Pastor Troy's Column

God is willing to make the best of us, but we have to be willing to give Him the worst of us.

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24

In one of my churches, I had a man who was called up to go to war in Iraq. It was a sad and terrifying time for everyone. He had a wife and two little kids and one night I took him to dinner and he told me his fears.

“I’m not worried about myself,” he said. “I’m worried about what will happen to my family while I’m gone.”

I’m sure that thousands of our brave men and women in the military have said the same thing. Their worries are about the family that they leave behind.

To honor him and to reassure him that the church will watch over his family I told him that the church would do something to show our commitment to his family and give him a little piece of mind.

The next day, the Bishop called and asked me to move to another church that needed someone with our gifts and graces. My wife, boys and I went to go meet with this new church. They had a wonderful dinner for us and we had an amazing time. We wouldn’t be moved for another month so when we got back to our old church, I started to plan for the special worship service with my friend in the military.

That next Sunday, to illustrate the covenant between my friend’s family and the church, I let my friend shave my head while I preached. Pastors are always getting requests to get a pie in the face or be in a dunking booth. It seems that every youth group fundraiser always involved the pastor getting something done. But this was special. And, I actually liked my head being shaved. (My wife hates it.)

While getting things ready to move, I made a few deals to downsize and in one of my deals, I ended up with a Harley motorcycle. I hadn’t had a motorcycle since I was a teenager and as I drove it back home, I missed the freedom it represented.

Shaved head.

Harley motorcycle.

When we went to visit our new church, I had a full head of hair and we drove an SUV.

So on my first Sunday at the new church, I pulled up to the church on my Harley. (Did I mention it was loud?) I parked in the spot that said, “Pastor Parking.” When I entered the church, I walked into the Sanctuary and it was filled with people wanting to meet the new pastor. Instead of smiling warm faces, everyone had a look of total terror. I stopped at the door, taken aback by the looks on their faces and realized why.

“I’m the new pastor!” I said in a loud voice.

When I said that a collective sigh went across the congregation. They had thought some biker gang guy had come in and parked in the new pastor’s parking spot.

Eventually my hair grew back. I also grew out of my Harley phase and went back to driving a truck, but years later, when we moved to a new church, the congregation still talked about the day that a biker gang came to their church and parked in the preacher’s spot.

My appearance made me look like someone that didn’t belong in a pulpit. But once they got to know me, they knew my heart belonged to Jesus.

Too often in life we judge by appearances and don’t take the time to get to know people. Thank God that Jesus never did that. Just think where we would be.

Let’s pray.

Gracious Lord, be with us today. Help us to see the hearts of others. Help us to show others our heart as well. Help us to reflect the heart of Jesus in all that we say and do. In the powerful name of Jesus we pray. Amen.