Hi all,
Thank you to those who have given a vote of Friendship. We may sometimes have to agree to disagree - but, that should never divide us as believers. And, Chick, my Friend, thank you for giving them an opportunity to speak up.
Funny how Chick started out on the subject of the fallen pastor in Montgomery -- but, just could not get past her admiration of me to discuss the subject which caused her to post. Regarding that pastor, if he is a true believer - he will have to stand before Christ at the Believers' Judgment and discuss this with Him. And, that will be a thousand times harder than telling the congregation.
Quail, you joke about the Sheffield Standpipe. It was June, not August -- but, you got very close to the truth. On the night before I was to leave for the Air Force, my high school girlfriend and I did park up there to talk and watch the stars - nothing else.
Didn't see her again for about ten years - until I bumped into her at the Sacramento airport as I was boarding a flight - and her dad was on the same flight. She was there with all her children and we only had a brief moment to exchange phone numbers before I had to board. But, we remained in contact over the years and about 25 years ago, she and her husband, Bill, were in Southern Cal. Dory and I met them for drinks near Disneyland. She and I are Facebook Friends now.
But, back to this "pastor" who slept with people in his congregation. A pastor has to protect himself from such temptations and from being trapped in even an appearance of such indiscretions. I recall reading about Billy Graham, when he traveled, always had one of his entourage enter his hotel room before Billy would enter. Why? To protect him from being trapped.
My senior pastor, the man who led me to the Lord 27 years ago - always had a firm rule. He would not counsel a female without his wife being in the room. I learned from him the need to be careful and very discrete.
My wife has young piano/voice students come to our home. But, it is always when both of us are there - or the child's mother is there. I will not allow a child to come into my home when I am alone and the mother is not with him/her.
Just last week, Dory had a young boy student scheduled for 4:00 PM. For those of you who do not know -- Southern Cal has been in a 100 degree plus heatwave for several weeks. On this day, Dory was away, not expecting the boy until 4:00 PM. Suddenly, at 3:30 PM he was standing at my door, looking wilted from the heat. His mother had dropped him off early.
Looking at the boy standing there in the heat -- I could not tell him to wait outside until Dory arrived. So, I let him come in and collapse in the cool room. And, I immediately told him that I had to go check my mail. I went to our complex office and stayed there talking with the folks in the office until Dory came home and called me on my cell phone. Then, she and I went into our home for her piano lesson.
That is called not allowing ourselves be in a situation where anyone could make false accusations. And, this is how any responsible adult, especially a Christian believer, should handle such situations.
But, Chick, thank you for remembering me.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
