Emphasis Preaching Journal

There was a prudent country pastor who maintained a notebook throughout his long ministry. When members of his congregation would complain to him about the behavior and ideas of other members of the congregation he would listen carefully and then pick up his notebook on which it was clearly lettered, "Complaints of Members." Then he would say to the one complaining, "I appreciate your concern, let me just write down your specific complaint and I will bring it up at the next meeting of our church board." Though he offered innumerable times, not once was anything ever written in his book.