is normal was 55 minutes and it took three video.

I have posted on Grow By Learning this week as well. Also over on Live Journal "For Me To Live Is Christ, website.

Had several visits with Bob Temple this week. And old, we had a drop in supper at Kindra's home, and with Amber, and Bob. That was fun, Charity just said, let's eat at Kindra's home.

So How Do I Come To Believe What I Believe

In this short video, the end of the lesson on Wednesday Evening, I address the question, "So How Do I Understand Scripture?"

We all have opinions about what we think the Bible is teaching about Creation. I will address this point in another post.

But the question was put to me, So what makes you believe what you say about Creation is correct? Which is really a good question and really made me think.

My other blog: For Me To Live Is Christ note this issue. http://ccwhisnant.livejournal.com/

Closing Remarks of Day 3 part 3 from Charles E. Whisnant on Vimeo.