Yesterday, and I'm still not sure how, I managed to break every single preaching rule I ever established for myself (or had suggested by others)
Here's a random sampling:
Ask closed-ended questions fishing for a particular response?
Check!
Ask Bible-knowledge type questions guaranteed to make those new or not-yet-in feel less than smart? Check!
Cryptic references to Christian culture?
Check!
Inside jokes?
Check!
We had three birds that flew into the room part way through. This actually happens a lot. Just about every week...
This week, though, they decided to stay. And chirp. And distract Bob.
So...
Call attention to things that are distracting Bob like chirping birds and screaming babies?
Check and check!
Oh.... and sermon MORE than four pages single-spaced?
Clocking in at a hefty 5 1/2 pages... Check!
And finally: Have trouble sleeping because you are fixated on bad sermon and write obsessive blog article the next morning?
Check!
Man...
I feel like Miss South Carolina...
Wish I could have a do-over :)
Everyone has a bad day now and then! Don't worry about it. I tell my husband (also a pastor) that he is his own worst critic... besides, you can't expect to be perfect ALL the time can you? (ha)
Posted by: Tara Robertson | September 03, 2007 at 09:33 AM
Not to mention the crowd of people milling around for the wedding reception that was happening afterwards. ;)
Posted by: aaron | September 04, 2007 at 08:18 AM
I think the biggest throw was that we had so many first time visitors...and methodists! Let's blame it on the methodists!
...sometimes I wonder if we aren't just monkeys at the church's zoo.
Posted by: starla | September 04, 2007 at 09:25 AM
At least you're preaching right now.
Posted by: Drew Caperton | September 04, 2007 at 08:01 PM
Sorry, sloppy comment:
At least (you can take joy in that) you're preaching [at this point in time]. (So really, things could be worse)
Posted by: Drew Caperton | September 04, 2007 at 08:03 PM