posted by:
Rand (
reply)
post date:
01.24.06 (8:00 am)
Hi Dave
I have to work on keeping my waist down. It is a constant battle.. so I look at it from that perspective. Just like my students... I don't care what color they are treat and think of each one individually. Size makes no difference to me. The only thing that enters my mind is the health. I would worry if the person is large. Other than that, I think of everyone as an individual.
Great Survey... Made me think
posted by:
almsthvn (
reply)
post date:
01.24.06 (8:08 am)
Give him some slack. His weight is none of my business, and vice versa.
This kind of thing gets my fire going ;) People who would criticize my dad for his hair style or beard or whatever made me want to do them harm.
I get to work on my patience a lot.
(giggle)
posted by:
bacardibreezer (
reply)
post date:
01.24.06 (8:20 am)
I don't think it matters...I try not to be judgmental...
posted by:
Sillygrrl3 (
reply)
post date:
01.24.06 (8:54 am)
WOW we have very kind parishioners answering your blog Pastor Dave. In my experience working at a large church (8K attendees) there are many people who believe that the pastors appearance is their business.
Last year a pastor had some serious back issues requiring treatment and eventually surgery.
He didn't announce his back issues to the congregation, so when his body started changing due to his lack of exercise, he began receiving email and letters.
One lady said to him - if you would show some restraint and push back from the table sooner, you wouldn't be in that condition.
*shock*
Kara
ps - I would think that there are so many pastorly duties to be done that all the poor pastor can do is grab fast food all the time. *grin*
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
01.24.06 (8:59 am)
I kind of think you missed Kurt's point, if that's what spurred this. But maybe not.
posted by:
guerillafunk (
reply)
post date:
01.24.06 (9:17 am)
Somewhere between "Hey, I'm fat!" and "It's the message that really counts."
:I
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.24.06 (10:13 am)
Reply to: Rand
Thank you.
Your students?
Do you ever find yourself, even inadvertantly, showing favoritism toward your more attractive students, or even slightly neglecting the less attractive? I think such is the general way of our world.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.24.06 (10:15 am)
Reply to: almsthvn
Your dad is a minister?
It is amazing the views and comments of others when you live in a "fishbowl"! Thank you for taking up for your dad.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.24.06 (10:17 am)
Reply to: bacardibreezer
I have noticed that wonderful quality about you, shining through in your blogs and comments. To look past the physical, into the heart, is godly, I think.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.24.06 (10:20 am)
Reply to: Sillygrrl3
What a sad statement made by that particular paritioner.
I struggle with weight, and sometimes will lose quite a bit and get in pretty good shape. At those times, if I do not watch myself, I find myself looking at others who are overweight and seem not to care and feeling disdain toward them. What a shallow, callous attitude! I'll certainly follow this line much more deeply in my follow-up to this post.
Do you attend a mega-church at this time?
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.24.06 (10:24 am)
Reply to: surrogate
Often I smile as I read your comments. You just seem to be so strongly convinced that my "erroneous" leanings result from a basic lack of understanding. Maybe you are right? But I take it as a compliment that you would think I have a good heart and earnestness of purpose- just wrong because of incomplete understanding. We'll see!
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.24.06 (10:26 am)
Reply to: guerillafunk
I see. Stay on the fence. I'll bet you are either a "moderate Republican" or a "conservative Democrat". :)
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.24.06 (10:29 am)
Reply to: thunderthighs
How did you know? If you visit the Episcopal church, on the other side of town, at one of their Saturday evening services you will find me in a dress and stockings. But the dress now fits too tightlty!
Thunder I challenge you to look around. Are there not a lot of fat preachers?
posted by:
waffles (
reply)
post date:
01.24.06 (10:34 am)
I got one. Somepeople are just fat. If he has lead an awesome life then hell he has the right to be fat
posted by:
Sillygrrl3 (
reply)
post date:
01.24.06 (11:27 am)
Reply to: PastorDave
Yep, currently attending. Or actively not attending a mega church.
My heart longs for a smaller venue, but I don't know how to "church shop."
I was raised SDA and you just don't do that! But I am at a non-denom right now. *sigh*
kara
posted by:
funkadelichika (
reply)
post date:
01.24.06 (11:30 am)
Theres fat preachers and then there is obese. I think it is hard to listen to a preacher who is fat for some people because it's like well were is his disipline? He doesn't seem to be able to keep himself in check and healthy so why listen to him?
posted by:
ScubaDiva (
reply)
post date:
01.24.06 (11:44 am)
My first thought... What am I doing in church? Unless the Paster was wearing a collar, I wouldn't know he was a man of the cloth...
It would also depend on what the aforementioned pastor was wearing - is he trying to squeeze into some clothing or is he camoflauging it?
We are all human - some of us are just "more" human than others... I find myself being judgmental at times of overweight people, which is ironic as I lost a lot of weight about 5 years ago.
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
01.24.06 (12:02 pm)
Reply to: PastorDave
No, you just didn't list the point I THOUGHT Kurt was making in the list of choices as far as what people think when they see a hefty homily hurler.
Perhaps that was intentional. What the hell do I know.
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
01.24.06 (12:05 pm)
My first thought BTW is, "Hmmm, wonder if he's a starch junkie like me or if he has some other food addiction?"
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.24.06 (12:06 pm)
Reply to: surrogate
"hefty homily hurler" - almost poetic.
Hey, I'll borrow that last statement, clean it up just a little, and apply to my life everyday!
posted by:
ruined (
reply)
post date:
01.24.06 (12:09 pm)
I think it's fine that he's fat. Umm... unless he tries "throwing his weight around". :)
posted by:
mistykalrain (
reply)
post date:
01.24.06 (12:22 pm)
I may have to lie down on the bed to zip up my pants, but my soul fits just fine. Who cares what size britches you have to put on to spread your message as long as the message is worthy of spreading.
posted by:
TaBoo Tenente (
reply)
post date:
01.24.06 (12:36 pm)
sometimes i wonder about the buddha. that dude ate nothing but the rice he received while begging; but look at the size of those buddha drink jars you get at chinese restaurants?
if that guy had a gut, we get to have guts.
taboo
posted by:
katesykate (
reply)
post date:
01.24.06 (12:59 pm)
LOL. I thought that was funnyyy! but if i were to have taken that seriously...hmmmmm, my answer would be...its the message that the preacher is preaching that counts. I mean, I could have a pastor who's in great shape but the words that comes out of his mouth doesnt interest me..doesnt motivate me to become a better person..then...well, you get my point...its the heart that counts...youve got to have your heart in what your preaching...that and a good sense of humor...I thought that was really funny! :-)
posted by:
sweetsue (
reply)
post date:
01.24.06 (4:25 pm)
Pastor Rick..the pastor of our church..he is pretty heavy..but he is so nice..and when I look at him..I see a jolly,caring person..he has gone several times to a place for his weight..but it hasn't helped..but when I look at him..just don't see him being thin..it wouldn't be the same person..he reminds me of Dom DeLuis..think that was the actor...its what is inside a person..the outside is only our shell.^-^
posted by:
LadyG (
reply)
post date:
01.24.06 (8:52 pm)
I have to admit that I am a little judgemental when I see a very overweight preacher and then I remind That God looks only at the heart, also judge not that ye be not judged. It still bothers me.
posted by:
preceptlady (
reply)
post date:
01.24.06 (9:38 pm)
Like the picture but something tells me it is not a self - portrait :)
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
01.25.06 (1:20 am)
Reply to: preceptlady
You must be right preceptlady... (Doesn't Dave wears glasses?)
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
01.25.06 (1:22 am)
Oops... "wear." More proof of my own imperfection.
posted by:
fallingintoYou (
reply)
post date:
01.25.06 (12:29 pm)
i honestly don't think that it's our place to judge....God can still use people greatly despite their flaws...i'm a living testament of that. by the way...you have 3 teenagers....BLESS YOU! ha ha ha i'm a youth minister, so i understand some of the things that you may be going through. ha ha ha but i'm sure that your kids are just fine! i love teenagers! this was a fun post....can't wait to see what you do with it!
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.25.06 (4:51 pm)
Reply to: mistykalrain
So, how do you put on your pants? You're right of course, the message is what counts.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.25.06 (4:52 pm)
Reply to: TaBoo Tenente
Astute; never considered the ramifications of those fat little buddhas. Just how did the Buddha get so fat?
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.25.06 (4:53 pm)
Reply to: katesykate
So, you are saying, - It's the size of the heart, not the size of the gut, that counts. Makes sense.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.25.06 (4:55 pm)
Reply to: sweetsue
Wonder why Pastor Rick can't lose weight? Apparently, you don't care, for you love him as he is. Problem is he may not be around as long he would if he were more healthy.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.25.06 (4:56 pm)
Reply to: LadyG
Two good Bible quotations. But Eglon in the Book of Judges was fat, when Ehud stabbed his knife into his gut. And the Bible tells us that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.25.06 (4:57 pm)
Reply to: preceptlady
Sure is, post my latest diet by about 3 months. Why do you think we pastors wear robes?
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.25.06 (5:00 pm)
Reply to: fallingintoYou
So you are a Youth Minister? My family would like to hire you for, say, the next 4 years. No pay, but all the frozen pizzas you can eat. You know, being fat is a real challenge for a teenager. It's already a brutal existence, and for a teen to have to deal with that is extra tough.
posted by:
justinb (
reply)
post date:
01.25.06 (7:10 pm)
some great insight into fat preachers there dave. great job, excellent post.
posted by:
fallingintoYou (
reply)
post date:
01.25.06 (8:53 pm)
Reply to: PastorDave
HA HA HA maybe we could work something out....considering I LOVE FROZEN PIZZA!!!! especially totinos!!!!! ha ha ha i agree....being overweight is really hard on teens....like i said i can't wait to see what you are going to write about on this subject...because clearly i can't tell by the picture that anyone in your family is remotely overweight.
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
01.26.06 (5:38 pm)
Okay fella. You've milked this long enough. Out with the goods.... cards on the table....the jig is up....a stitch in time saves nine....
Oh, wait.
Scratch that last one.
posted by:
Fairmoon (
reply)
post date:
01.28.06 (5:21 pm)
My, those are a lot of comments to scroll past. I skipped reading most of them so I wouldn't be jaded by the comments.
When I first read this post a couple days ago my first thought was of the fat little rabbi in "The Source" by James Michner.
If I recall his name was Zadi, and his story is in the 15th century part of the book (but I could be wrong)
Anyway, he was very fat, and when his shrewish wife yelled at him for being so fat he replied calmly "God wanted me to be this way."
Later in the book, I think, he muses that maybe he's so fat so that people notice him and recalls Gods words.
But at the end of the story he realizes why he’s so fat. He sees in a vision that he must leave Israel and return to Spain where he will be burned in the inquisition. He knows he’s so fat so that when he burns all his fat will make a spectacular show and all will see Gods man dying.
So come to think of it, this might not be the best story to tell right now, but hey it's not the 15th century any more and you're not Jewish. So if you're feeling overweight, well that's probably not the reason. :D
posted by:
DRAMA (
reply)
post date:
01.29.06 (8:36 am)
Fat people make me happy - they are nice to cuddle. I am not making a pass. :)
People tend to spend too much time on what others looke like. Oh, and I was in a sorority so you know I'm cute...
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.29.06 (7:15 pm)
Reply to: Fairmoon
Now that is an interesting and strange reply. Some would like to burn me at the stake, but they are thankfully a few centuries too late.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.29.06 (7:16 pm)
Reply to: DRAMA
Now I do remember some sorority girls who were a bit chunky. But, upon deeper remembrance, I think it was a service sorority. Something to do with chocolate...
posted by:
DRAMA (
reply)
post date:
01.30.06 (2:17 pm)
LOL. See now, our advisor would have gotten on to us for making that joke. ;) Chocolate is a good idea. TTYL.
posted by:
DrForbush (
reply)
post date:
01.30.06 (3:29 pm)
I never thought much about the "fat" priests that I've had over the years until one day we had a guy that was so heavy that he couldn't stand during mass. That's when I thought that he should use a little self control.
But then again we have three cats. We feed them at the same times every day and two are skinny and the other is overweight. So, there is certainly some genetics involved...
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.30.06 (5:07 pm)
Reply to: DrForbush
I suspect the fat cat is dining on some fast-food snacks on the side- McMice, lizzards, your neighbor's snacks.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
02.02.06 (7:43 pm)
Gay priest seems like an oxymoron to me. But, I've already been blasted with about 100 comments on another post concerning that matter. And you would have to bring up the subject, again!
