Just want to say something

[Eastern fisher]

I am torn.  Last night my church Minister called me up and told me that I was being voted in as an elder.  Very big honour.  My problem or upset is, if anyone here had read my post on PowWow about "stupid Question"  you would have noticed that inavertanly I got into a heated and name calling arguement over the emails concerning a bow. Now you all did not see the post emails because they are not something I am proud of and would not even had concidered posting them on such a fine family group.  I got VERY upset because the email he sent me was just not called for!!! How can I take such a postition knowing that I can get SOOOO upset and just blurt out nasties when I get mad and then go to church and fill this position???  Does this question even make any sense to you.  I am upset I am letting anger cloud my thought process.

[Ted A. Young]

Eastern Jesus got angry with the money changers in the temple.  I am sure His Father forgave Him so He could continue His work and become the sacrifice on the cross so "we" could be forgiven our short comings.  Pray about it and if the Lord lays the job on you, TAKE IT!

[AnointedArcher]

Well Bro I think it is an excellent question and ligitamite concern. Let's look at what the book of Titus says.

Titus 1:6-7
An elder must live a blameless life. He must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers who don’t have a reputation for being wild or rebellious. 7 For an elder[c] must live a blameless life. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker,[d] violent, or dishonest with money.

So with that in mind, my thought would be if you have a habitual problem with anger and saying things that are not honoring the kingdom, I would say you should not take the Elder's spot at this point in time.

However if this is just an isolated case that does not happen often maybe in the heat of passionate momment then as long as you fit the other qualifications and you feel God leading you then go for.  For we all sin and fall short but it's what we do after we sin that moves us on.

[BenBow]

Prayers for God's leading and assurance of His will in this.

[thp]

by God's grace and guidance you'll do fine.  do it.  your pastor knows you better than you might expect... i say this as a pastor!

[Eastern fisher]

Anointed.  No sir, this is not an ongoing issue.  I have been having allot of health issues (5 surgeries in 30 months) and I think it came to a boil.  I have since emailed him and we both appologized to each other.  I come to find out that he had an ATV accident last week and he was not having a good time in the healing department and he just blew.  As a matter of fact he sent me several site lists from which I might be able to get some bow wood from.  We are cool.  I am NOT one to hold grudges.

[Terry Green]

Originally posted by Ted A. Young:
Jesus got angry with the money changers in the temple.  I am sure His Father forgave

Jesus was the only man to walk on earth that never sinned.  His Father did not have to forgive him for his anger. Being angry at the money changers was not a sin.

Anger is not a sin, its an emotion.

[MW]

I would agree Terry.  Anger is an emotion, it is what you do with it that matters.

A lot of wise statements here!  The fact the you are concerned tells me that your heart is in the right place.  I will keep you in my prayers.

[Doc Nock]

Eastern,

I've watched your posts.  

That said, I think one problem with our approach to religion is to expect more from those who serve as lay leaders and ministers (or whatever you call yours)above and beyond what we demand of ourselves as the congregation.

I think a man who knows his own faults, confesses them, keeps vigilance against those behaviors and grows through Grace, is far more ready to serve than someone who thinks he is like the pharasee (sp?) in the temple...

Remember, God equips those He calls, He doesn't just call those who are equipped! You will only be faultless when you stand before Christ.

Go forth and serve well!

[Mike Bolin]

We are human and we are going to sin. Jesus doesn't want us to sin, but He knows we will. It is how we deal with our sins and leaving them behind...."what sin? What sin? It's as far away as the east is from the west. What sin? What sin? It was gone the very minute you confessed, washed away in the sea of forgetfulness." God Bless, Mike

[Mrs Stickman]

"I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins even to give every man according to his ways and according to the fruits of his doings"  Jer. 17:10

Could be that your heart has been searched and the Lord is giving according to what you have been doing....

[BenBow]

The Bible says to be angry but do not sin. Which indicates as Jesus said so often it is the heart and motives of a man that make something sin.

[Matt Green]

A Leader cannot help but be a teacher - even if only by example.  Teahcers in God's church are held to a higher standard (James 3:1).  The same chapter in James tells us we will never tame our tongue - NOT a reason to forgoe discernment or to strive to be obedient. Your concern is far better than a lack of concern - yet raising the bar in service to our Lord in this way may be the exact challenge He desires for you.  I like the earlier advice - pray over it DILIGENTLY and if lead, take up your cross and go.
Will pray for your decision.
matt Green

[Eastern fisher]

Thank you all.  I am deeply touched at your responses. I will be at church this Sunday morning and will pray for guidence and for all you as my trad friends.  Thank you all SO very much.  Take care, god bless.  Dave from Nova Scotia.

[ber643]

Perhaps over-simplefying but - Everything happens for a reason. Perhaps the one thing needed to happen so you could come face to face with an area that you know you need to watch over - so that you can do the new task provided to you.

[bayoulongbowman]

God made us Man like , we are not perfect ...mark#78

[Johner]

It has already been said that we are not going to be perfect.  We are all going to have our moments and slip and fall there is no question about it.  The question then is what are you going to do once you have fallen.  Are you going to get back up dust yourself off, REPENT, and move on?  Or are you going to beat yourself up.  Just the fact that you have shown a concern for not being the right choice makes you an excellent choice.  The churches that I work with have elders and there are some nightmare stories about what some of these elders have done and are going to do.  The consistent theme is that they don't care.  You obviously do and I pray that you will listen for God's voice and follow His call.  


 Do not grow weary in the work that the Lord has called you to (2 Thess 3)

Chris

[monkeyball]

Eastern,
       I was going to give you my thoughts on your situation but after reading down thru these posts there is nothing left to be said. You have some excellent advice here. I'm praying for you.
                               PRAYING HARD IN PA
                                        Monkeyball