Today's Verse: Hebrews 13:7 (ESV)

Remember fyour leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and gimitate their faith.

f ver. 17, 24
g [ch. 6:12]

The Bible teaches us to respect authority, especially within the Church. As The Bible Reader's Companion aptly states, both right living and right doctrine (orthodoxy) are required in our Christian leaders. Therefore, we are urged to be responsible to our leaders and to imitate their faith.

Today's Comments: As I read this passage from the Book of Hebrews, I cannot help but think about the mentoring that has brought me thus far in my vocation as a Deacon. Here are some examples of leaders in the church who I owe thanks to for their mentoring. But note, these are not the only mentors that I had during my life:

• The Rev Fred Merrick was my best friends in college, and he is still my best friend today. Fred has supported me in my ministry, and his letters of recommendation have been helpful in getting me through the ordination process.
  
• The Rev David Baumann is my pastor at Blessed Sacrament Church. He has helped me grow in my faith through his teaching and mentoring at church.
• The Rev Richard and Marge Avery (Richard is an assistant at Blessed Sacrament) have taught me a lot about how to minister to people.
• The Rev Roger and The Rev Shirley Rose have been friends for a long time and have encouraged me in my efforts to become a deacon. It was probably their letter of recommendation that helped me through the candidacy process, since my parish, Blessed Sacrament, has consistently been criticized by Episcopal Church liberals in this Diocese as opposing the ordination of women to the priesthood.
• The Rev Larry Steele, my spiritual shepherd during the diaconal candidacy process, was always there to encourage me. I did not have to call him, he called me. And he still does.
• The Rev Russell Touchstone, with whom I worked when I did my Clinical Pastoral Education practical experience at County USC Medical Center. He taught me a lot about working with hospital patients.
  
• The Rev Alex Brandon, who has been my mentor during my membership in the United States Corps of Chaplains. Last night, I was informed that my candidacy for chaplain status in the organization was going to be accelerated, and today I received a message from my brigade commander that informal approval had been given.

There are so many more people to thank that have, at one time or another served as mentors. But these are people who I consider to be leaders in Christ's Church. And I thank them for what they have done to enable me to do God's work.