See if this scenario sounds like a church you know:

The deacons of our church are really on the pastor’s back. The church is running behind in finances and they’re blaming it on him for lack of leadership. The monthly business meeting turns into a cat-and-dogfight. The treasurer puts a negative spin on everything, the critics of the pastor are unleashed to harass him, and the poor preacher stands there and takes it. What’s wrong with our church?

Having pastored Southern Baptist churches since November of 1962, I need to say something here which I wish every church leader in the SBC (and elsewhere) would heed: It’s okay to be running behind financially sometimes. It’s not the end of the world. In fact, it could even be the best thing that ever happened to you if you handle it well.

Let’s talk about how to turn this sorry state of affairs into a blessing for the Lord’s people.

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A pastor friend sent me a note just now reporting on his church. He has baptized several this year and had twice that number to join in other ways. I replied that God is using him to turn around that old church and, “Good for you, friend!”

He came back: “The curmudgeons are still there, though, still lurking.”

I answered, “They always will be. But let me tell you what I’ve finally learned about that. These detractors are doing you a favor. They motivate you to greater faithfulness, to do your best work, to keep the focus on the Lord.”

He said, “I call them ‘Holy Sandpaper.'”

The Lord uses them to get the rough edges off His servant.

Interesting how the notes I get from pastors–some are questions regarding ministry–turn out to be the very thing the Lord was talking with me about earlier.

Case in point. Yesterday, I was going through some old correspondence files, trying to decide what could be discarded. I ran across the most critical (as in the sense of life-changing) exchange of letters I ever had with a church member in nearly a half-century of ministry.

Here’s the story and our letters….

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In the August 5, 2010, edition of the Baptist Message (our Louisiana state weekly), Lifeway President Thom Rainer talked about 7 mistakes he had made in his ministry. Give him credit, he admitted that if he wrote about all the mistakes he’d made in the Lord’s work, “it would have to be a multi-volume series!”

Before getting into my list, Thom’s deserves a look-see.

He wishes he had spent more time in prayer…given his family more time…spent more time sharing his faith….had loved his community more…had led his church to focus more on the nations…he wishes he had focused on critics less…and last: he wishes he had accepted the reality that he cannot be everywhere and meet every need.

My hunch is that almost everyone who has spent a few years in the Lord’s work can say ‘amen’ to everything on that list. My second hunch is that there is no one among us without regrets we did not do more of this and less of that. In fact, the more years you log in this work, the more scars you accumulate, the more experiences you pile up, and the more regrets hound your attempts to sleep.

“A pastor lives in a world of unfinished jobs.” That’s one of my foundational truths. If the preacher cannot learn to turn it off at night, he’ll never get any sleep and not last. There’s always someone else who needed a call, a meeting that needed planning, a sermon going neglected. There’s always something.

“Regrets? I’ve had a few….” I’m hearing Reverend Frank Sinatra’s voice in my head now.

Want my list? Pull up a chair; this may take a while. I have 10 mistakes as a preacher, 10 as a pastor, 10 as a visionary leader for my church, 10 as a leader of the church ministerial staff, 10 as a denominational worker….

Get the idea? Anyone who does anything for the Lord and mankind in this life is going to do a less than perfect job.

No one wants to grovel in regrets. I assure you I don’t. (Even though I’m still going to give you my list.)

But there is a huge reason for not going into a litany of our failures and mistakes: God works even in our mistakes and can make good emerge from them. As a result, even though we look back and see the times we dropped the ball, we give thanks for what He accomplished through it all.

If you plotted on a graph the “advancement of my ministerial career”–as Paul said, “I speak as a fool”–you might conclude that I made a serious boo-boo in moving from Charlotte NC in 1990 to suburban New Orleans. Until then I had progressively moved upward. Suddenly, I’m taking a nosedive and assuming the leadership of a church one-half the size of my previous congregation. The new church was still smarting from a massive blowup 18 months prior. Money was tight, feelings were raw, leadership was fleeing.

In terms of the will of God, coming here was no mistake. Only humanly speaking might it be seen that way. However, God is sovereign and He did some mightly wonderful things as a result of this faith decision: gave us a precious daughter-in-law here and then three super grandchildren, a church with a world of great friends, and then after 14 years He moved me into the leadership of the local Baptist churches just in time for Hurricane Katrina!

The point is God can bring good out of little. He knows what he is about.

Okay. On to my list of worst mistakes as a pastor.

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Recently, while watching my favorite morning television news program–that would be “Morning Joe” on MSNBC–I was struck by a statement a host made about the war in Afghanistan.

“Less than 1 percent of our (military) people are in that country fighting. The American people are not invested in this war.”

All the bells went off inside me. I’ve learned to recognize when the Lord is getting my attention.

Now, America itself is “invested” in the struggle against Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. We’re sending billions of dollars, the latest equipment, and the finest young men and women this country produces.

Plenty of American families are “invested” in Afghanistan. Parents of our troops have that country at the top of their prayer list and devour every bit of news coming from the struggle there.

It’s the American people across the board who are not invested in this war.

What exactly does that mean? and is there a message here for those of us in the ministry?

The statement means the American public is not aware of what’s going on in that Middle-Eastern country, and the struggle there feels remote and distant.

It means that most of us have no personal stake in this war. When we’re unsure of the issues and uncertain of our goal, when we do not know anyone who is putting his/her life on the line there, and when we have no personal ties to anything, we are “uninvested.”

Have you ever watched a World War II movie, one made when that worldwide struggle was actually taking place? You might have found yourself wondering why similar movies were not made in subsequent wars. When America fought in Korea and later in Viet Nam, a few movies were turned out by Hollywood, but nothing that caught the American fancy.

The American people were “invested” in the Second World War. That’s the difference. And they’ve not been in the others since.

In the 1940s, every town in America sent the cream of its youth to the fight. Every radio was tuned to the latest news. Gold stars shone from windows to say this family had lost a son in the service of his country. Dads followed developments with maps on the wall. Drives for metal, rubber, paper and even fats and grease were conducted in every community. Schoolchildren bought savings stamps and housewives contended with ration books.

Every citizen of this country was enlisted to fight that war. That’s what it means to be invested. You are involved, you have made a sacrificial contribution, you have a personal stake in what’s going on and you care how it turns out. Nothing is too remote, too distant for you not to care about. Day and night your prayers ascend that this fight would soon end.

Now, here are two churches. The congregation of the first is not invested in the Lord’s work. In the other, they are. The difference is staggering.

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Several times lately, while reading my way through the Psalms, I was tripped by a little comment I’d read right past the previous hundred times I’ve traveled this landscape. Right in the middle of a discussion of some theological point, the Psalmist will say, “But as for me.”

When he does that, you know you’re getting something personal. This is not theoretical, not philosophical, and not “out there” somewhere. If you are like the rest of us, you perk up at this and get ready for something you can identify with.

Case in point. In the remarkable 73rd Psalm (there’s nothing else like it in all the Bible; if you’re unfamiliar with it, we encourage you to check it out), the writer brackets his discussion with that phrase.

After declaring that “God is good to Israel, to such as are pure in heart,” the psalmist says, “But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled.” What follows is a testimony of how he envied the wealthy wicked. He noticed that they seem to live long healthy lives, they enjoy their families, and nothing seems to bother them. This went completely against the grain of the typical Old Testament believer who, for the most part, believed that faithfulness to God resulted in material blessings, and material blessings were a sign of faithfulness to God. But this did not compute.

He struggled with that a while. Then he went to church. “Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end” (73:17). Once he saw the final outcome (not just earthly, but after this life) of their wicked behavior, everything fell into place for him. He ends with a wonderful song of praise, and ends the psalm with:

But as for me, the nearness of God is my good. I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all thy works. (Ps. 73:28)

That personal touch is found throughout the psalms. (See Ps. 17:15; 59:16; and 75:9 for starters.)

Bible students will recall Joshua’s excellent testimony along the same line:

Now therefore, fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt and serve the Lord. And if it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve….but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:14-15).

It’s when the preacher makes it personal like this that he does his best work.

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The toughest assignment I’ve received in a while came not from an editor or a denominational exec but from a pastor’s wife.

In an e-mail this week, Sheri referred to our recent blog titled “A Pastor’s Heart: Like a Mother, A Shepherd, the Savior.” She left this comment at the end:

“My husband is a young pastor with a shepherd’s heart. But it would seem the churches we’ve ministered in do not appreciate that.”

“In our experience, the churches have been rebellious, stubborn, prideful and have refused to deal with sin. The pastors have not been supported (due to congregational models of church governance) by the denomination.”

She continued, “We switched denominations to an elder-type model and have found the same problems. I know that there are ‘good’ churches out there; but in our short 10 years of ministry/married life together, we have only served in one and even that one had struggles. The sheep do not want to be shepherded.”

She asks, “What does one do when dealing with ‘wolves in sheep’s clothing?’ What about when they are in leadership (elders of the church)? How does one blend the authority with the gentle heart of a shepherd? I would really love to hear wise perspective on these issues.”

I promised Sheri I would lay this before the Lord, which I have done. After responding to her last question–on finding the balance between strong firm leadership and gracious shepherding–I’d like to lay this before our readers. Give us your insights. Sheri will be reading this, and if I’m any judge, a lot of other pastors and spouses will also.

The first question that loomed large in my mind was: Who in Scripture is our role model for this? You will not be surprised at the answer.

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Pastors are motivators. In order to become more effective in the art, we do well to study the techniques of leaders in other professions who do it well. That’s what leads me to mention a book I read this week.

Two days ago, I put on Facebook a note suggesting pastors could learn a lot from Coach Sean Payton’s new book, “Home Team,” his account of the 2009 championship year of the New Orleans Saints. I added a footnote that one might want to beware of the cussing.

Among the comments generated by that was one from a pastor who thought I was elevating a “book with profanity” above the Bible. Jesus was motivator enough for him.

In no way am I putting this book (or any other) above the Bible or suggesting that pastors imitate Coach Payton. The tactics he used to keep his team of multi-millionaire athletes excited about and dedicated to winning football games were his own and probably would not work in the ministry.

Still, he can teach the average pastor a great deal about motivating groups of human beings. That’s why I suggest that buying his book would be a good investment of a few dollars and reading it a worthwhile investment of a few hours. (I read it Monday night and Tuesday morning of this week. It’s a fast read.) One of my sons reminds me that the library carries books and it’s not necessary to actually purchase a book.

First, some of the things Payton did for his team, then a few comments about his techniques….

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The Apostle Peter knew what it was to get things wrong, to assume what the Lord had not promised, to claim what He was not guaranteeing, to go where He never sent. His early years as a disciple are a case study in presumption.

By the time he wrote this First Epistle that bears his name, Peter was a veteran who had learned the hardest lessons of discipleship and bore the scars to prove it.

Therefore, when He wrote to the people entrusted with the care and governance of the Lord’s churches, He did not mince words.

“The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed.

“And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.”

There are three sets of three in this brief passage: 3 terms for the churches’ leaders, 3 ways Peter describes himself and establishes the authority by which he spoke, and 3 cautions to the leaders of the churches.

The church’s leaders are elders, shepherds, and overseers. They are all the same group.

Peter is a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings, and one who will share in His future glory.

Here are three bad ways–disastrous ways–to look at the ministry of the pastor: as a job, as a paycheck, as an ego thing.

Let’s take these apart and consider them more closely.

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This has happened to me again and again. I’m sitting in some huge meeting with hundreds of the Lord’s people representing churches across our state or country. A large number of preachers are in the audience. The speaker is sounding forth on some subject of importance to us all.

Suddenly, the speaker comes out with a statement that gets a hearty “amen,” something that sounds profound and undergirds the point he is making. He goes on in the message and everyone in the room but one person stays with him. Me, I’m stuck at that statement. Where did he get that, I wonder. Is it true? How can we know?

If “Facebook,” that wonderful and exasperating social networking machine, has taught us anything, it’s to distrust percentages and question quotations.

Yesterday, I noticed a Facebook friend’s profile contained a quote from President Kennedy. I happen to know the quote and while I cannot prove JFK never uttered those words–how could we prove that about anyone saying anything–I know how the line got attached to the Kennedys. It’s a quotation from a George Bernard Shaw play.

“Some see things as they are and ask ‘Why?’ I see things that never were and ask ‘Why not?'”

In 1968, at the funeral of his brother Robert F. Kennedy, Senator Ted Kennedy spoke that line as applying to him. It’s a terrific depiction of vision. I expect for most of us, it was our first time to hear the quote. As I recall, the source was not given in the oration, which may have led some to believe Senator Kennedy made it up.

One thing we know, however, is President John F. Kennedy is not its source. Nor is any Kennedy. And yet, keep your eye out for that quotation. Half the time, its source will be listed as one of the Kennedys.

Accuracy is important for all of us, but particularly those of us called to preach the Truth to get people to Heaven.

Unfortunately, because we speak so often–many pastors deliver three or more sermons per week, fifty weeks of the year–our sermon machines devour a lot of fodder. It figures that sometimes we are going to get our stories wrong.

That’s why a statement from a preacher one day last week hit me so hard and drove me to do a little research.

“Billy Graham has said that 70 percent of the members of our churches are unsaved.”

A preacher friend on Facebook said that. I contacted him to ask for his source.

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Yesterday, as I write, President Obama fired his top general in Afghanistan. Therein lies a tale which every pastor and staff member ought to take to heart.

General Stanley McChrystal is a case study in a lot of things: militarism, athleticism, patriotism, gung-hoism, machoism, and egotism.

What got this commander of all U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan sacked was a lengthy article just published in the July edition of Rolling Stone magazine. Since the article is online, anyone can read it. I did last night.

Can you say “insubordination?” (I’m channeling my inner Fred Rogers now.) In a sentence, McChrystal was openly critical of Obama and his diplomatic team. He held nothing back, said exactly what he thought, and had little favorable to say about anyone he has to work with.

The article says Obama had previously taken McChrystal to the woodshed and told him to bridle his mouth. But some people cannot be told anything; they are a law unto themselves.

The writer says McChrystal prides himself on being sharper and guttier than anyone else. But his brashness comes with a price: he has offended almost everyone with a stake in the Afghan conflict.

The title of the article says it all: “The Runaway General: The top commander in Afghanistan has seized control of the war by never taking his eyes off the real enemy: the wimps in the White House.”

You cannot fire a guy like that fast enough. Get him gone now.

Ever seen a church staff member like that?

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