Chapter 3 - The Pastor
(Yep, still going with my (old) new series!)
“You’re the kind of person who pastors hate, because you’re so damn valuable to the church, but you’re a pain in the ass.” – a good friend, about me, said in much love and laughter.
It’s true. I know that it’s true. The associate pastor at my church is one of my best friends. I go in to his office and talk with him anytime I just “need to talk” about an issue. When I’m struggling with my school’s ridiculous theology, when I have car problems, or even if I’m just bored I will stop by his office. I could describe every aspect of his office so well that if anything is ever stolen I will be the first to know. Andy has a 18 month baby at home, but I would feel no shame calling him at 3 in the morning if I had a problem. No shame.
Matthew Turner writes about his many experiences with pastors. He writes about the balding fat pastor who came into his town to start a new church, the pastor who asks on a visitor’s first Sunday if he or she believes in tithing, and the pastor who has his own stylist. He also deals with the issue of “pastor worship.”
I love my pastors. When I graduated high school I invited 11 United Methodist pastors to my party. When I graduate college I will invite at least 3 more.
As a child Rod was the pastor and finisher of my faith. He was the only pastor I knew and all truth was contained within him. He was a phenomenal pastor on every level. He could have easily been a CEO of a major company, but he chose to follow God’s plan and became a pastor. He coached the High School team and took them far every year. He seemed omni-present and we knew that he walked on water in his spare time.
Our next pastor was the Reverend Dr. Deryl Kent Larsen. He was a very intelligent man with a passion for God, but he wasn’t Rod. We immediately rejected him.
My home church’s current pastor is David Lake. I love him and his family. I pray for his ministry in Kane all the time.
Bill Beatty and I share a blog. He’s my godfather (if my parent’s had died before I turned 18 Bill and Lori would have inherited my sister and I – this is long past, but I know they still love me.) My mom agonized over who to put in a will as the caretaker for her children. Mom couldn’t put a family member because if it weren’t an Airgood my dad’s mom would be furious. She wanted someone who would love my sister and I as she had. She was praying one day and the thought of Bill and Lori popped into her mind. She started crying because she knew it was perfect. My mom and dad took Bill and Lori out to eat. When mom asked the question (from my mother’s story) Bill and Lori both immediately said yes – they didn’t even need to look at each other or confer. Through the changing of pastors at my home church, my trip to college, and my crazy life out on my own I still consider Bill my pastor.
I love the concept of a pastor. The idea of a person guiding you in spiritual matters is so simple and yet so many people don’t take advantage of it. People have “life coaches,” therapists, councilors, and mechanics. My pastors fill all of those shoes. Yes, even mechanic in some cases.
“You’re the kind of person who pastors hate, because you’re so damn valuable to the church, but you’re a pain in the ass.” – a good friend, about me, said in much love and laughter.
It’s true. I know that it’s true. The associate pastor at my church is one of my best friends. I go in to his office and talk with him anytime I just “need to talk” about an issue. When I’m struggling with my school’s ridiculous theology, when I have car problems, or even if I’m just bored I will stop by his office. I could describe every aspect of his office so well that if anything is ever stolen I will be the first to know. Andy has a 18 month baby at home, but I would feel no shame calling him at 3 in the morning if I had a problem. No shame.
Matthew Turner writes about his many experiences with pastors. He writes about the balding fat pastor who came into his town to start a new church, the pastor who asks on a visitor’s first Sunday if he or she believes in tithing, and the pastor who has his own stylist. He also deals with the issue of “pastor worship.”
I love my pastors. When I graduated high school I invited 11 United Methodist pastors to my party. When I graduate college I will invite at least 3 more.
As a child Rod was the pastor and finisher of my faith. He was the only pastor I knew and all truth was contained within him. He was a phenomenal pastor on every level. He could have easily been a CEO of a major company, but he chose to follow God’s plan and became a pastor. He coached the High School team and took them far every year. He seemed omni-present and we knew that he walked on water in his spare time.
Our next pastor was the Reverend Dr. Deryl Kent Larsen. He was a very intelligent man with a passion for God, but he wasn’t Rod. We immediately rejected him.
My home church’s current pastor is David Lake. I love him and his family. I pray for his ministry in Kane all the time.
Bill Beatty and I share a blog. He’s my godfather (if my parent’s had died before I turned 18 Bill and Lori would have inherited my sister and I – this is long past, but I know they still love me.) My mom agonized over who to put in a will as the caretaker for her children. Mom couldn’t put a family member because if it weren’t an Airgood my dad’s mom would be furious. She wanted someone who would love my sister and I as she had. She was praying one day and the thought of Bill and Lori popped into her mind. She started crying because she knew it was perfect. My mom and dad took Bill and Lori out to eat. When mom asked the question (from my mother’s story) Bill and Lori both immediately said yes – they didn’t even need to look at each other or confer. Through the changing of pastors at my home church, my trip to college, and my crazy life out on my own I still consider Bill my pastor.
I love the concept of a pastor. The idea of a person guiding you in spiritual matters is so simple and yet so many people don’t take advantage of it. People have “life coaches,” therapists, councilors, and mechanics. My pastors fill all of those shoes. Yes, even mechanic in some cases.
posted by Michael Airgood at 6:47 PM
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