Podcast Summary: The Wake-Up Call
Episode: "A Pastor Should Have Bloody Ears, Thumbs, and Toes"
Host: Andrew Forrest (Seedbed, Asbury Church Tulsa)
Date: February 9, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode of The Wake-Up Call, Pastor Andrew Forrest reflects on the weighty responsibility of pastoral ministry through the lens of Exodus 29:19-21, where the ordination of priests involves marking their right ears, thumbs, and toes with sacrificial blood. Forrest unpacks the symbolism of this solemn ritual and relates it to the spiritual burden and accountability that modern pastors bear. He invites listeners to pray for, encourage, and tangibly support their own pastors, recognizing the unique pressures they face. The episode also includes the singing of a historic Methodist hymn and prompts for personal reflection.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Context: Monday Mornings & Staff Life at Asbury

• Forrest shares personal rituals at Asbury Church: Monday staff chapel—acapella hymn, sharing testimonies, short Bible study, and Holy Communion ([01:25]).
• Describes his role at Asbury, the ongoing "Year Through the Bible" focus, and weekly worship planning.
• Tone: Warm, communal, appreciative of church rhythms.

2. The "Boring" Parts of Exodus Are Rich With Meaning

• Discusses how the latter chapters of Exodus (tabernacle details, priestly regulations) often cause readers to stall in "read through the Bible" plans ([03:15]).
• Forrest’s goal: “To make the seemingly boring parts of the Bible interesting and beautiful.”
• Analogy drawn between Israel’s journey and our own: “If the first part of Exodus is about God taking the people out of Egypt, the second part is about God taking Egypt out of the people” ([04:03]).

3. Scripture Focus: Exodus 29:19-21—The Ordination of Aaron and His Sons

• Reads and paraphrases the passage about the sacrificial blood ritual during the priest’s ordination ([02:15]).
• Emphasizes the gravity and again the physicality of the rite: “Can you imagine having to don blood-speckled garments every time you went to church?” ([03:05]).
• Explains symbolism:
  • Blood on the ear: “What you hear matters.”
  • Blood on the thumb: “What you do matters.”
  • Blood on the toe: “Where you go matters.”

4. The Weight and Solemnity of Pastoral Responsibility

• Pastoral ministry is still a sacred, weighty responsibility, even if the rituals have changed ([06:35]).
• “Pastors will have to stand before God and give an account of their ministries. I think about this all the time with my own life and my own vocation. Because pastoring is such a heavy responsibility.” ([07:10])
• Warns of pitfalls: Internal struggles, discouragement, and moral failures are both real and dangerous.

5. Encouragement for Congregations: Supporting Your Pastor

• “Speaking as a pastor... you cannot be too encouraging, positive, or supportive of your pastor.” ([07:55])
• Encourages the audience to actively pray for, uplift, and—beyond prayer—find practical ways to encourage their pastors ([08:20]).
• Prayer for pastors: For encouragement, conviction, restoration, and resilience.

6. Reflection and Application: Journal Prompts

• For listener engagement ([09:40]):
  1. Why did the high priest put his hands on the head of the sacrificial ram before it was slaughtered?
  2. How can you specifically support your pastor today, aside from praying?
  3. Why is discouragement just as effective a tool of the enemy against pastors as outright sin?

7. Memorable Conclusion: The Lasting Value of Responsibility

• Reflects on how even obscure or uncomfortable Scripture passages, like Exodus 29, still offer rich lessons for modern Christians ([11:00]).
• “All pastors ought therefore to have bloody earlobes, thumbs, and toes”—a striking metaphor for bearing the spiritual marks of responsibility and sacrifice ([11:09]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Ritual and Responsibility:
  “The whole ceremony, if you can believe this, is meant to take seven days. Can you imagine how solemn it must have been for Aaron and his sons to put their hands on the sacrificial animals before they were killed and then to have the blood of the sacrifice placed on their earlobes, their thumbs and their toes? The message is clear. They are being ordained into a role that carries a heavy responsibility, one with life and death consequences.” ([05:55])

• On Modern Pastoral Accountability:
  “The responsibility that comes with being a pastor is no less weighty now than it was. Pastors are shepherds of people and the stakes are as high as possible. Life and death.” ([06:40])

• On Encouraging Pastors:
  “You cannot be too encouraging, positive, or supportive of your pastor.” ([07:55])

Key Segment Timestamps

• [00:00–02:15] – Introduction, staff rhythms, book plug (“Love Goes First”)
• [02:16–03:05] – Scripture reading: Exodus 29:19-21
• [03:06–04:03] – Making sense of 'boring' Bible passages
• [04:04–05:54] – Explanation of the ordination rite and its symbolism
• [05:55–07:10] – The solemnity and high stakes of pastoral responsibility
• [07:11–08:33] – Dangers for pastors, congregational encouragement and prayer
• [09:40–10:30] – Journal prompts for reflection
• [11:10–13:30] – Singing of the hymn “And Are We Yet Alive?” (music segment)
• [13:31–end] – Final reflections on the weight of ministry and hymn’s meaning

Final Thoughts & Takeaways

• Forrest uses the weighty imagery of Old Testament priestly ordination to drive home the enduring, sacred burden pastors carry.
• The call to congregations is to recognize and honor this responsibility, offering practical, emotional, and spiritual support to clergy.
• Even the less-quoted, “messier” passages of Scripture can become powerful mirrors for contemporary faith and life.
• The episode closes with an old Methodist hymn emphasizing endurance, grace, and the joy of another year—a tradition that underscores the challenges and triumphs of ministry.

For Further Reflection:
Consider the prayerful journal prompts offered in the episode, and find a fresh way today to “lift up the arms” of your own pastor or spiritual leader.