 Good afternoon, Pastor David. Hey, John. Welcome, everybody, to an Unfiltered with Pastor David, a random moment. Recently, we've been speaking off camera regarding the role of the title, Pastor. And I was sharing with you that sometimes in certain circles when, for me, at least my own thing, when people don't reference you as Pastor David, it bothers me. But then, taking it a step further, I wanted to spend a little bit more time on this, is when people will reference somebody as my pastor, and then later on may decide to leave or go and then come back and attend somewhere else, has that role, that title, my pastor, lost its potency, in a sense? I think that the term my pastor is just a general term people use. A pastor, the word pastor, speaks of one who is going to tenderly care for and feed the sheep. The shepherd is to do that. And so a pastor, elder, a pastor leader, is one who has an affectionate relationship with people in the church, primarily. So it's possible to be a member of a church that is pastored by an individual, and perhaps because the church is so large, never really even have a personal time or name basis with the man who is shepherding the church. And that's just today, that's reality. So from my perspective, there are people who use the term pastor as a title. It's something that they use to define what that person does in the church. Excuse me, and a number of people do that. I was sharing with you and with the men recently that it takes a while for somebody to actually be a shepherd to somebody. So they're going to use the title pastor, as they do here in this church. They approach me and they'll say pastor David. But that doesn't mean that I actually have that position. That simply means that's the title that I have here in this church. Over time though, there are those who may regard me in a more tender way, in a more personal way. And it becomes what they know me as, as their pastor. I had one pastor, and that was Chuck Smith. There was another in my life that I loved very much and it considered an interim type pastor. As a matter of fact, he was dear to me in that fashion, but that was a short-lived relationship. Ultimately, when Pastor Chuck and I became more acquainted when he and I actually developed something beyond a high health, how are you, how is it going, hello, that kind of thing. When it got beyond that, I realized that this is the man who shepherded me. This is the man who feeds my soul. This is the man that I'll go to for advice or correction when necessary. He's the one that I'll ask for prayer. I remember on a couple of particular occurrences that I had told him. I've been baptized in the Holy Spirit, Chuck, but I've never asked you to pray for me that the Lord would fill me. And that was a special moment with me and my pastor. We went through some pain. My wife and I, and I went to see him, sat in his office and shared my heart and received his prayer. When my father went to be with Jesus, Marie gave him a call at home, and I spoke to him, and he comforted me over the phone. He was more than just the man who stood in that pulpit or the man who led the Calvary Chapel movement. He was my shepherd, and I had love for him. And so there's a difference. So some guys will, some people will say, Pastor David, and that's just the title. Other people will say, this is my shepherd, and there's a different relationship. I mean, even when you're just sharing that with Pastor Chuck, he was there for you when his father passed away. I think of own life. And when my dad passed away, that you were the way you called me in and poured your heart out to me. You know, but again, I hear people will reference pastors as just their pastor. But like for myself and a lot of the guys, when they sit, when they referenced to you as my pastor, there's a lot there. And I don't know if today that is thrown around so loosely that it's kind of lost significance of just a title. For me at least, it's something that you've earned and God has anointed you with. And it goes beyond that in the role that you've played in my life and a lot of the guys' life and a lot of the family's life here where you're truly our pastor. And grateful for that, and for all that you've done. But today, I just kind of see a lot of past, that's my pastor, but then they're quit to go somewhere else or they're quit too. Well, they don't have relationship with that person. You know, a shepherd can't always, again, in a church as large as many churches today in the United States, it's very difficult for that one person to really maintain that many relationships. And so you have to give him room, you have to. And yet on the other hand, sometimes the churches are packed because the person who is leading it isn't really a shepherd at all. He's more of, we'll say a communicator or something like that. So the church fills up with people, but the problem is, is the sheep become like the shepherd. So the things that the shepherd believes to be important that he feeds constantly to the sheep, these are the things that some embrace and it changes their lives, you know, and then some guys are feeding things to their church that aren't necessarily even spiritual in the sense of it being scriptural. We're going through the word of God. These are the things. Sometimes there are just current events or sometimes whatever is on their heart that day. A lot of times the shepherd comes out and we'll give a topical study about whatever it is he's thinking about, whether it's prophecy or, you know, current world conditions or who to vote for or what's going on in the Middle East or whatever. I mean, they'll come out and they'll do these things. And it's so impersonal that he becomes kind of like a celebrity on the stage who becomes their personal news broadcaster. And then he has other people around him to do the work of ministry that he is not qualified or called to do because in his mind what he's doing is shepherding them. And if you spoke to him and said, but you don't have any relationship, you don't have ministry for people in your church. Why? Well, he wouldn't have an answer. And if you asked him in front of one of his devotees, they're gonna stand up and tell you what a great man he is. We see that, you see that, that's part of what's going on in the church today. So we with intent want to be ministers to those that God has entrusted to us and we want to. That doesn't mean that I am, that doesn't mean I'm that good at it because God knows I'm not, but I do the best I can in him. And that's the way it works. And so I think everybody has their own gifting, their own things at the Lord's place on their heart, John. And in the church, you have people who will sit in one place and go to another. I remember someone who was speaking to a friend of mine who said, well, my Sunday morning church is this church. My Sunday night church is this church. My Wednesday night church is this church. Three different churches that they were going to. Not one of those churches was that person giving his gifts to. Not one of those churches was he using his spiritual gifts in. He was just a consumer because a lot of churches are like that. We have a product, a product is consumed. The people come and eat and then they leave. And so there's no connection. But the sheep know the shepherd and the shepherd knows him. And there's that relationship. And they follow him, they know his voice and he feeds and tenderly cares for them. And he has character qualifications. And he's somebody that, that God has entrusted the souls of people to and a true shepherd really, really is aware of that. So there are a lot of hirelings. There are a lot of public speakers or a lot of great communicators or a lot of people who can get you jumping in that aisle and excited and all of that. And well, it's not, it's not how high you jump. It's how straight you walk. And if you're not getting, when you land and it's, if you're not getting fed, you're being hyped. And that's just the way it is. So I believe that, yeah, there are a lot of people who's well, they come up and call me pastor, but that's just the title to them. Over time, it may become a reality. I may have more of a connection in their life. I may have more of that place, but I don't tell people what to call me, you know, they call me a lot of things and sometimes they call me pastor, but that's the general truth of that. Amen. Well, thank you pastor for sharing that. And again, we're so thankful as a church family on behalf of the men's ministry, I know I can speak and for a lot of people here, thankful to have a pastor such as you that lead us weekend and week out through the word of God, something that's so needed today. Oh, thank you. With that pastor, I wanna invite our church family come on out Wednesday evening, tomorrow evening, at 7 p.m. as you're talking about the boots that are shot at, boot. Having your feet shot with preparation. I'm gonna start reading my Bible. You better, because I don't see any boots in that verse. Okay, these boots are made for walking, John, all right. Yes, it's not even a weapon, it's more of a protection. And I will give some insight into that. Yes, and so if you wanna have you guys come on out and join us, and then church family, always put it before you. Our Israel trip's coming up in March. Great opportunity to go with pastor David and Marie or the church family to Israel. I mean, it's a life changer. And even if you're not part of this church family, we would welcome you. Yes, and you can actually go on our website, calvaryccv.org, go to the events tab, and under the events tab, you will see the Israel trip there. We'd love to have you come out and join. And thank you again, pastor David. God bless you guys, and we look forward to seeing you.