Petros Baptist Church

I found this too funny to fail to pass along.

 ATTORNEY: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for blood pressure?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for breathing?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: How can you be so sure, Doctor?
WITNESS: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.
ATTORNEY: But could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless?
WITNESS: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law.

Our Association presently has 13 Churches that are without Pastors. There are three basic reasons why Pastors and churches ‘divorce’ or go their separate ways:

1- God leads the Pastor to another place of service. Or, God leads the Church to find another Shepherd. This is the murkiest of the reasons in the sense that it is extraordinarily difficult for either the Pastor or the Church to know when it’s time to “split up.” If things are going well in the Church, it is even more difficult. But if things are going poorly for either one or both pastor and church, the decision is obviously a bit easier. Nonetheless, the leadership of the Spirit being for the most part intangible, the decision to leave is only made after a considerable period of prayer.

2- Infidelity. The second reason Pastors and Churches go their separate ways is no different than the reason husbands and wives sometimes divorce: infidelity. Pastors can become unfaithful to the Church in a number of ways not limited to - a growing indifference to the needs of the flock; another Church becomes more ‘attractive’ (the grass is greener theory of life); or a sense of being unappreciated and thus unappreciative. Churches too can become unfaithful to their pastor, in failing to pray for him; by always comparing him to a former pastor or an idealized pastor they would like to have; by inattentiveness (sermons become something to be endured rather than an opportunity to grow as a believer); and by staying away from worship (voting against the pastor with their absence).

3- Money. Let’s face facts here; just as husbands and wives leave each other because of infidelity and money, so too Churches and Pastors often part ways for exactly the same reasons. Many Pastors are underpaid and many Churches operate on the presumption that “you have to keep the preacher humble by keeping him poor”. So, it is quite normal, and human, that if the Pastor is offered a better salary package by another Church he ‘hear the voice of Go calling him there.’ When Churches undervalue their Pastor, they will inevitably discover that if offered the opportunity to be valued appropriately, he will take it. To be sure, there’s always some wag in every church who honestly thinks that “we just pay the preacher what he’s really worth” and though they would never tolerate that kind of treatment from their own ‘boss’ they not only tolerate it, but actively implement it in their treatment of their pastor.

In my estimation, reasons 2 and 3 are grossly illegitimate as justification for a Pastor leaving a Church. A sense that the Church doesn’t support one as one wishes or would like (either emotionally or financially) is no reason to abandon one’s post to seek “greener pastures.” And yet, reasons 2 and 3 are the chief reasons most Pastors and Churches divorce.

Reason 1, on the other hand, is certainly legitimate as a cause to depart. However, I think it important to note that just as no one person decided on whether or not the Pastor would come to the Church, no one person can decide, or should decide, if the Pastor should go. In other words, the decision to leave is as much a Church/Pastor decision as the decision to come. As the church votes to call the Pastor, it seems only proper that the Church vote to dismiss the Pastor at his request upon prayerful consideration of the call of God to another post of service.

This, it seems to me, is the only way to ensure that the wisdom of the Spirit guide the proceedings and not the wishes (or disguised hurts) of the parties involved.

The most common miracle of all is the miracle of Monday.  People so sick and bedridden on Sunday that they can’t stir for worship are suddenly and amazingly well come Monday.  Thousands upon thousands receive the miracle cure every week.  And they are all, each and every one, devoted “christians.”  Or, at least they like to imagine so.

Parents who teach their children to ignore God, teach them to embrace death and hell. And yet, as simply as that is put and in terms that anyone can understand- this Sunday many Christian parents will teach their children that God is not as important as the lake, ball, or shopping. So, Christian parents, when you arrive in heaven and your children are nowhere to be found, you have only yourself to blame.

A picture is worth 1000 words…

When your wife will counterbalance your tractor, it’s true love.  This photo was sent me from a friend in Sweden.

July 29^th from 1:30-4 PM you are invited to help Benny and Loretta celebrate their 50^th wedding anniversary!  Join them in the Fellowship Hall.

NO MINISTER’S CONFERENCE IN JULY
July 5 - Prayer Team Meeting 1 p.m. at the BEBA Office
July 5 - Rebuild Ministry Team Meeting, 7 p.m. at the BEBA Office
July 6-14 - Mexico Mission Trip
July 9 - No Pastor & Staff Breakfast
July 9 - Executive Board Meeting, 10:30 a.m. at South Harriman Church
July 16 - Pastor & Staff Summer Breakfast Fellowship, Hardee’s in Wartburg, 8:30 a.m.
July 20 - Fish Fry, 6 p.m. at Union Church in Wartburg (Bring Dessert) RSVP by July 16th
865.882.6446 or email Patbeba@comcast.net
July 23 - Pastor & Staff Summer Breakfast Fellowship, Hardee’s in Oliver Springs, 8:30 a.m.
July 27 - Deadline to RSVP for Senior Adult Dinner Theater (August 3)
July 30 - Pastor & Staff Summer Breakfast Fellowship, McDonalds in Kingston, 8:30 a.m.

The following churches are seeking Pastors: Big Emory, Central, Chapman Grove, Clymersville, Dyllis, Kingston First, Middle Creek, Mossy Grove, New Height’s Mission, Pine Ridge, Riggs Chapel, Wartburg First, Westel.

On August 3rd at Riverside Baptist in Harriman they are planning an associational event called “Senior Adult Theater”. A dinner will be served by courses by the youth of the Church and as the meal progresses the theater will take place in the form of fun, fellowship, special music, and an encouraging message. It will all take place in the fellowship hall around the dinner table. If you would like to attend, call the Associational Office at 865-882-6446 and make a reservation. Seating is limited so make plans now if you wish to attend.