Thoughts on "Pastor Appreciation"

Most Christians (and their "pastors") are aware that October is traditionally seen as "Pastor Appreciation Month." While I am ALL for congregations appreciating their ministers (heaven knows MOST congregations have NO idea how hard their staff works, much less how unappreciated they are!) after 25 years in and out of ministry I have some thoughts I would like to share. It is NOT my desire to belittle ANY attempt to bolster your minister (by ALL means DO IT)...but there are a few things that I would like to share that I hope will be food for thought before it is too late.

1. Ministers don't need or want "knick knacks"
I know that they are cute and OH so hard to resist...but the truth is...we frequent the bible book stores too and if we actually wanted any of that stuff...we probably would have bought it for ourselves (at least we would have gotten the one we wanted that way!).

2. Minister don't want a passive aggressive pokes at self improvement
We ALREADY know we need improvement---another sermon book from Andy Stanley will not boost our self esteem. One more volume of John Maxwell telling us how we SHOULD lead is probably not going to establish you as #1 on the Christmas card list either.  I LOVE books!!  That being said...I am also VERY selective of the books I choose to read (SO MANY BOOKS SO LITTLE TIME)...if you think a book is the way to go I suggest a gift card to Amazon of CBD so that they can choose for themselves.

3. I HATE ties
There was a time when I felt compelled to wear them and when someone bought me another one...especially a "novelty" type tie...I loved it and wore it.  Now...I only wear ties to weddings and funerals that I am officiating...I have 2,487 ties in a box in my closet...PLEASE don't add any more to the mess.

4.  Rick Warren is NOT your minister
The "ministers" who are fortunate enough to author books and speak at seminars based on their experience and what they did to grow their congregations have ALMOST NOTHING in common with those of us who are "gutting it out" in the trenches trying desperately to survive week to week.  Therefore, we really have NO interest in their DVD's, books, magazines, or for that matter...their help.  Accept us for who and what we are...(whether you like us or not) just as we try desperately to accept you for who and what you are instead of our "ideal" congregants.

5.  I LOVE to eat...but I am tired of the jokes.
Just what I need...another gift card to a "food establishment" that I don't even like.  I know it LOOKS like I will eat anything, anytime, in any place (sort of like the guy in Green Eggs and Ham AFTER he tries them!) but the reality is..we would treasure your company more than your contribution to our waistlines.  As much as we love to receive our favorite foods...they ALWAYS taste better when we are allowed to share them with you!

ALL TONGUE-IN-CHEEK ASIDE...

Here is a quick list of things that might shock, surprise, or make your minister's day!:

1. No negativity Sunday (a day with a moratorium on complaining and griping about anyone or anything)
2. Extra vacation (most people cannot arrange this for their minister...but they could offer to keep the kids for a date night or even a weekend away).
3. Genuine concern about the spiritual and emotional well being of your minister.
4. Time..share it with your minister at THEIR convenience.
5. Bless them with encouragement about who and what they are (JUST AS THEY ARE)
6. Money...I know it sounds cliche but these days...every little bit helps (genuine generosity is the key--God loves CHEERFUL givers).
7. Do something for the people they love--most ministers sacrifice too readily for their families--so help them make it up to their families by encouraging and sharing with their families (ministry really is a family issue--both the good times and the bad times have an affect).
8. Cards--some ministers keep files of encouraging cards and notes so that they can look at them when it gets harder and be reminded of why they got into this thing to start with...its not much but it is better than nothing.
9. Gifts Cards---seem to be all the rage these days...I am not at all against them---they are just too easy for the buyer--no one really has to put thought or planning into it.

I encourage giving gifts that will mean something to them, and to you--think in terms of "making a memory" instead of, "oh crap...it's the last Sunday in October and we haven't done anything for Pastor Appreciation month yet!"

I believe, help me in my unbelief.

On Choosing a Bible

In my years as a youth minister, associate minister, worship leader, senior minister, and professor I often have been asked... "I am wanting to get a new bible which one should I get?"

My answer is ALWAYS the same...find a bible that you are comfortable with, one that you will read, buy it, read it, and keep on reading it! (what good is it to have a bible that you never read). That answer never really seemed to satisfy anyone...so finally I just typed up some thoughts and now I print this out and share it with those who ask...

Recommended Bible Versions:

The RIGHT bible depends on a LOT of variables—there a several good translations to choose from. Here are the translations I choose to use and why I use them:

New American Standard Version: for my money the CLOSEST to the original Greek and Hebrew.  It retains some of the “archaic” (primarily used in KJV) language (which I find useful in the Psalms especially) but is readable too.

The New International Version:  ***CAUTION…I prefer the 1984 version, which is now getting more difficult to find)…newer versions are “casting a MUCH wider translation net” and I have not agreed with their choices. The ’84 version still has some minor issues but all-in-all true to the text and VERY readable.

King James: Yeah I know, not always the best translation, and newer versions are based on better manuscripts…but if you are over the age of 45 it is THE standard…I never preach or teach out of this version…but keep an original and a NEW King James in my office for reference.

English Standard Version (ESV): a former professor put me onto this version in the last 5 or 6 years (even though it has been around longer than that)…I find it a fairly “happy medium” between the NIV and the New American Standard.  It is, in places, easier to read than the NASV, but I also believe it stays pretty close to the original text.

For PURELY devotional reading:

These are NOT “translations” of the text but mere “paraphrases” that are intended to read more “conversationally.”  I NEVER study out of these versions but I do read them devotionally and I do consult them after doing textual analysis. For instance, I would never teach the Sermon on the Mount out of Peterson’s version The Message…but I really like the way that he states SOME things.

The New Living Translation: I know they call it a translation…and it is BETTER than the original “Living Bible” paraphrase…but I still do not think this is anything more than a better paraphrase (others would argue).

The Message: as stated above, this is my “go to” paraphrase…again…I NEVER study out of it…but I do read it devotionally and look at it when surveying a variety of texts.

Study Bibles:

Study bibles come in a variety of translations—some are good, some are better for a variety of reasons.  I also caution those who ask because study bibles, by design, also carry with them assumptions about difficult texts, translation, and theology. To that end these are the ones I recommend:

The New International Study Bible (NIV version)

Thompson Chain Reference (used to only be available in NIV…but now I think that they have expanded.)

The Quest Study Bible (NIV version)

ESV Study Bible (English Standard Version)

Others I am familiar with but do not own:

HCSB (Holman Christian Standard Bible)—I hear good things about this though I have only scanned through them.  I do know that they are also available in KJV and NKJV.  I have heard that many who are disgruntled with the newer versions of the NIV have opted for this version (since they come from a primarily Calvinist publishing house I always “approach with caution”).

NLT Study Bible (New Living Translation)—again my preference is for another version…but some of the study notes are quite helpful.

Life Application Bible—I was given one of these as a gift.  It is, in my opinion, NOT a study bible in the same sense as some of the others but it does have a lot of helpful annotation and additional material.

There you have it.  My advise is STILL the same...buy a bible you are comfortable with, one that you will read..take it home and READ IT! 

I believe...help me in my unbelief.