My Pastor

Wow! it sure is cold here in Kansas City!

I called my pastor to wish him a happy birthday this morning. As I did I thought about how much he meant to me. This is the man who encouraged me to go after the call on my life with everything I had, he encouraged me to reach farther and do more that I had ever thought possible. I watched as people did him wrong and he refused to talk about it or even make reference to it, I knew they were wrong and he knew they were wrong but he refused to blame them, he was constantly looking for a way to fix things not fracture them further. Then there were time I needed to be set straight and corrected and he did not hesitate to do that as well he did it in love but it still stung. I remember one conversation that went like this. My pastor asked me to come into his office, I was maybe 28 or 29 a young preacher with a desire to do great things for God and an ego to match. My pastor sat me down and said "Philip you are the best preacher I have in my church, you have a depth in the Word and a knowledge of the Word" (and I was thinking yes amen you are so right) but then he said "but I can't use you, because you are too prideful" OUCH!! as I sat there I did not know what to do, be angry, yell, tell him that was not so I did not know what to say or do, so I got up and went out to my seat and sat through the rest of church doing a slow burn with no intention of ever coming back. By the time we arrived home I was really mad I thought I was hurt, in reality it was my pride that was hurt how dare he tell the truth! As I sat in our little house licking my self inflicted wounds I made the decision to go back and put down my pride and become all God wanted me to be I am so glad that I did.
Today think about those who care enough to love you despite your self and then call them and let them know.
I love you Pastor Morton my world is a better place because of you.

Pastor Steele