What is currently on your mind?

[frienden thalord]

I am so tired.

on those feet .

 

[Paidiske]

if you lived in west texas during the summer heat you might think otherwise . Lol .

Maybe, maybe not. I love our summers, but winter is miserable (and I acknowledge our winters are mild compared to elsewhere).

What's on my mind this morning is the difficulty when there's a culture gap between clergy and people, and how difficult that is to navigate, on both sides.

 

[public hermit]

there's a culture gap between clergy and people

I'm curious. What do you mean?

 

[Paidiske]

I'm curious. What do you mean?

It can be in different ways, but this is specifically prompted by the fact that I'm currently undergoing a review process. And apparently as part of that, lay leaders in the parish have expressed to the bishop some sense of discomfort (complaint might be too strong a word) that I'd summarise as a culture gap. I'm not Australian-born, I'm a good two generations younger than many of them, I'm a city girl transplanted to a country parish, I'm significantly more educated that most of them, and I have the sort of professional background many of them don't. (None of that is a criticism in either direction; it's just a description). And there are times when values, assumptions, expectations, and so on, clash, sometimes in ways none of us realised before one of us puts our foot in it.

I knew that, and thought that we were working together reasonably well in spite of it, and with an ongoing conversation and mutual goodwill, but the bishop seems to think that it's enough of an issue that it needs him to come and facilitate a discussion about it.

 

[public hermit]

It can be in different ways, but this is specifically prompted by the fact that I'm currently undergoing a review process. And apparently as part of that, lay leaders in the parish have expressed to the bishop some sense of discomfort (complaint might be too strong a word) that I'd summarise as a culture gap. I'm not Australian-born, I'm a good two generations younger than many of them, I'm a city girl transplanted to a country parish, I'm significantly more educated that most of them, and I have the sort of professional background many of them don't. (None of that is a criticism in either direction; it's just a description). And there are times when values, assumptions, expectations, and so on, clash, sometimes in ways none of us realised before one of us puts our foot in it.

I knew that, and thought that we were working together reasonably well in spite of it, and with an ongoing conversation and mutual goodwill, but the bishop seems to think that it's enough of an issue that it needs him to come and facilitate a discussion about it.

I'm sorry you have to go through that (bishop's visit). I can only imagine they are blessed to have you. Hopefully, the discussion will be fruitful and pave a way forward (although every bit of me thinks the visit is not needed and you would navigate fine without it).

 

[Paidiske]

I'm sorry you have to go through that (bishop's visit).

In a way I think it might be helpful. If we have an open conversation, and then he looks at them and says, well, can you work through this together? And they say yes, they've then got to get on with it, knowing that they willingly agreed to the situation. And if they say no, well, better we all know that and part while we're still friends (not that I expect that to be the outcome).

I can only imagine they are blessed to have you. Hopefully, the discussion will be fruitful and pave a way forward (although every bit of me thinks the visit is not needed and you would navigate fine without it).

Thank you. Look; you know that in ministry you're never everyone's cup of tea. You do your best to love them anyway. And sometimes you get it wrong, because you're human (as my first "boss" in ministry told the congregation when they took me on as his assistant, "Jesus and his mother were not available for the role, so you have to be realistic about what any one person can do!") And apparently they did find things to praise to the bishop too, it's just I guess you spend more time and energy trying to fix issues than admiring the successes!

 

[frienden thalord]

Maybe, maybe not. I love our summers, but winter is miserable (and I acknowledge our winters are mild compared to elsewhere).

What's on my mind this morning is the difficulty when there's a culture gap between clergy and people, and how difficult that is to navigate, on both sides.

The gap we need to be concerned with is the biblical gap .
You see within the young and the old and the old and the young there can be a gap , persay .
it do exist .
And you will find both old and young who will die long before they sell out the truth .
You will also see both young and old that SELL OUT . WISDOM is not always found in hoary head
nor is rebellion to GOD always found in JUST the young .
So now that i made that point , let me , allow me to make another point .
WISDOM that cometh of GOD is often not found in the scholars
and it darn sure aint found in the wise men of this world .
And any man , whether young or old can seem wise and appear smart and be able to appear to have so much knowledge
it just wooes the mind of man . AND YET they wisdom IS TOTAL FOOLISHNESS with GOD .
One more reminder before i leave you with a simple , BUT VERY DIRE IMPORTANT question .
Many men through all ages and of every denomination known to man , and yes they will cliam to be OF GOD
have lulled men into only greater darkness .
How did they do this one might ask . THEY got the minds of the people they taught
to be convinced their way , their church , their system , their scholars were the only way one could truly attain to truth .
And boy can i give us lots of examples .
THEY used a phrase . And its common . Hey dumbies , ye cannot really learn and read the bible for yourselves .
Come ye and sit under us and let us show you the way .
And now for the grand question i was going to ask you .
HOW DOES ONE TRULY KNOW they are heeding GOD , or has it been men all along who used HIS NAME and yet
taught them doctrines accordingto men .
HOW WE GONNA KNOW .
I mean the JW will say YE MUST SIT UNDER our watchtower
The RCC will say HEY we were first , ye must learn it our way and be in our church .
The mormon can make the same cliam
as do much of the protestant realm .
BUT i gaurantee ya they cannot all be right . THEY CONTRADICT one the other and not only that
THEY contradict even the very scrips they cliam to hold too .
SO HOW are YOU , YOU my dear , gonna know whether it be GOD , HIS CHRIST , HIS SPIRIT you do follow .
AND PS , dont say OH IF WE LOVE . because satan can present another version of love , even he can say GOD IS LOVE .
WE must do something for ourselves .
THIS SOMETHING is something that all groups in part will speak against . WE GOTS TO READ BIBLE FOR OURSELVES .
stop trusting so darn much in man . START actually spending more than a hour in church a week
RATHER LIVE EVERY DAY for the LORD and be in the bible and in prayer and be learning FOR US .

 

[frienden thalord]

In a way I think it might be helpful. If we have an open conversation, and then he looks at them and says, well, can you work through this together? And they say yes, they've then got to get on with it, knowing that they willingly agreed to the situation. And if they say no, well, better we all know that and part while we're still friends (not that I expect that to be the outcome).

Thank you. Look; you know that in ministry you're never everyone's cup of tea. You do your best to love them anyway. And sometimes you get it wrong, because you're human (as my first "boss" in ministry told the congregation when they took me on as his assistant, "Jesus and his mother were not available for the role, so you have to be realistic about what any one person can do!") And apparently they did find things to praise to the bishop too, it's just I guess you spend more time and energy trying to fix issues than admiring the successes!

lets rephrase some of that .
First . you are correct , those who often speak truth and wont budge from the truth are NOT the cup of tea most want to drink from .
Lets look at JESUS for the first example of that .
the prophets too . the apostels . most folks had rather drink from a cup of tea which BLENDS stuff . the mixture if you will .
Give me the waters , say they , that gives me salvation but also gives me the desire of that which i love most above all
MY SIN .
whatever sin that might be . for some its the love of money , while for others it might be my rainbow love
or etc . BUT that is what most Desire . a god who promises them salvation and yet gives
them not the LOVE THAT LOVETH GOD < HIS CHRIST FIRST but rather the god of the mirror . AKA THEIR OWN DEISRES .
And that has about summed up so much of christendom and those within that if those within christendom
who loved self before GOD were to shine pink and those who loved GOD first and foremost were to shine blue .
ABOUT ALL we would see IS PINK . Oh i know , here it comes , the accusations that i dont know love
and that i do accuse accuse accuse .
BUT LETS PUT IT TO the test shall we .
HOW MANY LOVE EVERY WORD written in the bible . AND rather not love to omit , twist stuff ,
say oh that was for a different time , oh wait JESUS could not have meant that .
WHY cant we just love TRUTH . from every warning to every promise ITS ALL TRUE and GOOD FOR US .
Yeah . ITS bible time all right .

 

[RileyG]

I'm so tired of summer! Bring on the fall!

 

[Paidiske]

The gap we need to be concerned with is the biblical gap .

While there's a point to what you're saying, it's not the issue in this instance. Two examples the bishop shared with me from what he had heard; that I'm a "young woman from the city who doesn't understand older country folk," and that I sometimes use words people don't understand.

 

[Robban]

While there's a point to what you're saying, it's not the issue in this instance. Two examples the bishop shared with me from what he had heard; that I'm a "young woman from the city who doesn't understand older country folk," and that I sometimes use words people don't understand.

Based on Psalms 78:70-71

Because he was merciful and would bring the kids first and feed them the upper tips of the grasses which are tender.

Then after he would bring out the he-goats who would eat the middle of the grasses.

And afterwards , he would bring out the older ones, who would eat the roots.


Said the holy One blessed be He,

"This one is fit to shepherd My people."

Just something the above verses made me curious.

 

[RileyG]

While there's a point to what you're saying, it's not the issue in this instance. Two examples the bishop shared with me from what he had heard; that I'm a "young woman from the city who doesn't understand older country folk," and that I sometimes use words people don't understand.

Is he calling you overeducated? That's an odd statement.

 

[RileyG]

wakey wakey riley G
its time to raise those hands and praise the glorious LORD .
on those feet and dance a jig of praise with thanksgiving unto the LORD .

Praise the Lord, my soul!

I called in work today because I'm sick with a sore throat. Ugh. No fun. Started late yesterday evening.

 

[Paidiske]

Is he calling you overeducated? That's an odd statement.

Not so much overeducated, perhaps, as well educated, and not always doing well at connecting with people who are not?

 

[2PhiloVoid]

Not so much overeducated, perhaps, as well educated, and not always doing well at connecting with people who are not?

Here Paidiske, I found another direction in cultural integration that's sure to go over big at your parish church and bridge the generation gap or the education gap:

 

[RileyG]

Not so much overeducated, perhaps, as well educated, and not always doing well at connecting with people who are not?

Ah, I see.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

Not so much overeducated, perhaps, as well educated, and not always doing well at connecting with people who are not?

Just for the record, I'm sorry to hear you have to deal with this extra bit of scrutiny and assessment. I'm sure you do a much better job of leading within the church than I could ever do, especially since I'm all about education and evaluation.

 

[Paidiske]

The hair... the hair alone

Just for the record, I'm sorry to hear you have to deal with this extra bit of scrutiny and assessment. I'm sure you do a much better job of leading within the church than I could ever do, especially since I'm all about education and evaluation.

Look, I don't have a problem with review and feedback and all of that. It's normal and healthy and we probably need more of it, not less, in church leadership. The process in this instance has, I think, also some room for improvement; but I am not so sure that my bishop is as open to honest feedback as he is expecting me to be!

 

[2PhiloVoid]

The hair... the hair alone

Look, I don't have a problem with review and feedback and all of that. It's normal and healthy and we probably need more of it, not less, in church leadership. The process in this instance has, I think, also some room for improvement; but I am not so sure that my bishop is as open to honest feedback as he is expecting me to be!

And what age is he?

 

[Paidiske]

And what age is he?

About ten years older than me. Mid fifties.