I can relate, as a former Senior Commander 7x's over. Of the many outposts i've had the blessing to lead throughout 3 districts over the past 25 years in Rangers, one Outpost was very similar to what you describe below... it was the last time I served as a Senior Commander. I told the Associate Pastor for while that he needed to find someone to replace me due to the fact that I just didnt feel effective, and that it would be better if he found someone who had the time and desire to lead the outpost. Demands on the job were increasing and I wasn't able to be there as much as i'd like to have been. I felt it just wasn't fair to the other commanders, and especially the boys. After a month, he called all the commanders into into a meeting after church on a Wednesday night... though I was never informed of the meeting officially by anyone. He'd sent mailers out to all commanders about a meeting after church, but did not send me one. I found out about it after church that night when one of them said "arn't you coming to the meeting?" ... to which I said "What meeting?"... I went to the meeting out of sheer curiosity. That is when he told them that he was going to replace me. He made it sound more like I was being fired, rather than having resigned. One of the commanders literally chewed me out in front of all the others, trying to make me feel guilty because I was letting my OWN SONS down because I wasn't going to be there. I was flabberghasted to say the least. I stayed on as the Pioneer commander for 6 more months, never missing a wednesday. I had committed to the Pioneer boys that I would stay and see them through to District PowWow.... and that, I did. It was obvious that the other commanders, and the pastoral staff resented me for stepping down. Fellowship stopped, comradery stopped. It's like I got black balled. Only one of them talks to me anymore when we see each other at events. The only thing that kept me there was the Pioneers i'd made a promise too. I did as I said, took them to PowWow, where they did absolutely fantastically. The proved to me that they listened and learned everything I taught them and they were a joy to camp with. They came back from PowWow energized. Unfortuntely, though I took them by myself, drove them up there, kept an eye on them, brought them home safely, I never got one thank you (or any other form of acknowledgement) out of any parent or commander.... or pastor. The following Wednesday after PowWow, I announced to the Outpost that it was going to be my last Wednesday with them (I had forewarned them for two months). After the end of the meeting, I packed up my brief case, said my goodbyes and hugs to the boys and walked off the church property. Not one commander, nor pastor said a word to me as I left... though they had ample opportunity. My wife and I obviously left the church immediatly, never to return.... and other than the boys who i've seen since... begging me to come back, i've not heard a word from the Pastoral Staff asking me why my family left the church. Brothers, it's a sad day when a story like this can be told in our world today. As Noel mentioned in his story about the lady yelling at the kids on the bus.... what's wrong with Christians today?? Many times we lose site of the goal. Our personal schedules and trials tend to get our eyes off of the true reason we are here. Going for 6 months, leading a group of 20 Pioneers every Wednesday night, yet having no commanders or pastors speaking to me in any form of fellowship or brotherhood in the process was a hard task. But I felt I had to keep my commitment to the Boys. Afterall.... that's why I was there. I'm now in an Church that sincerely appreciates me, my boys and my wife. Though we can't be there as much as we'd like due to job and family obligations, they still manage to accept us and love us in spite of ourselves. I've had many a night when I expected to be there for the Outpost Meeting, only to be called to work, or have some family issue come up that caused me not to be there. Though I know that they are burdened without me being there consistently, they still love me and accept me and my family for who we are, and appreciate the time we can give. That's what we've been talking about in these past few posts. Giving 100% of the heart commitment to the percentage of time that you can give. Quality versus Quantity. That's the point. "YOU" (collectively speaking) need to be on guard with your tounge and our thoughts to refrain from judging other commanders who don't seem as "committed" or "faithful" as "YOU" think "YOU" are.... or as you think THEY should be. Their level of heart and time commitment is between them and God... "YOU" have no say so, nor do "YOU" have any right to judge them. It is not the level of "Talents" that God has bestowed upon you... but what you do with them that counts. Blessings, Andy. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 1999 5:50 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [RR] Why are we here? Hi all, Thanks for the posts. It is really inspiring to hear why some of us are Commanders in Rangers. I knew there would be some that were in Rangers since they were Straight Arrows, and others that have only been in Rangers for a few years. Again, Thank you all who shared with me and the others on Rangernet. You are truely a blessing to the boys and to the Organization, whether you are told it or not. The reason why I asked, "Why are we here?" is because last Sunday, our Sr. Commander resigned as a commander in Rangers. His feeling were, "our outpost is not being supported by the parents or the church, and maybe there is some one who can do a better job than I can." I can only tell you how hurt I was to hear my Sr. Commander, and friend say this. I talked to him after church Sunday to find out why he was giving up, and that is the answer I received. We talked about how we as commander have changed some, if not all of our boys lives in one way or another. But, he still thinks he is not doing a good enough job. I have a hard time accepting this commanders resignation, (and really don't accept it). This commander came from a well known and sucessful outpost in his area. With him he brought almost over 10 years of experience. I respect my Sr. Commander because of the experience and the ideas he brought into our outpost. I felt our outpost was just starting to turn around and has the potential, (in my opinion they already are) the best outpost in San Diego County. Brothers, please pray for our Sr. Commander and our outpost. Our Sr. Commander needs to be lifted up and encouraged, more than I my self can do. Since He resigned, I have not stopped praying for him. Cmdr. Tony Bredow Outpost 238 Poway, CA ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866] _______ To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe rangernet" to [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Eat the hay & spit out the sticks!" RTKB&G4JC! Autoresponder: [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://rangernet.org _______ To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe rangernet" to [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Eat the hay & spit out the sticks!" RTKB&G4JC! Autoresponder: [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://rangernet.org
