This is from a pastor and from the heart, P-M.
I have just finished my second funeral in as many days today, and then I had to go to my own aunt’s visitation after her passing 2 days ago. Funerals have been heavy lately with primarily the elderly, but there also are always those who go too young.
But, that’s not my point.
My point has to do with your commenting on a Harvest Crusade that Pastor Laurie has to conduct in just a few weeks. It may be that the Lord absolutely wants Greg Laurie to conduct that crusade. I am not pretending to be an authority on what the Lord tells the pastor what to do.
What I am saying is that there’s a real dearth of people who actually understand and appreciate what their pastors do. I suspect Greg Laurie will be at that crusade a few weeks from now preaching the word of God. He’ll still be deep in grief, but he’ll be smiling for the benefit of those in the congregation. He’ll be fatigued, depressed, and consumed with thoughts of his son. A man can’t just turn off his feelings.
Yet, he’ll be present. He’ll do his job.
I wonder, though, if someone on the crusade staff received a word from God that Greg Laurie should rest, whether they’d have the courage to speak it, and if the staff would have the grace to hear the message.
So many churches don’t sense what blessings they have in some of the pastors and spouses out there. Appreciation is not adulation. That is reserved for God. But, like a man who realizes how much he’s been blessed with the wife God has given him, churches would do well to appreciate sometimes how much they’ve been blessed with the pastor God has given them.
You are right, x.
We received an e-mail from the Church today stating that Greg has decided to go forward with the Crusade.
After listening to Pastor Greg for quite awhile, I had the pleasure of seeing him tell his story at Prestonwood Baptist in Plano, Tx in Jan. 2004. What a great personal testimony he has to tell.
At The Invitation, at least 500 people came forward, stacked several deep into the aisles of the Worship Center. I have the video and have watched it many times and shared it with others. Incredibly moving, many thanks to Pastor Greg and heartfelt prayers to him, his family and congregation.
A truly wonderful man.