Pastor.

What comes to mind when you hear that word? What characteristics of Pastors pop into your head? What clothing does Pastor wear? What does Pastor do for fun? What music does Pastor listen to? What makes Pastor different than Joe and Jane?

I’ve never wanted to be the “normal” Pastor. Alas, I’ve often succeeded in that desire and goal, but too often in ways that I’m embarrassed to talk about. (“What?! A Pastor shouldn’t say that!” is often the category in which those embarrassing moments are found.)

I still remember when one young lady, after meeting me for the first time and hearing my take on something very deep and Theological, approached me and said, “You know, you’re certainly not like any other Pastor I’ve met.” To be honest, I didn’t swell with pride – the way she hit the word “certainly” didn’t communicate that this was a positive observation.

So, what does a normal Pastor look like? I don’t know. I am not one. (See previous paragraph!) But I do know what I look like, what I enjoy, who I am. In an effort to better introduce myself to the faithful Patch readers, I’m going to take a couple of posts to tell you how abnormal I really am.

I think the best way to start this “mini-series” is by defining myself like this:

As a Pastor, I am not God, or special, or uber-holy. I am just a guy who is studying and teaching God’s Word, the Bible, by God’s grace. Anything good that is in me or that I have done is not sourced in me, but in the God who loves me and showed me mercy by sending Jesus to die for me. Because He did that, I’m all in, holding nothing back…that’s who I am.