Phil,

That is unfortunate the flock loses the shepherd. That is one aspect I
really liked and respected about our church in Texas. Pastor Ron is on the
board of  the western sector of  Jay Seculo's organization, on the board of
Church On The rock International, has been invited to be spiritual counsel
to some very important talks in other countries. Once in Panama I think it
was and recently in Israel. Yet he is preaching in his  own church nearly
100% of the time, and at the end of the service you can walk up front and
ask him to pray with you about something or just say "hi". He is very real,
very touchable, and he makes it a point to be, having turned down some
engagement some pastors might salivate over to have opportunity. He has
mentioned his dislike for untouchableness of many pastors of today from the
pulpit.

The disorganization and religious busyness for god's sake is much of what
is the case in the church we are at now. Although they are making great
efforts and noticeable improvement on the organization end. The advantage
it has is the pastor himself is moldable and is willing to change
shortcomings right along with the rest of us.

Brad


At 10:36 PM 2/27/2005, you wrote:
>Brad,
>
>They are very unorganized and very traditional about keeping busy for Jesus.
>The preaching is great, when the pastor is there, which is only about half
>the time because the headquarters in New York City are always having him
>travel and go places with them.  His leading of worship and keyboard playing
>is wonderful.  It is considerably less so when he is gone.  The homes are
>very unorganized and there seems to be no accountability with the upper
>levels of leadership.  The philosophy, if I may call it that, is to walk
>into the home, and throw all your drugs and ciggarettes and prescription
>drugs out.  Often the people on prescription drugs and under a doctor's care
>can't make it and leave the home.  Besides, it is not at all wise to stop
>some of the medications these people are on.  God is still at work in these
>homes, however, and the church services, whenever the pastor is there, are
>great.  I gave up going to church where the pastor is always gone.  A church
>in Denver I have wanted to be a part of for years has this same problem.
>The pastor is just hardly ever there and he is a great man of God.  The one
>and only time we visited his church, I told Sandy and my son, if Doug isn't
>there, we are leaving.  They asked me why and I said, Doug is always gone.
>Fortunately he was there that night but the next Sunday, we learned that
>night, he was going to be gone again.  Come on man.  Make up your mind.  Are
>you pastoring or traveling?  I personally need a pastor but finding one who
>wants to pastor, or shepherd, seems to be almost impossible these days.  So,
>what am I doing?  I'm pastoring those the Lord brings to me either on the
>phone or to our two meetings each week.  I pray for them, call them, and
>worry about everyone of them like they are my own family or something.
>
>Phil.
>
>
>
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