Ellie, TV star

One of the major changes that I have endured in the change from a traditional worship pastor to the leader of a "Modern," "Contemporary," "Theatrical," "Experiencial," or whatever the heck style of worship we now offer has been the lies told at the end of the service. In traditional worship the service ends with the minister standing in the doorway listening to some whoppers that would make the most fanatical fisherman proud. Things like; "Preacher you really inspired me this morning with your words," this from the man who you saw clearly from the pulpit snoring throughout the message!" Or; "I have never heard a more impressive sermon!" from a man you know never darkened the doors of a church before. While a part of my mind always knew that these comments and compliments were bogus or at best only well intentioned. They still fueled my ego and during bad weeks (when the offerings were down or the complaints were up) they kept me going.
In my current church I am in the midst of a record setting run. For the past six weeks no one has commented on my sermon at all. At the end of the service everyone dashes out the back doors of the worship center to see if there are still any donuts and coffee left while I am left standing in front of the stage looking at their backs. It's not that the parishioners don't enjoy what I say and the production that surrounds it; it is just that they have no history of building up preachers with false praise so they just go on their way. On a really good day they might discuss the service over latte's at Starbucks.
I have adapted to this reality. I have determined that I can live with my own evaluations of the message and service. I know when things have gone well or not. I still suspect God knows also. I have learned that when the staff doesn't criticize my delivery or some point that might offend "seekers" like when I refer to the closing hymn and not one soul in the place knows what I am talking about, then things have gone well. I have been rather proud of this growth of my internal strength.
Then my dog ruined everything!
Last week we taped a new devotional for our weekly television program. In this episode I put on my quail hunting gear and took my 9 year old German Shorthaired Pointer, Ellie, out to do the shoot. In the taping I sat on the tailgate of my truck (a Honda Ridgeline, after all I'd love to have a sponsor!!) with Ellie sitting beside me.
I introduced her to the audience and talked about how she loves to hunt and that she is never prouder or more happy than when she is hunting because then she is doing what God created her to do. My point was that we all need to discover what God created us to do.
We finished taping and I went back to the office. And the hurting began. A couple of the staff were wowed by Ellie. They begged to go outside and meet her. They talked about how cute she was and how well she had carried out her role in the production. (Now just how difficult can it be to sit on a tailgate and look loveable?) They raved over her.
That would have been bad enough but it didn't stop with the staff. Two members had driven by and seen us out doing the taping. They too wanted to meet Ellie. They too raved.
On Sunday morning five more people who had been told by the staff or the formerly mentioned members (I didn't have the courage to ask who had talked) wanted to tell me how pretty and well behaved they heard Ellie was. She was and is a heroine. People who can't talk to me to compliment my hours and hours of work on a sermon, come dashing up to brag on my dog!
Such is the life of a contemporary preacher. My dog has more star power than me!
I know humility is seen as a wonderful goal, but does God have to rub my nose in it?
The adventure continues.
God's best,
Bill