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How Not to Shepherd Visitors
Today I’m happy to welcome Aussie guest blogger Anna Stoyanoff. You can read her bio below. Have you ever felt like the only person in the room troubled by what someone is saying? Recently I had such an experience, looking around at the nods and thoughtful note-taking of others and thinking, Aren’t they hearing how disturbing this is? As I sat through training for ministry workers about what to do when visitors attend church, the speakers used Christian language: “We want to love them well.” They spoke a lot about being shepherds and caring for sheep. If only they’d described the kind of shepherd Jesus was…. Instead, they went on…
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But What if They Smell Like Pee
In his renowned work, "They Smell Like Sheep" Dr. Lynn Anderson challenges all of us to lead like Christ, the good shepherd. (John 10:14) He insists, "while the term 'shepherd' produces warm images of love, care, and tenderness, it also describes a form of leadership that is perilously protective, dangerous, dirty, and smelly." Essentially the book goes on to say that true discipleship is no walk in the park, rather, if you are truly going to be a shepherd you must become well acquainted with the muck and mire of the sheep. The concept of being fully invested in the lives of sheep has been paramount in my own life…
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Why Worry? OR The Theology of Sheep
I am always amazed at the “sheepness” of the big horn sheep that live in the mountain property of the Navigators at Glen Eyrie in Colorado. Observing these beautiful animals, they do exactly what God intended them to do. They are sheep. They live in sheep rhythm. They graze. They walk. They stay together. They climb the mountain rocks in front of the castle and “perform” for the guests. They sleep. They mate. They take care of their young. They get old. But, I don’t think they worry. Why should they worry? They are the picture of living worry free simply being who God designed them to be and trusting…
