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Dear Shiloh Family,

In my mind, it wasn’t a particularly polished sermon. Well, the content was good because it was from God’s word, but I had really struggled with the hermeneutics and presentation. In other words, I didn’t communicate my thoughts and theories well as I had intended.

As I limped and slinked off the stage, I noticed my dad slowly, but intentionally positioning his walker to cut me off at the pass. The last thing I needed was exegetical critique, but I reluctantly waited and attempted to put my arm around his neck as I often did. However, to my surprise, he grabbed my arm, looked me straight in the eye and said, “Son, that wasn’t goat feed.”

Psalm 100:3: Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
John 10:4-6: 4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." NKJV

Now, Dad had many adages and mind-boggling wit, (he called them Paul-ologies) but that one stunned me a bit. I stood there like a calf looking at a new gate and finally mustered enough courage to enquire what he meant.

Tears began to well up in his eyes as he replied, “A goat will eat anything you throw in the pasture. They’ll eat grass, weeds, leaves, sticks, or a paper cup. Why, I’ve seen them try to eat the tires off a tractor. But, Son, to raise healthy sheep, you have to feed them special food. They need proper nourishment to keep them happy and healthy. That was sheep food.”

Then he placed his arms around my neck and said something I’ll never forget;” Today my Pastor fed the sheep. Thanks for caring for the sheep.”

Every time I think about those words, I am prompted to consider what I am delivering each Sunday and to whom I am presenting it. How much garbage is being thrown from the pulpits of America? Are we expecting our children to become Jesus following sheep while feeding them goat rations? Does the world look at us as shepherds or goat farmers?

My prayer is that when folks walk through the doors of Shiloh, they find a place where the ministries of our church body birth, nurture, feed, groom, and care for the Lord’s sheep. I pray that we are truly “A place of rest for sheep distressed.”

John 21:17-18: 17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, you know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep. NKJV

True sheep gladly give up their wool for a better cause. 

God bless you all