I don't like conference calls very much as a rule. It seems like having more than one other person on the line confuses matters more than clarifies them. There have been times when I am on a conference call and my reception is fuzzy. I can't really tell if it is me or them. Communication is always tricky in that it involves both speaking and listening and there are a bunch of things that can go wrong in between. I think that is what makes preaching such a challenge. Most of us know the challenge of communicating with just one or two people. Having a half dozen people on a conference call is just crazy sometimes. In preaching to a couple of thousand people on a weekend it is not unusual for me to receive feedback that is wildly different. I preach the same sermon and one person will say that it was the greatest thing ever. They point to that sermon as the message God used to really impact them at a crucial time in their lives and their gratitude and enthusiasm is almost embarrassing for me. I never know what to say at those times. The same day I have had people who heard the same sermon come up and say that I was irreverent,inaccurate,and that they would never come back. I never know what to say at those times either. It makes me wonder why that happens. What makes one person hear a sermon and hear the voice of God and another listen to the same sermon and hear anything but the voice of God? (There is a whole other group that sleeps and doesn't hear a thing but that is for another blog.) I tell young guys who want to be preachers that they better be called. It is not for the faint of heart. Preaching is a mystery and it has a way of making someone feel completely inadequate which I suppose is the exact place God needs someone in order to use them. So, today I will prepare to preach this weekend and will pray that God will speak to the ears that are listening and use me in the midst of inadequacy. I will climb into the whirlwind of mystery and let it fly.
Friday, May 23, 2008
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6 comments:
Joe, you're faithful to the Lord, and you're telling the church what they need to hear (not necessarily what they want to hear). You also try to come up with a creative way for us to remember (like drinking out of the mud puddle - I've been curious as to what you added to the water to turn it into that color - yeesh!).
I imagine it's difficult not to let every opinion gnaw at you. With me, if I get 99 good comments, and one bad, I'll forget the 99 and dwell on the one. I lose the joy.
You care about your sheep. That's a beautiful thing! It takes an enormous amount of energy to shepherd several thousand sheep. But sometimes sheep are stupid. As a sheep, I know. I'm stupid a lot.
Don't worry about all the voices in the conference call. Just listen to the Lord. His reception is clear, and He has a direct line to you. Please remember there are folks in your congregation who pray for you. Know there are folks who don't ever share their opinions about whether or not the "liked" the sermon, but care about you as a person and respect you as our shepherd.
I look forward to what God will tell me through you on Sunday. Hang in there.
We are to come into God's house to worship Him our heart's prepared for this great privilege. Not every message is a "JUST FOR ME" message. It can be for a lost sheep the Lord is drawing to himself and they see the Great Shepherd through God's word for the first time as He calls them to follow Him. Jesus left the 99 for just one and will until he returns. There should be no I, me and self in the body of Christ JUST Christ. Who am I apart from Christ. Direct our hearts towards thee oh Lord and open our eyes that we may see and know your will.
How about all of us loving one another as we are called to do. Thankfully we are not all molded out of the same clay but we can love as we are called to do. It is a choice. What say you.
God has truly blessed you with the gift of being a wonderful communicator. I don't even think I blink when you preach! I don't know where those people are in their lives who don't like to hear what you have to say, but you never know what impact you may have made on them down the road. Your messages are life changing and I am very grateful to have you for a pastor!
Gee, the message is always "right on" for me and i never fail to learn something I didn't know Like the meaning of a Greek word etc. People wo disrespect you by ripping your message probably have a dark part of themselves that cannot stand to be exposed to the light. God is still working on them. You really went the extra mile when you drank the muddy water! That showed me your great love for your flock. God Bless. Linda Keller
Dear Pastor Coffey,
I just wanted to let you know that I am encouraged by your blog. Here at work I check it once a day to see if you posted anything because it helps me focus on spiritual issues and often either challenges me or makes me smile. Please keep blogging!
Sincerely,
Mary Agbovi
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