Why does President Bush trust Vice-President Cheney so much? "He has no plan to run for president or for anything " says Mary Matalin, one of Cheney's closest advisors. Adds White House counselor Karl Rove: "The one thing that differentiates the advice the President gets from Cheney from the advice he gets from everybody else is that Dick Cheney has absolutely no agenda except the Presidents. The President never has to worry about, "Is this Cheney's interest, or my interest?" It elevates the level of trust between the two individuals.

There are many preachers, missionaries, and evangelists sitting in many a Pastor's congregation that give the Pastor cause for worry. Many are like ol' Absalom, waiting at the gate of the church with a better listening ear, trying to let the folks know that they understand their situation better than the Pastor. May God turn anything in the local church that does not come from the Pastor of the church into foolishness so these "Absaloms" can be put out of business.

Want to stay on the good side of your Pastor? Then don't be an advice-giver or listen to things that are for the Pastor's ear only. Many a Pastor distrusts men because they are pushing their own agenda or interest in their Pastor's congregation. You can build trust with your Pastor by staying in the shadows and simply holding up his hands and being available to push the Pastor's agenda-not your own.

Some preachers, missionaries, and evangelists love to announce in a crowd, "Tonight I'll be at (so-and-so's) church preaching." Don't do that. It causes low morale in the congregation, and the Pastor's job is to pull everyone together, not promote your preaching schedule or travel agenda. When the Pastor is present, stay away from him so the congregation cannot compare you with the man of God in charge. Don't interfere when he is counseling his people. God give us some more Dick Cheneys that follow their leader and do not push their own agenda or interest. You will see the trust level go up with your Pastor. Take a little worry off your Pastor.

Pastor Dennis Carter - Trinity Baptist Church, Spartanburg, SC

---