That Woman Pastor
 
Author: Lin Wurzbacher Created: 9/2/2010 12:55 PM RssIcon
Pastor Lin's Blog
By Lin Wurzbacher on 1/16/2011 9:04 AM

Just recently, I sense a change in the wind beginning for acceptance of women in Church leadership in America. Yes, a few Christian denominations have been supporting women for quite some time. There are other denominations that 'claim' to support them, but reality shows their support is often weak or close to non-existent at times.

Like my husband is fond of saying, talk is cheap. As much as many denominations and famous leading pastors want to say (when they're backed into a corner) that they support women as leaders in the church, there is often little evidence in their own ministries  to back up their claim.

To me, it's like the elephant in the room that no ones ready to talk about.

Why not?

By Lin Wurzbacher on 1/2/2011 7:33 PM
Random, scattered thoughts....

I saw a show on the science channel recently about black holes and dark matter. I'm fascinated with physics and astronomy and like to study it in my spare time.  In High School, physics was my favorite subject and my average was 99 at the end of the year. Not sure why it fascinates me so much but I feel like it gives me a different view of God somehow.

Like many people at this time of year, I'm missing loved ones who've already gone home to be with the Lord.  I miss my Dad.  And I miss my life-long best friend Lauri.  She always called me on Christmas morning and I sooo miss that phone call.  Her birthday was Dec. 30th and we spent 80% of every new year's eve together since we were five. I will miss her every day of my life....

I threw out my back last week and it's been a painful week to say the least.  Sure hope this week is better.

I've really been missing being a creative writer lately.  I came across some short fiction stories I wrote ten years ago and it stirred something inside of me.  I also starting reading a novel I started writing ten years ago.  I actually thought it wasn't too bad and wondered if I should finish it.....

...
By Lin Wurzbacher on 12/15/2010 8:47 AM

About every six months or so, I go in to a time of deep prayer and ask God once again for an affirmation of what He's called me to do....

It often seems to happen when I'm going through a time of frustration or plain old weariness. Sometimes it happens when I've gotten hurt by others. I know when my attitude isn't right and I know I must go deep with God to surrender it and make sure I'm doing what He's asked me to do and not gotten off course.

Early last Spring was such a time for me.  I went to what has become my special God place at Mendon Ponds Park.  I read my Bible.  I worshipped.  I prayed.  I walked.  I talked.  I listened and once again, God spoke.

I was lifting my hands up to heaven and crying out loud to God: "Lord, what do you want  me to do?" 

I heard Him say, "LOOK!" I opened my eyes and right in front of me was a huge branch sticking straight up out of the snow.  I immediately reached out and grabbed the four foot branch.  As I stood looking at it, wondering what it meant, I saw my shadow on the parking lot in front of me.  The stick had a big curve on the end and my shadow looked like a shepherd holding a shepherd's staff. Wow!

I immediately got the message.  The same words I had been hearing from the Lord for years. "Feed My Lambs. Tend my Sheep (John 21:16). Shepherd My flock."

It seemed like time stopped as I stood there, staring at my shadow and feeling the power and presence of the LORD flow through me like waves of a strong electric current. It felt like God was recharging my weary soul somehow and that is exactly how I've felt ever since.

The Shepherd's staff now sits in the corner of my office as a reminder to me.  The enemy continually wants us to make it all about us and it's not about us, it's all about following Christ and doing what He's called each of us to do.

I believe everyone has a unique and specific calling on their life from God.  Too many pastors try to apply formulas to their lives or try too hard to be someone they're not.  God has repeatedly told me through the years to simply be who I am, who He has made me.  He tells me He made me the way I am on purpose for His purpose. 

Of course, we are all to continue to grow and mature in the Spirit. But God has created us all different and incredibly unique. 

It's taken me a long time to come to terms with some things.  So many voices out there tell us we should be this way or be that way.  Voices that say if you're not doing things a certain way, or seeing specific kind of results, then you've failed and you should give up or do something else .  One well-known author and pastor once told me that I should quit ministry all together. God have mercy on him because that's not what God told me! God said, persevere! Keep going! Love one person at a time! If you love me, tend my lambs and let me take care of the rest.

These days, I look out at our congegration and I praise the God who was, and is, and will always be the God of incredible miracles.  I can't believe how much our church has grown recently. I see so much growth in many individuals as well. People that have had victory over addictions.  People that have found faith in Christ for the first time.  People who have learned to forgive.  People who have been healed from so much heartache. Miracle after miracle!  It's absolutely amazing!

We feel like a wonderful, loving family of God and that is exactly what we have become, thanks be to God! He continues to breathe new life in our church every week.  I feel so sorry for people who don't have a church and are missing out on the most wonderful, incredible experience they could imagine.

Stay on the course friend.  Persevere through all the hard and difficult moments in ministry and life.  Don't give up!  Don't listen to the other voices in the world.  Listen only to what God's voice is telling YOU to do and just do it!  Be yourself.  Give yourself GRACE! And don't forget to ENJOY the journey because it is definitely a journey. God will be with you every step of the way and with His help, you'll be AMAZED at what He's building through your hands and heart!

Merry Christmas!

Please leave me a note on this blog if you were blessed by this!

 

 

By Lin Wurzbacher on 12/2/2010 9:14 AM

This video is taken with my new camera.  A little shaky as I'm not the best videographer but still, think our worship team is very amazing!

By Lin Wurzbacher on 11/30/2010 10:33 AM

 

By Lin Wurzbacher on 11/20/2010 3:52 PM
Pastors must go beyond simple platitudes when ministering in wake of a suicide



By Rheta Murry

It certainly was a difficult funeral service, but also an amazing opportunity to share the Gospel with people who were far from God andbring hope at that time.  Lin Wurzbacher, senior pastor ofBlessed Hope Community Churchin Webster, N.Y.

WEBSTER, N.Y....
By Lin Wurzbacher on 11/18/2010 9:43 AM
I often think of the calling and gifting of being a leader in God's church as a double-edge sword.  As leaders, we are incredibly passionate and driven to see the people of God (and the church as a whole) growing in spiritual maturity and producing more spiritual fruit. That calling and passion keeps us awake at night and keeps us on our knees seeking God's constant guidance and blessing.

It is that passion and drive that comes from God that gives us energy and strength to keeps us continually seeking to move God's people in a forward direction.  But it feels like a double-edged sword at times.  On one side, we see the vision of how much better people's lives could be.  We see the potential for good and for abundant fruit for the Kingdom that seems so close to one's grasp.  But on the other side, we also see the selfishness and the stubbornness that keeps people from moving forward in their journey of faith and that can feel so frustrating at times.

And it's not about judging other people for where...
By Lin Wurzbacher on 11/8/2010 9:35 AM

 

Dear God,

Thank you so much that you have again reminded me that what I do is what I was born to do!

Yes, just at this moment I'm realizing that You have again answered my prayer. Last week I was feeling down and discouraged.  I was once again questioning my calling as I so often have through the years.  Lord, please forgive me for that! Forgive me that after all this time you still have to say to me, "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?”(Matt. 8:26).

Last week, I knew my attitude had somehow gone wrong.  I was feeling weary of doing good.  I hadn't been spending enough time with you in quiet prayer and I wasn't getting my daily bread in the right amount and the result was that I felt tired and frustrated and so not filled with grace.

By Lin Wurzbacher on 11/4/2010 4:20 PM

How hard is it to be a church planting pastor / senior pastor?

It's the absolute hardest thing I've ever done in my life! There is no doubt in my mind that I could not, would not do this in my own strength. 

One of the things that makes it so very hard for me personally is the fact that my natural personality bent is to be a people pleaser.  Someone once said the surest way to fail is to try to please everyone. I love people with all my heart.  I have a huge mercy gift.  I want to comfort, please, make happy, make everyone feel better!  But it's not possible. And God calls me to be a "God-pleaser" first.

By Lin Wurzbacher on 11/2/2010 6:56 PM

I heard a story awhile back:

Erwin McManus relayed the story of his young son who called him into his room at night because he was afraid. He asked his daddy, Erwin, to pray for protection and that God would make him safe.

Erwin said to his son, "No, I won't pray that. I'm going to pray instead that God would make you dangerous. That you would be so dangerous that demons would be afraid of you."


The son replied, "Then pray that I would be very dangerous Daddy."

The point is that believers should be so close to God and so armed with His weapons that they would be able to stand against the world and the evil one and to be bold like Jesus.

Since I heard that, that has become my prayer for my own son, for myself and for all of our church.

 
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