Red Robin

I had lunch with a pastor friend the other day. Pastor friends are hard to come by. In a profession where you would think that the best of Christianity is on display, you often witness some very human attitudes. Jealousy and arrogance are often fueled by ambition and ego. I get so tired of hearing about how some one's denomination is better than yours, some one's church is better than yours, some one's approach to ministry is better than yours. I just don't deal well with pretentiousness. Why can't we all just get along? Why can't we all work for the common good? Aren't we all on the same team?

So I am having lunch at Red Robin with Ken L. Great man. Big heart. Ken was instrumental in getting us involved with CVV, Camino Verdad Verdida, our Hispanic sister church. Ken has a great history of being involved in missions.

So we are talking to the server, [one of the Brinkman girls] and we are talking to each other about church stuff. Mission trips, solving problems and future plans. A young couple next to us is taking their check. They pop into our conversation.

"Are you guys pastors?"
And the discussion is on. Here is what happened.

Ken and I both told them a little bit about our churches and celebrated the other's church as well as our own. The young couple was impressed that two pastors were getting along. They had some history with pastoral ego. We had a nice positive discussion, they wrote down worship times for both, and they were on their way.

I don't know what was cooler, having a random discussion with strangers about church, or partnering with another pastor to invite them to either or church.

In retrospect, two men put the interests of God's kingdom before their own.
The young couple went away with a more positive view of pastors.
The bonds of friendship were increased.
The server got a big fat tip.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.