Pray for your Pastor

I just had the privilege of spending a week with approximately one thousand pastors at the 2012 Moody Bible Institute Pastor's Conference. I was encouraged by all of the great teaching and worship; however, it might surprise you that I do not primarily attend this conference for the teaching and the worship.

I attend this conference every year for the purpose of fellowshipping with other pastor's. Some of you may not be aware of this, but being a pastor can be a lonely vocation. This is not a gripe or complaint; it is simply a fact of being in the ministry of the Gospel.

When pastors get together with other pastors, we share our hopes and dreams for the people that God has given us the privilege of shepherding and we share our frustrations we experience with...

Getting on the plane in Chicago...Landing in Denver...waiting in Denver.

 …the sheep and the inadequacies we struggle with as shepherds.

There is a brotherhood that we share that goes deep as a result of our shared experiences in the ministry. We all know how much we need each other and remind each other how much we need Christ leading and guiding our churches.

This may sound self-serving but I want to encourage those who read this (including the folks in the church I serve in) to pray for your pastor's. They may look like they know what they are doing, but most of the time they have no clue; including myself.  If you are not sure what to pray for your pastor, simply pray that they will totally rely on Jesus and His Word as they do the work God has called them to.

Living Life to the Full (And waiting for a plane to Worland… Landed in Worland and glad to be back safe and sound,)

Pastor Scott

The Lord of the Dance

It has been a rough couple of weeks for me. First and sadly, one of my favorite football players of all time, Junior Seau took his own life. I watched Junior Seau play football at Oceanside High School, USC and for many years with the San Diego Chargers. Seau played every play like it might be his last. He had a personality that was larger than life and he was a hero to many in San Diego; however, that apparently wasn’t enough. He eventually came to that deep dark place where he made the ultimate choice to take his own life.

This week, the Queen of Disco, Donna Summer, died of cancer. I grew up during the days of disco. Almost every high school dance I attended, the final song was always Donna Summers, “Last Dance.” This song was always bitter sweet. Since we knew it was the last dance, it made us sad, but it also pumped us up to break out every last disco move we had because it was the last dance.

 I think that one of many metaphors for life can be a dance. When the dance starts, lots of folks are just standing around; waiting for the right song to break the ice. Whether it was Glenn Miller’s “In the Mood,” Elvis Pressley’s “Jail House Rock, or for me the Bee Gees “Stayin Alive,” once the right song came on the dance began.  Throughout the night, we all danced to fast songs and slow songs, long songs and short songs, some songs we liked, and some songs we didn’t, however, we almost always danced. Why, because it was a dance! We came to DANCE!

 In Psalm 150:4, the Psalmist tells us to, “Praise the Lord with the tambourine and dance…” and Solomon tells us in Ecclesiastes 3:4, “…there is a time to dance.”

I remember singing a hymn as a child called, “The Lord of the Dance”. Take a moment to read the lyrics:

I danced in the morning when the world was begun; I danced in the Moon & the Stars & the Sun.
I came down from Heaven & I danced on Earth. At Bethlehem I had my birth:

Chorus: Dance then, wherever you may be. I am the Lord of the Dance, said He!        
And I'll lead you all, wherever you may be. And I'll lead you all in the Dance, said He!
I danced for the Scribe & the Pharisee. But they would not dance & they wouldn't follow me
I danced for fishermen, for James & John. They came with me & the Dance went on:

I danced on the Sabbath & I cured the lame. The holy people said it was a shame!
They whipped & they stripped & they hung me high. And they left me there on a cross to die!

I danced on a Friday when the sky turned black. It's hard to dance with the devil on your back.
They buried my body & they thought I'd gone. But I am the Dance & I still go on!

They cut me down and I leapt up high. I am the Life that'll never, never die!
I'll live in you if you'll live in Me - I am the Lord of the Dance, said He!

 Jesus is the Lord of the Dance and He invites us, His children to dance with him today, tomorrow and for all of eternity.  Don’t quit dancing; however difficult life may become, keep on dancing.

 Someday, each of us will participate in the last dance of this life. Which song will be playing on your last dance? Will it be “Stairway to Heaven,” or will it be, “Highway to Hell.” Don’t wait until it is too late to pick your song. Jesus invites you to dance. Will you dance with the Lord of the Dance?” 

I hope you will.

Living Life to the Full,

Pastor Scott