Comments on: War Stories http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/pete-alwinson/war-stories/ For Pooped Pastors By Pooped Pastors Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:28:09 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Clint Stockton http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/pete-alwinson/war-stories/comment-page-1/#comment-52 Clint Stockton Fri, 16 Jan 2009 06:20:16 +0000 http://test.poopedpastors.org/?p=25#comment-52 Dear Pete, Just because I said it doesn't mean it belongs to me. Take credit for it. It is the part of the gospel. The part that man fell and ever since we don't want the authority God gave us, and our wives want it. It can be seen almost everywhere. In case you others missed it above, here it is again: "Since Adam men colapse at the breath of their wives." What is sad is even I struggle with the truth of our broken lives and our fear of saying and doing what is right. Don't get me wrong. I have a Godly wife who loves the Lord, and doesn't despise the ministry that God called me too. She just likes to tell me what she likes and doesn't like. Pete, I am working on realizing that God breathed into man the breath of life. Since the fall, the breath of spouces sometimes causes us to be mellow our approach to problems, or side step them altogether. And I have to admit sometimes it has felt like the right thing to do. I don't have the answers, or is that my wife talking. I do know that God called me to serve. I also know he gave me my wonder and precious wife. If only I wasn't so broken, and she wasn't so broken. And yet Pete, I am amazed at how often I just mess the whole deal up, and God causes it to bring someone to Him, or mends someones marriage. God is faithful in being strong in our weakness. Also Pete, I have seen some men be super arogant, and tell their wives how it is and how it is going to be. I have seen the eyes of some pastor's wives as they withdraw, and shiver, and hide in their shell. I don't ever want to do that to my lovely Queen. I never want to hurt her. I sit here now thinking am I being too open. Do I let others know my thoughts. Do I just press the back key, or do I ask you to help us all find the balance. I am ok [I thing]. I am not in pain, or depressed. My wife and I are fine. Not perfect, but very much in love with each other and with the Lord. Forgive my rablings, but I wanted Pete to understand why I made the statement. All you guys are free to use the statement. Don't tell your session "if their wives would take their arm out of their back, their lips would not move, and they would colapse as pupets". Even if it is true, it might cause you some problems. Be more loving and gentle. May God Bless you all Shepherd to Shepherd Clint Dear Pete,

Just because I said it doesn’t mean it belongs to me. Take credit for it. It is the part of the gospel. The part that man fell and ever since we don’t want the authority God gave us, and our wives want it.
It can be seen almost everywhere.

In case you others missed it above, here it is again: “Since Adam men colapse at the breath of their wives.”

What is sad is even I struggle with the truth of our broken lives and our fear of saying and doing what is right.

Don’t get me wrong. I have a Godly wife who loves the Lord, and doesn’t despise the ministry that God called me too. She just likes to tell me what she likes and doesn’t like.

Pete, I am working on realizing that God breathed into man the breath of life. Since the fall, the breath of spouces sometimes causes us to be mellow our approach to problems, or side step them altogether. And I have to admit sometimes it has felt like the right thing to do.

I don’t have the answers, or is that my wife talking. I do know that God called me to serve. I also know he gave me my wonder and precious wife. If only I wasn’t so broken, and she wasn’t so broken.

And yet Pete, I am amazed at how often I just mess the whole deal up, and God causes it to bring someone to Him, or mends someones marriage. God is faithful in being strong in our weakness.

Also Pete, I have seen some men be super arogant, and tell their wives how it is and how it is going to be. I have seen the eyes of some pastor’s wives as they withdraw, and shiver, and hide in their shell. I don’t ever want to do that to my lovely Queen. I never want to hurt her.

I sit here now thinking am I being too open. Do I let others know my thoughts. Do I just press the back key, or do I ask you to help us all find the balance.

I am ok [I thing]. I am not in pain, or depressed. My wife and I are fine. Not perfect, but very much in love with each other and with the Lord.

Forgive my rablings, but I wanted Pete to understand why I made the statement.

All you guys are free to use the statement.
Don’t tell your session “if their wives would take their arm out of their back, their lips would not move, and they would colapse as pupets”. Even if it is true, it might cause you some problems. Be more loving and gentle.

May God Bless you all
Shepherd to Shepherd
Clint

]]> By: Chris http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/pete-alwinson/war-stories/comment-page-1/#comment-49 Chris Mon, 12 Jan 2009 22:10:52 +0000 http://test.poopedpastors.org/?p=25#comment-49 Pete, Steve told me something similar when I first had a conversation w/ him about the wheels coming off my wagon during the pastorate I had just left. He told me I'd be grateful for the experience. I thought he was nuts, but 2 years later and in a fresh pastorate w/ fresh perspective and a crap load of freedom I realize he was so right. That experience was ruthless and dark, but it has given me a totally different perspective on ministry and more importantly the people I deal w/ in ministry. The colors are brighter, the smells are sweeter. I laugh harder and love greater because I've found His grace is deeper than I thought it was. This forum is a great idea and I know it will help pooped pastors. I look forward to plugging in, sharing the scars, weeping with the wounded and watching Jesus show up. Great stuff guys. Pete,

Steve told me something similar when I first had a conversation w/ him about the wheels coming off my wagon during the pastorate I had just left. He told me I’d be grateful for the experience. I thought he was nuts, but 2 years later and in a fresh pastorate w/ fresh perspective and a crap load of freedom I realize he was so right. That experience was ruthless and dark, but it has given me a totally different perspective on ministry and more importantly the people I deal w/ in ministry. The colors are brighter, the smells are sweeter. I laugh harder and love greater because I’ve found His grace is deeper than I thought it was. This forum is a great idea and I know it will help pooped pastors. I look forward to plugging in, sharing the scars, weeping with the wounded and watching Jesus show up. Great stuff guys.

]]> By: Pete Alwinson http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/pete-alwinson/war-stories/comment-page-1/#comment-47 Pete Alwinson Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:42:12 +0000 http://test.poopedpastors.org/?p=25#comment-47 Phil- Thanks for your comments man...amazing how much conflict there is in the church. And there is more to come! A fellow pastor and I were talking the other day on the phone...he was discouraged and asked me if I ever feel like leaving the pastorate. I hesitated in responding...and he said, "No, you probably don't ever think of leaving." No...my hesitation was, "When was the most recent time I thought of leaving!" Hey...it's tough work we do. My friend Tom who is a church planting coach and church consultant said: "We're in a crazy business!" Still, it's kind of cool to have been through a lot, seen the Lord "cause all things to work together for good", and live to preach another day. I wonder if that's what old military vets feel..."I wouldn't want to go thru that again, but I made it!" There is some gritty comfort in being a vet! Strength and Courage Phil! Pete Phil-
Thanks for your comments man…amazing how much conflict there is in the church. And there is more to come!

A fellow pastor and I were talking the other day on the phone…he was discouraged and asked me if I ever feel like leaving the pastorate. I hesitated in responding…and he said, “No, you probably don’t ever think of leaving.” No…my hesitation was, “When was the most recent time I thought of leaving!” Hey…it’s tough work we do. My friend Tom who is a church planting coach and church consultant said: “We’re in a crazy business!”

Still, it’s kind of cool to have been through a lot, seen the Lord “cause all things to work together for good”, and live to preach another day. I wonder if that’s what old military vets feel…”I wouldn’t want to go thru that again, but I made it!” There is some gritty comfort in being a vet!

Strength and Courage Phil!
Pete

]]> By: Pete Alwinson http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/pete-alwinson/war-stories/comment-page-1/#comment-46 Pete Alwinson Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:36:25 +0000 http://test.poopedpastors.org/?p=25#comment-46 Wow Clint! Bold stuff you said. But so often true. I do think pastors have to become progressively discerning, evaluating what their elders say, and knowing who really said it (their wife or them!). Having said that, I like it when an elder comes right out and says, "My wife thinks..." or, my wife and I have come to think".... I can handle that, and wouldn't want a man to be an elder unless I could respect the input of his wife. I know that we are all influenced heavily by our wives. By the way, in our church we do not ordain women to the office of elder and that bothers some people as you can imagine. I tell them, "We always have a woman's view presented in our leader's meetings. Our elders are good at presenting their wives views, and we want to hear them!" Clint your line is great..."Since Adam men colapse at the breath of their wives." Wow...that's good...I'll quote you once, then it's mine! Strength and Courage! Pete Wow Clint! Bold stuff you said. But so often true. I do think pastors have to become progressively discerning, evaluating what their elders say, and knowing who really said it (their wife or them!). Having said that, I like it when an elder comes right out and says, “My wife thinks…” or, my wife and I have come to think”…. I can handle that, and wouldn’t want a man to be an elder unless I could respect the input of his wife. I know that we are all influenced heavily by our wives. By the way, in our church we do not ordain women to the office of elder and that bothers some people as you can imagine. I tell them, “We always have a woman’s view presented in our leader’s meetings. Our elders are good at presenting their wives views, and we want to hear them!”

Clint your line is great…”Since Adam men colapse at the breath of their wives.” Wow…that’s good…I’ll quote you once, then it’s mine!

Strength and Courage!

Pete

]]> By: Phil http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/pete-alwinson/war-stories/comment-page-1/#comment-44 Phil Fri, 26 Dec 2008 15:26:05 +0000 http://test.poopedpastors.org/?p=25#comment-44 Pete - Thanks for the words of counsel and encouragement. I too did not realize, naively so, how difficult ministry would be. The past six years were very dark for us. I've had to recalculate the cost of ministry. I am please that the Lord has seen fit to allow me to continue to minister, though now in a different church. The struggles were the hardest things I've ever endured. Though I would not want to revisit those struggles, I am thankful to the Lord for the lessons learned. You are right about the fellowship of Pastors. Their eyes offered a very helpful perspective to me in my struggles. I anticipate this website being a great help to other brothers in the trenches! Thanks - Phil Pete – Thanks for the words of counsel and encouragement. I too did not realize, naively so, how difficult ministry would be. The past six years were very dark for us. I’ve had to recalculate the cost of ministry.

I am please that the Lord has seen fit to allow me to continue to minister, though now in a different church.

The struggles were the hardest things I’ve ever endured. Though I would not want to revisit those struggles, I am thankful to the Lord for the lessons learned.

You are right about the fellowship of Pastors. Their eyes offered a very helpful perspective to me in my struggles.

I anticipate this website being a great help to other brothers in the trenches!

Thanks – Phil

]]> By: Pastor Clint http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/pete-alwinson/war-stories/comment-page-1/#comment-43 Pastor Clint Sat, 13 Dec 2008 00:51:58 +0000 http://test.poopedpastors.org/?p=25#comment-43 Pete, Your words speak volumes. I am old enough and been around enough to have seen and heard the same things. I told a session once that if their wives would take their arm out of their back, their lips would not move, and they would colapse as pupets. How often when elders speak, we heard words of elder wives. I know that is not what we have taught them, but since Adam men colapse at the breath of their wives. Thank You for your post. Shepherd to Shepherd Pete,

Your words speak volumes. I am old enough and been around enough to have seen and heard the same things.

I told a session once that if their wives would take their arm out of their back, their lips would not move, and they would colapse as pupets.

How often when elders speak, we heard words of elder wives. I know that is not what we have taught them, but since Adam men colapse at the breath of their wives.

Thank You for your post.
Shepherd to Shepherd

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