Kopp Disclosure
(John 3:19-21)
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I've written a
lot about, uh, everything.
Opinions are
like...
Crude.
True.
Yet I hope you've
guessed I'm just trying to encourage people to think as religion(s) and
government(s) increasingly insist on doing that for us to take away our
freedom(s) and chain us to their Babylonian altars.
Or something like
that.
Anyway, aside
from Fifteen Secrets for
Life and Ministry which kinda lists thoughts that have guided me
through nearly four decades of undershepherding
ministry - still available if you ask and provide an address - I've been
thinking about some other thoughts that saved me during my bleak week (go
to the last KD for more on that).
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My home pastor
who is home with Jesus charged at my ordination on 5/8/77, "Be slow.
Be steady. Be solid."
I haven't always
done that.
But when I have,
I haven't hurt others along with myself.
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John was about a
month from retirement when I met him shortly after being installed at
Parkesburg, Pennsylvania's First Presbyterian Church.
He said, "If
I can give one bit of advice to you as you begin your pastoral ministry, never
defend yourself. It's better to trust those around you to do it for
you. Of course, they won't; which means you'll know pretty soon why I'm
so happy about retiring!"
He was the first
to introduce me to Psalm 62.
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There were two
Presbyterian churches in Parkesburg, Pennsylvania - the alive and growing one
and, uh, the one that called me.
James, the pastor
of the alive and growing one who helped start Presbyterian Charismatic
Communion which really ticked off clergy who weren't visibly psyched for Jesus
and serving churches like mine, took me out to lunch not long after I arrived
and I asked, "Why is your church growing and mine isn't?"
He answered,
"Nothing can happen through you that has not first happened to you."
It's like I heard
over the radio from some roll and spit in the aisles church out of Newark, New
Jersey while going back and forth to Madison to finish off a worthless advanced
degree, "The only Gospel that some folks will ever hear or see is the
Gospel according to you; and you can't give away what you ain't got for
yourself."
Explains a lot
about the decline of mainline Christianity in America.
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Charlie was my
age now when I met him about 35 years ago in my first clergy covenant
group.
I'll never forget
when he cried, "I can't take it anymore. I'm trying as hard as I can
and I'm not getting anywhere with anyone about anything. My church is a
mess. My family is a mess because I take it out on them. I can't
eat. I can't sleep. And as I walked up the steps to my bedroom last
night, I yelled, 'Take me now, Jesus, because I'm still hoping my life is
better to you than it obviously is to anyone else.'"
Come to think of
it, John was in that group.
That's when I
heard about Psalm 62.
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I've come through
the last week a lot stronger than I entered into it.
My call has been
reconfirmed.
I've got more
resolve.
I expect Him
to...
But it
wasn't/isn't and won't be because of anything in Fifteen Secrets for Life and Ministry - Buy
it anyway! - or any of the saving thoughts that I've picked up along the way
like in the aforementioned.
Nope.
There's only One
real, permanent, and eternal saving thought/truth.
Jesus: "Come
to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will take care of
you."
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Billy and I
played another nine today.
I played really
well; and thought, "Maybe there's hope for..."
As we packed up
the clubs, Billy said, "Better not forget what you did today that made you
better."
Thank you, Billy,
for reminding me to thank Jesus.
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Blessings and Love!