May I appreciate those precious to me for a moment?
Pastor Glen Berteau was our new Pastor at The House Modesto (Then called Calvary Temple) in Modesto, California. I had just lost my wife and was in church that Sunday night and something in the message really hit me hard and I was crying a bit, okay, maybe a lot.
Pastor Berteau stopped preaching, came down the steps from the stage, sat down next to me and, in his then very obvious Louisiana accent, asked me what was wrong. He remained my Pastor and eventually my boss when I came on staff at The House.
When I came on staff, one of the most shocking and funny things he did was to walk up behind me and smack me like a coach would a player, and say, “Good job!” Nobody’d ever done THAT before! He would go on to be like a coach for 26 years minus the 7 my wife and I served in Washington and cared for my folks.
My Pastor before him, Pastor Joe Wright, saw me get off the school bus and interrupted his conversation with a number of adults to kneel down, mess up my hair a bit, and ask me if I needed some direction. He would go on to be one of my favorite leaders for 25 years.
My dear, precious, Pastor Constance Pack took me under her wing and helped me endearingly to reset my journey many times as I grew in life and ministry.
For 40 years I served other incredible pastors who let their lives be interrupted by children, by the broken hearted, and even by the likes of me.
Nearly all of Jesus’ miracles were the result of him being interrupted (Thank you, Pastor Mike) by everyday people like you and me.
Pastors are not elitists.
Jesus was not an elitist.
“… the Son of Man did not come to be served. He came to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many people.” – Matthew 20:25-28
“… He chose what the world thinks is unimportant and what the world looks down on and thinks is nothing in order to destroy what the world thinks is important.” – 1 Corinthians 1:26-28
Remember where you came from.
Please be careful about what you make important.
