Kopp Disclosure
(John 3:19-21)
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I've been an undershepherd in
Belvidere, Illinois for over ten years.
That comes as a
big shock to Paul Gustav Watermulder.
He thought I'd
never stop climbing up the...
While I've prayed
at United Way campaign kick-offs and when Belvidere and Boone County law
enforcement officers are promoted or recognized and a few other times when
they need an
official prayer,
I have declined every opportunity to speak at community worship services and
pseudo-religious events.
Three reasons.
First, people can
hear what I think He wants me to say twice every Sunday on the corner of
Lincoln and Main.
Second, I know
lots of other clergywomen/men who have personal psychosocial needs to...
Third, too many
religious entrepreneurs want their "pastors" to speak around
town because they think it's good PR, recruiting, and...
When it comes to
talking out of town,...
I'm just not into
it.
I've gotta really
like the host or feel really called to...
Besides, our
family of faith is really jealous about my time.
They don't like
me to take days off or go on vacation; so I've gotta be extra careful when it
comes to taking, you know, "outside" engagements.
Too many of 'em
don't get the missionary thing.
Some forget
or are just ignorant about who really owns me.
Heaven, some of
my immediate family members don't...
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I used to like to
do it.
I used to fly all
around to speak at all kinda venues.
It's fun to stay
in nice hotels and eat expensive meals on somebody else's dime.
Somebody's gotta
minister to the rich.
Frankly, I did it
mostly for ego and money.
Now, when I like
the host or feel really called, ego and money don't factor in; primarily
because churches don't have the money that they used to have and are pretty
stingy when they do and I've finally taken Tony's advice and my own after
a week of emboldening with Eugene in October 2011: "Whenever you speak
away from home, you can say whatever you want to say because chances are you're
not going back and you don't have to live with them and deal with them after
rocking their boats...You're damned if you do and damned if you don't; which is
very liberating. Knowing you're gonna catch hell no matter what, you're
free to raise heaven." Though it doesn't really matter except to
those who think it matters, you can guess who said what; and then I probably
won't tell ya anyway because it doesn't really matter who said what.
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What matters?
Size.
Size matters to
lots of people; especially religious ones.
Have you ever
listened to clergy when they get together for the first time?
Whether parochial
or ecumenical, it's always the same: "What denomination are you?
Where did you go to college and seminary? Did you go to graduate
school? How big is your church? How many people do you have in
attendance on Sundays? How big is your staff? How big is your
budget? How much do you get? How big is your...?"
Hmm.
I'm never asked
if I've written any books.
I guess that's
because nobody knows I've written any because I haven't sold many.
But, really,
sadly, superficially, typically,...size matters to...
Homey don't play
that game anymore.
Here's how I
answer these days: "Why do you want to know? Will that help you to
define me before you even get to know what's in my heart for Jesus? You
are asking me the most eternally as well as existentially irrelevant
questions."
Candidly, it
kinda pees on their pride parade.
Maybe that's why
I sit alone a lot.
That's why I
won't talk about myself and my, uh, "accomplishments" anymore; other
than in self-deprecating ways or as it relates to something that I'm
trying to illustrate when I talk.
I rewrote a vita
for those who insist on some bio stuff when I talk outta town (scroll down).
If they've gotta,
you know, define me before the talking begins...
I don't like it;
but at least it keeps me from...
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Actsually, I think it
goes back to ___.
He was a big shot
for PFR...[If you don't know what that stands for, it doesn't really matter
anyway anyhow]...when I was a big shot in big churches in the
franchise and, uh, PFR...and...lots of other...stuff.
Anyway, ___
sobered me up about why I was getting so many invites to talk.
He said,
"It's only because you're the pastor of a big church with lots of
money."
Size.
Size matters
to...
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Maybe that's why
that Joel guy has such a big toothy grin.
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When I'm asked to
talk outta town, noting, again, that I won't talk around town because I
already talk in town twice on Sundays on the corner of Lincoln and Main, I
usually say, "You guys must be hard up for speakers...Are you asking me
because you can't/won't afford ___?...Are you sure you want me to come? I
don't care what anybody but you
know who thinks about what I talk about; and I'm gonna talk about
what I think He wants me to talk about not what you want me to talk
about...Please ask someone who knows me and has heard me talk because your
religious people and church ladies and denominational jingoists and...If I
talk, I'm gonna really mean it or I wouldn't talk about it...Are you sure you
want me to talk? I think it would be safer to ask somebody else to talk
who just needs the money or a little, you know, ego boost."
If that doesn't
dissuade 'em and I like the host, I try to fit it in.
Never on a
Sunday.
If you still
can't figure out why never on a Sunday,...
O.K., almost never on a Sunday.
I remember doing
that in Aurora, Illinois a few years ago; but that was only because I
really like...
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Vita
The Rev. Dr. Robert R.
Kopp
Pastor Bob
Dr. Kopp
Chaplain Bob
Professor Kopp
Bobby
There are many other names
given to me by antagonists!
While you can read what I really think about this on page
161 of I Just Wanna Ride or go to the egotistical version on pages
234-235 of my non-best-selling book Fifteen Secrets, here’s a real brief
summary for the curious, suspicious, distrusting, and cynical…like me:
Born on March 2, 1952 in Washington, D.C.
Non-distinguished graduate of Wyoming Valley West High
School (1970), maxima cum laude (Wow!) graduate of King’s College
(1974), Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary (1977), and
Doctor of Ministry from Drew University (1982).
Lots of studies in Germany, Rome, Geneva, and Israel.
Is this getting impressive or what?
Stints as Professor of Homiletics at Nazarene Seminary
and Carolina Divinity School.
Pastor of churches since May 8, 1977 ranging in size from
just over a 100 to a shade under 3000.
Those last two paragraphs are really important to clergy
who are into size and status regardless of what Jesus or Paul said or people
figure out sooner than later.
Five non-bestsellers before I Just Wanna Ride which,
uh, I think is more important than anything so far that’s come, I think, from
Him into my noodle.
Lots of other stuff to impress those impressionable
posing clergy; but I’m most proud in a Christian kinda way of being a
police chaplain for Belvidere and Boone County (Illinois) and just completing
five years as P of a big junior tackle football league.
Of course, my day job is undershepherd of
Belvidere’s First Presbyterian Church.
Seriously, it’s about who you are more than what you do
or have done.
I’m still working on the first part of that last
sentence; meaning I’m just scratching the surface of…
I have a really, really, really big family; and if I have
to explain that to you…
First Presbyterian Church
221 N. Main Street
Belvidere, Illinois 61008
(815) 544-6402 (church)
(815) 222-9216 (cellular)
Sorry, don’t text, twitter, or Facebook; and once I get
your e-mail address, you’ll…be sorry…
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I'm not joking;
even while joking.
If you don't get
the aforementioned, that's O.K.
Most don't.
Only the
remnant...
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Blessings and Love!
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8 comments:
I have been called to minister as a SpEd teacher to a little tiny sliver of the population that most of the world doesn't care about. If I had a nickel for every time someone told me, "Gosh, you must be a REALLY special person..." I could retire early.
The joy comes from answering the call, from serving, and from doing His work, not from anybody externally. Keep on keeping on, brother! :)
can't wait to read your daily messages. You think exactly as I do. Wish I lived closer to Belvidere. Keep up the good thoughts.
The difference between a ham and a preacher is the ham can be cured.
jameset
Very, very, very good!
The cross you bear is the message you have been given to deliver. Same with Jesus. His message never changed because He was Emmanuel. Yours changed because He changed you.
Now, stand and deliver to the dying and the lost.
Dan
Your faith encourages mine.
I hear you brother! Amen!
Pat,
Thanks, brother.
Maybe we can rendez-vous for coffee sometime.
I like to ride...and enable faith to encourage faith!
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