How the mighty have fallen!

I just had a short dialouge with an old friend of mine.  We were discussing the fact that ministers are held to a higher moral standing than others.  James 3:1 warns: "Let not many of you become teachers, knowing that you shall receive a stricter judgment."  Sometimes we forget that the man of God is not exempt from temptation.  Even Jesus, the Son of God, was tempted in every way that we are.  People seem to have this false belief that ministers are above temptation.  They put us on pedestals and then when the man of God (Jim Baker, Ted Haggard, Michael English and several others) falls to temptation they are quick to condemn them.  As a man of God, I know that it's not easy to live life in the ministry.  We have the responsibility of taking care of people's lives with the fear of causing one of them to fall.  We need to watch every aspect of our life more closely because we are held more accountable.  Instead of expecting or waiting for the man of God to fall; I want to encourage you to pray for each man and woman in the minstry whether it be your pastor, Sunday school teacher, Bible study leader, etc.  We need your prayers for strength and protection.  Can I count on you?