I will be off-line for a few days.  Doc wants me to have both and upper and lower GI Scope, so both will be done tomorrow.

No sleep tonight, those of you that have been through these know that there is a ‘cleansing’ that takes place and it keeps you close to the bathroom.

When I went in a few days ago for the consultation I was sitting in the exam room waiting for the doctor.  A young high school aged looking person comes in and introduces herself as the Doctor that will be performing the procedures.

She covers all the different things that they will be doing and the risks involved, etc.

Do I have any questions?  Always do, more out of orneriness than seeking real knowledge.

Is the device used the same for upper and lower GI?  “NO.”  Then when she realized I was pulling her leg she said, “We will make sure we rinse it off before using it again.” 

Forgot to ask which procedure they will be using FIRST.

How many of these have you done?  “Lots of them.”  Then as she looked at me for a moment,  “But, doctor ? will be there with me and has done hundreds of them.”

Have you ever had any problems?  “NO”

Then it is about time, right?  Always a hesitation, no matter which doctor I have asked that, then “No, there should be any problems” or something to that effect. 

Anyway, they have to knock me out and it seems like I am out of it for two or three days, will come back on when I get out of the fog.

2 Corinthians 6:4-11 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

⁵ In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

⁶ By pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

⁷ By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

⁸ By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;

⁹ As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;

¹⁰ As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

¹¹ O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.

Good start for a minister of God’s job description, don’t cha think?

Now we add, visit those in the hospital and parishioners in their home at least once or twice a year.

Be there for every birth and death.

Be there for every celebration of any importance, (to be determined by each parishioner.)

Be friendly to everyone and listen when they tell you what to do, then do what they want.  Even if it conflicts with what someone else wants.

Don’t let anyone buffalo you, except for those that give a lot of money to the church.

Be a real scholar of the Bible, but don’t speak in too lofty of terms.

Don’t preach anything that makes people uncomfortable.

The list goes on and on.  After all, the minister is a man of God, and a servant – of the congregation – right?  So, we should expect only perfection from him.

The job description of a Christian is far easier.

Show up at church.  Look pious.  Tell the preacher exactly what you think of his sermons and teaching, especially if you think he is wrong – after all criticism helps him improve.

Throw a few coins in the offering plate.

Stand on the promises of God, or at least what you can remember of them since you don’t have to read the Bible, just listen to the sermons.  Pray once in a while. 

Don’t let your religion interfere with your daily activities, especially when it comes to work.

‘bout does it, right?

Oh, wait a minute, the first verse of that chapter says, We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

As workers together with Him.

All too frequently we expect our ministers to be doing everything and the rest of Christianity just calls them to action as they feel they are needed.

But Paul makes it clear we are workers together with Him; no separation between ministers and other Christians.

To be sure there are other verses in the Bible that describe what we should look for in Deacons, Elders, Bishops and other church leaders.

God recognizes there are different talents and He gives different gifts for us to use in proclaiming His gospel; ALL of us.

WE do ‘hire’ ministers because they have studied and have a better knowledge of God’s Word than most of us, we ask them to teach and guide us, do things that are more difficult for us – either because of time or skill constraints - but they are servants of God, not of man and not subject to the whims of a congregation.

Each of us is expected to serve God.  Each of us is expected to listen to the Holy Spirit, read God’s Word, pray and then do.

Whatever we look for in a minister, we must also look for in our hearts; because the basic job description of a minister is the same for every Christian. 

Later, Art :-)