Compiled by: Rev. Vic Logan

By Pastor Dan Montgomery & Rev. Vic Logan

You are very special. You have been called by God to lead a sinful flock. There is not one flock that is perfect or they wouldn't need you. They are at the church because they need help. If they didn't recognize that, they wouldn't be there.

They may not admit it, but, the worse they are the more they know they need to be there. That is just what Jesus did. Although he was not appreciated by many, he got the victory and continues to sit at the right hand of God.

All you need is God's Approval and Love and that is unending. God sees something special in you because he chose you and is using you. You cannot fix things or people, but you can do all things through Christ who strengthenith you. Take your eyes off that sinner and put your eyes on God.

Struggle as you may, just love them, love them, love them. Tell Satan a resounding NO. He may not steel your joy. We are promised he will continue to try to attack you because he hates the beautiful person you are and the impact you are making in the lives of many. Satan can only win if you let him. Do not allow him any even small victory. Pray for and with your enemies and continue to heap coals on their head. Shock them by bringing them a pie that your wife may bake or get one at the Bakery.

It will change their whole attitude. Kill them with kindness. It works every time.

So....Pastor, you have discovered that everyone doesn't love you. Someone actually dislikes you. They don't like your preaching. They are critical of your wife and watch your children like a hawk. They give the impression to others that they are devoted Christians, but truthfully they are full of envy and jealousy.

They resent going off to work while you sit in your office studying your Bible. They tell others that they think you get your sermons off the internet. You are not nearly as smart and scholarly as a previous pastor was. He knew some Greek words.

You haven't visited their ex-cousin-in-law who has been in the hospital in the next county. You bring new people into church and they make them feel uncomfortable. As soon as they get the chance, they will inform the new people about what is all wrong about the church.

You can't get them to come to prayer meeting, but they always show up for business meeting to express their opinion. You see needs that could easily be met by the church. There is plenty of money in the treasury. But they insist that we "take up a special offering."

They seem ready to support mission projects in far off lands, but say too much money is being spent on the youth program or gasoline to pick up children in the church van. They sit for hours waiting to be the first into the big college game, but when it gets close to 12:00 in church, they start rustling around and looking at their watch.

They bemoan the decline of the community and note the declining church attendance, but they don't want the kind of people who now live around the church. Yet, they get teary eyed when they say they wish they were in a position to go on a mission trip to Mugabe.

When you tell a humorous story to lighten the mood, they are offended and too spiritual to laugh. You are not to have any political views -- unless they are the same as theirs.

Oh....No. Now you hear that they have been visiting another church ....and you may lose them!!! Oh my, pastor, what will you do? Everyone will blame you.

Psalm 3 (New International Version)

A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.

1 O LORD, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me!

2 Many are saying of me, "God will not deliver him." Selah

3 But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.

4 To the LORD I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill. Selah

5 I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.

6 I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side.

7 Arise, O LORD! Deliver me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked.

8 From the LORD comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people. Selah