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Early Pastorl "Faux Pas"

Discussion in 'Pastoral Ministries' started by USN2Pulpit, Aug 19, 2003.

  1. USN2Pulpit

    USN2Pulpit New Member

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    It's been two weeks of pastoral ministry over here, and I haven't been fired yet! I did have one pastoral faux pas yesterday though. (It involved not recognizing one of my own members - how embarrassing!)

    Anyway, I went into the hospital, which was confusing enough, straight to the room and walked right past my intended visit and began a conversation with the room-mate, whose daughter was asking me, "you're the pastor from WHERE?" That's when I heard a weak voice from the other side of the room, "brother Matt..." Boy, did I feel like an idiot. Of course I recognized him once I really looked at him, and we had a really good visit. I don't believe he was offended. Rather, I think this is going to become yet another story about how I've goofed something up.

    Ahhh, humility. A very important part of pastoral ministry!

    Anyone else had early flub-ups like this?
     
  2. Circuitrider

    Circuitrider <img src=/circuitrider2.JPG>
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    Brother, those kind of things keep us humble. :eek: If that is the worst thing you did then you are in pretty shape. Just be willing to admit your mistake and laugh about it. [​IMG] We all take ourselves too seriously sometimes.

    I have found those church members who are the subject of such errors often become my best people because they and I both know I am fallible and we can laugh together about it later. [​IMG]
     
  3. Ulsterman

    Ulsterman New Member

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    Hey brother, learn early on to laugh at yourself. I once prayed for a lady to have a "painful death" when I actually meant "pain free!" :eek:

    And a pastor friend of mine whilst witnessing to a dear lost lady warned her "You could die at anytime with a haemorrhoid on the brain." He meant haemorrhage. [​IMG]

    So relax. Its OK to make mistakes.

    God bless you in your ministry,

    David
     
  4. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    First week in my first church (December 1970 I remember well) was my first hospital call. Lady had just had a baby. So I went to see her the next day.

    Saw the baby in the nursery, then walked down to her room and opened the door. Can you say "heat lamp" and "stitches"?

    Have never never never since in 33 years walked into a hospital room with its door closed. Have always asked a nurse or aide to "check it out" first. :eek:
     
  5. Griffdog

    Griffdog New Member

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    Man, I feel SO much better after reading this thread. Keep them coming, people!

    Josh
     
  6. blackbird

    blackbird Active Member

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    Get the picture! The telephone rings and its somebody from "out of town" whos relative just died. They are asking me to do the funeral(the deceased nor the phone caller were members of my church but they were going to bury the deceased in the church graveyard.)

    I tell them certainly yes! I'll be glad to do what I can!

    Anyway, I'm preaching away--and I get the deceased person's name mixed up! I call her "Mrs. So & So!" when she was really "Mrs. Such and Such!"

    Mercy, I was glad when the funeral was over and that family went back to where they came from!!! Maybe I won't ever see them again! If I do, maybe they won't recognize me--the nephew(the deceased had no sons or daughters) was ready to "knock my block off!" I could see him fumin'--and deep down in my mind I was "brushin' up" on my Karate! "If he makes this move--I'll make this counter-move!"

    Your buddy,
    Blackbird
     
  7. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

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    Always walk tall. We remind people being baptized not to assist us when we take them under. This rather large woman, both weight and height, didn't listen. Just as I was taking her back, she assisted. Two legs flew into the air and we both were submerged. Where are my waterwings? There were two more candidates to go......oh oh!

    Cheers,

    Jim
     
  8. Revelator

    Revelator New Member

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    Once while preachin a sermon from revelations 3 I was talkin about how how we as christians never learn, and really blind we are. I used the illustration even lab monkeys know after they get shocked so many times not to grab that piece of cheese. A lady in the back got really tickled and it got me tickled. My face turned red and I had to avoid her eyes for the rest of the night or else I'd chuckle a bit. :cool:
     
  9. Baptist Believer

    Baptist Believer Well-Known Member
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    I was told of a preacher who was extremely busy and didn't have much time to put together a funeral sermon for an unexpected funeral.

    He decided to preach one of his old standard Sunday morning sermons on the hope of the resurrection.

    Things were going very well with the sermon and he really seemed to be getting through to the family and those close to the deceased. He relaxed as he finished his sermon and decided to end it on a high note with an improvised illustration:

    "Brothers and sisters... all you see here is just a shell... THE NUT IS GONE!!"
     
  10. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    Evangelist Keith Ward was a former Highway Patrolman turned Bible speaker. 6'10".

    He's talking about baby christians and put his thumb in his mouth to pretend like sucking it. But his thumb was dry and stuck to his false teeth upper plate and when he pulled out the thumb, his teeth went flying into the third row.

    Busted the place up!
     
  11. Roy1

    Roy1 New Member

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    It is so easy to twist things around, I once to the young people to flee lustful youths, instead of youthful lusts. The sentiment was still true whatever way you take it.

    I once heard I preacher tell the congregation that the joy rider would come and take them away. He paused a moment and said, no not the joy rider, I meant the undertaker. (eh David)

    Keep on laughing; it is the only way to get through these things.

    Roy.
    [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
  12. Baptist Believer

    Baptist Believer Well-Known Member
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    That's still pretty good advice! [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
  13. amen_corner

    amen_corner New Member

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    I scheduled a baptism service for three new believers. I encouraged them to invited all their family and friends to witness this event in their lives. They did, and we were expected a larger than usual crowd. But I forgot to tell the janitor during the week to fill the baptismal pool with water. In fact, I didn't remember until Sunday School!

    No problem, we'll just fill it up while people are in their SS classes. But the janitor informed me that it takes three days to fill it because of a problem with the water pressure!

    Now I'm in a jam. What will I do? Got to make a decision, and make it fast...so I decided to call the volunteer fire department down the street. Told them my dilemma, and their came, brought their water truck, hauled a huge hose down the center aisle, and filled her up in about 60 seconds!

    Some folks in our small community saw the fire trucks in front of the church and thought that maybe there was a problem. So they got dressed and came to church too! Everybody got baptized, the church was full, and I learned a valuable lesson about responsibility!
     
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