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    Praise God, Cameron's surgery was successful and she is a healthy, growing girl. Plus, long after Cameron's full recovery, the Carter family will feel those hands and hear those voices--maybe for a lifetime! All that from a few "magic shepherding moments."

    That same evening, Dr. Jan Dunn's Challenge group brought a report. Each person reporting lives under the time crunch of the fast-paced marketplace. Challenge is a special support group sponsored by our church. It began as a divorce recovery group, then broadened to include any persons struggling with painful relationships. I watched the eyes of our elders glow as Jan and friends described the ways God touches hurting people through Challenge. Divorced people finding recovery (three sat right there in the circle). Troubled marriages finding healing. Then our shepherds poured out affirmation for Jan and her team. They roundly endorsed the Challenge ministry and the people it brings our way--many of whom wear scars received at the hands of churches! One shepherd said, "You folks are simply being Jesus Christ. Jesus spent most of his time loving the crushed and broken. We thank God for you." More prayers ascended, and our shepherds walked from that room smelling like sheep. Their flock left feeling deeply cared for, and with new tomorrows written across their faces.

    Thank God that shepherding can and does happen in our fast-lane cyberworld! God designed a model, revealed it in Scripture, embodied it in Jesus, and passed it on to spiritual leaders of all time. He called it shepherding. And when elders do it, they imitate the ways of Jesus and reflect the very heart of God.

    Several years ago, Carolyn and I rode a tour bus through Israel's countryside, spellbound by Ahim, our unusually gifted tour guide. Ahim, who likes to laugh at himself, told how one of his tours fizzled. Ahim said he was reeling off his spiel about shepherds, who don't drive the sheep, they lead them, etc., etc., when he suddenly realized he had totally lost his audience. They were all pointing out the bus window at a man chasing a "herd" of sheep, siccing the dog on them, throwing rocks at them, and whacking them with sticks. "The sheep-driving man in the field," lamented Ahim, "torpedoed my whole fascinating story, metaphor and all." Ahim said at that point he jumped off the bus, accosted the man, and scolded him. "Do you understand what you have just done to me? I was spinning this charming story about the gentle ways of shepherds and here you are hazing and assaulting these sheep! What is going on?"

    A bewildered look froze on the face of the poor fellow driving the sheep, then the light dawned and he blurted out, "Man, you've got me all wrong. I'm not a shepherd. I'm a butcher!" Nuff said!

    We need shepherds. Please, no more hirelings... no more board members... no more cowboys... and, especially, no more butchers. Give us shepherds... 'til the Chief Shepherd comes.