Last week, as more and more cards and notes appeared in my inbox, in my mailbox, and on my desk, all thanking me for serving as their minister, I began to wonder if someone had announced my retirement without my knowledge, or if I looked a little discouraged and folks were just trying to lift my spirits. In my momentary amnesia, I had forgotten that October is promoted by many as Pastor Appreciation Month.

Through the years I have been blessed to “feel” appreciated by the core membership of the congregations I have served. But I’m pretty sure that is not the universal experience of pastors. I am told by my counselor friends that many clergy are highly discouraged and often teeter on the brink of depression.

I readily acknowledge that there are a few slackers among us, as there are in every career field, but most of the pastors I know work hard and feel a deep sense of responsibility for their flock. Because the multiple roles within the pastoral vocation uniquely initiate a minister into almost every conceivable life situation (as well as a few inconceivable ones), a pastor’s work from one day to the next can fluctuate between affirmation and discouragement. Although the biblical job description of a pastor portrays one who is called to “nurture, lead, and guide,” in our culture of hyper-mobility and competing loyalties, ministry can seem more like “herding cats” than “shepherding sheep.”

What is the best way to show appreciation to your pastor? Included in the stack of cards I have received, there is a Starbucks gift card, pictures drawn by a children’s Sunday School class, and hand-written notes thanking me for “that time when” I was there when grandpa passed away, when junior got married, or when the baby was born. Through the years I have been the recipient of all kinds of tokens of appreciation, including jars of homemade jam, home-canned pickles, home-cooked cakes and pies, fresh baked bread, or garden-picked vegetables.

While I can’t speak for every pastor, here is what makes me feel the most appreciated: Faithful participation in the life of the church. For me, nothing can be quite as emotionally deflating as working hard all week, then getting to church on Sunday to discover that a high percentage of my flock is at the beach, on the boat, in the mountains, on the golf course, at the soccer game, or just sleeping in. And nothing can be quite as encouraging as working hard all week, and getting to church to see a faithful congregation of believers who have gathered to worship God.

Early in my ministry, I suppose I took it for granted that church members would be fairly faithful, especially in worship and Bible study. Now, even among historically devoted church members, participation in the life of the church is too often determined by convenience than by conviction and commitment.

This is Pastor Appreciation Month. Your pastor will appreciate your cards and notes, and jams and jellies. But if you really want your pastor to feel appreciated, be an active and faithful participant in your spiritual community. When I witness someone get connected and engaged in the synergy of God’s mission through the church, as a pastor, that makes my day.

(Barry Howard serves as the Senior Pastor at the First Baptist Church of Pensacola, Florida.)

²³ Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. ²⁴ For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. ²⁵ What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? ²⁶ Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. Luke 9:23-26 NIV

Jesus invites those who would be his disciples to set aside their own agenda and preferences, to learn the self-sacrificing way of the cross, and to follow him.

Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ. – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Away from actual historical church community, whatever its faults, we have an open field to live an unconfronted life, to make religion a private fantasy we can selectively share with a few like-minded individuals who will never confront us where we most need challenge. –Ronald Rolheiser

Once a new believer has “decided to follow Jesus,” experienced baptism and welcomed into the church family, they need to be encouraged and equipped to grow into a life pattern of following Jesus. What are some things we should tell new Christ followers, as well as long-time believers, that will help them follow Jesus daily?

• To establish a devotional life that anchors our daily walk.

 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light to my path.    Psalm 119:105 NIV

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.           Psalm 119:11 NIV

 

• To deny and discipline our sinful appetites in order to follow a more excellent way.

• To continually connect with others in a spiritual community where we worship, learn, and serve.

The church as an alternative community in the world is not a “voluntary association,” an accident of human preference. The church as a wedge of newness, as a foretaste of what is coming, as a home for the odd ones, is the work of God’s original mercy. For all its distortedness, the church peculiarly hosts God’s power for life.     –Walter Brueggemann

• To discover and employ your spiritual gifts.
  • To learn to carry your cross.

 

Learning to follow Jesus is a life-long adventure.   It is neither too early nor too late to start right now.

 

1. Buy things for their usefulness rather than their status
2. Reject anything that is producing an addiction in you
3. Develop a habit of giving things away
4. Refuse to be propagandized by the custodians of modern gadgetry
5. Learn to enjoy things without owning them
6. Develop a deeper appreciation for the creation
7. Look with a healthy skepticism at all “buy now, pay later” schemes
8. Obey Jesus’ instructions about plain, honest speech
9. Reject anything that breeds the oppression of others
10. Shun anything that distracts you from seeking first the kingdom of God

God of liberty and justice, as we celebrate our nation’s Independence Day, we are grateful for our heritage and concerned for our future.

We are thankful for the privilege of living in “the land of the free and the home of the brave.” We are thankful for those who came before us paving the way for unrivaled liberties that allow us to freely make choices about our work, our worship, our convictions, and our lifestyle. We are indebted to past and present veterans who risked life and limb in the pursuit and protection of these freedoms.

From the “mountains to the prairies” we are inspired by some of the most majestic and diverse scenery on our planet. From “sea to shining sea” we are privileged to enjoy a treasure trove of natural resources. We have access to comfortable housing, above average healthcare, a diverse wardrobe, an expansive menu of our favorite foods, and personal digital devices that provide communication and entertainment. We are certainly blessed beyond our deserving.

During this season of celebration we are grateful, yet concerned….concerned about our nation, concerned about our world, and concerned about the future.

From our many different perspectives and ideologies we are concerned about things like the threats of terrorism, the brutalities of war, the abuse of political power, the divisiveness by misleading and untruthful political rhetoric from both major parties, a lack of civil discourse, a growing sense of moral ambivalence, and the ever present possibility of a natural disaster.

These concerns lead to heightened anxiety about the cost of our insurance, the stability of our economy, and the tenure of our employment. And we confess that these anxieties often distract us from our mission to “minister to the least of these,” and to “love mercy, act justly, and walk humbly” with you.

These concerns and anxieties also remind us of our need to confess our sins, personally and corporately. We confess that we have taken our freedom for granted too frequently and we have too often been negligent in living up to the responsibilities of our citizenship. We confess that at times we are too quick to judge and even quicker to criticize. We confess that we are slow to pray for our leaders, slow to intercede for our neighbors, and even slower to trust in your leadership.

We also confess that our self-interests have too often taken priority over the best interest you have in mind for our nation and for our world. We confess that we have been irresponsible in our stewardship of “our space and our stuff,” often consuming and storing compulsively without conscious regard for sharing with generosity. We confess that we have too often trusted in our own initiatives and ingenuity more than we have trusted in you.

You tell us in an ancient but relevant scripture that, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (II Chronicles 7:14)

As we celebrate this Independence Day, we ask you to forgive our sin and to heal our land. On this day, we pray for the leaders of our nation, our state, and our community that they will lead with wisdom, courage, and integrity.

We pray for the men and women who serve in our military that they will fulfill their mission effectively and return home safely and soon.

We pray for our enemies that their swords and ours will be “turned into plowshares,” even as we long for that day when the “lion will lie down alongside the lamb.”

We pray for the churches, cathedrals, and temples of our community and our world that they will be lighthouses of grace and peace, ever pressing toward the mark of your high calling.

Because you are the freedom-loving God, lead us to exercise our freedom responsibly and to pursue “liberty and justice for all” people, without discrimination.

We pray in the strong name of the One who came to make us free, indeed. Amen.

But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!  Amos 5:24 NIV

During our recent Vacation Bible School I observed our students standing attentively as they belted out , “I pledge allegiance to the flag…”. We often recite these words in classrooms and at civic gatherings. When we pronounce the pledge, is it merely an obligatory ritual or do we listen attentively to all of the words and take them seriously? The last words of the pledge are perhaps some of the most counter-cultural words of commitment we can speak: “…with liberty and justice for all.”

Our ancestors envisioned a nation wherein liberty and justice would be for all people. For some, however, “liberty” has been reduced to a license for self-centeredness and “justice” has been diminished to mere retaliatory or punitive action.

Although dictionaries routinely define liberty as “the state of being free,” liberty involves much more. The historical American concept of liberty is not that one is free to do as one pleases without accountability for the consequences of one’s actions. Rather, our heritage of liberty means that we are not owned or enslaved by another person or power. We enjoy individual and corporate freedom within the boundaries of ethical and moral responsibility. True liberty calls on us to express ourselves with civility, and to respect the rights of those who think differently to do the same.

Justice is commonly perceived as “the assignment of merited rewards or punishment.” But the Old Testament prophets, especially Amos, knew that justice is much more than being affirmed for right behavior or punished for bad behavior. Justice strives to create viable opportunities for all persons to succeed economically, vocationally, and socially. Real justice seeks to create opportunities for the disadvantaged. The Bible gives us many examples of the disadvantaged: the poor, widows, orphans, the sick, strangers, the hungry, the homeless, and those in prison.

In our Pledge of Allegiance we commit our lives to the pursuit of “liberty and justice for all.” The phrase “for all” is inclusive, not discriminatory. “For all” means we aim to provide and protect liberty and justice for all individuals regardless of gender, race, economic status, political ideology, or religious background. To preserve liberty and justice for the privileged few is indicative of a shallow theology and an uninformed patriotism.

While you and I are blessed to enjoy the privileges of freedom, many around our world still live under tyranny and can only dream of liberty and justice. Therefore, on the July 4th we celebrate our independence, even as we pledge ourselves to continue to work for liberty and justice for all persons in the future.

Liberty and justice are not just political ideals. They are social tenets which affirm intrinsic human worth, and spiritual values which reflect the image of our Creator, ultimately experienced through the liberty we find in Christ. John 8:32 declares, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free,” and Amos 5:24 urges, “Let justice roll on like a river.”

In order to truly “let freedom ring,” we must work together to “let justice roll!”

 

 

Earlier today the Barrancas National Cemetery at NAS Pensacola was extremely busy. When I visited this morning, one interment service was being completed as another procession awaited their turn, and yet another was turning in the gate. Thanks to the local Boy Scouts of America, a sea of small American flags dotted the landscape, one posted by each headstone, a reminder that it is Memorial Day weekend, a time for grateful remembrance.

Memorial Day invokes more of a sense of observance than of celebration. The last Monday in May does not usually generate as much holiday enthusiasm as Christmas, Easter, or Independence Day. However, we should be careful that the meaning of this holiday does not become lost in the busyness of our activities.

Memorial Day is not just another “day off” but a day to remember those who have lost their lives in the military service of our country. This is a day to remember those who, according to Henry Ward Beecher, “hover as a cloud of witnesses above this Nation.”

In a culture that is increasingly attention-deficient, remembering is a painful but necessary discipline. Revisiting stories from the battlefield may keep us consciously aware of the harsh realities of war. Exploring the historical narrative may enable us to learn from both the successes and the failures of our ancestors. When we remember the fallen we keep alive the individual and corporate legacies of valor and courage that inspire and challenge us to be responsible citizens of the free world.

To fail to remember is to develop a convenient amnesia that eventually robs succeeding generations of acquaintance with our national heritage. To fail to remember creates a contagious apathy that leads to a neglect of both our freedom and our citizenship.   To fail to remember can produce a false sense of security and an inaccurate perception that we are exempt from future warfare. If for no other reason, we should remember in order to guard against what George Washington called “the impostures of pretended patriotism.”

Perhaps our high tech world is at times too much of a fantasy world.  Reflecting on the sacrifices of previous generations may trigger in us a reality check and a gut check.  This kind of remembering is a painful but necessary discipline, a practice that forges vision from memory and distills wisdom from knowledge.

In The Roadmender Margaret Fairless Barber suggests that “To look backward for a while is to refresh the eye, to restore it, and to render it the more fit for its prime function of looking forward.”

This year, as you observe Memorial Day, take time to remember the men and women who served with distinction and made extraordinary sacrifices to establish and preserve our freedom. By remembering our heritage, may we be better equipped and motivated to engage the future with courage and hope.

(Barry Howard serves as senior minister at First Baptist Church of Pensacola.)

 

by Barry Howard

Self-care includes developing and maintaining good physical, spiritual and mental health, a uniquely challenging but crucial discipline for a pastor. While these three areas of wellness are intertwined and inseparable, in my own life and the experience of many of my colleagues, I recognize that more attention has been given to physical and spiritual health, and mental health is often neglected, causing a diminishment to all three.

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Every human being experiences highs and lows in mental health. Although some forms of mental illness are genetic, other expressions of mental illness may be related to circumstances or body chemistry, and may be preemptively avoided or proactively addressed by practicing good mental hygiene.

A common, but naïve misconception is that pastors, or persons with strong religious faith, are exempt from mental distress. The Apostle Paul is noted for his courageous ministry but he confessed, “Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches” (II Corinthians 11:28 NIV).

In his book, Surviving the Stained-Glass Jungle, veteran pastor Dr. Bill Self contends that, “Self-care is not destructive self-indulgence, but rather it is being a steward of some rather special gifts— the human body and soul, along with the capacity to bring joy to others as well as to experience it.”

Those in every vocation experience varying levels of stress, distress, and duress. However, because the pastoral task requires remarkable investment in the lives of others, a pastor who neglects mental hygiene can gradually slip into a state of melancholy or emotional chaos, and then compound the dilemma by ignoring the symptoms for fear of stigmatizing his or her ministry.

As a pastor I can identify at least five areas that commonly place stress on a pastor’s mental and emotional health:

• Unrealistic expectations- These expectations can be real or perceived, and they can be generated by vocal congregants or be self-imposed by a minister with a “messiah complex.” Most congregations have ambivalent expectations that fluctuate between market-driven goals (e.g., attendance, budgets, awards) and mission-driven goals (e.g., participation, stewardship, life transformation). The wider the gap between these two categories, the more intense the stress on the minister.
• Perpetual preparation– The task of perpetual preparation can be a mentally exhausting chore. Many professional public speakers have 4-5 niche speeches that they give over and over to different groups. Professors and teachers have lectures and lesson plans that are updated and revised from semester to semester but they usually follow a core curriculum. A preaching pastor is unique in that he or she is generally expected to prepare and deliver 40-50 different Sunday sermons per year to virtually the same group of people, in addition to devotionals, Bible studies, and speeches for community events.
• Diverse emotional encounters- A minister deals with grief, grace, and everything in between on a daily basis. Perhaps more than any other vocation, a pastor regularly moves in and out of situations with polarizing and intense emotions such as death and birth, divorce and marriage, perversion and conversion, and conflict and resolution. If a pastor is not careful, the residual emotions from these encounters will linger and intermingle creating either emotional apathy or spiritual neuropathy.
• Problem people- Not to be confused with people with problems, problem people are unusually high maintenance individuals who consume an exorbitant amount of a pastor’s time with an unnecessary complaint or unconstructive criticism. Marshall Shelley refers to these “well-intentioned dragons” as “sincere, well-meaning saints, but they leave ulcers, strained relationships, and hard feelings in their wake.”
• Confidentiality cache- Because the pastoral role is not only prophetic but also priestly, a pastor is entrusted with a lot of confidential information that is locked away into a pastor’s mental storage. The volume of this information can become a heavy emotional weight if it remains in a pastor’s mental inbox and is not appropriately archived.

In light of these and other areas of pastoral stress, to preserve good health and promote longevity in ministry, how can a pastor practice good mental and emotional hygiene?

Each pastor has to identify and adopt hygienic habits that fit his or her context and personality. Here are some practices I am finding to be helpful in my own pastoral routine:

• Establish and maintain a consistent prayer and devotional life.
• Maintain a friendship with a trustworthy conversation partner, perhaps even another pastor, outside of your church.
• Convene a small accountability group, establish a confidentiality covenant with them, and meet with them monthly.
• Read regularly in multiple genres including biography, history, and fiction.
• Pay attention to diet, especially limiting intake of sugar, caffeine, and other foods that can trigger emotional swings.
• Develop a regimen of moderate physical exercise.
• Follow a consistent routine for sleep and rest.
• Periodically disconnect from the work of the church, especially from mental labor (problem solving, conflict management), cellphone calls, and social media.
• Have an annual physical examination, as well as eye examination and dermatology screening.
• Participate in a peer network of pastors who convene with a covenant of confidentiality, and who vent and vision together.

Be alert to seasons when your mental distress leads to dysfunction, manifested by ongoing and overwhelming symptoms of depression, chronic anxiety, paranoia, and/or insomnia. Immediately enlist the care of a medical professional. To procrastinate getting care prolongs the process of recovery.

Life in the stained-glass jungle has unique rewards and challenges. Self-care is absolutely essential. Bill Self reminds us that, “It takes courage to take care of yourself. One of the hallmarks of a professional is the ability to keep healthy— physically, emotionally, and spiritually. You must take responsibility for yourself and not expect others to take the initiative to care for you.”

Practicing good self-care can empower a pastor to be mentally sharp, emotionally balanced, and spiritually perceptive in all seasons.

(Barry Howard serves as the Senior Minister at the First Baptist Church of Pensacola, Florida.)

Earlier this week the Pensacola area experienced extensive damage from flash flooding caused by record rainfall. Although our FBC Pensacola campus only experienced minor damage, many in our church family and community experienced extensive catastrophic damage.

Additionally, the explosion at the Escambia County Jail has placed additional responsibility on our local leaders, law enforcement officials, and first responders.

I am extremely grateful for the volunteers who jumped into action assisting with cleanup on our campus and around the community. Many have asked, “What can I do to help?”

The damage is severe in several locations.  I have personally surveyed the damage in the communities near Cordova Park, East Hill, Car City, and West Pensacola. I have not yet seen the damage in Gulf Breeze and Cantonment.

After conversations with community leaders and area pastors, we all recognize that the damage to homes is widespread, that most do not have flood insurance, and that our community is looking at several months of cleanup and repair work.

With all of us working together we can help each other through this disaster. As we assist with repair and rebuilding work, here are some ways you can help:

• Pray! Pray for all of the families who experienced damage or lost property.
• Give! Make a financial contribution to the Relief Work by sending your gift to FBCP Disaster Relief Fund (500 North Palafox, Pensacola, 32501). All funds will be used locally to aid those in the Pensacola area.
• Volunteer! Currently you may volunteer at Operation Blessing based on the campus of Brownsville Assembly or Influence Pensacola (in partnership with Florida Baptist Disaster Relief) at the Bristol Creek site. (Influence Pensacola is currently working to establish work sites in Gulf Breeze also.)
• Bring books! In addition to conducting worship services at the County Jail, one of the ministries of our church is to operate the book cart providing wholesome reading material for inmates at the jail. In light of the explosion and relocation of inmates, more books are needed. Please bring paperback books that are General Interest or Fiction. You may place them in the box in front of the library.

Disasters bring out the best and the worst in people. With only a few exceptions, the Deluge of 2014 is bringing out the best in folks in Pensacola.  This crisis is affording us a great opportunity to share the love of God in word and in deed.

Holy Week invites us to reflect on the deeper matters of faith by revisiting the story of Jesus, especially giving attention to the events that occurred between Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem and his resurrection.

The overarching message of God’s love and forgiveness is demonstrated through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. However, the passion narrative is actually a composite of mini-episodes contributing to the central plot which reaches its crescendo with the cross and the empty tomb.

This year, as reflected on the daily events that occurred during Jesus’ pivotal week in Jerusalem, I noted a few lessons about life and faith that I want to remember:  

#1 Every temple needs cleansing now and then, including those built of brick and mortar, and those composed of flesh and blood.

#2 Live prepared and make every day count. No one knows the day nor the hour when the Lord will come, not even those who speculate on the colors of the moon.

#3 Taking up the towel and basin is simultaneously an act of service and an expression of leadership.

#4 A mandate is different than a prerogative or a preference. It is a command to be obeyed, not an option to be considered.

#5 Breaking bread around the table with friends…Those are occasions to be remembered.

#6 Jesus prayed “Not my will, but your will be done” once. I must pray those words continually because my will is so blatantly persistent.

#7 Beware of those who kiss up to you. They either have an agenda of their own, or they are in cahoots with those plotting a coup.

#8 Be faithful to God and yourself. We will be tempted daily to betray our God, our values, and our character for much less than 30 pieces of silver.

#9 Going along with the crowd is always a risky venture. Crowds seldom make wise decisions.

#10 Only borrow something when you won’t be needing it very long, sort of like when Jesus borrowed a tomb.

Each of the daily stories that comprise the big story of Holy Week has something to teach us about human nature, about sin, and about transformative faith.  The lessons we learn from the life of Jesus encourage and equip us to be better followers of Jesus.

 (Barry Howard serves as senior minister at the First Baptist Church of Pensacola.)

Next week is Holy Week, perhaps the most meaning-filled observance of the year for Christians.  It’s called Holy Week, not because we are to “act” holy, but because it is an appropriate week for us to revisit and reflect upon the redemptive ministry of Jesus.

Around the globe, Christ-followers and inquirers alike will be reflecting on the events leading up to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  What is the significance of Holy Week for me and how can I probe its deeper meaning?

Our tradition of observing Holy Week seems to have originated in the East, emerging out of the practice of pilgrimages to Jerusalem.  Each day of Holy Week is significant.  For those of us whose faith was shaped in a Baptist tradition, at least four days call for guided reflection. Palm Sunday is a day to revisit the royal welcome extended to Jesus by the curious crowd as he entered Jerusalem. On Maundy Thursday believers recall the occasion when Jesus washed the feet of the disciples as he gave them a new mandate to love and serve.  On Maundy Thursday evening, many faith communities re-enact “the last supper” when Jesus broke bread and shared the cup with his disciples by receiving the elements of communion.  Good Friday is an occasion to feel the passion of Christ and to think on the enormity of his suffering. And Resurrection Sunday, or Easter, is a festive day to celebrate and proclaim that “Christ is risen; Christ is risen indeed!”

Because of the sequential significance of these events, Holy Week is best approached slowly, with an attitude of reverent exploration, a spiritual mood of sacred awe.  In Weldon Gaddy’s book, The Gift of Worship, he describes our opportunity to engage in a more meaningful experience of the passion of Christ: “Holy Week services bring into focus dimensions of discipleship that are missed completely by a simple leap from Palm Sunday to Easter. Worship services which take seriously the truths of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday please God because they challenge a greater commitment and a more effective ministry among the people of God.”

This year as you begin your spiritual journey through Holy Week, open your senses and your imagination to both the tragedy and the triumph of this pivotal week in history. Take time to listen to the voices of the crowd as Jesus enters the city.  Hear again the teachings of Jesus and contemplate his days in Jerusalem.  Feel the water touch your feet, taste the morsel of bread on your tongue and the sip of wine rolling over your lips. Sense the disgust of his betrayal by a friend. Smell the stench of the scourge and hear the mocking sarcasm of the trial. Grieve over the cruel injustice of his execution and experience the passion of his incomprehensible suffering.  And ultimately…consider the mysterious power of the resurrection and the hope generated by the notion that life invested in Christ cannot be extinguished, even by the reality of death.

The events of Holy Week invite and motivate us to follow Jesus, not out of religious obligation or fear of eternal damnation, but because we identify with his teaching, we resonate with his mission, and we discover a sense of belonging within his community of friends.  A slow and deliberate journey through Holy Week may re-energize your faith and inspire you to live and serve with purpose.

The word “holy” means “dedicated to God” or “set apart for a sacred purpose.” On second thought, maybe Holy Week is a week for us to “act” in a way that is holy.

(Barry Howard serves as senior pastor of the First Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida.)