Why Christmas?

I really enjoy the Christmas season.  I know there are tons of folks running around purchasing items that will ultimately find their way to the thrift stores. But, Christmas is pleasant because families gather for food, fun, worship, and fellowship.  It really seems that Christmas is the most peaceful time of the year.  Wars cease, feuds pause, and joy entertains our hearts!

I think that I equate Christmas with peace because I understand that Jesus, who was born of a virgin, would eventually turn His face towards the cross. And, I understand that the cross brought peace to my heart and the hearts of those that would repent of their sins and put their faith in Jesus Christ.  Why Christmas?  Because God determined to redeem sinners through His Son.  There was a Christmas because there was lostness.  There was a Christmas so that there could be an Easter. 

So, who's holiday is it? Christmas is really for the believer to recognize the fact that Jesus exchanged His glory to walk among us. He briefly exchanged His position at the right hand of the Father for the loneliness of the virgin's womb. He exchanged glory for flesh. All of this occurred to ensure there was a sinless sacrifice. It is often said that Christmas is for the kids.  Christmas is not about the kids, but instead is for the world that was in deep need of a Savior to atone for its sins.

So, when you get upset because Target or Wal-Mart has a holiday sale instead of Christmas sale do not be bothered. It is expected that the world would attempt to remove Christ from Christmas because if not the Christmas story will lead to the necessity of the Easter story.  Eventually someone would ask why did Christ come?  What did Christ do?  Where is Christ buried?  And, the scandal of Christmas would be revealed...the baby grew into a man, died, and rose again!

I am not really offended if someone says, "happy holidays." It seems hard to force persons that do not understand the importance of the holiday to recognize the person of the holiday. For years I have said, there are plenty that worship the crib of Christ through consumerism, but fail to understand the same Christ endured the Cross for their sins. 

It is the believer's responsibility to worship and honor Christ this season. The lost world will act as led by their depraved and fallen nature. This is an opportunity to share the wonderful story of Christ with the world during this sensitive time. Honor Christ in your heart and home this peaceful season.

Merry Christmas!

Nine Types of Difficult People

Difficult people are everywhere!  It seems impossible to escape difficult people.  I found the following list humorous and truthful.  I have met everyone of these individuals...you probably have too.

Nine Types of Difficult People

1. The sherman tank will run right over you.

2. The star performer is entitled to your preferential treatment.

3. The megaphone will talk your ear off.

4. The bubble buster deflates everyone’s enthusiasm.

5. The volcano has temper like Mt. St. Helens.

6. The cry baby is a chronic complainer.

7. The nit picker is an unpleasable perfectionist.

8. The backbiter is a master of calculated rumor.

9. The space cadet is on a different wavelength.

Brooks Faulkner, Former Pastoral Ministry Specialist, at LifeWay Christian Resources, identifies nine types of difficult people and the usual effect they have on people in his book Getting on Top of Your Work: Manual for the 21st Century Minister.

Freedom...on its death bed?

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Call me crazy...I still believe in the Constitution of the United States.  I believe in the Bill of Rights.  I am saddened at what is happening in America.  One important aspect of my "job" as a chaplain calls on me to protect religious freedoms.  In fact, I would argue that one of the primary functions of chaplains in my agency is to protect religious freedoms and to recognize strongly held religious beliefs.  

However, our nation has moved to not only diminishing this amendment of the Bill of Rights, but it seems to have abandoned it.  It appears that we have arrived at a moment in America when our nation is striving to be void of religious expression.  Evidence of this movement to become a nation that doesn't allow any religious expression as part of our societal landscape can be seen in a 9/11 ceremony that occurred in 2011.  

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/25/911-ceremony-wont-include_n_936336.html 

Prior to 9/11 pluralism was a buzzword in America.  However, I have sensed that post 9/11 many realized that pluralism was not an acceptable view.  Religious beliefs were radically different.  This propelled a movement to simply remove religious express from our culture as a personal expression of deeply held religious beliefs.  

I sense our nation will always protect the free exercise of religious as long as it occurs in the "church house" or our private homes.  After we depart either of those locations it seems we are suppose to dispose of our "strongly held religious beliefs."  

I don't hold to a worldview that is always proclaiming the sky is following, the country is falling apart at the seams or that the end of the world is near.  However, I will say we are on a very slippery slope when it comes to religious freedoms in America.  Americans should be free to speak against things that their interpretation of the Bible leads them to believe are sins.  This falls under the concept that their view of something as sin is a strongly held religious belief and they should have the freedom to exercise that aspect of their religious beliefs. 

We have reached a point where it seems Americans don't have the freedom to exercise their religious beliefs at schools, as military chaplains or even as business owners.  I found the recent court ruling that a photographer can't refuse to shoot gay ceremonies as a gross infringement upon the 2nd Amendment.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2013/august/nm-supreme-court-photographers-cant-refuse-gay-weddings.html 

Religious expression is important.  The freedom of religious exercise is vital to our nation's foundation...yes, even religious expression we deem as incompatible with our own theological beliefs.  I fear we are steadily marching towards a moment where calling something...anything...sin..will be deemed as hate speech and punishable in a court of law.

Regardless of one's view on what is sin and what it is not...regardless of one's view of the Bible...our nation must remember that we were founded with an eye towards free speech and religious freedom.  It seems our right to religious freedom is dying one court decision at a time. 

 

My thoughts on this 9/11

I was pastor of Newton Baptist Church in Newton, Alabama.  The morning of September 11, 2001 the church was having new carpet installed in the offices.  I remember Shana coming over to tell me that a plane had crashed into the into the World Trade Center.  I remember thinking that it was probably a small private plane that had some sort of difficulties.  I left church and walked next door to the pastorium to see the news.  I arrived to watch a second plane smash into the the other tower.  Clearly our nation was under attack.  The world seemed black...the next few days were a blur.  I remember some channel not broadcasting out of respect to the situation.

In the weeks ahead I determined that it was my duty to serve our nation in some capacity.  One year  later in 2002 I found myself reporting to Fort Sill, OK and shortly after that I found myself on a plane to an unknown land.  My short trip to Iraq seemed to change my life forever.  Operation Iraqi Freedom put many things into perspective for me, but it all seemed to occur in the shadow cast by that tragic day in September know simply as 9/11.   

I am sure that 9/11 changed many people.  Thousands lost their lives that infamous day and thousands more lost their lives in the ensuing war on terrorism.  It was a dark day in our country.  For a short period our nation seemed to bring forth a new sense of patriotism and cooperation.  However, just as an early spring can be shuttered by a cold snap our nation has returned to being divided.  I pray that on this day we simply pause and remember those that have sacrificed - the patriots that have provided for our freedom.  I pray today for the children that lost parents on 9/11...for the parents that lost children...for those that have died from various illnesses due to responding to the events...the fireman that ran in while most were running out...and the family that never got to say goodbye.

God Bless our Nation on this day that we remember...

 

War isn't all its cracked up to be...

Today is my father's birthday.  He is 71 years old today.  My father is my hero.  He served 2 tours in Vietnam as an attack helicopter pilot.  He retired in 1987 from the U. S. Army with 24 years of service.  I grew up idolizing my father's military experience.  I grew up thinking war was something that every man should experience as a measure of his defense for this nation.  My father never led me to believe that war was "cool."  In fact, he seldom spoke of his combat experience.  I just assumed based on books and movies that combat was something that proved how strong we were as a nation and how strong an individual was that could experience a combat situation.

I remembering being so excited with Bush 41 struck Iraq.  I was in junior high school and wondered if my chance to experience combat had been missed.   

Today we are on the brink of another conflict.  Will we launch a strike against Syria?  Is is justified?  Will a strike stem a killer's appetite to kill his people with chemical weapons?  All of these answers are for politicians, military strategists, and policy wonks to answer.

I know this - war isn't all its cracked up to be!  I deployed to Iraq in 2003 as a chaplain with the U. S. Army.  My experience is different that many.  I was in a combat zone, but a non-combatant.  I deployed with a field artillery battalion.  Combat of any kind isn't pretty.  Living conditions are difficult, family separation is unkind, and as I have often heard "the bad guy gets a vote."  I will confess my time in Iraq was short compared to many.  The conditions were harsh.  I found myself sleeping on the hood of my HUMVEE most nights.  I traveled as much I could in to Baghdad with my soldiers.  I led worship, baptized soldiers in the desert and counseled many lost souls.  I returned home to see marriages fall apart, soldiers experience PTSD, and even later hear of suicides from those I served with.  There is not a single day that passes in which I don't consider my experience. 

Upon my return I performed chilling death notifications and performed a funeral for a soldier that was killed as part of mass causality situation in Iraq. 

War isn't glamorous.  Objectives are hard to achieve.  Mission accomplishments may only be short-term.  Others beside myself will determine if we strike Syria.  I pray for their wisdom.  I pray they consider the hardship of war.  Today, VA has hundreds of thousands of claims behind in providing benefits to our nation's veterans.  Thousands have lost their lives, children have lost mothers and fathers, parents have lost sons and daughters - the cost of freedom is normally very expensive. 

War can be justified.  I am not a pacifist.  There are times that America must strike our enemies.  Even the Bush doctrine of preemptive war can be justified.  But, we must be cautious.  We must remember there are people behind those bombs.  To have "boots on the ground" you must have bodies in those boots.  Proceed with caution.  We have lost too many in Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq without securing a measurable victory.  I fear conflict, although it appears it would be limited, will not render a measurable change in Syria.  I am saddened to see the bodies of those that appear to have been killed by chemical weapons.  The pictures of precious children that have died due to chemical weapons are heartbreaking.  I pray for their families, I pray for peace, and for a Syrian administration that will honor life and civil rights.  But, we simply can't serve as the world's policeman.

I share these thoughts with you for you to consider this...war isn't all it is cracked up to be.  The movies don't do it justice.

Pray for our President, Pray for Congress, Pray for our military and Pray for peace in Syria.

What must be done to reshape the Southern Baptist Convention?

I love the Southern Baptist Convention.  I have been endorsed to serve as a missionary/chaplain to the U.S. Army and the Federal Bureau of Prisons.  I have been blessed by the Cooperative Program in my Southern Baptist education endeavors.  Cooperative Programs funds have helped keep costs down for my graduate and doctoral work at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.  I have been nothing other than a member of a SBC church.  I have pastored SBC churches.

It appears, based upon recently released statistics, the SBC is becoming a less relevant force in America.  My college friend, Dr. Chris Bonts, attributes this to a reshaping of our culture.  It is his belief that "cultural Christianity" is dying in America.  In other words, the culture doesn't expect one to attend church.  Therefore, not only are our churches shrinking, but they are becoming less carnal because those that simply claim Christianity due to the previous cultural landscape are evaporating.  I would never say the gospel is becoming less relevant.  The gospel message will never become less relevant.

What must be done to reshape the Southern Baptist Convention?

My suggestions aren't new, but I think they should be considered in their holistic approach. 

First, we as a denomination must focus on equipping bivo pastors.  When I served in Alabama I was informed through the Alabama Board of Missions that Alabama's SBC churches were about 53% bivo.  This did not take into account the pastors that were able to serve because they were retired, on disability or had a spouse that worked.  I understand that NAMB is making bivo pastors a priority.  I have for years sensed that in the future we will have more bivo pastors.  In fact, I sense we will have a denomination that has large churches at one end of the spectrum and bivo churches at the other end.  I fear there might not be much in the middle.  If this occurs it may be necessary for our seminaries to prepare future pastors to toil in bivo settings.  Our bivo pastors are the backbone of the SBC.  I pray there is a renewed emphasis on recognizing and appreciating the work these men accomplish for the Lord.

Second, we must not stall our church planting efforts.  Planting new churches must be an emphasis.  This is an important and biblical ministry.  It appears that in the future we will lose thousands of SBC churches.  This can be contributed to the migration of the American population to urban areas.  It may be that rural churches may need to merge into a new church that is more effective and efficient at advancing the gospel in their communities.  It seems that many of the churches that are shuttering their doors are in these rural settings.  I think we are consumed with retaining our current number of churches.  I ask you: what would happen if we had fewer churches that were stronger?  Would that be a success?  What would happen if those fewer, but stronger churches, collectively baptized more than in past years?

Third, our convention must make church revitalization a priority.  We have over 45,000 baptist churches.  However, I see more conferences on church planting and issues involving Calvinism than on how to revitalize the local church.  I will note that Alabama recently had a conference on that subject with Johnny Hunt as the speaker.  We have thousands of churches with millions if not billions of dollars worth of land and facilities.  I remember in college I took several classes on church growth.  I have since determined that those books were useless because most were focused upon pragmatic concepts to "grow" a church.  However, it is time to focus on revitalizing what we have to ensure our churches are healthy enough to accomplish the mission.  Additionally, I understand that NAMB is working in this area as well.  I desire that this initiative take root and becomes a priority within our convention.  I pray that our pastors and church members catch a vision about revitalization.  

Fourth...evaluation.  Besides my theological and ministry education I completed a Master of Public Administration degree in nonprofit management.  The key words in public administration are effective and efficient.  One determines if you are accomplishing these words through measuring goals and outcomes.  I fear that far too many churches aren't evaluating themselves and their programs.  Typically we as pastors and churches are hyper-sensitive to evaluation.  Therefore, we usually avoid evaluation at all costs.  It is time to evaluate what we do and how we do it.  A closer look might determine that far too many of our churches are simply bloated "country clubs with crosses" reproducing programs that haven't been effective at "making and maturing" believers in years.  

Fight? Flow? Flee?

My college pastoral ministry professor (Dr. Jerry Windsor) taught us "young preacher boys" that when faced with conflict in church we had three options - we could elect to fight, flow or flee.

I would like to explore these three options in further detail.  First, we can decide to flee.  This means that when faced with conflict or opposition we decide to run, find a new ministry or simply quit.  Before I attempt to stand in judgement of this decision, I must admit that I have chosen this option more than once in my life.  Some of these were on the micro level and other examples of this in my life were on the macro level.  Sometimes people note that fleeing is the easiest option.  I would argue that fleeing isn't the easiest option.  Often fleeing causes disruptions in our families and can destroy reputations.

Second, we can decide that we will simply flow.  When we decide to flow we are saying that the health of the organization isn't that important to us.  Additionally, when we decide to flow we are determining that our ideas can't make the organization better.  We are also deciding that our ideas aren't worth communicating within a larger battlefield of ideas.  An organization should strive to accomplish its mission in hopes of fulfilling its vision.  When important individuals in an organization decide to flow the vision of the organization may be stalled because there is a lack of competing ideas.  Those competing ideas have the potential to make the organization more effective.

Third, we can fight.  Now, when we hear the word "fight" we assume we are talking about either full-scale military operations or a slug-fest in the street.  However, I think determining to fight is something radically different that those impressions.  When we determine to fight it means that we have determined that our ideas are worth considering.  Fighting also means that we believe that a profitable exchange of ideas and advancement for the organization can come from conflict.  Conflict is not always the end.  In fact, conflict can be a means to a more effective and efficient organization. 

There are situations when each of these directions are the right choice.  There are moments when we must elect to flow because the issues simply aren't worth a fight.  In other words, we must decide if every hill is a hill worth dying upon.  Additionally, there times when fleeing is the best and most appropriate option.  There are moments when we decide the casualties of conflict are too great to fight.

Regardless of which option we choose - the most important principle is that we glorify God in the selection and execution of an these options.

The Fallen

Memorial Day - 2013

Memorial Day for many is the inauguration of summer.  It normally assures us that school is finished for the year and summer is beginning.  It is marked by mattress sales, cookouts, and
parades.

But, Memorial Day has such a deeper meaning. Here you will find the history of Memorial Day-

http://www.va.gov/opa/speceven/memday/history.asp

History is about the legacy of heroic men and women that have sacrificed their lives for the freedom of this country.  As a former Army Chaplain I am extremely sensitive to this holiday.  I have performed military funerals, death notifications for those killed in Iraq and met with family members of a friendly fire incident.

This Memorial Day our nation may focus on those that have perished in recent conflicts, but the wounds are still raw for families that have lost loved ones in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam.

Our nation is grateful for those that have given all.  However, our gratitude will never fill the void for those family members that lost fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, daughters, and sons.  The country moves on past these deaths, but the families are haunted daily be these absences.

My desire isn't that you sit around in a somber trance this Memorial Day.  My desire is to remind you to never forget the sacrifice that has been paid.  Enjoy the day, spend time with family, but remember the express reason we have a holiday of this nature.

Here is a way you can honor the fallen.

http://iava.org/splash/

I will go silent for:
Peter Marshall
Steven Conover

Pushing Out Into the Deep and God's Provision

³ And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little way from the land. And He sat down and began teaching the people from the boat. ⁴ When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” ⁵ Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.” Luke 5:3-5 (NASB)

Luke 5:4 has made a considerable impact in my spiritual life since sitting in Dr. Bill Cook's New Testament Survey class at The Baptist College of Florida.  The call to "put out into the deep" or "push out into the deep" was a call by Jesus to challenge the faith and understanding of his soon to be followers.  These men had been been fishing all night long.  These rugged fishermen would have fished at night, cleaned their nets and then rested during the day.  In other words, they worked the third shift.  Jesus calls them to let down their nets during the day to show them that he was sovereign over all things...even the fish of the sea.  He is preparing to show them they can succeed at fishing - even against their logic - because he is preparing to send them out to catch men, rather than fish.

But, this verse has always pushed me to live by faith in the deep waters.  I once preached a sermon on this passage.  The sermon was entitled, "Deep Water Evangelism."

To be honest with you, I haven't always lived in the deep waters of faith.  In fact, there have been moments of life when I didn't trust God's provision.

This passage should propel us towards living by faith.  God hasn't called us to wade in the shallow end.  God has called us to live by faith and trust his provisions.  Our Father will provide for our needs.  On that day, Jesus brought forth a harvest of fish from the deep waters.  I sense the rewards of spiritual fruit are in the deep waters.  Additionally, sometimes the mission that we are called to for God will involve things that seem illogical - like requesting these men to fish during the day.

I challenge you to live deep...push out from your comfort zone...understand that Christ hasn't called us to sit on the shoreline and serve in the shallow waters.  Go deep and relish the challenge of following God's call.

Love God, Love Your Neighbor, and Go "Push Out Into the Deep."

The Great Commission and NOBTS

Recently I was blessed to participate in graduation at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS).  I first graduate from NOBTS in 2001 with a Master of Divinity Degree.  The most impressive thing about NOBTS isn't its president, faculty, local food or fabulous location.  The most impressive thing about NOBTS is that they instill a desire to fulfill the Great Commission into every one of their students.  The Great Commission is about going, teaching Christ's message, and baptizing those who repent and believe.
   
And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20


These words from Jesus remind us where following Christ can take us...to the nations.  We must be reminded of this commission.  We must ask if we are incorporating this commission into our lives?  Do our lives revolve around fulfilling this commission?  Or, do we see this statement as something that we can accomplish while we are doing our "own thing?"  My desire isn't to do my "own thing" while trying to fulfill the Great Commission as a sidebar.  Instead my desire is to make the fulfillment of this commission the centerpiece of my life and ministry.

We need a shift in our personal lives, families, and in our churches.  We need to be driven to fulfill the Great Commission in light of the Great Commandment. 

³⁶ “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” ³⁷ And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the great and foremost commandment. ³⁹ The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 22:36-39

 

I am thankful for my theological and ministry education at NOBTS.  I am more thankful my education enhanced my desire to love God, love my neighbor, and to fulfill the Great Commission.  I wonder if you will rearrange and reorganize your life to make this commission statement by Jesus paramount in your life?  

Conflict and Being Stuck on Stupid

I have served as a chaplain in the U. S. Army and in the Federal Prison System.  Regardless of the setting I have heard the same phrase used, "stuck on stupid."  This phrase is often used to describe individuals that just don't know how to help themselves.  In other words, they allow their stupidity or  hardheadedness to get in the way of their own accomplishments or advancement.

I have determined that many conflicts in our lives are a product of being "stuck on stupid."  Conflict occurs when our desires are thwarted because of other individuals or a situation that stalls our desires.  When conflict occurs we often "get in our feelings." When we are confronted with conflict we determine that we will win in conflict regardless of the ramifications.  We determine before there is a chance for resolution, reconciliation, and restoration that we will not lose. When this occurs we are essentially - "stuck on stupid."  In essence, we are determining that our pride and self-perseverance is more important than peace and unity.  In fact, we are determining that saving face is more important than glorifying God.

Conflict happens! Conflict is not always a bad thing. Conflict can help produce positive advancement in our relationships and organizations.  However, for positive outcomes to occur conflict must be handled and managed appropriately. Conflict can produce better understanding, more refined missions, visions and strategic plans.  However, when we determine to be "stuck on stupid" conflict can result in disenfranchisement, disillusionment, and in some cases, dismissal.  

First-step to Avoiding Conflict

The first step towards avoiding conflict is something that sounds simple and easy, but is very difficult to put into practice...

OVERLOOK MINOR OFFENSES

This can be a painful step.  We often feel that we are the most important person in the world.  This is because we are self-centered and selfish due to the sin of pride.  Sometimes offenses that are minor might be made much larger because our pride and ego are offended.  If we are going to avoid conflict this is the first step for a believer.  Before we boldly confront the sinner with our righteous indignation, we should ask if the offense has risen to the level of confrontation.  Our pride and ego being offended might not be enough to enact Matthew 18 and church discipline.  In fact, the first place for us to begin is with the spiritual question – are we mature enough to get over this offense?

Paul said in Colossians 3:13 that we should bear “with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other, as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” 

It should be noted that not every offense is something we should intentionally overlook.  There are sins that are committed between two persons that are not considered minor and cannot be overlooked.  In these instances, it is appropriate and biblical to follow the biblical model provided in Matthew 18.

“Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.” Proverbs 19:11   

There are two keys step to overlooking minor offenses.  First, we must seek resolution in prayer.   Through prayer we must determine if the offense is worthy of bringing before the entire Body of Christ.  If the Matthew 18 process is initiated, that is the potential culmination of the process.  Second, we must forgive.   We must begin with forgiving the person that offended us.  The person that offended us might not even know they have offended us.  If the offense is minor and we forgive, the offense might never occur again.

Conflict in the Body of Christ

I am concerned and broken about conflict in the Body of Christ.  I am striving to finish my D. Min. at NOBTS and have been approved to produce a teaching manual that relates to personal conflict.  I am producing a manual for incarcerated believers.  But, conflict is conflict.  Conflict is not something new...God and Satan, Cain and Abel, Jesus and the Pharisees, and Paul and Barnabas.

I think we are unaware of how destructive conflict can be for believers, pastors and churches.  We know that conflict produces violence, divorce, abuse, terminations, and even war.  I do not think we can envision how destructive conflict within the Body of Christ is to the advancement of the Gospel.
I continue to hear sad information about friends that face forced terminations.  My list of friends is in double digits.  In fact, I sense that the termination of pastors in American is at  unprecedented numbers and reaching epidemic levels.   I believe that many of these terminations are avoidable.  I know that conflict within the Body of Christ is destroying ministries, families, reputations of local churches and the advancement of the Gospel.

I thought I would share several areas that cause conflict in churches.  This is not an exhaustive list.  It is designed to get you thinking about the subject and your church. 

1. Expectations.  Too often pastors and congregations set unbelievable expectations for each other.  These expectations often lead to disappointment and conflict.  When parties feel they have not had their expectations fulfilled they believe that fighting and fleeing will solve the problem.  Here is a simple and practical thought: Congregations - stop looking for Jesus as a pastoral candidate.  Pastors - your church is filled with sinners.  They have various priorities and your vision might not be one of them.
2. Vision.  Most pastors have a vision for their ministries.  This ministry should involve seeing people grow and become more like Christ.  Or, as I like to say, "make and mature believers."  However, not everyone in the church wants to be changed.  Often a pastor's vision is in conflict with church members because they either have no vision for the church or they have a radically different vision.  
3. Change.  Pastors that are seeking Christ, trying to share the Gospel and grow believers are going to produce change.  Often change is not received well in churches.  Many members prefer the status quo.  The SBC sees hundreds of churches close every year.  Most of this is related to location.  However, some churches that have had powerful potential shuttered their doors simply because they were unwilling to change. 
4. Ownership and loss of power.  Many church members envision their pastor as a migrant worker.  He is just passing through...this is my church.  When a congregation senses the pastor is seeking or gaining power there is potential for conflict.  Many church members believe the church belongs more to them than Jesus.  Conflict can easily arise during moments of this nature.   
5. Unregenerate church membership.  Our churches are filled with members that have not be regenerated.  These individuals stoop to horrible tactics in conflict.  To these individuals, the church isn't a Kingdom institution as much as it is country club with a cross.  These individuals joined the church thinking it was a civic organization that had a president and did good things in the community. 

I believe there are reasons to "fire the preacher."  However, these reasons involve bad doctrine and illegal and immoral actions.  Dear Church, remember you aren't Jesus and you didn't hire him. 

I remind you that when conflict arises and termination follows advancement of the gospel is thwarted, families are damaged and the witness of the local church is damaged. 

When conflict arises in the church that cannot be managed within the church it is time to seek trained help.  Many state conventions have staff members that are trained to mediate church conflict.  Just as with marriage counseling, seek help before it is too late.