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They Retire Race Horses Don't They? What Could The Worldwide Church of God Possibly Learn from That

This is one of those rare occasions where theministers." Hmmm, I wish I had researched
irony of something compels me to just writethe meaning of "take care of" as the Church
to process my own experience as a pastor nowand it's legal department understood the
having moved on. The irony of life sometimesterm. Well actually I do feel taken care of,
is overwhelming at times.Today coming intobut not in the way I had envisioned by the
work at the local hospital on Kentucky Derbyphrase at the time. I later learned that
Day, I heard a wonderful story of a man whomeant, "loyal ministers," which of course, I
spent years betting on horses, now taking upwas not. I have been assured that I would
the cause of horses that no longer could runhave been fired in time anyway over any
and provide great revenues for their owners.number of life issues and wouldn't have
He had learned of one great race horse that,deserved it anyway. I managed to outgrow the
after the useful days had passed, had beensmall box most fundamentalist and evangelical
shipped and processed as food in Japan!Christians stay in theologically, and also
Finding this to be absolutely unacceptable,mishandled, at times, the stress put upon the
he started retirement farms for former raceministry by that organization through the
horses to make their last days more kind andyears with their own way of being.I take
to save them from the overseas food market. Iresponsibility for my life and I wish they
guess the idea of Secretariat Steaks was tootook responsibility for their and how it has
much. Wow! I wish I had been a race horseaffected mine. I guess that can be said all
instead of a Pastor with the Worldwide Churcharound on lots of topics. I truly believe
of God! This kind man even had 16 horsesthat my dad, who has been retired now from
already shipped to the rendering plant inEastman Kodak for 28 years, yes he's 90,
Japan returned to the States and put on hiswould not have been thrown off Kodak
retirement farms to live happily ever afterretirement if he had dared to buy Fuji film.
for services rendered.When I was 22 years oldNot so with the Worldwide Church of God and
and heading out into the ministry to my firstthe effect their irresponsible change has had
Church assignment, I was handed a paper toon their perspectives. If there ever was an
sign by the Personnel Department. It was aorganization that could say "be warmed and be
release from paying social security on myfilled, but gives not of that which is
pastoral paycheck. I was young and since theneeded," it would be WCG.In reality, the
organization, then known as the Worldwidegreat Jesus sent changes are merely reckless
Church of God said not to be concerned andchange inflicted upon very sincere. loyal,
that "we will take care of you," I signed it.hope filled, and faith-full members and
Churches can do that with income theyministers alike. It's a case of horse owners
provide for Pastors. It is a savings to themwho didn't like the track, tearing it down
as well I am sure. Like I say, I was 22 andwithout asking the fans, sending the race
thought that since God had called me tohorses off to the grinder, at a personal
pastor and feed the sheep, so to speak, "weprofit to themselves, selling the grounds,
will take care of you" actually meant, well,switching over to NASCAR, and then wondering
we will take care of you, feed my sheep.Howwhy that may not have gone over too well. One
ironic that my experience as a Pastor, whowould think it would have been them that the
"inspired" the giving by tithers in 5 statesboard of horse racing might demand to move
and 13 congregations over 26 years in excessout and on, instead of destroying that
of 50 million dollars receives not so much asparticular kind of racing. Interesting the
a bag of oats! Race horses are saved fromharm that not speaking up can do in our
being ground up as food for services renderedworld. I hope the Republicans are listening
to their owners and put in horse heaven ontoo. I have said elsewhere, I came in my
earth for their years of service. On theyouth to play hockey and they melted the ice
other hand, most former ministers of thehalfway through the game, put up hoops and
Worldwide Church of God, (long story), aredemanded I now play and coach basketball. Oh
sent to Japan to be rendered for their yearswell, I guess that analogy is a horse of a
of service! One has to love God's sense ofdifferent color.Well,I feel better, I think.
humor! Not only did WCG not provide for basicI am happy for the horses that get to avoid
pastoral social security considerations,being rendered in Japan for their years of
because they didn't have to, but also gave noservices to their owners. I regret being one
church sponsored retirement for those withof the ones that gets rendered for years of
decades of service unless they were "loyal"service by the Church.What a nice guy to find
to all the malarky they came up with as "aa way to make the lives of hard working
miracle from Jesus."I remember well into myhorses a bit easier. They do retire races
ministry at a minister's conference inhorses after all! Sorry to say, the
Pasadena, asking about retirement issues forWorldwide Church of God still just shoots and
the ministry and again being told, "don'trenders them for years of service.
worry, we will take care of all you fine



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