Thursday is my major sermon writing day. My goal is to get it completed by Thursday evening so I can concentrate on the routine areas of worship preparation for Sunday. As this day rolls around, my family ducks for cover. Why? Because, like most pastors, I am hunting for good sermon illustrations. Often, I look for real life stories from our home that people can relate to.
However, I don’t always check with the family to make sure they approve of which stories I share. There have been times when I realized I needed to ask forgiveness from Stacy or the children for embarrassing them. Thankfully, they have always been very forgiving.
But, will I ever learn my lesson? Hopefully.
Anyway, I am thankful Stacy is a little more understanding than the pastors’ wives in this little video.
Back to sermon prep! Where is Stacy?
(h/t – Tim)
Mr. McDonald,
You probably don’t realize it, but the tune that is associated with the song in the pastor’s wife video is a rather vile secular song. Just thought you might want to warn your readers not to go around humming the tune.
By: Mary on April 24, 2008
at 2:51 pm
Thanks Mary. Stacy just discovered that as well. Looks like I can be my own sermon illustration this week!
Most of the music that drifts through our home is classical, Celtic, or psalms and hymns. I am often out of touch with anything popular. Even though Luther is said to have used bar tunes for his hymns, I am not sure if this one can be redeemed.
Folks – I pray you enjoy the video – but as Mary cautions, steer clear of the original piece.
Blessings,
By: James McDonald on April 24, 2008
at 2:59 pm
Yikes! I’ve read Stacy’s blog and I’m sure she doesn’t share these ladies (in the video) attitudes.
My husband is a pastor as well and he has been known to look for his sermon illustrations close to home. So far when he uses me as the illustration he has always painted me in a very good light. Many times he makes me sound more gracious than I actually am.
By: Sherri Lackey on April 24, 2008
at 7:16 pm
I’m a brit – minister’s wife. This is too ambivalent to appeal to my British sense of humour but I’d be tempted to write a satirical spoof. Very thought provoking – and thanks for posting.
Can see it as having potential as a discussion starter in a pastoral conference, but it would need a skilled facilitator to open up the deficit of interpersonal skills which can plague ministry marriages, especially in a context with emotionally drained delegates.
The failure to relate is as sharp as a dagger in this, isn’t it?
By: virtualnexus on April 24, 2008
at 7:29 pm
Interesting video. Reminds me how glad I am to have a woman as pastor at my church! I do so loathe hearing sermons that contain familial anectdotes that have nothing to do with deeper spiritual lessons. It embarrasses all of us. In general and since childhood, the male pastors i have known seem so concerned with being funny and likeable that they tend to blow off providing real sustenance to their church.
By: poetreearborist on April 24, 2008
at 9:36 pm
Re: those Luther “bar tunes” in your previous comment
You may enjoy knowing that “bar tune” is a misnomer; it should be “bar form”, refering to a metrical hymn with regular stanzas, a form in which he wrote many original compositions.
I know Luther was a jolly fellow, but no doubt his joy grew from his being filled with the Spirit rather than tavern spirits.
*chuckle*
By: Pamela on April 25, 2008
at 2:26 am
Good point Pam. Luther was a creative fellow. Also, with Katie in the house, I doubt he had to go search for a pint.
Hey, y’all should come down next month! Presbytery will be here in May.
By: James McDonald on April 25, 2008
at 2:52 am
Hi Poet,
You probably know that our church and denomination hold to a biblical view of church offices. The Bible does not allow women to be pastors. But then again, the Bible shows Jesus using familial anecdotes in His sermons and parables. I do not see Him as embarrassed, although the Pharisees certainly were. I am not sure which male pastors you have listened to in your time, but the ones I fellowship with preach the Word, in season and out of season. Illustrations are not used for humor, they are used to communicate a point.
I do not offer this to dismiss what you have shared – but rather to encourage you to search the Scriptures. You may be missing out on much that Jesus would have for you.
Grace and peace,
By: James McDonald on April 25, 2008
at 2:59 am
James,
How often I my heart has bled for these precious women who sit in support of their husband pastor/teachers only to be wounded time and time again. I’m sure I’ve hurt my wife many times too. As husbands who are called to love our wives, may we be not only open to rebuke but I pray God would open our eyes to what this humorous video has to say to all of us. I pray I will always be my wife’s most vocal advocate!
Blessings,
Allen Shropshire
By: Fourshrops on April 29, 2008
at 1:03 pm
I thought this was hilarious! In response to some of the previous comments here: Why do we take ourselves so seriously? Why can’t we just laugh at something because it is SO true? What these 3 ladies did is so funny! Thank you for posting this video! I’m going to be sure to show my husband as he will be preaching this Sunday! LOL
By: Jennifer on May 2, 2008
at 3:52 pm
Hi Jennifer,
I thought it was funny as well. But then again, I have a strange sense of humor!
I can say, as a pastor, that humorous anectdotes such as this do indeed have a basis in fact. It is important to watch what we say. I have had to apologize for careless remarks in the past. I am sure I will in the future as well.
Nevertheless, the song made me roll with laughter.
I pray your husband enjoys the video as much as I did.
Peace,
By: James McDonald on May 2, 2008
at 3:56 pm
As a pastor, you should be ashamed posting that ungodly video.
By: ernie on October 27, 2009
at 5:33 pm
Hi Ernie – thanks for your kind thoughts. I suppose we have a different view on humor.
By: James McDonald on October 28, 2009
at 4:11 pm