Rich was elected to The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod's Board of Pastoral Ministry. In this position he served with others to advise and oversee the seminaries of the church.
As a member of this board he was responsible for periodically presenting a devotional thought for the beginning of the meeting.
This is one of the devotional thought she wrote.
As a member of this board he was responsible for periodically presenting a devotional thought for the beginning of the meeting.
This is one of the devotional thought she wrote.
What does it Matter?
At some point in every pastor’s career, he asks himself a critical question, “What does it matter?” In other words, he looks over the litany of trials and tribulations he encounters and thinks that this might be a good time to become a Thrivent salesman – perhaps then people would actually be impacted by something he provides or, at the very least – they would listen to him.
He won’t be the first man to ask that question nor will he be the last. Interestingly enough, most men in most occupations will ask that same question sometime in a career - for this is a natural question that speaks to a man’s need to live beyond himself. Men like to point to buildings and say, “I built that,” or point to quoted literature and remark, “I wrote that,” or even to beam with pride as the child scores a goal with, “That’s my boy!” Yes, a desire to be remembered long after one departs this earth seems to be part of every man’s psyche.
Most men examine their lives and hold themselves to a standard only a few will ever reach – the Saturday afternoon softball player compares himself to his professional Major League Ball player hero. The middle management person struggles with reading leadership gurus and asks, “How can I ever do that?” The teacher longs to be that one educator that everyone loves – so much so they will name schools after him. The preacher desires to be remembered on the same level as a Billy Graham, Billy Sunday, or Walther – maybe even a Ozzie Hoffman or a Martin Luther gets thrown into the mix. Every man at every level wants to be remembered as a person to be remembered.
Why should pastors be different?
Well, it is my contention that every pastor will have an impact beyond his lifetime. Let me elaborate – many people may not remember Pastor kluender – but he is certainly remembered in my family. He was my Grandfather’s pastor. My Grandfather brought my Dad to church. My Grandfather taught my Dad in the faith that he learned from Pastor Kluender. My Dad learned his lessons well – as he grew he sought out those churches and those pastors who reinforced the faith he learned as a child. My Dad taught these lessons to his sons His eldest son was especially interested in learning more about this faith – to the point he went to Concordia to be a Lutheran teacher. This teacher then proclaimed and taught that same faith to hundreds of students – one of which wanted to learn more – so she went to Concordia to be a Lutheran teacher. Now there are students learning about this faith that may one day be pastors and teachers. So, without Pastor Kluender – there may not have been a classroom of students who hear about Jesus – today.
I stretch a point – for a reason. Our pastors do have great influence beyond their immediate family, or congregation. Congregation members move and spread the influence throughout the country and the world.
That can be a very disturbing notion – for it could paralyze a man – cause indecision or inaction – after all – if he is gong to have that much influence, then all must be absolutely correct.
That can also be a very exciting notion – for it could inspire a man to always be a witness, an example, a leader to his congregation. When a pastor shows that he is a sinful person, but that God can use him to share, he is a strong example. When a pastor models confession and absolution in his personal life, he is a strong example. When a pastor faces trials and tribulations with strength that comes from faith, he is a strong model.
After my wife died, I was surrounded by people – people who prayed, uplifted, supported, shared, stood by and laughed with, cried for and even feed me. Then one day they were all gone and I was all-alone – but before they left they verbalized, “If you need anything, just call me.” Ah, there was the problem – I am a man and I am not about to recognize that I need help or if I do recognize I need help will it be likely I would ever ask for it – for that would be admission that I was weak and couldn’t care for myself. So I sat alone – hurting and longing for an encoring friend to come to my side.
I felt Paul’s pain as he writes to Timothy:
Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.
When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.
Paul needed encouragement – perhaps he was thinking of being a Thrivent salesman – but he wanted Timothy to be there for him.
Today I will see seminary students and see them in the future – needing encouragement. I will envision pastors in studies across the synod, desperately asking for encouragement. I will want all that is said and done at this meeting to be an encouragement to our pastors and our future pastors.
To that end we pray.
He won’t be the first man to ask that question nor will he be the last. Interestingly enough, most men in most occupations will ask that same question sometime in a career - for this is a natural question that speaks to a man’s need to live beyond himself. Men like to point to buildings and say, “I built that,” or point to quoted literature and remark, “I wrote that,” or even to beam with pride as the child scores a goal with, “That’s my boy!” Yes, a desire to be remembered long after one departs this earth seems to be part of every man’s psyche.
Most men examine their lives and hold themselves to a standard only a few will ever reach – the Saturday afternoon softball player compares himself to his professional Major League Ball player hero. The middle management person struggles with reading leadership gurus and asks, “How can I ever do that?” The teacher longs to be that one educator that everyone loves – so much so they will name schools after him. The preacher desires to be remembered on the same level as a Billy Graham, Billy Sunday, or Walther – maybe even a Ozzie Hoffman or a Martin Luther gets thrown into the mix. Every man at every level wants to be remembered as a person to be remembered.
Why should pastors be different?
Well, it is my contention that every pastor will have an impact beyond his lifetime. Let me elaborate – many people may not remember Pastor kluender – but he is certainly remembered in my family. He was my Grandfather’s pastor. My Grandfather brought my Dad to church. My Grandfather taught my Dad in the faith that he learned from Pastor Kluender. My Dad learned his lessons well – as he grew he sought out those churches and those pastors who reinforced the faith he learned as a child. My Dad taught these lessons to his sons His eldest son was especially interested in learning more about this faith – to the point he went to Concordia to be a Lutheran teacher. This teacher then proclaimed and taught that same faith to hundreds of students – one of which wanted to learn more – so she went to Concordia to be a Lutheran teacher. Now there are students learning about this faith that may one day be pastors and teachers. So, without Pastor Kluender – there may not have been a classroom of students who hear about Jesus – today.
I stretch a point – for a reason. Our pastors do have great influence beyond their immediate family, or congregation. Congregation members move and spread the influence throughout the country and the world.
That can be a very disturbing notion – for it could paralyze a man – cause indecision or inaction – after all – if he is gong to have that much influence, then all must be absolutely correct.
That can also be a very exciting notion – for it could inspire a man to always be a witness, an example, a leader to his congregation. When a pastor shows that he is a sinful person, but that God can use him to share, he is a strong example. When a pastor models confession and absolution in his personal life, he is a strong example. When a pastor faces trials and tribulations with strength that comes from faith, he is a strong model.
After my wife died, I was surrounded by people – people who prayed, uplifted, supported, shared, stood by and laughed with, cried for and even feed me. Then one day they were all gone and I was all-alone – but before they left they verbalized, “If you need anything, just call me.” Ah, there was the problem – I am a man and I am not about to recognize that I need help or if I do recognize I need help will it be likely I would ever ask for it – for that would be admission that I was weak and couldn’t care for myself. So I sat alone – hurting and longing for an encoring friend to come to my side.
I felt Paul’s pain as he writes to Timothy:
Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.
When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.
Paul needed encouragement – perhaps he was thinking of being a Thrivent salesman – but he wanted Timothy to be there for him.
Today I will see seminary students and see them in the future – needing encouragement. I will envision pastors in studies across the synod, desperately asking for encouragement. I will want all that is said and done at this meeting to be an encouragement to our pastors and our future pastors.
To that end we pray.
