My friend and fellow trustee Rick Thomposon's blog contained an interesting story about a pastor in Africa who drowned attempting to play Jesus in front of his congregation.
An evangelist who tried replicating Jesus' miracle of walking on water has reportedly drowned off the western coast of Africa. Pastor Franck Kabele, 35, told his congregation he could repeat the biblical miracle, and he attempted it from a beach in Gabon's capital of Libreville. 'He told churchgoers he'd had a revelation that if he had enough faith, he could walk on water like Jesus,' an eyewitness told the Glasgow Daily Record. 'He took his congregation to the beach saying he would walk across the Komo estuary, which takes 20 minutes by boat. He walked into the water, which soon passed over his head and he never came back.'
Lessons from Africa:
(1). The wise pastor promises nothing and does much, the foolish pastor promises much and does nothing.
(2). None of us pastors is really like Jesus, no matter how much we try to tell our people we are.
(3). When you feel a little overwhelmed today remember this: Somewhere out there in the Atlantic is a pastor who is in it deeper than you.
In His Grace,
Wade
11 comments:
Wade,
Your cracking me up:
"The wise pastor promises nothing and does much, the foolish pastor promises much and does nothing."
Thats great!
Tim Cowin
Wade Burleson,
I love your humor. You are one cool guy. Thanks for being a role model for all of us.
May your tribe increase in the SBC.
Wade,
My thoughts as I looked at this blog were twofold. First, this is just what I needed at the beginning of the day. It reminded me of some things and brightened my morning a little. Second, "wow, only two comments?" (I really thought this was going to be a little like a Church of Christ message, they always end up on baptism somehow.) Is it only controversy that revs up the bloggers?
Thanks for the break,
Steve Young
wade,
this is very good. tragic for the guy, but good stuff for us to learn from. thanks for a good post.
from irenic volfan007
Volfann,
Miracles do happen!
:)
Just kidding. Thanks for the nice words and kind comment.
Your brother in Christ,
wade
when i was 9 years old i tried that at the public pool. never made it past that first step. maybe my faith wasn't sufficent for i made sure i new how to swim and i never began at the deep end. :)
I, too, laughed at the story. In today's cynical world, however, had he actually been able to walk on water someone on the shore would have murmered, "It is obvious. The guy doesn't know how to swim!"
My best to you and yours.
There are, roughly speaking, two types of revelation that men receive.
- Pizza revelation: due to spice-rich food eaten to close to bedtime, powerfully vivid dreams can occur that, at the time, seem revelatory, but when you wake up you're not so sure.
- Obvious revelation: this is the stuff that you claim God revealed to you. Your wife, in turn, is convinced that God did tell you because she's been trying to tell you the same thing for years but with no visible effect. Conclusion: if you listened, it must have been God talking.
I almost feel guilty for laughing!
What! By now I thought someone would have written that the man forgot where God said the rocks were.
I take a dim view when someone is always telling what God told them. They use God to fortify what they want.
Reminds me of Peter’s belief being rejected by “For it was the Holy Spirit’s decision—and ours…” (Acts 15:28)
Steve—is that enough controversy to rev up the bloggers?
Rex Ray
Bryan Riley,
I could not find your email so I am going to ask Wade to let me break his comment thread here to say something to you.
It is not often that I agree with things you say, although you do say things I believe from time to time.
I just read an exchange between you and Volfan7 and I understand Vol and what he is saying, but that is not the point I want to make here.
My point is that I think you have more sand and simply honesty than any person I read in Blog Town.
You are not a theologian and that is a verified fact, but you are truly a man seeking the heart of God and that is a greater verified fact.
Any preacher worth his keep would rather have you working with him than five theologians any day of the week. Keep reading the Word and keep praying and the theology will fall in place, but never let anything cool your heart for God. Honest Christian men are hard to find in this world, especially in our (SBC) part of it. I hope to met you someday and buy you lunch if you would care to eat with a guy like me.
I just wanted to say those things to you. Now, remember I may attack you the next time I speak to you so don't become at ease:-)
IN CHRIST FREE,
cb
PS Next time you talk to the Lord speak a word of intercession on my behalf. I really believe you are heard. The Lord teaches that He hears a pure heart and I have never met, or rather, read anyone as transparent as you.
Wade, forgive the break in the theme of this comment thread I just needed to say that to ole Bryan.
Post a Comment