My meeting with the pastor.

Well, pastor came late. No apology given but God says love covers a multitude of sins. On to the points made in the meeting.

• My sending of emails to him (especially those on speaking in tongues) signal my approval/fascination with false doctrine. This sounded a bit way out to me but it was his opinion. I was at pains to clarify my intentions as he seems convinced I'm a heretic. ( I wonder how he would treat benny hinn... )
• He doesn't believe that the cell group serves any useful purpose to the teens in there. This is based on his OPINION. I objected to his assertion though as I don't think he took the time to FULLY know what is being done in class. The most that he would offer (positively) about the group is that "...the cell group PROBABLY has a MINUTE effect on their spiritual growth." Ouch!
  
• He seems to believe that since I have "spiritual issues", I can't be a leader. I guess that means none of his "leaders" have spiritual issues? Or I'm the only one who has to crucify flesh daily in this church? Hope not. That would mean that everyone else is dead.
• He was curious about my relationship with the parents. Hope he wasn't disappointed on my response to the positive (some more than others) concerning the depth of my relationship with the parents.
• He believes that I "harbour" the young people around my van during church time. How? I'm upstairs during church. Plus I park in the shade besides the ice-cream man. Where else WOULD they be around? I didn't want to remind him that the biggest time-wasters are led by one of his elders' sons. Didn't want to sound too rude. Plus not the time/place for it.
• I'm not integrating well in the church. Huh? How much more can I integrate? What is integration in pastoral parlance? Explanation wasn't forthcoming. Seems I need to start bum-rushing the pulpit or something!
  
• He asked about my spiritual progress over the past 2 years. No problem there. I answered him.

In summary, I think I will need to ask God to show the pastor the purpose of the group and to declare His Will in it. What a challenge!. Oh well, it's just you & me, God. Your project, I just do the fieldwork. I left feeling a bit dejected/rejected but I guess most great leaders go through this phase plus Chris reminded about he & Rev. Lue so it happens to a lot of people. I WILL be a great leader someday. The only thing that REALLY saddens me is that Pastor is putting forth as facts mere opinion and I think that;s unfair to my guys. But what to do? I guess the generation gap is still alive & kicking but God is ALWAYS in control. Hope I can survive him and the other old people. God, I need MORE grace. Later.