Pastors Message – July/August, 2015
| “You would think these Jewish leaders and these Pharisees were Moses, the way they keep making up so many laws! And of course you should obey their every whim! It may be all right to do what they say, but above anything else, don’t follow their example. For they don’t do what they tell you to do.” Matthew 23:2-3 |
“What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.” {Ralph Waldo Emerson}
Judgement of others is less about others and more about self. I am most surprised by one’s actions when he/she is constantly preaching what is wrong and how to right it. I am often advised by the well-meaning that this or that is the law I should preach, teach or rule the church by. I am then reminded of these two stories. As followers of Jesus we are encouraged that leadership be humble. I struggle always to practice what I preach. I, too, fall short. Surely, we all judge things to be right or wrong bur certainly we must be careful not to be rash in our judgements.
| Some time ago, I saw a peanuts comic strip that had Snoopy on top of his doghouse with a flock of baby birds. The time had come for the baby birds to learn how to fly, and Snoopy was their teacher. Snoopy flapped his ears and walked to the end of the roof of the doghouse. He leaped into the air and continued to flap his ears. Unfortunately he landed right on his head. He got back up onto the roof and shared this lesson: “Do as I say to do and not what I do.” |  |
Peace! Have a safe and blessed summer!
