“We must never forget that we as pastors are where we are today because someone first spoke the word of God to us, taught us, and invested in us. Now we are in the privileged position as preachers of God’s word and pastors of God’s people to do the same in the lives of others.”
"The hospital room and the funeral home are some of the best classrooms in which to learn pastoral ministry. I have held the hands of elderly saints and prayed over them as they took their last breath. I have won over my ‘enemies’ because I took the time to visit them when they were in the hospital. I have watched despair turn to hope as I’ve sat with a grieving widow and talked about Christ. The hospital room and the funeral home present pastors with learning opportunities that can’t be found elsewhere. Death reminds us of our frailty and brokenness. It jolts our hearts out of the delusion of invincibility. Death restores our focus on the eternal things when we are daily tempted to live in the temporal."
- Michael Carlino
Compassion
"When a pastor senses he is growing frustrated with a weaker person or is growing impatient over the lack of change and growth, it’s helpful to take a step back and consider this question: How does my timeline for change contrast with God’s timeline? The truth is that we are never guaranteed a certain rate of growth that is the same for every individual. Each person is unique, facing different challenges in the fight against sin."
- Michael Carlino
Compassion
"The godly, faithful life of pastors, or lack thereof, will set the tone for the entire church they serve."
- Michael Carlino
Integrity
"Don’t excuse yourself from the biblical calling to set an example for the flock. Yes, you are a sinner, and you are not perfect. God knows that pastors need the cleansing blood of Jesus and the good news of what Jesus has done, just as much as anyone else. But we also know that God sets a higher standard for leaders. Our acceptance before God has already been fully met for us in Christ. So seek to be an example to others in freedom, knowing Christ has already met the standard you could never meet."
- Michael Carlino
Integrity
"Pastors are called to be guardians of the truth. And like a father protecting his daughter from attack, this calling requires courageous, sacrificial action. A pastor must care for his people, yes, but it means guarding them and guarding the truth by protecting them from false teaching. It means helping them understand and grow in the good news of God’s word…if we lose the truth, we have nothing left to give our people."
- Michael Carlino
Courage
"You can get everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want."
- Zig Ziglar
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"So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, you should do it all for God's glory."
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"Whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
- Jesus
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"Do you know who will go first on the Day of Resurrection to the shade of God…Those who when given what is right accept it, when asked for something give freely and who judge in favor of others as they do for themselves."
- Prophet Muhammad (s)
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"If anyone fulfills his brother’s needs, Allah will fulfill his needs; if one relieves a Muslim of his troubles, Allah will relieve his troubles on the Day of Resurrection."
- Prophet Muhammad (s)
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