Tag Archives: Ministry

by | August 11, 2025 · 6:08 pm

The Hull of a Fighter

Have you ever seen pictures or video of old, rusty, hollowed out WW2 airplanes found years after the war was over? It’s not too common, but it’s not an unheard of thing to find one these days, 80 years later, alone and forgotten under a canopy of jungle greenery.

What’s rarer still, but again, not unheard of, is the airplane that is found having crashed many decades ago being restored and flown again. Some, like the Lockheed P-38 Lightning that was found in Greenland under 350 feet of snow. It was part of the “Lost Squadron” of 6 fighter planes and a bomber or two that had to make an emergency landing during a blizzard.

This particular fighter airplane was recovered and restored to flight worthiness with the new name “Glacier Girl.”

Another fantastic example was a German Focke-Wulf fw190A that had crashed in a forest near Leningrad, Russia. It was dug out of the forest in 1991 and later sold to some Americans who restored it and flew it!

So what’s the point of all this history stuff? Why am I writing about it?

Today, as I was praying before doing some study, it came to me that I feel a lot like one of those crashed fighter planes. And if history proves true, I’m not the only one who feels it.

I don’t know if it was my pride or objective truth speaking, but there used to be a day when I was a little less intimidated of other Christians, particularly those mighty preachers I gravitated towards as a younger pastor. I knew I wasn’t on their level, but I sure did feel a lot more confident of my spirituality back then. I knew I wasn’t the best I could be, but I felt like I was in the best shape I was capable of being at that time.

Maybe I was. Maybe I wasn’t. Maybe I had a big head. Maybe it was the hair I used to have.

Regardless, I was a fighter, more so than I am now. Then again, maybe I was fighting different battles and don’t need to fly around in aerial mortal combat anymore. All I know is that I feel I am capable of more than I am doing. And these days I’m not intimidated by my would-be peers; I’m just disgusted with myself.

But there is an encouraging part to this story! You see, when those antique planes from the 1940s were recovered and flown again, their need was long gone. Even if there had been a conflict to which they could have been committed, their capabilities and armament would have been woefully obsolete.

However, much to the contrary can be said of folk like me! Even if I had been lost amidst the jungle branches and rusted nearly beyond recognition, the conflict still rages, the enemy is still the same, and the weapons of war have never changed! It’s not even necessary for me to be “repurposed,” for God’s plan for my life has not changed!

Even my “crash-landing” in the Forgotten Forest was part of His overall strategy. What the Enemy thought was an eliminated weapon; God will restore and refurbish for future victory in enemy territory.

So, let’s start knocking of this rust, shall we?

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by | May 29, 2025 · 7:11 am

When Do You Say “Enough’s Enough”?

I really enjoy creating content for YouTube. However, it may only be something I enjoy, not what is needed or wanted. It may even be doing more harm than good if God’s hand is not in it.

Therefore, I’m going to draw the line at 100 videos. After that I will only do the video shorts. 100 episodes should be a fair gauge of the impact these videos are making, wouldn’t you think?

If after 100 videos this channel has only 50 subscribers and an average of less than 10 views per episode, it’s probably not having an impact and my time should be directed elsewhere. It may be that I should stick with writing (which doesn’t require locations, lighting, microphones, audio, and hours of editing).

Maybe I should just do the job I have and leave this kind of “work” to those much more gifted and capable. There’s already many other Christian channels providing high-quality content, and their numbers are a tangible reflection of that.

I just don’t want to be like that 5-member church unwilling to say enough’s enough because the pastor is unwilling to step down.

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by | February 7, 2025 · 8:28 am

Illustrating or Bovinating?

Dear Preacher,

Yes, this is meant for my fellow ministers of the Gospel. However, feel free to make use of this advice wherever it is applicable.

You may have not given the subject a lot of thought, but if you are new to public speaking or preaching, you may have experienced the struggle to find good illustrations. But don’t worry, that’s OK! Even veteran public speakers usually have at least one or two books of illustrations in their library.

However, it is very important to distinguish between a story, a joke, and a true illustration. They are not all the same. Depending on the context, using one at the wrong time or the in wrong place in your sermon may do more harm than good, if not outright damage.

Comedians like to say, “timing is everything.“ But when it comes to sermon illustrations, timing is not as important as making the truth understandable. The difference a story or a joke and an illustration is that the story informs; the joke elicits a response (a laugh); while the illustration helps to clarify or illuminate.

So be careful. Icebreakers meant to warm up a crowd or not illustrations. In most cases, jokes are not illustrations. A story, unless it helps the listener to better understand or apply the truth that you are trying to communicate, is not an illustration, but a time waster.

Keep in mind that time is irreplaceable. It may be necessary to break the opening tension with a joke or a story that relates to your audience, but understand that you only have so much time to communicate a life-changing truth. The reason rabbit trails should be avoided is because even though what you say might be important or even entertaining, it may not serve to communicate the main point of your sermon. In all likelihood, it will only distract.

You don’t have time for that.

Bovinating: verb: derived from bovine (cow); meant to express in a more elegant way the slang term BS (“You’re just bs-ing me.”). Not to be confused with Bloviate.

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by | January 4, 2025 · 10:06 pm

When Sheep Attack the Shepherd

Another pastor was asked to resign. Why? Because of moral failure? No. Because of unethical practices? No. Because of poorly performing his duties? No.

He changed some things. He wanted to do some things that the deacons didn’t. Oh, it didn’t matter what the congregation thought or what impact the pastor’s ministry was making on the community; he went afoul of the deacon body and was asked to resign.

Men … and I’m talking to all you deacons out there… you seriously need to go back to the locker room, sit down on the benches, and let your Coach – GOD – explain to you how the game is supposed to be played. He wrote the Rules, rules which are never to be overruled by your bylaws.

First, there is no place in all of Scripture where you will find justification for deacons running a church. The fact that so many do is a sad testament to how poorly the Word of God has been taught in so many of our congregations. If you really want to get specific, there are no biblical examples of committees making unilateral decisions, either. The ONLY biblical example is that of pastoral leadership with deacon support WHEN NEEDED. See the 6th chapter of the Book of Acts.

Second, should a congregation follow the biblical guidelines and select men to be deacons, they should only do so because the administration of resources meant to minister to the needy within the congregation has become too burdensome for the pastoral leadership and is thereby distracting from the study of the Word and prayer. There is NO biblical precedent for the pastoral leadership of a congregation to be in any way handicapped by the decisions of those elected to serve the congregation and assist the pastoral leadership. There is NO biblical precedent for committees within the congregation to have veto power over pastoral leadership, either.

Third, there is very little evidence in Scripture to support unlimited tenure for those who serve in the role of deacon. On the contrary, biblical precedent leans more heavily toward deacons serving only when there is a need, and only when the pastoral leadership deems it necessary (again, see Acts 6). There is even reason to argue that new deacons should be selected by the congregation and approved by the pastoral leadership every time there is a change in pastoral leadership (compare Acts 6 with 1 Timothy 3).

Fourth, there is no biblical precedent for deacons to be self-governed, mutually accountable, or convenable as a body. Doing so adopts a secular business model that may promote efficiency and manageable productivity, but it in nowise mirrors the pattern of congregational and pastoral oversight as found in Acts 6.

Fifth, the spiritual requirements of deacons (AND their wives) should be taken as seriously as that of a pastor.

Therefore, based on the above points, there is no more biblical support for a group of deacons – servants – to request the resignation of pastor any more than they would request the revocation of a fellow congregant’s membership within the local assembly of believers. It is not the role of the servant to negate the role of the one/ones served.

To conclude, in local congregations where the ecclesiastical structure is autonomous and limited (i.e., Baptist, etc.), thereby affording the body the right to elect the pastoral leadership deemed sent by God and affirmed by the Holy Spirit, beware how you treat the man of God. Although he be only a man, by your common vote you have affirmed before God and heavenly witnesses that he is to be your shepherd, subject to the Great Shepherd, and that you will submit to his leadership where it is biblical, and Spirit led. To conspire, undermine, and circumvent his leadership is to invite discipline from the one who sent the “gift” (Ephesians 4:11-12) to you.

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by | October 15, 2024 · 9:33 am

Tending Another’s Sheep or Put On a Shelf? Which Is It?

You are now reading what I’m thinking. I am writing as the thoughts percolate and bubble out of my brain. Thankfully my iPhone is water resistant!

Yes, I’m writing what you are reading on my old, cracked up iPhone 12 Pro Max while standing in a dimly-lit break room in the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, TN. It’s a little chilly in here, too, especially when I’m not doing anything but standing.

An Update

You’re probably curious, so let me give you a thumbnail sketch of my reality. I used to be in full-time ministry, but now I’m working in the VW plant making Atlas SUVs. I’ve been here about a year and a half, during which time my neck started hurting. For the last 2 months I’ve been on restricted duty – in the break room.

To look at this another way, not only am I not doing what I love most (preaching), I’m not even doing what I’m supposed to be getting paid for. I am literally waiting for decisions from up above – the people in worker’s comp insurance.

Two Scenarios

It all reminds me of two possible scenarios. One is that of a prophet stuck out in the backside of the wilderness tending his father-in-law’s sheep. The other is that of a worthless, unusable vessel or tool put up on a shelf. I’ve often wondered which one is me.

Am I a Moses or a cracked pot? Maybe I’m both.

Forgive me for making this all about me, myself, and I. It is, after all, my story. However, the truth that I’m about to share is applicable to you just as much as me. Who knows, our stories may not be all that different.

Here is the great truth. Here is the fact that could change your life. Are you ready for it?

Listen carefully …..

There is no shelf.

You read that right. There is no shelf. There is no place where God places a useless vessel, and why is that? Because no one is useless. All of us are still capable of bringing glory and praise to our Maker. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be here.

Oh, I’ve heard it preached. I’ve even preached it. You may have heard it said that God takes those who’ve messed up and puts them “on a shelf” to sit. They sit there, gathering dust, accomplishing nothing, especially nothing like the purpose for which they were designed.

But, like I said, there is no shelf.

Read Philippians 1:6; Romans 8:28-30; Ephesians 4:8-10; and Psalm 138:8. In these passages we read nothing about uselessness. What we do see is that God has a plan, we are a part of it, and He will accomplish the work He started in us for His glory!

So, that leaves us with the other option. Are you and I stuck in a place we never thought we’d be, doing work we were never trained for? Does it feel like we are no longer of any use to God, so He has relegated us to taking care of other people’s stuff?

Moses must have felt that way, but God had greater things ahead for him and the time tending Jethro’s sheep was simply preparation.

Testimony Destroyed?

Someone once told me, “I destroyed my testimony.” But honestly, if the Lord is always faithful, even when we are not (2 Timothy 2:13), how can we “destroy” a testimony? Sure, you may do something that might disqualify you for a particular work, such as being a pastor, but every breath you breath is a testimony to the faithful love, mercy, and grace of your Father!

Where you and I are may not be where we wanted to be, or even where we could have been, especially if we had made better decisions. But God is sovereign! We may roll the dice, but the Lord determines how it lands (Proverbs 16:33).

I am confident that I’ve not been set aside by Jesus, never again to use the gifts He has given me. “The gifts and callings of God are without repentance” (Romans 11:29).

I’m just in the break room waiting on word from higher up.

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by | June 11, 2024 · 10:28 am

I’m Still Preaching

Today, June 11, is the anniversary of the death of a mighty man of God: a preacher, a pastor, my father. He died the week before Father’s day.

Several years ago I went to his grave and placed my Bible on his tombstone. There, glistening in the sun, were the gilded words “Rev. Anthony C. Baker.” It was a symbolic answer to a question I had received more than a few times. 

You Still Preaching?

I don’t hear it too much anymore, but I used to hear it rather frequently. Family members, old friends, former acquaintances, and the average person I never wanted to see again would come up to me and ask, “Hey, you still preaching?”

Maybe it’s the thing to do. Maybe it is customary to ask a person if they are still doing what they were doing the last time you saw them. I guess it makes sense.

But it’s when they ask if I’m still preaching that hurts on several different levels. Is it something I’d actually stop doing?

Some Statistics

In reality, it’s not that unreasonable to ask someone who once accepted the call to ministry if he is still preaching. Even though it sorta feels like an insult, I shouldn’t be surprised by other people’s shock. I mean, it has been 40 years since I made my calling public. I’ve known more than one who has walked away the first year.

If more people knew the statistics, few would ever enter the ministry. Stop and think about it, would you enter a career with the highest rate of heart attacks? Would you take out student loans for a degree that demands you work multiple jobs? Consider these sad facts…

  • 70% felt God called them to pastoral ministry before their ministry began, but after three years of ministry, only fifty percent still felt called.
  • 80% of pastors’ spouses wish their spouse would choose another profession.
  • 70% of pastors constantly fight depression.
  • 80% of adult children of pastors surveyed have had to seek professional help for depression.
  • 70% of pastors do not have a close friend, confidant, or mentor.
  • 80% of seminary and Bible school graduates who enter the ministry will leave the ministry within the first five years.

Still Preaching

Yet, even though I am longer in the pastorate, I’m still preaching. It may surprise people who haven’t seen me in a while, but I’m still doing the Lord’s work and still following the call I first heard when I was 16. It may sound strange, but I can’t help it.

“But if I say I’ll never mention the LORD or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones! I am worn out trying to hold it in! I can’t do it!” – Jeremiah 20:9 NLT

“For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” – 1 Corinthians 9:16 KJV

photo (16)

That old Bible has a lot more wear on it since I took that picture years ago. But that’s OK, I’ve got a few cracks in my leather, too.

But Dad, two things remain true, despite all these years: that grave won’t always hold you, and I’ll keep preaching until we meet again. 

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by | October 11, 2023 · 8:10 am

The Edify Channel

I haven’t been doing much writing, but I have been doing video. Here is the last one I posted on my new channel.

https://youtu.be/PsFU-ugGEU0?si=1zWx1BxVan7-G5D5

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by | June 14, 2023 · 7:15 pm

Would You Share My Introduction?

Hey, friends!

I recorded this short introduction. Would you be kind enough to watch and share it?

Thanks a bunch!

Please watch and share. Thank you!

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by | May 21, 2023 · 1:47 pm

I Need Help

Hey guys, I hope you are all well. I’ve not written for a while, but I’m OK.

But I do need your help. I’m trying my best to raise awareness and support for a ministry that is near to my heart, but I keep hitting brick walls. How do I get the word out? The only way to raise support is to get the word out to more people, but I’m at a loss on how.

I would appreciate any help or advice. God bless.

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by | December 31, 2022 · 10:10 am

The Downward Spiral of Admitting Depression

Dear readers, now that the end of the year is upon us, I know that many people in the world aren’t feeling excited about tomorrow. I get it. Even as a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, I still feel an underlying sense of foreboding.

But what about all that stuff like “God is in control” and “God’s got a plan”? If that’s true, why feel down, discouraged, or depressed? And why, of all things, feel a sense of dread?

Well, all I can say is that if you feel both ways at the same time, you and King David (the Psalmist), a few prophets, and I have something in common.

Knowing that the Lord’s hand is not weak and His arm not short does not change the fact that you and I are living in mortal bodies affected by the constant onslaught of circumstances which drain us, both physically and mentally.

The sad truth is that even though you and I may believe there is hope, for our Hope is Jesus, we may still find ourselves battling the feeling of hopelessness.

Now, who am I to suggest how another comes to be in this situation? It’s hard enough to explain my own feelings, emotions, and circumstances, much less try to piece together the puzzle pieces of someone else’s life. However, I do want to attempt to validate what some of you might be feeling if you are at the point of needing help.

The problem with admitting you are depressed, especially to the point of danger, is that by doing so one risks making things even worse. Admitting depression often takes away the very things for which we fight to hold onto, the things that give meaning to our existence. Therefore, in order to maintain a sense of purpose and keep the light at the end of the tunnel lit, we hide the pain, hope to God things get better, and force our faith to the surface for others to see, essentially faking it, sort of, until we make it.

Why is this? I’m not a licensed therapist or clinical psychologist, but my best guess is because what we believe, albeit true, is always in a fight with perception, pride, physiology (and I didn’t plan on alliterating those points, but it would make a good sermon outline, wouldn’t it?).

Therefore, what do we do? We leak as little as possible without spilling our guts, just enough to put a few more gallons in the tank so as to make it through the desert.

Can you relate? If so, let’s encourage one another. God does still reign, His mercies endure forever, and because of His steadfast love and faithfulness we are not condemned.

Faking it till we make it isn’t really the best option.

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