Loving Pastors & the Testimony of Dying Leaves

Posted on October 13, 2009
Filed Under Personal |

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” Luke 9:23-24

Most of last week was spent in Wenatchee, Washington, site of a joint Lutheran Pastor’s Conference. (Sorry about being absent from the blog—we had some technical difficulties.)

Now, I am neither Lutheran, nor a pastor. Why was I there?

Good question!

I was their speaker for the week—asked to provide them with the training to lead Truth Project small groups. It was a delightful time.

Nothing thrills me more than a humble pastor whose heart is dedicated to the Lord and to see his flock healthy and strong. We had some lively interaction… open and honest… and I was sad to leave them.

When I returned, I then had the privilege of participating in an Invocation Service for one of my former Seminary students, Jim Alexander, who was being installed as the senior pastor of a local church. I could not have been more proud of him. During the sermon, Dr. Dominic Aquila listed all of the “tasks” and “duties” of a pastor and what people expected of them. As he went through the list, I briefly wondered if my friend would raise his hand and say, “I may have to rethink this!” Of course, he didn’t, but the responsibilities of a pastor are enormous.
Most of them involve the dying to oneself. That was the heart of the sermon.

Next Sunday, take the time to look your pastor in the eye and thank him… not for his sermon… but for his service.

By the way, the trees were just turning in Washington. I had to stop over and over again on my 3-hour drive from Wenatchee to the Seattle airport.

Isn’t it amazing how the Lord has given us such beauty in the midst of death?
–Leaves that are about to die and drop to the ground give us their greatest testimony at the end of their life;
–The dying rays of a sunset;
–The sedimentary layers of the flood—the beauty of the mountains or in the Grand Canyon.

Jesus did the same. The ugliness of the trial and the scourging and the cross become a beautiful testimony of the love of God.

We don’t seek death, but neither do we fear it… for it is possible that our greatest testimony will come at our death, either our physical death or when we daily die to ourselves.

Comments

11 Responses to “Loving Pastors & the Testimony of Dying Leaves”

  1. Diane on October 13th, 2009 12:11 pm

    Del, my husband and I are currently leading a “Truth Project” group in our home….here in WA. So, with a smile on my face I will tell you that you were in WEnatchee. WA (the second letter is an “E”. We were also, just a week and a half ago, in Eastern WA and appreciated God’s beauty in our drive there and back. THANK YOU for making this series available to be taught in homes. It is SO valuable to gain a Biblical world view in all areas of our lives. Our Pastor is in our group of 12 - but EVERYONE is enthused about the material being presented. Again, thank you!

  2. Trey on October 13th, 2009 1:22 pm

    At Wednesday night fellowship our senior pastor came around to our table and chatted with my kids. One of them, age 6, said “I know who you are. You are the man who tells those long stories every Sunday.”

    The pastor threw back his head and laughed, as did the entire table. I was able to correct him a little, “Those are wonderful stories son, the most important stories in the world.”

    My heart goes out to pastors and their families. The amazing pressure and false expectations placed on clergy are really stunning. God bless you all, and thank you for your extreme service to us.

  3. Gary on October 13th, 2009 7:56 pm

    Dr. Tackett’s message about beauty in the midst of death, is very timely for me. My wife just got a call about her Mom who is in the late stages of Alzheimer’s, being taken to the emergency room from her nursing home. Both my wife and I are challenged by this insidious disease that robs the identity and memories of our loved ones. I wondered the purpose of my mother-in-law hanging on to life but then God seemed to have answered me. It is not for my ill mother-in-law but it is for my wife and I to die to ourselves and turn our lives into a brilliant reflection of God’s love and mercy. We are to give our care freely to those in need. That is the beauty of this autumn.

  4. Steve on October 13th, 2009 10:23 pm

    Dr. Tackett,

    Thanks for sharing the photos and your observations. I have had the privilege of making that drive through the Cascade mountains on a number of occasions and it always brings me to marvel at the majesty of the creator God who created all that beauty as a testimony to men of His power and glory.

    steve,

    a bondslave of Jesus Christ

  5. Ruth on October 14th, 2009 9:06 am

    Dr Del,
    You illustration of the testimony of dieing leaves instantly reminded of a couple who are members of our church.

    Bob and Frances are both 87, but are more regular in their attendance than many of our younger members. They still pick up children for Sunday School and Frances leads children in memorizing the books of the Bible and scripture.

    Folks like them are a great testimony of how we can still have beautiful testimonies for our Lord.

    Thank you for sharing and inspiring so many of us through the Truth Project and your e-mails.

    Ruth

  6. Mark on October 14th, 2009 9:04 pm

    Please be careful when saying, “I’m not Lutheran” just as we should all consider the ancient and literal meaning of “catholic.” Our Christian faith recognizes the one body of Christ and it hurts to read the disassociation. Have you read the Augsburg Confession or the rest of “The Book of Concord?”

  7. John/Brenda on October 15th, 2009 3:44 pm

    Fall cheer, Dr. Del,

    How wonderful this FALL entry is…So refreshing! My husband & I and our oldest daugther took your Truth Project course over a year ago and LOVED it. We bought a series to keep as a refresher since there’s much depth in them. And our daughter Rachel also bought a set for herself to take along with her to Franklin University in Lugano Switzerland.
    She is planning to view these w/10 other christian students on campus who haven’t seen them yet. It will encourage and uplift them and we’ll see how the Lord opens other opportunites in His will & timing. Thanks for the efforts it took to produce such an awesome DVD series! Blessings,

  8. Tamara on October 15th, 2009 5:28 pm

    This takes me back–I grew up in Wenatchee!! Did you go through Leavenworth on your way to or from Seattle….there are few things on earth more beautiful in the fall when the leaves are turning than the trees and streams at Leavenworth!! :o) God’s little signature on His creation of the Wenatchee Valley!!

  9. Terri on October 17th, 2009 6:18 am

    Del, Once, again, I am in awe at the timing and wisdom of God. This week, I’ve been wrestling with the Lord, and needing to learn again the necessity of dying to the hard places in my heart… to let Him bring life to those places. You have been God’s inspiration to limp down to our dock, launch my kayak, and enjoy God’s beauty and presence through a spectacular, chilly, southern Indiana autumn morning on the lake. Blessings, Terri

  10. jeff on October 18th, 2009 2:40 pm

    Del, just a note to THANK YOU for your service to all of us and especially the resounding message you have and are giving via The Truth Project. May God richly Bless you and your efforts.

  11. Nancy on October 28th, 2009 8:34 am

    I am 72 years young, just married my high school sweetheart after not seeing him for 55 years, and I’m moving “back home” to live out the rest of our lives together in Ohio. I went thru the Truth Project series this past summer in Texas and I thank you for your love and service. I am purchasing the Truth Project DVD’s and will share them with friends in Ohio. They are awesome and I thank you. I pray you receive God’s richest blessings now and always. Thank you again. Nancy

Leave a Reply

Comments are moderated and will not appear until they've been approved. While we are eager to facilitate conversation by publishing most comments, we may withhold one from time to time if we deem it to be inappropriate, i.e. offensive, vulgar, overly personal, cynical, disrespectful, irrelevant, redundant or unnecessarily contentious (what a list, huh?). Check it over for spelling and grammar before you submit so that nothing will hinder your eloquence!