Don't Quit

Here's a public confession and a flaw in my life: Sometimes I feel like quitting!

Today, I read this scripture from Hebrews 11:24-27.

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the sons of Pharaoh's daughter.  He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.  He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.  By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.

Dear Lord, in my centering time with You, you have spoken to my heart this morning. May I persevere because my focus is on 'Him who is invisible'. I choose Christ today, above all.  I regard anything that brings discouragement or defeat to have no power compared to the power of knowing you, Jesus.  Help me to discern your hand at work both today and the days that follow.  Amen

Thoughts About Relevant Preaching

“Preaching is the communication of truth by man to men. It has in it two essential elements, truth and personality. Neither of those can it spare and still be preaching. The truest truth, the most authoritative statement of God’s will, communicated in any other way than through the personality of brother man to men is not preached truth. 
Suppose it written on the sky, suppose it embodied in a book which has been so long held in reverence as the direct utterance of God that that the vivid personality of the men who wrote its pages has well-nigh faded out of it; in neither of these cases is there any preaching. 
And on the other hand, if men speak to other men that which they do not claim for truth, if they use their powers of persuasion or of entertainment to make other men listen to their speculations, or do their will, or applaud their cleverness, that is not preaching either. The first lacks personality. The second lacks truth. And preaching is the bringing of truth through personality. It must have both elements.” Philips Brooks

Thoughts On Racism

Lately, I've had several questions about the churches response (or lack of it ) regarding the events that have once again revealed it's ugly head across this nation.  
I have read so many brilliant articles and responses by major personalities in faith as well as equally brilliant responses from friends.  Why add my voice? I don't want my lack of public response to be interpreted as 'not caring.'  So here's my take:

We are all created in the image of God.  We are equal.  We are one. Any difference in any human being should be celebrated: north, south, black, white, cubs fan, cardinal fans.  

The basic tenet of the church should be unity. The basic tenet of my faith and life speaks out against any type of racism.  It's ugly.  It's disgusting. It cannot be simplified as a social problem or an economic problem.  It's sin.  

It's not tolerated in my life, my place of employment, or any relationships in my life. I listen intently to others that are different than me.  I have shed tears at a dinner table as I've heard one of my best friends describe treatment he received by others.  I've dropped my jaw in unbelief more than once as I've watched others be treated differently before my very eyes.  I've also been scolded for an innocent comment that I never realized was racially offensive. I've asked for forgiveness more than once for my sin or even the sins of others. I don't always agree with what I hear, but I listen.

Someday, I will worship around the throne of Almighty God with people from other nations, others that have found forgiveness for sins through Jesus Christ and they will not look like me.

I will not be superior because I am white, an American, Church of God, male, or a Cubs fan!  We will be one.  And every creature will be adoring the Creator.

I can't wait to see Jesus - I know he will be dark skinned and I'm guessing not speak English, yet I will understand everything he says - I hope he will wear a Cubs hat.

So that's my simple perspective.  It's not brilliant.  It's just what Jesus, the dark skinned, Jewish carpenter, Aramaic speaking, Son of God has taught me.

Torn Between Two Loves

I struggle.  It keeps me up at night. It causes my mind to ask strange questions like:
1) Am I wasting my time?
2) Does any of this matter?
3) What are the results that should be measured?
4) What should my calendar look like, if I am a disciple of Jesus Christ?
5) Where should my resources be concentrated, if I am being a follower of Jesus?

These questions arise because I am torn between two loves in my life.

First - I love the church.  I love the body of Christ. I am addicted to things like, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter.  I don't miss preaching a message about the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday.  And every advent candle has a color with a purpose.  Christmas on Sunday is a joy and I've never met a Christmas Eve Service, I didn't worship.  I love small groups that gather to pray and study God's Word.  I adore times of worship and prayer with others.  And, I absolutely love traditional hymns on an organ. Yep! I said it.  Nothing like, "This Is My Father's World" on a swelling organ.  I've been in ministry for over 30 years and I have had the joy of being a custodian of the saints.  It was fulfilling and it made a difference in hundreds of people.

Second - I am devoted to carry out God's mission of redemption.  Carrying out God's mission can easily get lost as we 'do' church. The church is by it's very nature a missional entity that does worship and discipleship in a missional way in order to achieve the accomplishment of the mission. 

Can you see why I am torn? What should drive the agenda of the church? Are we mobilizers of believers for the mission or should the drive be to become stronger followers?  If we can't decide which one drives us, I promise you, the default will be custodians of the saints. The joy and the mundane of ministry.

I hope the reader doesn't think I am saying, choose one or the other.  Both have value.  Both are two loves of my life.  The question that I struggle with and pose to you is, which one should drive us?'

Peace!

27 Ways To Bless Your Pastor During Pastor Appreciation Month

By Mark Dance

October is Pastor Appreciation Month, which is a great opportunity for church members to bless their pastors. Since it can be awkward for pastors to initiate this for obvious reasons, I am hoping that through social media this post will reach the eyes of key lay-leaders and lead pastors who will take up the mantle of showing “double-honor” to their ministry staff.
Here are 27 simple ways you can honor your pastor(s) in October, or anytime of the year.

1. Write a note with encouraging feedback from his sermon
2. Be prepared to resuscitate him after #1
3. Set out a gift basket in the church lobby for members to leave notes and gifts
4. Mow the pastor’s lawn when his family is on vacation or ministry leave
5. Give a gift card to a favorite restaurant
6. Provide creative childcare for a date night
7. Ask your pastor how you can specifically pray for his family
8. Deliver a homemade dessert/meal to his home or office
9. Arrange and purchase a couple’s retreat somewhere fun
10. Give a brief word of affirmation and prayer on a Sunday morning
11. Include the pastor’s family’s photo in October
12. Provide for and encourage time off for vacations „ „
13. Take your pastor for a meal and talk about his life, not ministry
14. Loan out your favorite vacation spot (cabin, camper, time-share)
15. Support your pastor as he ministers outside your church „
16. Encourage at least one day of Sabbath rest each week
17. Care for your pastor’s health by sponsoring a health club membership
18. Take your pastor somewhere fun: game, concert, hunting, etc.
19. Specifically share how God has used him to challenge, enrich, and encourage your walk with Jesus
20. Provide a generous salary, insurance, and retirement „
21. Allow your pastor’s wife to “be herself” and find her own ministry
22. Financially support your pastor and spouse as they attend marriage-strengthening events
23. Publicly support your pastor’s involvement in missions
24. Remember birthdays with a personal card or on social media  „
25. Initiate a sabbatical for every 5-7 years of ministry„ at your church
26. Send a gift card to your pastor’s kids
27. Give unused sports or concert tickets to your pastor’s family

I hope these ideas will help to prime the pastor appreciation pump in your church. Know that your pastor will be genuinely grateful for anything you do.
Now we ask you, brothers, to give recognition to those who labor among you and lead you in the Lord and admonish you, and to regard them very highly in love because of their work (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13).
I would love to hear some other ideas that you have heard of or experienced.

Starting Year 8

I just completed 7 years as a Regional Pastor.  Added to the 22 years as a Lead Pastor and 3 years as an associate; that is 32 years of full time ministry.  Throughout those 32 years I have repeatedly asked a question in times of reflection – “How can I add more value to my calling that both blesses God and others?”  I am a results oriented guy – I am always looking at ROI (return on investment). 
These last 7 years have been a whirlwind of learning experiences in which I am eternally grateful.  They have been the fastest 7 years of my life complete with some of the greatest joys and darkest nights.  I am filled with hope and confidence that my learning and growing continues.  That means, I am far from ‘being set in my ways’ in ministry.  My reflections on the future of ministry looks a lot like this:
I want to love people out of an overabundant love from God.  I want my relationship with God to be so satisfying and intimately connected that love spills out.  I suffer from needing to be loved.  I want a desire to love from my love connection with God.
I want to lead and love in a way that others need to be led and loved.  I have caught myself holding back on leading and loving in ways that would be best because I know people wouldn’t be pleased.  I suffer from pleasing people. I want to be a courageous leader.
I want to major on significant priorities based on my gifts, passions and skills.
I’ve recently started journaling and using a paper daily task organizer.  I still use my Apple Calendar but my daily tasks and hour by hour assignments are written down.  This has helped me stay focused on priority living as well as given me some extra free time to help others without feeling like I am not getting my things done. 
I hope to have an Administrative Assistant within a month that will handle with skill and excellence the things that should not be on my ‘significant’ tasks to complete. In all honestly, I am being challenged to figure out the most significant priorities.
I want to do a better job with conflicts, rebuking sinful behaviors and guiding churches through church discipline. Real love often demands confrontation, for the benefit of those confronted as well as for the protection of their victims. I need prayer for this.  I have watched people who are really good with this – and the thing I notice the most is they have self-confidence, humility, remain calm and speak with authority.  
I want to be able to help pastors and leaders say “no” to the good so they can say “yes” to the best.  It breaks me when I hear the stresses and anxiety caused by activities of churches.  Many of these things have little to no value. I would like to say more but see the above reflection and know I don't rebuke sinful behaviors very well.
Finally, I have not taken care of myself and it’s hurting the people I love the most.  Most church members don’t care if we take care of ourselves or not. If we want to work ourselves to death, our congregations will generally allow us to do so and replace us when we wear out. So I understand that a Regional Pastor can be easily replaced (probably within a few weeks).  But Erica and Kayla can’t replace their father.  Kolton and Caden have stolen my heart and words will never express how much I want to see those little guys grow and become men of God.  I don’t want to leave Lisa alone to spoil my family, I want to be her husband as long as I can. I love the people I work with, coach, mentor, and do life with --- I enjoy life too much to not do a better job of taking care of my health.
Self-care actually blesses others.  

Solitude

I am very pleased with my life.  I get to do what I love – maximize the gift of others (pastors and churches) to help them accomplish their God given dreams.  My two adult children are living productive lives and figuring out things like marriage, raising a family, finances, etc… quite well. I’m very proud of them.   A grandson and another one soon to arrive have given me an unspeakable joy, something that really is unexplainable.  My wife still chooses to live in the same house as me after 30 years of marriage and we remain best friends.  In the words of my friend Handel, “I’m too blessed to be stressed.”  Well, that part isn’t true.  I haven’t managed to conquer that demon as of today, but it is early.

Occasionally, I need to escape.  It doesn’t have to be by myself – but this week plans were changed and I find myself in San Antonio Texas by myself – I have had lots of time by myself.  Good things have happened in the solitude.  I have escaped, changed venues, refreshed my soul and the pressures - although still all around me, have been slightly lifted.

1 John 2:15 – Do not love the world or anything in the world.  At the end of the 3^rd century, in the deserts of Egypt, Christian men would flee from the hustle and bustle of city life.  They would ‘find God in the desert’.  It was away from society that they were able to pursue God radically and listen to him intently.  But once they found a foothold, they would return to the city to ‘pull the world to safety.’

That’s why I retreat.  That’s why I travel to conferences and put a day or two on the front end or back end.  So when I get home from the desert, I can pull the world to safety.

I have a full active life.  It’s too busy.  The task is too large.  Today, I am praying for a cleansing from pressure, illusions and pretenses that confront me, and that my life would be a gift to those around me.

Today, colleagues arrive and the ‘all by myself’ ends.  I leave the desert back to city life with an agenda, breakout sessions, phone calls, note taking and too much food. But for this moment, all is well!