Pipeline is published by Dr. Harold L. White

                 Welcome To Pastor’s Pipeline!

A pipeline is defined as a “A conduit of pipe, especially one used for the conveyance of water,
gas, or petroleum products.”
It is also defined as a direct channel by which information is privately transmitted.
Dr. White wishes that Pastor’s Pipeline will be a direct channel where pastors and other Christian
leaders can find resources, information, and inspiration to assist them in their ministries.

Evangelism -- The pastor’s role in evangelism is instructing every member to be a witness for Christ.
Pastors and churches who are not seeing people come to Christ should be extremely concerned.
If there are no new Christians, then there will probably be no church
in the months or years to come.

Equipping Christians to minister -- Ephesians 4:12:... “for the equipping of the saints
for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.”
--From the New American Standard Bible
We know that it is the responsibility of pastors, teachers and apostles to equip the saints
for works of ministry.
We are not to do the ministry for the saints.
If we don’t equip the saints, and then, if we don’t give them responsibilities to do ministry,
then they will conclude that they are paying us to do ministry for them.
I know of people who have told their pastor, “That’s what we are paying you to do.

Keep Fresh!
We must commit ourselves to a lifetime of learning.
Ralph Waldo Emerson said: "Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered,
you will never grow."

We will either shape our future or we will be shaped by it.
When we choose to be the best we can, that will make a profound difference in our life.
Those who continue to learn throughout their life generally experience much higher levels
of life and career fulfillment. ...More

Pastors And Church Members!

Some of our pastors could tell you that they have been unfairly criticized,
and that they have decided that it of no use to keep trying.

I love pastors, and I am a pastor, and many of my best friends have been pastors.
Pastors have my deepest respect.
Most of the pastors that I have known are committed and dedicated to their Lord
and to the mission that God has given them.

It is not the work of preaching, and visiting the sick, nor his administrative duties
that depletes his energy and saps his spirit.
It is the physical weariness and nervous exhaustion that are the result of strained relationships
between him and some members of his congregation.

It is when there is some misunderstanding, and when he faces opposition that is based
on some petty and personal difference of opinion that the pastor feels the pressure
of his position the most.
It is the inability to please the very ones he loves the most, and the disappointment
of being continually faced by unjust criticism that tempts him to just give it up.

In many churches, it seems that the pastor just cannot do anything right.
No matter how sincere he may be or how much he tries, there are always some
who are ready to find fault and to criticize.

I have read some comments about pastors as follows:
"If the pastor is young, they say he lacks experience.
If his hair is gray, they say that he's too old for the young people.
If he has five or six children, he has too many.
If he has no children, he is setting a bad example.

If he preaches from notes, he is not prepared.
If his messages are extemporaneous, he is not deep enough.
If he uses too many illustrations, he neglects the Bible.
If he doesn't use enough stories, he isn't interesting.

If he condemns that which is wrong, he is too opinionated.
If he doesn't preach against sin, he is a compromiser.
If he preaches the truth, he is offensive.
If he doesn't preach the truth, he is a hypocrite.

If he fails to please everybody, he's hurting the church and ought to leave.
If he does please everybody, he has no convictions.
If he drives an old car, he shames his congregation.
If he drives a new car, he is too interested in material things.

If he preaches all the time, the people get tired of hearing one man.
If he invites guest preachers, he is shirking his responsibilities.
If he receives a large salary, he is money hungry.
If he receives a small salary – they say it more than he deserves."

Now I realize that this analysis of situations might exaggerate the problems,
but it does emphasize the general attitudes found in so many churches today.
It doesn't seem to make much difference where you go, or which church you attend,
there is always that someone or a faction who is out to get the pastor.

He may be doing his very best as a faithful servant of the ministry that God has given him,
and he may be experiencing the rich blessing of the Lord upon his ministry;
he may even have the approval of the congregation as a whole,
and yet, there is always someone who will find fault, pick him apart, oppose him
by doing things behind his back, and scatter seeds of discord by undermining his actions.

Recognizing that such situations do exist, and they do seriously disrupt the effectiveness
of the local church which has a tremendous ministry for God, I hope these short studies
about our pastors will be helpful, and will cause all of us to see our pastors
the way that God would have us to see them and respect them,
and that we will want to serve our great God with him.

Recent News About Scientology Troubles

Actress Leah Remini, best known for her leading role on CBS's "King of Queens" from 1998 to 2007,
has left the Church of Scientology. Her discontent with the church leadership reportedly stems from
an incident that occurred during Tom Cruise's wedding to Katie Holmes in 2006.

The New York Post's Page Six was the first to report the news on Thursday that Remini, a long-time Scientologist,
was fed up with church leader David Miscavige's "interrogations" and "thought modification" procedures.
According to the paper's source, Remini decided to quit "because of policies that don’t allow parishioners
to question Miscavige's management or the reported abuse of members of its Sea Org religious order — and for forcing followers
to 'disconnect' from family members branded as 'suppressive persons' if they choose to leave the church."

As for any fear of retribution, the Post's source added, "She's from Brooklyn.
The church can’t hurt her ... they don’t have her family, that’s all that matters to her."

The Hollywood Reporter later corroborated the report that Remini was leaving the church.
The trade magazine also points out that Remini's is the latest in a series of high-profile celebrity departures from Scientology,
a list that includes Tom Cruise's three ex-wives, Katie Holmes, Nicole Kidman, and Mimi Rogers,
as well as film director Paul Haggis and singer Lisa Marie Presley.

Omg! contacted the Church of Scientology, which issued the following statement:
"The Church respects the privacy of parishioners and has no comment about any individual Church member."

Omg! also reached out to agents for Remini (she does not currently have a publicist), but has not heard back from her camp as of yet.

News of Remini's departure first surfaced last Friday, in a report from longtime Scientology critic Tony Ortega.
On Monday, Ortega (a former editor-in-chief at The Village Voice) followed up on his original report with several new details
from his sources about why Remini was leaving.
He writes on his website that during Cruise's wedding to Holmes in Italy in 2006, Remini asked Miscavige why his wife,
Shelly Miscavige, was not in attendance.
Shelly has reportedly not been seen by any church members since 2007, but at that time, it was unusual
that she wasn't present at such a high-profile event.
Remini was told "to shut up, as if the question itself was out of line," according to Ortega's source.

This action led to the perpetually outspoken Remini later writing a "Knowledge Report" for the Church that included
several criticisms of Miscavige as well as other high-level leaders and media handlers.
Remini's report allegedly accused the church of lying to the press about its "disconnection" policy and excessive interrogations
of members.
She was then reportedly ordered to visit the church's "Flag Land Base" at its headquarters in Clearwater, Florida,
for a "thought modification" process, and was later forced to rescind her report.

Ortega writes that throughout this ordeal, Remini's family — themselves high-ranking "Operating Thetan" church members
 — have vowed to stand by her.

Another church critic, former member Mike Rinder, who says he has known Remini for many years and refers to the actress
as "one of the most down-to-earth, honest, and truly caring celebrities I came across in Scientology," also wrote on Monday
about her departure.
He adds that church spokespeople Tommy Davis and Jessica Feshbach also played strong roles in the events
that eventually led to Remini's departure.
Rinder adds that Remini "remains convinced of the value of L. Ron Hubbard’s work, but will no longer tolerate
the squirreling and human rights abuses perpetrated in the church.
Nor will she allow anyone to tell her who she can and cannot talk to or associate with."

Following her decision to leave the Church of Scientology, Remini released the following statement:

"I wish to share my sincere and heartfelt appreciation for the overwhelming positive response I have received from the media, my colleagues, and fans from around the world. I am truly grateful and thankful for all your support.
   (This was copied from an article in USA Today)

Visit Dr. White’s other sermon sites:
Sermon Storehouse-- Over 1,000 sermons from Genesis to Revelation
Expository and topical sermons.  At http://drhlee1932.ds4a.com

Special Sermons -- Over 200 special day sermons.
               17, New Year, 23, Easter, 17, Mother’s Day, 17, Father’s Day 8, July 4th,
               20, Thanksgiving, 33 Christmas, 5 Lord Supper, 16 Funeral, and 10 others.                                 At http://angelfire.com/az3/hlw1932

New Sermon Files -- Series on God, Jesus, John 15, Acts, Romans 8, Ephesians, Psalms of Assent,
               Psalm 23, Psalm 139, Habakkuk, Book of Revelation, Colossians,
               On Angels   At http://hlwpaw2.angelfire.com

Family Sermons-- On Parents, Marriage, Children, and Teens
                         At http://angelfire.com/hi5/hlpawhite

Sermon Humor -- Humor suitable for the pulpit
                         At  http://hlpawhite.tripod.com

Sermon Illustrations-- Several hundred illustrations that will impact your sermons.
                         At http://sermon3232.tripod.com

Email Dr. White at hleewhite@gmail.com