I second Art’s words. And remember Acts 9:16. I have turned to that many times through the years. It always seems to help.

cb

I’m sorry you are going through this. I pray you are refreshed and strengthened.

One piece of advice I can give every pastor and something I learned the hard way:

Survive.

Keep moving forward and don’t give up. Don’t agree to leave or to be pushed out and you will finally come to a place where everyone accepts you or leaves themselves.

Also, be strong and gentle. Don’t answer back attacks with other attacks. That’s just as worldly and a guarantee that both you and the church will be less healthy. Still, don’t let yourself be pushed around, either. Stand up for yourself and your family.

When people are ungodly toward you, confront it and if they are unrepentant, go to the deacons and ask them to intervene. If they won’t help, get another leader in the church to go with you.

When people realize their actions are going to be confronted and exposed – and that they are not accepted by others – it is a serious deterrent to bad behavior.

It is not a fun process, but it is necessary.

When you get there, both you and the church will be much more healthy and in position for a long term ministry together.

Hang in there.

I’m just tired of negativity. Maybe its coming from junk I’m dealing with at church. I wish my present church’s only problem was that it was institutional. Things would be easier. The convention was actually a good break from dealing with a family’s attempt to get rid of me. I’m just worn down by complaints. What ever happened to not saying anything unless it was edifying?

Sorry that I responded so negatively myself. Please forgive me. God help us focus on YOUR work.

The point of the article and the point I was making is that in comparison to the resolutions, motions, reports and other political mechanizations… the way we treat the people who live there is much more important.

Eternally more important.

And the author, again, is the Youth Ministry Specialist for the Kentucky Baptist Convention and a resident of the Lousville area off and on for most of his life.

He’s no outsider throwing bombs at the machine.

Just for clarification.

Kevin Busseys last blog post..Faith in the midst of tragedy….

I’m not naive. I’ve heard this kind of stuff (bad tips, etc) before about Christians in general at restaurants. I have friends that work at restaurants and one friend that owns one. The one that owns a restuarant happens to be an atheist so I know about trying to deal with that obstacle to faith. I can only say that I personaly tipped generously (better than 20%) especially when I take the time to share my faith. I’m sure others didn’t.

I must say that I didn’t see the mess at the convention like what was mentioned. There were some books of reports and such in chairs but I don’t rememeber any messes on floors or in parking lots.

In all due respect to the writer his “report” on what he saw reminds me of the negative reports we always get on the evening news. Positive reports don’t sell or attract attention to our blogs. I’m sure there was stuff done and said that detracted from Christ and hindered the gospel and even one incident is a travesty but I think this write up was also very one-sided and exaggerated. But thats just my opinion.