Shepastor: "Team Work Sounds Great...!"

Matthew 28: 16-20

16Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 17And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. 18And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

In our text for today, Jesus has risen from the grave and is giving his disciples some last instructions before returning to His Father in heaven. He reminds them of some specific things and outlines some specific responsibilities or “commands.”
He tells them…

- All power is given to Him in heaven and in earth
- Teach all nations
- Baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost
- Teach others to follow everything He commanded
- Remember that He is with them always – even unto the end of the world.

The church I pastor has adopted a motto based upon this passage, “T.E.A.M…” “Teaching, Evangelizing, Accountable and Making a Difference for the Kingdom!” “Teamwork,” sounds wonderful, but the development and “gelling” of the team takes much prayer, time, patience, forgiveness and work!

In this text, Jesus is giving His “team” if you will, the instructions they will need to be effective witnesses in the world. They started out with 12 and now they only have 11. Judas has forsaken the team, betrayed Jesus and committed suicide. Although Peter denied Jesus, he ultimately repented and returned. Although the others, except John, the beloved forsook Jesus, they ultimately came back to be His witnesses and spread the word that Jesus is alive.

They were a small group of scared men – uncertain, wrestling with doubt about what they were really seeing, what they were feeling and what their faith was saying. The task before them appeared daunting. The threats around them were real. Few if any really believed them. But the Words of their Master would powerfully and profoundly overshadow any doubt or fear that sought to bind them. They would become one of the most powerful and influential evangelism teams in history – the disciples would become “apostles,” evangelizing individuals, communities and nations – teaching the words of Jesus, baptizing new converts, establishing churches and providing the New Testament scriptures that we read and follow today.

The saints from on high were yelling, “GO TEAM!”

In this day of mega churches, tele-evengelist that minister to thousands, and radio broadcasts that reach millions, those of us who minister and serve in smaller churches and congregations may at times feel that our labor is in vain. But we must remember that this Christian revolution that we read about week in and week out didn’t start out with thousands, but with 12. And the 12 were not the best candidates according to our standards.

Look at who Jesus chose to work with:
Peter – “cussing” fisherman and zealot – one who was quick tempered and somewhat impetuous

James and John – the two brothers they called the “sons of thunder,” also quick to call down fire and brimstone on anyone who opposed them. Hungry for position and power, hid behind their mother who asked Jesus for the chief seats next to Him in the Kingdom

Matthew – A tax collector who was a robber of his own people, working for the Roman Government.

Thomas – Who vacillated between doubt and confession of faith – needed proof to truly believe

Judas – A thief and a schemer who would ultimately betray Him

The other disciples didn’t have much to say, except for Andrew who brought his brother Peter to Jesus, Phillip who encouraged Nathaniel to come and see Jesus for himself after he asked “Could any good thing come out of Nazareth?” and John, whom the text called, “beloved.” He was one of the only disciples other than the woman who stayed with Jesus until the crucifixion.

What a challenging crowd to work with! When we consider this “team” that Jesus assembled, we should be encouraged! Could it be that He deliberately selected broken, fragmented, sin riddled, frail men to be in His inner circle to help us understand that He – Jesus is the one that transforms us from bruised, broken, seemingly worthless beings into vessels fit for the Masters use. The only requirement is that we be yielded to Him. In other words, we have to say, “yes” to His outstretched hand.

No matter how flawed, no matter how damaged, no matter how broken, no matter how unsightly, no matter how rejected – God can and will use us on His TEAM! There are, however, some responsibilities associated with being a part of this TEAM!

Team members must walk with Jesus. In order for the disciples to impact others for Christ, they had to know Him for themselves! It is difficult to play on a team if you don’t know the plays, know and understand the rules and follow the leader. You can’t teach what you don’t know and you can’t lead where you don’t go!

Team members are to teach about Jesus. One of the first and visible lessons that we teach is the lesson of our lives. People will not listen to our words if our lives scream something all together different. Your life first has to be a lesson.

Team members are to evangelize. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are all called to be witnesses – to tell the lost that Jesus saves. That may not mean that you go from door to door inviting people to church or walk around malls or on streets handing out tracks (booklets that teach about salvation). But it does mean that we should ask the Lord for a spirit of evangelism, asking the Lord to create opportunities for us to naturally begin conversations about trusting the Lord as personal Savior. We should have a concern for the souls of the lost. As “team members” we should be in prayer that each day, our lives are used to draw, to convict, to compel somebody to seek Jesus. We should ask the Lord to open our eyes to the people He has placed before us that we can witness to and reach. Witnessing takes on many forms. Sometimes it’s just being a listening ear. Sometimes, it’s giving them support through friendship or finance. Sometimes it’s giving a wise word. But ultimately, it’s building a relationship of trust and sharing our faith as the Lord opens opportunities. We are to be Christ’s witnesses and evangelize.

TEAM members are to be Accountable. It’s so easy to say, witnessing, sharing the Gospel, supporting the ministry financially, volunteering to carry out the work of the ministry is somebody else’s job. It’s so easy to come in from week to week, sing some hymns, hug some friends, give a few dollars and keep on going. But TEAM members are accountable to share in lifting the load. We each are accountable for the building of this ministry, the spreading of the Gospel, the support of the work of the church. It’s not “their” responsibility, it’s “our” responsibility. We all have gifts, we all have talents, we all have treasure that the Lord can and will use for the up building of His Kingdom. When only a few of the few lift the load, it makes it extremely challenging. But many hands make work light.

If 11 frightened, flawed and half determined men could take the commands of Jesus seriously and turn the world upside down, what could we in the church accomplish today if we took the assigned TEAM work seriously?

Finally, Team members are to make a difference for the Kingdom! When you yield yourself to God’s precious Holy Spirit, listen for His voice, pray for opportunities to share God’s messages of love, hope, redemption, deliverance and restoration – God will open doors and you will make a difference for the Kingdom. You will touch some man, some woman, some boy, some girl – you will encourage some discouraged spirit, you will cause someone on the verge of giving up to change their minds – you will challenge someone who is wallowing in backward and destructive ways of thinking – you will make a difference for the Kingdom!

Although not easy, being a “TEAM” for the Lord is possible through Christ!

Post a comment or send me an email at Shepastor1@hotmail.com

Until next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris
www.shepastorchris.org

Shepastor: "Why Did I Do That?"

Esther 1:10-12, 19; 2:1
The King’s Banquet

10 On the seventh day of the feast, when King Xerxes was in high spirits because of the wine, he told the seven eunuchs who attended him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas— 11 to bring Queen Vashti to him with the royal crown on her head. He wanted the nobles and all the other men to gaze on her beauty, for she was a very beautiful woman. 12 But when they conveyed the king’s order to Queen Vashti, she refused to come. This made the king furious, and he burned with anger…

19 “So if it please the king, we suggest that you issue a written decree, a law of the Persians and Medes that cannot be revoked. It should order that Queen Vashti be forever banished from the presence of King Xerxes, and that the king should choose another queen more worthy than she. 20 When this decree is published throughout the king’s vast empire, husbands everywhere, whatever their rank, will receive proper respect from their wives!”

2 But after Xerxes’ anger had subsided, he began thinking about Vashti and what she had done and the decree he had made.

The book of Esther, though never mentioning the name of God is one of the most powerful images in the Bible of God’s protection over His people and poetic justice. The Jewish Festival of Purim is based upon the story of Esther, how the Lord used her uncle Mordecai and ultimately Esther to stop the wicked official Haman from succeeding in his plot to annihilate the Jewish Nation.

But today, the focus is neither upon Esther, Mordecai or Haman. Today’s focus is upon two decisions that changed the course of Jewish history…a decision that is frequently mischaracterized and wrongs that are often overlooked. Today, we shall focus upon Queen Vashti and King Xerxes.

Shepastor: “Why Did I Do That?”

When I was growing up, my mother would frequently say, “An angry word is not easily recalled.” How often do people, in fits of rage say and do things that have long lasting consequences. The writer of Proverbs declared, “A man without self-control is like a city with broken down walls” (Proverbs 25:28). In ancient cultures, nations built walls around their land to protect themselves from enemy attacks. In the same way, self-control protects us from the enemies of dysfunction, foolish choices, life and death decisions made in the heat of the moment.

Some people can’t maintain jobs because they don’t know how to overlook an offense and easily and flippantly say whatever comes to mind. Some people, under the influence of drugs and or alcohol make foolish statements, spewing crazy words from their mouths or getting behind the wheel of a car or harming themselves and or others in other ways – all due to a lack of self-control. And some, in an effort to show themselves to be great and grand, make foolish decisions, an effort to show that they are in control, they are large and in charge, they are not to be defied.

Such was the case of King Xerxes. King Xerxes held a wild part for approximately 180 days! That’s about SIX MONTHS!!!
He entertained his officials and ultimately all the people of the Kingdom from the least to the greatest. No expense was spared. The text describes the atmosphere…white cotton curtains and blue hangings, which were fastened with white linen cords and purple ribbons to silver rings embedded in marble pillars. Gold and silver couches stood on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and other costly stones. All kinds of delicacies and wine…wine…wine in abundance! Everyone could drink as much as they wanted.

After much wine had been imbibed the king wanted his queen, Vashti to come and parade either naked or scantily clad (only wearing a robe and crown) before his drunken friends. Vashti, in the meantime was in the process of entertaining the women of the kingdom in her own banquet.
Can you imagine? Not only was this a disgraceful and humiliating request, the customs of the day demanded the chastity of the women, particularly the “1st lady of the land.” Her body was for her husband…certainly not his subjects! But look at the King…drunk, showing off, and basically saying… “Look at what I got – isn’t she gorgeous – don’t you wish you had her?”

Vashti refused. Interestingly, sexist commentators over the years have demonized the queen by calling her disobedient, “haughty” arrogant and a bad example for women. But more sensible theologians have declared the opposite…she was a woman of class, dignity, strength and honor.
An important lesson we can learn from Queen Vashti: Standing upon principles and integrity will not necessarily protect you from being displaced…
Doing the right thing is not always rewarded in terms of human response. She was stripped of her royal title, she was deposed…kicked out…shunned. But she did the right thing. Ultimately, her removal opened the door for Esther, but God used Vashti to make that possible.

If Vashti did what was requested of her, Esther would never have become Queen. God used Vashti. Queen Vashti is certainly and “unsung” shero! There is no record of what happened to her after being taken down. There is no indication that she was killed. It simply said she was replaced. Her integrity, however, speaks volumes. She had the courage to say no, even if it meant losing earthly status, perks, comfort, opulence, luxury. Doing what is right sometimes is a sacrifice with great cost. But ultimately, many are blessed, saved, delivered as a result of the unselfish act.

Those who sacrificed their lives, martyrs of Christendom, the Civil Rights Movement, our service women and men, missionaries, etc., all stood and stand against the onslaught of evil dictates, unjust laws, inhumane practices, wicked deeds against humanity – they did and do so at great cost, but with huge potency in terms of opening doors, saving lives and promoting justice.

Now let’s consider King Xerxes…what lessons can we learn from his behaviors?
One: Showing off sets you up for regret… Xerxes was a showoff…he wanted to show off how much he had, show off all that he believed he was able to do and show off his queen. Obviously he was very insecure. He was the king. Why did he need to show off? When you are insecure in who you are, you always need to “prove” who you are.

By virtue of his position, the kingdom understood who he was. Why did he have to throw a six month party? This “show off mentality” led to both the shame of he and his queen. This behavior placed him in the position to prove that he was in charge. When we behave in such irresponsible ways, we not only set ourselves up for shame, but also those closest to us. Bad decisions never just impact us. Bad decisions impact those around us…our families, those who care about us, those who work with us, those who may serve under us.

Leaders who make shameful decisions hurt and disgrace their families, co-workers and those serving under them. They disgrace the office in which they serve. Think of church leaders that have chosen to lead over the top life styles, have illicit affairs, embezzle funds, etc. Look at politicians who have chosen to do disgraceful things behind the scenes, dragging their wives and children into the spotlight to be shamed and laughing stocks.
Always remember, your decisions don’t just impact you…they impact all those to some degree within the sphere of your influence. To whom much is given, much is required.

Xerxes was a weak man…Why did he have to consult astrologers to tell him what to do concerning his wife? He didn’t consult anybody, it appears when he decided to throw and orgy and demand his wife to prance around naked! He was far from a wise ruler. His behaviors brought him shame and possibly this was his way of trying to get back some dignity. His behaviors had already set him up to look like a fool.

Avoid allowing what others think to shape major choices. Instead, allow your choices to be based upon principles and integrity. This is not to suggest that we should be insensitive or oblivious to the concerns of others, this is to say, however, that the primary basis of our decisions should not be what others think of us, but what we believe, what we see as truth, what we know to be pleasing in the sight of God. Queen Vashti exemplifies this principle.

Finally, King Xerxes regretted his actions…
The text says,

2 But after Xerxes’ anger had subsided, he began thinking about Vashti and what she had done and the decree he had made.

In the common vernacular, after a while, Xerxes found himself say, “Why did I do that?” Scholars suggest that it was about 3 years before Queen Esther was chosen. During that time, Xerxes was given the opportunity to sleep with numerous women across the kingdom, looking for a new Queen. One might think that this was fun for him, but obviously, it was not. Maybe it seemed great at first, but he found himself missing Vashti. She was beautiful. She was strong. She was filled with integrity. But now, because of his foolish debauchery and weak mindedness, she was gone. According the laws of the Medes and Persians, he could not change what he had done.

We may not be under the law of the “Medes and Persians,” but there are some choices that cannot be undone…saying ignorant and insensitive things that deeply wound a trusted friend…flying off of the handle and losing a good job…having an extra marital affair and crushing the trust and love in a lifelong relationship…contracting an incurable sexual disease after a foolish tryst…killing someone and or maiming others and/or yourself due to getting behind the wheel after drinking…spending too much time away from family in pursuit of foolish dreams and missing out on a lifetime with your children…neglecting to love and care for your parents in their old age, before they leave this world.

The weight of regret is extremely heavy! Did King Xerxes ultimately recover by getting a new beautiful queen? Yes. But did he leave behind a trail of shame, hurt, brokenness and failure – yes indeed!

Remember, your decisions today can impact the rest of your life – choose wisely. Pray and think before you respond. Let the ink dry over night before sending that letter. Count to ten before you react. We all make mistakes, but with the help of the Lord, those mistakes can be fewer and certainly less destructive.

Post a comment or send me an email at Shepastor1@hotmail.com

Until next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris
www.shepastorchris.org

Shepastor: "Blessing in a Different Way..."

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. Isaiah 55:8 NIV
For many years now I’ve heard preachers and Bible teachers speak about the “Dead” Sea… “Nothing can live there…it is stagnant, selfish…waters flow into it but it gives nothing back…” I heard ministers use the Dead Sea illustration when doing stewardship appeals, referencing the fact that it holds all that it gets and therefore it is basically useless, characterized by death.

On our recent trip to the Holy Land, both my husband and I, along with the other participants on our trip were shocked as we approached the Dead Sea. Instead of some murky, nasty, ugly body of water, we saw a beautiful, crystal blue sea, outlined with white rock salt! The tour guide explained, “You all have named it the “Dead Sea,” but we (the indigenous people) call it the ‘Salt Sea.’ It is true that nothing can live in this body of water because of its high salt content, but it is not dead…it is life giving, full of rich minerals, calcium, potassium, sulfa, sodium. The ancient kings and queens used to come here and use this Sea as their private spa…soaking in the mineral rich waters to soothe their aches and pains, increase their skin’s elasticity, making it smooth and youthful.”

Today, people come from all over the world come to soak in the edges of the Salt Sea. Beautiful products that soothe and heal skin and joints are made from the Salt Sea. Ironically, people are now using “Sea Salt” more and more to season their meals because it is believed to be better for our bodies than regular table salt. God had a purpose in creating the Salt Sea, not for death, but for life!

As I considered the mischaracterization of this beautiful body of water, I began to think about how often we mischaracterize the gifts, the blessings, the opportunities, the wonders God has given, purposed and made for His glory. I began to think about how often we dismiss, name ugly, reject and even demonize things that don’t fit into our “cookie cutter” mindsets and modus operandi.

How often do we dismiss children and adults that are “differently abled,” assuming they have very little or nothing of significance to share? How often do we overlook or even demonize those who offer something different in terms of gifts and talents that don’t necessarily suit our taste (different forms of music, art, writings etc.) How often do we reject the very ones that the Lord sends us because they don’t look like us, talk like us, behave like us, process like us?

Jesus called us the “salt of the earth.” Salt preserves. Salt can purify. Salt gives flavor. The Salt Sea is not dead. It simply blesses us in a different way. May we resist the temptation to label things as dead and useless, without first considering God’s purpose for the creation.


Post a comment or send me an email at Shepastor1@hotmail.com

Until Next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris
www.shepastorchris.org

Shepastor: "The View From Golgotha..."

They came to a place called Golgotha (which means "the place of the skull").

Matthew 27:33

This past week my husband and I were privileged to travel as delegates of the Progressive National Baptist Convention in collaboration with the Fellowship of Christians and Jews to the Holy Land, Israel. It was, to say the least a trip of a lifetime!

To literally walk where Jesus walked was amazing, empowering and haunting. We stood on the banks of the Mediterranean Sea, sailed the Sea of Galilee, dipped our feet into the rich minerals of the Dead (Salt) Sea, overlooked the "Old City" Jerusalem, stood on the Mount of Olives, walked around the Garden of Gethsemane and touched the rock where it is believed Jesus prayed for the "cup" to be removed!

Many more places were also visited...too many to discuss here. But what was most striking for me was our time in the place where Jesus was thought to have been arrested, crucified, buried and ultimately rose again.

As Christians, we love to paint (literally and figuratively) pictures of three crosses up on a hill. Movies show the hill with Mary and the other women weeping, wind blowing, lightning striking, Roman soldiers looking upon the one they just pierced. But when we visited Golgotha, the "The Place if the Skull," the tour guide shared some eye opening factors with us...

We saw the boulders that indeed look somewhat like a skull. We saw the hill on top of the boulders that many like to imagine was the place of the crucifixion. However, that was not the common practice of the Romans. Brutal and sadistic, the Romans wanted to make an example of the "criminals" being crucified. Therefore, they would not have crucified Jesus on top of a distant hill, but rather, by the side of the road...the boulders facing Jesus as He was slowly, cruelly and unmercifully murdered.

Today, a bus station stands where it is believed Jesus was crucified. Not very scenic or sacred... I know!!! What a message...a common, "worldly," mundane structure such as a bus station stands where our Lord was most probably crucified! But isn't that the real message of the Cross? Jesus died for the "worldly," scummy, common, mundane in us all!!!

It was not pretty. It was not picturesque. It was not beautiful. It was not on a "On a Hill Far Away..." as we sing in church on Sunday mornings. No! It was near the side of the road, ugly, bloody, gruesome and haunting. Yet Jesus endured all of this for ALL of us!!!

As we prepare to enter the Lenten Season next week, may we truly meditate upon Jesus' love and sacrifice for us. May it move us beyond pretty pictures and common hymns to a place of reflection, service, love and praise.

Post a comment or send me an email at shepastor1@hotmail.com

Until next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris
www.shepastorchris.org

Shepastor: “Know What You’ve Got…Excerpts from the ‘Beyond the Stained Glass Ceiling Event’ Ashland Theological Seminary”

Last Wednesday, I was blessed to serve as the lecturer/workshop leader for an event sponsored by Ashland Theological Seminary. The event was titled for my book, Beyond the Stained Glass Ceiling: Equipping and Encouraging Female Pastors (Judson Press, 2013)I was joined in the presentation by my friend and brother, The Rev. Dr. Marvin A. McMickle, President of Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School. Together we addressed the persistent struggles women pastors face as they, by faith, pursue the role of senior/solo pastors.

A recent Duke University study (December, 2015) revealed the following in the article, "How Thick is the Stained Glass Ceiling?" It states:

Even as U.S. congregations become more ethnically diverse, a new analysis of Duke University’s National Congregations Study shows that women hold only a small minority of those faith communities’ top leadership positions. Women serve as senior or solo pastoral leaders of just 11 percent of U.S. congregations — indicating essentially no overall increase from when the study was first done in 1998. These women-led communities contain only about 6 percent of the people who attend the nation’s religious services.

(Click here to read article, Duke University)
In light of these statistics, many women pastors have difficulty remaining hopeful and even sure of their calling and “merchandise.” With these experiences in mind, I was drawn to Proverbs 31:18, KJV which declares,

“She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.”

Below are excerpts from the sermon I preached during the event, “Know What You’ve Got.”

A young music artist by the name of Rachel Platten recently came out with a hit song called, “Fight Song.” Getting her first hit was no easy journey. She’d been writing and striving for 15 years to be heard. Song after song was rejected. During an interview on the Today Show, Hoda Kotb asked Rachel, “While you were going through all of this, did you ever think that maybe this was the wrong direction for your life and that maybe you should give up?” Rachel responded, “No, the voice inside me was too loud saying, ‘You’ve got something…don’t quit!’”

In order to push past adversity, past rejection, past inner voices of doubt, past fear, past taunts debasing and denying your giftedness and calling, you’ve got to KNOW what you’ve got! This simple verse of scripture, couched between lines of a passage traditionally used as a theme for “Women’s Days,” is often lost and over looked. The fact that the woman described in this passage is an industrious, business savvy, creative, well rounded, “got it going on, self-confident” woman is often swept under the rug and instead side lined for the emphasis, that “charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised…”

As if, fearing the Lord and knowing how to take care of your business are some how antithetical to one another. But that is another topic, another sermon for another day. Tonight, I would like to focus upon this concept of knowing, perceiving, in tune with, understand what you’ve got…what God has strategically placed within you…your worth, your skill, your vision, your giftedness, your reason…your purpose.

Although the King James Version is frowned upon because of its antiquated and formal language, I like it’s rendering of this verse…Proverbs 31:18:

“She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.”

She perceives…
Perception is a powerful thing. Perception, in other words how you visually, experientially (through the senses) and psychologically take in information, process information and then form a view based upon how you have interpreted that information serves as the basis for how we see ourselves, others and the world around us.

But God has placed down within us something that can super cede that which our natural senses and perceptions dictate. It is a divine sense of knowing who you are and to what God is calling you to be/become. It is to use Rachel Platten’s words, that “loud voice saying, “you’ve got something!” To use the Queen’s descriptor in our text as she counseled her son on what to look for in a good woman, “she perceives that her merchandise is good…” But how do you hear that loud voice and perceive that your merchandise is good when all around you is denying your internal reality?

Before you were shaped and formed in your mother’s womb, the Lord called you and anointed you to be a prophet, a pastor, a preacher yet the world and the church declares, God does not use women in that capacity… Well, somebody might be saying, “That was a long time ago. Women are now serving as preachers and pastors. Doors are opening. We are holding prominent positions in the world and the church. This conversation is old and over with. Let’s move on!” Mentalities like that may not realize that they are caught up in smoke and mirrors! It is tantamount to thinking that racism is over in America because we have elected our first African American President and we have a number of African American millionaires, billionaires and CEO’s! But how many know that racism and sexism is alive and well in America?

While it may seem that the struggle for women clergy is over, data proves otherwise. According to a 2015 Duke University study on the number of women serving as senior/solo pastors, the number still lingers at 11%...the same as in 1998! Yes, we have seen advancement in the number of women being called to and placed in senior/solo pastor positions, but the advancement is minimal and at a snail’s pace. The fact that we can name them indicates how few there are. The tendency is to suggest that women clergy who “don’t make it,” or whose small, fragmented, struggling congregations aren’t thriving, growing and excelling…the tendency is to blame the clergywoman… “She must be doing something wrong, she must not have what it takes…maybe that isn’t really her calling…”

All of these assertions can impact how a woman “perceives her merchandise.”
As mentioned earlier, there are great similarities between sexism and racism. Recently, both Dr. McMickle and I were involved in the Conference of National Black Churches Consultation held in Charleston, South Carolina. The purpose of the Consultation was to address the historic and ongoing racial tensions in America and to consider the role of the Church in bringing about racial healing and reconciliation. One of the lecturers, Dr. Camara Phyllis Jones gave a powerful illustration concerning the impact of institutional and internalized racism upon perspectives…an illustration that I found particularly relevant, also, to the plight of women pastors.

You have a copy of the article, “The Gardner’s Tale” in your notebook. But to highlight the relevancy of her discussion about racism to our discussion of sexism and women clergy, consider the “red flower pot” and the “pink flower pot…”

The two seeds are the same in terms of substance, potential and overall makeup. The only difference is that the color of one is red and the color of one is pink. The RED seeds, however, are planted in rich, dark, beautiful soil while the PINK is planted in old, rocky, sandy soil. The RED flowers grow tall and robust. Everyone admires and congratulates the RED flowers. They even look at each other and affirm, admire and congratulate one another!!!

The PINK flowers on the other hand struggle to make it out of the rocky, sandy dirt. The few that do are scraggly, and surrounded by weeds. The few that do gain some height are still short and frail, in comparison to the strong, tall RED flowers. They look at themselves and one another and think, “There must be something wrong with us. Why can’t we grow? Why are we so weak and thronged by weeds?”

Suddenly they look around and see a few PINK flowers in the RED pot. Somehow, the two or three pink seeds got mixed up in the RED flower pot. But when they look over at their pink brother and sister flowers, they too are looking upon the PINK flower pot with disdain, “Humph, look at us…we are PINK FLOWERS…we are growing and thriving…we are strong and robust…there must be something wrong with THOSE pink flowers. They just don’t have what it takes…they must not be trying hard enough…they don’t represent us!”

The PINK flowers who happened to get into the good soil don’t realize that given similar circumstances, they too might be thronged with weeds and scraggly! The PINK flowers in the rocky, sandy soil struggle to develop an awareness and internal affirmation that “their merchandise is good.”

While we need to celebrate the accomplishments and successes of our beautiful, strong, resilient clergywomen who have fought the good fight, pressed through rocky, sandy soil and also those who have been blessed to be planted in dark, rich, beautiful soil, we stand in danger of partying too long!

In my own denomination, American Baptist Churches, USA, along with Cooperative Baptists probably lead the way, in terms of calling women to serve in executive leadership roles and in senior/solo pastorates. The fact remains, however, that the numbers are still miniscule. Because we are so proud and excited for those who have broken through the stained glass ceiling, there is a lackadaisical spirit and even resistance to whole heartedly tackling this persistent, ongoing struggle among our churches to call women to serve as senior/solo pastors. Again, those churches that do call us are predominantly Euro, elderly, dying, very small congregations. We discussed earlier the cultural struggles, on top of a myriad of other issues this presents for women clergy in general and clergy women of color, in particular.

The argument and excuse used is that a majority of mainline Protestant churches in America are small and dying. But when I look around Cleveland, Ohio, for example, recently we had a major turnover of pastors… a “changing of the guard” if you will. NOT ONE of our Baptist congregations called a woman, although a plethora of women are seminary trained and WELL qualified to serve. At least SIX pastors of relatively healthy, stable, mid-sized to large congregations in our area over the last 5-7 years retired. Not ONE of those churches called or maybe even strongly considered calling a woman.

For those few women who were called to pastor congregations, most were small and dying and other denominations. One or two made it into small churches that were heavily endowed with financial resources that made ALL OF THE DIFFERENCE. Those are the EXCEPTIONS, not the rule. I am convinced that God raises the “exceptions” to change the rule. It is so easy to slip into the “Pink flower in the Red flower pot” mentality if you are one of the FEW who have made it out. It so easy to look upon others with disdain and assume that you are where you are because you are “all of that!”

No, no…we are where we are and have become all that we have become because of the grace and mercy of Almighty God! God has blessed us to be so in order that God can use us to make a difference, bring about a change and help somebody else to see that yes, they too have “merchandise that is good!” God calls us to help raise up somebody else. God calls us to help open up some doors for somebody else. God calls us to make some waves, point out the disparity, raise the hard questions and yes, speak up and say, “Something is still wrong that in 2016 I am still one of a few!!!”

I am not suggesting that everyone has the same gifts and talents and abilities and wherewithal. I am not suggesting that we can ignore the giftedness and exceptionalism of some individuals that cause them to rise above many others. But what I am suggesting is that there are MANY MORE gifted, many more anointed, many more empowered…many more women clergy with wherewithal that are stuck in sandy, rocky, dry, weed filled pots and are dying without the help and concern of others. Dying, struggling, hungry and lonely…yes, because we’ve been engrained with the notion that we can’t trust one another, because of insecurity and fear, because of the “crab in the bucket” mentality that lives and thrives among those deprived of real opportunity, because of the jealousy and envy that swells up among the oppressed…because of these things, we lack the encouragement and support that we could have among each other. All of these things, I have termed, “the strange fruit of oppression.”

Yes, God can and will use you anywhere. Yes, God can still get the glory even in the sandy, broken, dry pot. But it is not acceptable to become resigned to the fact that we are all CALLED to the sandy rocky pots. There is a difference between being called and being relegated to a place. Was God glorified through the faithfulness of the slaves as they met in old, broken down shacks after they worked themselves almost to death and then still went out and prayed, and sang as the people of God? Absolutely! Was that God's plan and will for their lives…NO!

Is God honored as people work three jobs just to earn a living wage and yet tithe and serve in their local congregations? Yes, God is honored by the faithfulness of His servants, but I believe God is grieved by the system that keeps them in that oppressed condition! Is everyone called to pastor large, affluent, resource filled congregations? No, but should the door be open for those who are? YES! The point is not to say that all women clergy should be pastors, that all women clergy should be called to “plush” situations, that all women clergy should have mid-sized to large, resourceful congregations. This is to say, however, that clergywomen should be given REAL opportunities to pastor churches in every category, whether small, broken, dysfunctional or healthy, stable and resourceful.

Finally, no matter where you are called, no matter where you find yourself serving, no matter what doors have not come open and what ceilings have yet to be broken, you’ve got to know that your merchandise is good. You’ve got to recognize the reality of the “pot” in which you currently serve and understand that your situation does not define your substance! Understand that your predicament does not define your personhood. Realize that your valley does not define or dictate your value! Know that you are fearfully and wonderfully made. Know that with God, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE, know that your gift will make room for you, know that God can and will use you, no matter your circumstance, know that you can make a difference for the Kingdom!

Keep on preaching, keep on teaching, keep on telling men, women boys and girls that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life. Keep on lifting as you climb, keep on pressing towards the mark, keep on trusting in the true and living God, and no matter what doors human beings try to keep locked, God will open doors, no matter what ceilings human beings try to hold over your head, God will break through, keep believing that Greater is He that is within you, than he that is within the world.
God will lift you, God will keep you, God will sustain you, God will make a way for you God will carry you through!

Post a comment or send me an email at Shepastor1@hotmail.com

Until next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris
www.shepastorchris.org

Shepastor: "What Kind of House Are You Building?"

Psalm 127: 1-3, NLT

A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of Solomon.

1Unless the Lord builds a house,
the work of the builders is wasted.
Unless the Lord protects a city,
guarding it with sentries will do no good.
2It is useless for you to work so hard
from early morning until late at night,
anxiously working for food to eat;
for God gives rest to his loved ones.

Shepastor: “What Kind of House Are You Building?”

We’ve heard the saying, “They just don’t build things like they used to!” The other day I was watching a news story about fires and the difference in how quickly houses burn today, verses 25-30 years ago. Representatives from the local fire department met with the news commentator, taking him to two rooms set up for the demonstration. In one room was furniture from the 80’s…a sturdy wooden table, a couch made with wood, cotton and other natural materials etc.

In the next room was a more modern room, outfitted with synthetic materials, “mixed wood” and less expensive materials. The more modern room looked GREAT…stylish, the latest fashions etc. The room from the 80’s looked outdated, old and just, “ok.” But when both were set on fire, the modern room went up into a blaze in 3-5 minutes. A family in a home such as this would literally have 3-5 minutes to exit before being totally consumed with heat, smoke and flames. The older room, however, took 20 minutes to be consumed. The flames smoldered around the cotton pillows for at least 3-5 minutes before expanding across the couch and then onto the heavy wooden table. A family in this home would have a least 20 minutes to get out before the house would go up in flames.

Both are short periods of time, but the point was that 20 minutes is a whole lot longer than 3-5 minutes! What made the difference? The newer home, though more expensive, sleek and attractive was made with cheap materials…easily burned up. The older home, though somewhat outdated used heavy, durable, more expensive materials that could withstand sudden flames.

King Solomon understood this concept, both in the natural and later in the spiritual. Concerning the physical structure of the temple, he spared no expense in building the strongest, the most valuable, the most beautiful materials he could find to build an edifice suited to the worship and glory of God. He came to understand in a greater way, however, that “unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it are doing so in vain.”

So many focus on the exterior building…how we look, how others look at us, our appearance, etc. So many spend the vast majority of their lives focused upon the external. If it were not so, the fashion, makeup, auto, housing and gymnasium industries would not be as lucrative! People want to look good…in their clothes, in their cars…in their homes…in their bodies…with their makeup…with their hair…folks want to look good! There is nothing wrong with looking good. All of our outer looks, however will be “burned up” rapidly if we have not done the hard internal work necessary to “build” a durable, resilient, “knowing” of who we are and who God is within our being.

So many are “burned up” by the circumstances of life. Life can be tough, painful, unfair, disappointing and cruel. If you have spent all of your time focused on the external and very little on the internal, your labor will be in vain. What good is it to work yourself to death to get all of the things you think you want, only to drop dead, over worked, stressed to the hilt, neglecting what really matters. That’s what Jesus said about the man who tore down his barns to build bigger barns…the man was so pleased with all that he had accomplished…so pleased with all of the wealth he had amassed…so thrilled that he was storing up more and more…building up his external house. Jesus said about the man, “thou fool, this night your soul shall be required of you.” Jesus went on to say, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul? What shall a man give in exchange of his soul?” (Matthew 16:26)

Are you focused upon what really matters? Are you doing what is necessary to build up your spirit…your inner being? Are you spending specific, strategic time in prayer, talking and listening to the Lord? What are you doing to build up your inner spirit…your soul? Are you hiding the Word of God in your heart through reading and studying? Are you seeking God’s instruction for your life daily? Are you praying without ceasing? Do you spend any time in prayer and fasting?

Are you engaged in obeying the voice and the leading of God’s precious Holy Spirit? What are you teaching and showing your children, grandchildren, those around you? Are you building a life…a testimony…a legacy of strong, durable materials? Or are you using synthetic, inexpensive, easily burned products…praying every now and then when and if you think about it…only opening the Bible on Sunday if then…going through life just doing what you think is best…what will enrich you without regard to the work of the Kingdom…without concern for what God’s Holy Word says about holy and righteous living.

What kind of house are you building? Unless the Lord is building your house, your labor is in vain.

Post a comment or send me an email at Shepastor1@hotmail.com

Until Next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris
www.shepastorchris.org

Shepastor: "Speak Up!"

The Greatness of Mordecai
10 King Xerxes imposed tribute throughout the empire, to its distant shores. 2 And all his acts of power and might, together with a full account of the greatness of Mordecai, whom the king had promoted, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Media and Persia? 3 Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews. Esther 10: 1-3


The Book of Esther is a story of “divine reversals,” showing the activity of God behind the scenes, if you will, even though the name of God is not called or mentioned. Esther is the story of a people who were targeted to be destroyed, slain, annihilated through a plot devised by the 2nd in command of the Persian Kingdom, Haman. It all started when an average Jew by the name of Mordecai refused to bow and pay homage to Haman as he passed by.

Mordecai refused to bow down to Haman. This so infuriated Haman, and taunted his out of control ego that he felt he had to destroy Mordecai. Since he did not want it to be obvious that the only reason he wanted to destroy Mordecai was because he didn’t bow down to him, Haman convinced the king that ALL of the Jews should be destroyed. He made the king believe that they were a threat in the land – didn’t follow their laws, their customs or their gods…

The king agrees and the journey begins. Most frequently the focus now turns to Esther. But today, I’d like us to focus our attention upon Mordecai. Read again verse 3 of chapter 10…

3 Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews.

Shepastor: “Speak Up!”


In 1945, the anti-Nazi German pastor Martin Niemoller wrote the following:

"First they came for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up, because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left to speak up for me."

There are many reasons and excuses why it runs against human nature to speak up…the main reason is fear…fear that we will bring attention to ourselves and the evil, the injustice, the taunts, the bullying, the unfair treatment, the abuse will be turned towards us. So we remain quiet, declare, “It’s none of my business,” “I’m not getting involved in that,” “I just thought it best to keep quiet…”

But if you remain silent when you see others being abused, discriminated against, mistreated, bullied, etc., it’s only a matter of time before those same experiences will come upon you. Martin King said it best when he declared, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” In essence, this is what Mordecai said to his niece Esther, whose identity as a Jew was unknown when she became Queen after Vashti.

When Mordecai told Esther about the plot of Haman to annihilate the Jews, Esther initially was reluctant to go and speak to the king about the matter. Going in to see the king uninvited could mean death! It is understandable that Esther did not want to risk her life to go and speak to the king on behalf of her people. But listen to what Mordecai said to Esther…

"Think not that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

In essence, Mordecai was saying, “Look, don’t think that because you are beautiful and pleasing to the King that you will be saved from the slaughter that’s coming. If you don’t speak up, God will raise up another person WHO WILL speak up, but you and your folks will get destroyed!”

Sometimes God strategically places us in situations and circumstances for the express purpose of speaking up, taking a stand, making a difference, bringing about a change…but it’s hard to do that when we fear man more than we fear God. We fear losing something…position, friends, income, security, being in the “in crowd,” etc.

What we don’t realize is that the Lord gives and the Lord takes away…Even if humans become angry and seek to strip you of what is yours, God can and will restore you if what you are doing is just and right. But who will restore you if God takes it from you? Who will protect you if God steps back and let’s your enemies have their way with you? Who can and will stand in the gap with you if God says, “it’s your time – your number is up!”

Sometimes God gives us the opportunity to rise to the occasion…to open our mouths…to say, “No, this is wrong…no we won’t accept the perks and the privileges of sin for a season. We will stand for what is right!”

Some pastors and preachers will not speak up about ungodly, sinful ways and lifestyles, injustice in the community, abusive people in the church, etc., because they do not want to offend parishioners…they don’t want to impact the offering plate, they do not want to empty their pews. But by remaining silent, they are jeopardizing the very souls and the health of the people God has entrusted to their care.

Silence is not always golden. Silence can be consent. Silence can mean devastation and destruction. Like Mordecai said to Esther, if you deliberately turn your head, close your eyes and behave as if nothing has happened or is happening while your sister or your brother suffers, that same pain will come back to haunt, afflict and ultimately destroy you.

God’s Word declares that Mordecai,

3 … was second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews.

When you with courage and by faith, according to God’s Holy Spirit and timing, speak up, the Lord Himself will raise you, the Lord Himself will fight for you, the Lord Himself will defeat your enemies, the Lord Himself will use you to bless and benefit many.

I’m so glad that somebody spoke up for me, stood in the gap for me, fought some fierce battles for me and His name is Jesus! Jesus spoke up for me. Jesus spoke up for you! Jesus defeated our accuser who stands before the throne day and night accusing us…JESUS SPOKE UP, JESUS MANNED UP AND HUNG ON THE CROSS AND JESUS GOT UP WITH ALL POWER IN HIS HANDS!

He calls us now to speak up for one another. Speak up for what is just and right…not joining together with people in their wrong, in their belligerence, in their mean spirited and divisive ways…there’s plenty of “speaking up” around those issues.

Instead, may we speak up when we see others being abused…speak up by getting out and voting and letting deceitful politicians know that they cannot buy our vote…speak up when we hear of clandestine plots and plans to get rid of people for unjust reasons…speak up when we hear others accusing and speaking falsely about people…speak up when we are around people who are tearing down the man, the woman of God…speak up and point out the good when others are constantly criticizing and ignoring the right…by GOD SPEAK UP!!!

Post a comment or send me an email at Shepastor1@hotmail.com

Until next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris
www.shepastorchris.org