Everyday Heroes
A few days ago now I posted a reflection “When Leaders Fall”. It included an account of Ted Haggard, the Colorado Springs pastor that has fallen morally and now has been dismissed from his church. He has been placed into a position that we in church call “restorative”. Fellow ministers and co-workers will be there to help Ted get back on to his feet. Perhaps some day he will enter the ministry again should all of the restoration be successful.
One of my greatest burdens that I carry as a pastor is for the family of the man that loses his position and life because of sin.
On the side…
In the secular world it doesn’t seem to be this extreme. In church work it is more extreme. If in the secular world a layman is caught telling a lie in his work place, people shroud and say little. They may not respect the man but he will not likely lose his job or his family. Some jobs in that world may even require an acceptable degree of lies(stretched truth..). It is different with ministers however. One lie, or a series of lies, will mean immediate reaction and serious ramifications for him. It is job over.
Over these 32 years that I have been in the ministry I have witnessed the deep and powerful affects of a minister’s sin, lies, cheating, theft, adultery and other more serious immorality problems. I have walked through the long journey with both the husband and wife as restoration takes place. In many case the journey has been very successful.
But in most cases where children have been involved, the kids of the pastor, the wound is very deep. Mom and Dad may stay together and work things out but the kids feel a heaviness few people see.
In my slugging through my own feelings about Ted Haggard and his family I came across an article that was published in the Denver Post following last Sunday’s church meetings. It points to Ted Haggard’s son Marcus who is also now a minister. He is 23 years old and is the pastor a new church of 200 people. It is the Boulder Street Church and a satellite church of New Life Church, where his father was the pastor.
Wow! What an insight into this tragic event. It is entitled “Haggard’s Eldest Son Leads His Own Flock”. (Click on the Link at the bottom of this posting to read the whole article.)
The deep feelings of a minister’s son are caught here for all to see.
Quote….
“On Sunday, he did not speak directly about his father or the revelations that had unfolded since a male prostitute went on radio station KHOW's "Peter Boyles Show" and said he had had sex and sold methamphetamine to Ted Haggard, who has been fired from New Life.
"It's been a very interesting last few days, hasn't it?" Marcus Haggard asked.
Marcus Haggard said Christians could expect "surprises" in their lives, and he implored the 200 people in his church to serve others and not turn "internal."
"I've had to begin processing this, and I've stepped into a pretty clear role in my family and at the church," Marcus Haggard said. "I'm keeping going, I'm trying to stay strong, and at the same time I know I'm having to take time to really process the genuine emotions that are there, that will range from anger, frustration, sorrow, questioning, uncertainty and strength."
He said New Life Church's finest hours were ahead, that its government had worked flawlessly and that the church had received support from around the world.
He implored people to stay strong in their core convictions - faith, love, grace - and be mindful that the world is watching.
"The media spotlight has been on us, and the world is watching, and that is fascinating for us to see because that brings us opportunities to demonstrate what love is like," Marcus Haggard said.
…End quote…
What maturity for a 23 year old, eldest son of a fallen man. This guy is an everyday hero. This is a young man that isn’t different from other young men. He has feelings and attitudes that are 23 years old. His dad has lost all that he has worked for and he is still able to stand tall in the midst of the week’s events.
Oh yes he had strong feelings. The Denver Post article went on to
quoting Marcus….
As a side note, tongue-in-cheek, Haggard said: "My brothers and I concocted a plan to lob paintballs at the news crews sitting outside of our house."
End quote..
Remember this is national news just before a major election. Their dad is considered an important man that has access to the President of the United States. Some of the issues of the election are directly influenced by what his father has done. Their front lawn, their street and their community was flooded with media people along with their cars, trucks, sound crews, and cameramen. It was a zoo.
The last part of the article caught an important reflection of Marcus(and for all minister’s kids I believe). Here it is…
Quote…
The young preacher said he was blogging earlier and in his Web journal told readers he felt like a man who had been sitting in an outdoor cafe, enjoying an espresso, when a car screamed onto the sidewalk.
"Now I think I know what that moment might feel like," he said, "waking up three days later and having been hit by a car and going, 'Wow, the vicissitudes of life."'
End quote…
Here is the exact feeling that so many kids have. So few of us ever consider what the potential peripheral damage for the kids.
However here is a young man that has been called upon by the world for his story. His life reflects the qualities of a hero. He can stand strong in the heat of the fire and help rescue those at risk inside the horror in front of him.
I ask you to pray for Marcus and his family in days to come. He along with his mother, Gayle, will face grinding battles each day as they go about their routines. Think of the supermarket or gas station that they do they business. Think of their bank… or their neighborhood where they live. Everyone knows them. Not everyone cares.
I hope we do.
~ Pastor Murray ~
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
“Haggard’s Eldest Son Leads His Own Flock”
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_4609028
For further reading about this story you may like to check out the following. The link is part of the Christianity Today’s (Magazine) Weblog that discusses issues that are happening now. It may be one of the most powerful voices heard today. This is a collection of articles dealing with Ted Haggard and his failures and removal. The list is long.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/novemberweb-only/145-24.0.html
One of my greatest burdens that I carry as a pastor is for the family of the man that loses his position and life because of sin.
On the side…
In the secular world it doesn’t seem to be this extreme. In church work it is more extreme. If in the secular world a layman is caught telling a lie in his work place, people shroud and say little. They may not respect the man but he will not likely lose his job or his family. Some jobs in that world may even require an acceptable degree of lies(stretched truth..). It is different with ministers however. One lie, or a series of lies, will mean immediate reaction and serious ramifications for him. It is job over.
Over these 32 years that I have been in the ministry I have witnessed the deep and powerful affects of a minister’s sin, lies, cheating, theft, adultery and other more serious immorality problems. I have walked through the long journey with both the husband and wife as restoration takes place. In many case the journey has been very successful.
But in most cases where children have been involved, the kids of the pastor, the wound is very deep. Mom and Dad may stay together and work things out but the kids feel a heaviness few people see.
In my slugging through my own feelings about Ted Haggard and his family I came across an article that was published in the Denver Post following last Sunday’s church meetings. It points to Ted Haggard’s son Marcus who is also now a minister. He is 23 years old and is the pastor a new church of 200 people. It is the Boulder Street Church and a satellite church of New Life Church, where his father was the pastor.
Wow! What an insight into this tragic event. It is entitled “Haggard’s Eldest Son Leads His Own Flock”. (Click on the Link at the bottom of this posting to read the whole article.)The deep feelings of a minister’s son are caught here for all to see.
Quote….
“On Sunday, he did not speak directly about his father or the revelations that had unfolded since a male prostitute went on radio station KHOW's "Peter Boyles Show" and said he had had sex and sold methamphetamine to Ted Haggard, who has been fired from New Life.
"It's been a very interesting last few days, hasn't it?" Marcus Haggard asked.
Marcus Haggard said Christians could expect "surprises" in their lives, and he implored the 200 people in his church to serve others and not turn "internal."
"I've had to begin processing this, and I've stepped into a pretty clear role in my family and at the church," Marcus Haggard said. "I'm keeping going, I'm trying to stay strong, and at the same time I know I'm having to take time to really process the genuine emotions that are there, that will range from anger, frustration, sorrow, questioning, uncertainty and strength."
He said New Life Church's finest hours were ahead, that its government had worked flawlessly and that the church had received support from around the world.
He implored people to stay strong in their core convictions - faith, love, grace - and be mindful that the world is watching.
"The media spotlight has been on us, and the world is watching, and that is fascinating for us to see because that brings us opportunities to demonstrate what love is like," Marcus Haggard said.
…End quote…
What maturity for a 23 year old, eldest son of a fallen man. This guy is an everyday hero. This is a young man that isn’t different from other young men. He has feelings and attitudes that are 23 years old. His dad has lost all that he has worked for and he is still able to stand tall in the midst of the week’s events.
Oh yes he had strong feelings. The Denver Post article went on to
quoting Marcus….
As a side note, tongue-in-cheek, Haggard said: "My brothers and I concocted a plan to lob paintballs at the news crews sitting outside of our house."
End quote..
Remember this is national news just before a major election. Their dad is considered an important man that has access to the President of the United States. Some of the issues of the election are directly influenced by what his father has done. Their front lawn, their street and their community was flooded with media people along with their cars, trucks, sound crews, and cameramen. It was a zoo.
The last part of the article caught an important reflection of Marcus(and for all minister’s kids I believe). Here it is…
Quote…
The young preacher said he was blogging earlier and in his Web journal told readers he felt like a man who had been sitting in an outdoor cafe, enjoying an espresso, when a car screamed onto the sidewalk.
"Now I think I know what that moment might feel like," he said, "waking up three days later and having been hit by a car and going, 'Wow, the vicissitudes of life."'
End quote…
Here is the exact feeling that so many kids have. So few of us ever consider what the potential peripheral damage for the kids.
However here is a young man that has been called upon by the world for his story. His life reflects the qualities of a hero. He can stand strong in the heat of the fire and help rescue those at risk inside the horror in front of him.
I ask you to pray for Marcus and his family in days to come. He along with his mother, Gayle, will face grinding battles each day as they go about their routines. Think of the supermarket or gas station that they do they business. Think of their bank… or their neighborhood where they live. Everyone knows them. Not everyone cares.
I hope we do.
~ Pastor Murray ~
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
“Haggard’s Eldest Son Leads His Own Flock”
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_4609028
For further reading about this story you may like to check out the following. The link is part of the Christianity Today’s (Magazine) Weblog that discusses issues that are happening now. It may be one of the most powerful voices heard today. This is a collection of articles dealing with Ted Haggard and his failures and removal. The list is long.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/novemberweb-only/145-24.0.html
posted by Murray Lincoln at
Friday, November 10, 2006
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