This week

This week started out kind of tough.  My wife's friend she had from childhood is in the hospital, dying of Cander.  3 weeks ago she cam and visited my church.  She has fought cancer for about 6 years.  Now there is no more they can due for her.  She is 59 years old. Yesterday, I co-officiated a funeral for some friend's of mine's mother. Saturday, I have a wedding to do for a couple.  She has breat cancer, has had surgery already and she starts chemo and radiation 2 weeks after the wedding. I got another call today to do a funeral Sat. but had to decline due to the wedding being the same day. The ministerial alliance can't cover the Nursing Home devotions tomorrow so, I am covering for them and I am not a member of their alliance. I have been a minister and Pastor now for 33 years and it amazes me of the coldness of some of these "Professional Preachers" that I have dealt with over the years.  They seem to have llittle or no compassion for people.  They just do their sermons on Sunday, receive their salaries, liive in their homes furnished by these churches and that is it!!!! I guess they think this is an occupation rather than a calling and in my opinion, there is a vast difference.  I visit people in the hospitals and nursing homes that aren't even members of my church.  I have prayer with them, are at the hospital for them when they have surgery, etc. because I care about them.  I pastor a church. and I refused a salary from them.  I make my own house payment, utilities, taxes, etc.  My church gives me a credit card for gas and car repairs.  I have never charged for a revival, a funeral, speaking a a Church Camp, or a wedding in the 33 years I have been a minister. I have never been in the ministry for money.  I hve always worked a secular job until I retired a year ago last Oct.  I live on my Social Security and my retirement from my previous employers.  I guess it's not surprising that many people just don't care much about going to church anymore and are kind of leery of "preachers".  I can kind of understand where they are coming from.  I guess I am "different that most of these "Professional Preachers" and you know, I guess I am glad I am "different".