Yes, Sandra Bullock won the ACADEMY AWARD for Best Female Actress this weekend for the inspirational movie “The Blind Side.” I saw the movie three times and enjoyed thrice as nice. However, this post will not be about the Hollywood hit or modern day cinema classic.

Special props go out to my collge friend and fellow Evangelist Clayton King who has consistently reminded all whom he comes in contact with to PROTECT THEIR PASTOR. Jesus is our Coach but the pastor of your church is the Quarterback. At times, I have been too harsh on ministers (even as one) and for that I apologize when wrong. Like Jesus, I am short with Pharisees but show great grace to pastors, people and even prostitutes in need of a touch from God.

Without question, the Shepherd of the Flock may live “by faith” but still lives as flesh. The fact is, we chase Divinity but are still sidelined as humanity until we get our “Glorified Body” in Glory. Ministers are no different. It is easy to play arm-chair quarterback from the comfort of our couch or Monday morning moderator by the water cooler at work and continually criticize how the QB (aka senior pastor or youth minister) missed the “open man” en route to a game scoring drive. Like it or not, 265 lbs line-backers want to bury you on national television and since they sprint like a cheetah one doesn’t always see the “wide open” receiver. Magnify that with the barrage of temptations, stress of life, critics from deacons, complaints from Mrs Jones and un-ending undermining from an un-controlled, callous tongue our pastors deal with more than concussions. Worse, the repercussions are so riveting and damaging that many ministers are throwing in the towel at record rates (not just interceptions).

The “blind side” is the area of the helmet where peripheral vision is blocked and one doesn’t see the heat sinking missles coming from the corner (or worse, BEHIND). What sparked my desire more than ever to touch briefly on this subject today is a tweet RICK WARREN posted on Twitter tonight. He noted he was at a funeral today for a pastor in Texas whom committed suicide. This should not be. How tragic! Years ago, I heard an evangelist say: “How you love, honor, pray, support and protect your pastor is a direct gauge to read how your walk with God is at the present time.” If that doesn’t prick your heart – CPR won’t either.

Like Jesus, I have no time for Pharisees but preachers are precious to me. Actually, they are priceless. In ministry, we either get too much credit or not enough and honestly, I dont have the answers how to find the balance. However, I do know that almost all the ministers I know and been blessed to preach for have a deep love for God and compassion for people. Sadly, but some (if not all) at times find themselves empty emotionally, drained physically, weak spiritually and on fumes financially. Ministers are known to give and give and give but (sad but true) feel as if no one either understands them or folks don’t know how to minister to them. A recent survey showed the alarming rate that 87% of senior pastors feel like they don’t have one real friend that they can confide and just be themselves. Yes, it is true that we find only one road to Heaven and that is through faith in Christ but it shouldn’t be a ONE WAY street for our pastors.

My humble request to you this post is to do three things: 1) READ my college friend, Evangelist Clayton King’s blog on PROTECTING YOUR PASTOR www.ClaytonKing.com 2) PRAY to God and ask how YOU could in the very near future minister to your minister. Reach out, invite them to dinner, send a gift, pay their utility bill out of the blue one month (some of them are in the red), mow their grass, baby-sit their child(ren) so they may have a date with their spouse. In a nutshell, show some love to the ones who loved you and lead you to Jesus on a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis.

They will be shocked, you will be blessed and Jesus will be pleased. No more preachers need to retire prematurely, no more clergy need to die tragically because they felt unloved and Christians can emulate Christ like never before by practicing what their preacher preaches and to love not only the “least” but those who love you the most: Jesus and your pastor. 3) Maybe send them on the cruise I have the privilege to speak on May 30 – June 4, 2011, with CASTING CROWNS, Dr Johnny Hunt, Pastor John Hagee, Jentezen Franklin, Jason Crabb & others for a much needed PASTOR APPRECIATION gift for some much deserved Rest & Relaxation. Its a tax-deductible gift and they can relax in the Sun while being refreshed in the Son. Contact me directly for more info Frankmotiv8s@aol.com and CRUISE INFO www.CruisewithaCause.org

In closing, I want to give a special shout out to my wife, family, parents and countless friends (yes- YOU) who pray for me on a regular basis. We do take some shots and have had our share of horrific hits but we sincerely appreciate your ongoing prayers. These ministers (like me) are just JARS OF CLAY promoting the only God who got up on THIRD DAY and when we said MERCY ME came to the POINT OF GRACE and now just a NEWSBOY with a NEWSONG promoting the Prince of Peace & King of kings! And when we meet Jesus we will be CASTING CROWNS at His Feet because He is the reason we dedicate this short season of our lives. To the contrary what some critics may suggest ministry is not about us but ALL ABOUT HIM (Jesus). We walk by faith and not by sight and that is why we need each other to not only protect our pastor but look out for THE BLIND SIDE.