Hot Lips - February 21, 2011

Kopp Disclosure
(John 3:19-21)

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An older elder counseled/cautioned when I was a pup, "Some gotta go before the church can grow."

While studying in Rome back in the early 70s, Father Fachtna McCarthy confessed to me over a glass of Sambuca in his Vatican City apartment, "Some Cardinals are going to have to die before we can move into the next century."

It's like the hillbilly pastor of one of the South's fastest growing churches disclosed years ago, "Revival don't always mean bringin' people in but gettin' the people out who don't love Jesus and all His children."

As Jesus warned/urged, it's the problem/possibility of wineskins (see Matthew 9:17).

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The family of faith that I undershepherd comes to mind.

The Holy Spirit in the Name of Jesus is increasingly in control of our life and ministry; and that's because of breakthroughs related to the truths included in the preceding section of this KD.

I think of the nice guy who joined not long before I came who became an elder without really believing in Jesus in a John 14:6 kinda way who was increasingly uncomfortable with 99.99% of the church and me who do. Finally, I had to say, "Yeah, you really need to move on 'cause you're never going to be a real family member until you like the rest of the family; and that will only happen after..."

Then there was the elder who signed a five-figure contract with an architect before I came without the board or anyone else's approval who just couldn't admit her mistake and ran off because pride is a...

Then there was another elder who wanted to replace one idol with another and decided to leave when it became all too clear by observation as well as my constant confessing that I'm not up to it/him/Him; especially after a disclosing rap session prompted by moi: "You know, ever since we've met, you've always been telling me how awful everybody in the church is. I don't know if that's because you think it will make you look better in my eyes or what; but I do know, 'cause I'm hearing it from more and more folks in the community as well as church, that you tell them how awful I am when..." When she asked if I thought she should resign as an elder, I said, "Absolutely."

While I love all three of 'em more than they will ever entertain or appreciate in a John 15:12-13 kinda way and pray/long for the day to receive them back into the family in a Luke 15 kinda way, I had to exercise undershepherding ministry in a Matthew 10:16 kinda way if we were/are ever going to...

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While this may come as a shock to you, I talk and write a lot; and I know there are speck-inspectors (see Matthew 7:1-6) just waiting for me to mess up so they can decry, denounce, discredit, diss, destroy, and, uh, damn me.

I guess it makes 'em feel better about themselves like the elder mentioned in the previous section; or as I had to say to an associate pastor back in Kansas City who wasted so much time during staff meetings to tell me about the failures of other staff members, "I just figured it out! You keep telling me how awful they're doing so I won't have time to get around to how awful you're doing. Some people set fires in the backyards of others so we don't notice their homes going down in blazes."

Indeed, I only hear from some people via e-mail, snailmail, voicemail, or even inyourfacemail when they don't like something that I've said or written...

Isn't there something wrong with people who only have pejorative or even positive things to...?

It's, uh, unbalanced.

Come to think of it, I've preached, lectured, and talked at least 5000+ times and, uh, written so many articles, columns, and non-bestselling books and, uh, must say some folks are far more vigilant about how I've ticked them off than inspired/educated/enabled them to...

Just wait until I Just Wanna Ride (FTW) is published!

It's too real, raw, and redemptive for posers like the aforementioned.

Whoa.

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I've got sooooooo many folks sooooooo willing to tell me how I'm not measuring up to their standards of who they think I should be that I have no problem acknowledging Paul's disclosure applies to me: "Do not think more highly of yourself than you ought to think."

I know I need Lord Jesus as Savior as much as anybody else who knows they need Lord Jesus as Savior.

And I also know most folks really don't care if...

I've said it before and I'll say it again, "If I die next Sunday, there will be ham and cole slaw in fellowship hall in my memory that Wednesday, and then they'll elect another pastor search committee the following Sunday."

I've talked to predecessors/peers/successors in my line of business for four decades and no one has ever disputed the conclusion in the previous sentence.

And it's not just guys like me.

Look at what they just did to just retired USGA Executive Director David Fay!

After 32 years of faithful service in establishing golf as inextricably woven into the fabric of American life, the USGA annual meeting in early February (Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort in Phoenix) included only 98 words in tribute to him in the president's 2196 word speech about the state of, uh, golf; but he did promise a new hire in 45 to 60 days.

Geez.

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When you think about that, it's more liberating than depressing.

It means we may as well say and do our best as personified in Jesus and prescribed in Holy Scripture in praise and thanks to Him because He's the only one who really, really, really forgives our miscues in the meantime.

Reality frees us to be His!

Not only is He the only One who really cares now, He is the only One who really, really, really matters in the end.

While others hold 'em against ya, He says, in effect, "I never expected you to be perfect; which, of course, is why I came to save you from the damning consequences of those imperfections."

Before a church can grow in welcoming people who want/need His kinda love that doesn't include any expectations of perfection, it's gotta prune those who don't get it/Him; even while praying they do before it's too late for, uh, them.

I'm concerned about people who are so much better than other people in their own minds that they don't see that mirror's refection that...

Now back to the logs in my...

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Blessings and Love!