"We all learn by experience, but some of us have to go to summer school." - Peter De Vries

We skipped church this morning, something that happens every few years. It's my fault.
I sometimes have trouble with acid reflux and it hit me about an hour after going to bed last night. When that happens I move to my chair because being in a more upright position usually does the trick. Not last night. It kept me awake all night long. Ugh. Brett's a good preacher but even he was not going to keep me awake. My gut had settle down enough that by 8:00 a bowl of oatmeal sat OK and by 9 a.m. I was sound asleep.
Pam got up her Sunday-usual 6:00. I told her I was staying home and she could go or stay as she chose. She went back to bed, came out at 8:00 and said, "That was wonderful!"

Stormy Daniels is 20 minutes into her 15 minutes of fame.
Please go back now.

I read an article on CNN this morning that listed "The Ten Best Preachers in America." I don't know how to feel about that.

On the one hand it recognizes that preaching is both art and science. I spent 10 years trying to teach the science part. There are rules to good preaching that guide what is said and how it is said. Some guys are bad preachers, typically because they don't follow the rules. So yeah, this list identifies preachers who are skilled and masters at their craft.

But parts of the the idea of a list bothers me.
The "celebrity preacher" is a phenomenon that's done a lot more harm than good, both for the Body and for the preacher.
And that science part is only a part, and not the most critical element. Paul tells the Corinthian believers that he came to them "not in plausible words of wisdom" but "in demonstration of the Spirit" (1 Cor. 2:1-5).
If preaching is intended to change hearts, minds, and lives a guy who skillfully follows the rules and even demonstrates a measure of the art of preaching can still miss the mark while a preacher who's a bit clumsy can be powerfully used by God who alone graciously brings results. Nothing gets in the way of effectiveness like hubris while the humble are exalted.

I recognized several of the names on the list - Andy Stanley, Charles Swindoll, Alistair Begg, John Piper.... But what about the preacher who labors skillfully and effectively in Podunk, IO or Crawfish, LA? Without big congregations in major metro areas and a book deal from a big publisher who's going to identify him as an effective preacher?

Years and years ago I read an article in Leadership Magazine titled, "I'm a fair to middlin' preacher." The guy said he's not a great preacher and he knows it. He does the best he can, accepts his limitations, and believes his skills in other areas of pastoral ministry are what make him a good and faithful servant of the flock God has given him.

Isn't that what it's about? Isn't stewardship of "the flock under your care" the only thing that matters?