Just a thought….
March 2, 2013 Leave a comment
Day to Day Pastoral Vows
February 13, 2013 3 Comments
I was reading Psalm 61 as part of my morning devotions. A couple of lines of the psalm really stood out, and thought I’d share them. One day 37 years ago I stood before my congregation and took a vow to be their pastor. The psalmist’s words reminded me of how this should be playing out today, and every day in my ministry.
“Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah.
For you, O God, have heard my vows;
you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name….
So will I ever sing praises to your name, as I perform my vows day after day.”
Just a Thought….
February 13, 2013 Leave a comment
A good reminder! My ministry is not really mine, but His. My church is not really mine, but His. I’m but an undershepherd to the Great Shepherd. Wait a minute, better yet, I’m just the Great Shepherd’s sheep dog!
A Ministry of Contrasts
February 1, 2013 Leave a comment
I held the hands of a couple married for 60 years as the wife was dying and the “until death do us part” of their marriage vows were being fulfilled. Less than four hours later I held the hands of a young couple in a prayer of blessing as I concluded the ceremony that began their marriage.
I’ve traveled across town from visiting a family making plans at a funeral home to visiting a young couple and their new addition on the maternity ward of a hospital. I thought about it and decided to make the two visits in that order, so I could end my pastoral calls that day on a joyous note.
When I get to feeling sorry for myself because of some of the things I feel I get stuck having to deal with in pastoral ministry, I think about my ministry of contrasts. I join God’s people in their mountaintop experiences and I walk with them through the valley of the shadow of death.
What a ministry, this ministry of contrasts! The fried chicken may be the same, but it somehow tastes different at a funeral dinner than it does at a wedding reception.
Whether the climate of the circumstance calls for a sprinkling of water, rice, or dirt, we, as pastors of the people, are there. We hold the babies, hug the newlyweds, and let our shoulders get wet with the tears of the one who mourns. It’s all sacred ground, a holy calling to be with God’s people in the best of times, the worst of times and, thankfully, the many ordinary in-between times too!
Grumbling Stomach, Grumbling Soul
January 29, 2013 1 Comment
It’s embarrassing to have your stomach grumble in public, that’s why church potlucks are so important, they help keep that from happening! I got to thinking recently that not only can my stomach grumble but often my soul grumbles too!
I grumble about the people I serve in my church. I grumble about the people who I think should be attending and aren’t. I have caught myself grumbling about serving God in a small way in an out of the way place (my perception of my situation).
While working on a sermon recently I was reminded of the seriousness of the sin of grumbling (sometimes I don’t even consider it a sin). The Israelites who were led out of slavery in Egypt never survived the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness and had to leave possession of the promised land to their descendants. The reason? God told them, “In this desert your bodies will fall – every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me.” (Numbers 14:29)
When I think of the times I’ve succumbed to grumbling I realize that frequently it’s a disguised complaint against God. My grumbling is ingratitude for something in my circumstances that’s a part of my calling.
So, I confess as sin my grumbling. I also rejoice in God’s grace and goodness toward me even when I’ve allowed my soul to grumble!
The Good and the Bad in Each Day
January 22, 2013 Leave a comment
Rick Warren, the best-selling author of The Purpose Driven Life, said in an interview, “I used to think that life was hills and valleys – you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don’t believe that anymore. Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it’s kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life. No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on. And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for.”
I’ve found this analogy to be very helpful. Each day is a mixture of good and bad: some days more good than bad and some days more bad than good. We can’t ignore the bad, but we also don’t have to fixate on it either! If we’re not careful we can miss the good in each day. As a pastor I’ve been with people when life turns really bad in some tragedy, but even in the tragedy I see some good – some good people coming around to be of help and support to those going through the tragedy.
Not only is there always some good to be found in each day, but we also have a good God who is there with us in each of our days; we just have to reach out to Him. This world may be broken, but we can survive and even thrive in it because the Lord is with us! We can live well because we can be with Him and He with us!
Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
CEO or Shepherd?
December 22, 2012 Leave a comment
I recently read that Walt Disney was difficult to work with. Apparently he was very demanding and often assumed people knew what he wanted of them when he had not made it clear. I remember watching Walt Disney introduce his shows on TV. He seemed like a nice, congenial Uncle Walt! Apparently those who knew him knew differently. The late Steve Jobs was the brilliant head of Apple, but, again, he is reported as having been difficult to work for. The same article listed additional CEOs who have pushed their companies to greatness, but at great expense to the relationships with others in the company.
As a pastor I’ve often tried to glean insights on being a great leader from secular examples. I still believe there’s validity to this, but I am no longer as enthusiastic about such an approach. The Biblical model for a pastor of a church is not a king or a wealthy and powerful businessman. The model for the pastor is the shepherd. Jesus identified Himself as the Good Shepherd. He calls upon us to take care of His sheep. Aiming for success, casting vision, establishing measurable goals, and other methods used by secular leaders and managers are characteristics that are scarce in any Biblical references to leading the church.
Yes, I think there’s a place for such things in the pastor’s toolbox, but they don’t seem as though they should be the favorite tools of the pastor. There’s nine tools listed by the great church leader Paul in Galatians. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22)
We pastors are in a strange situation in that the people we are called to lead are the same people we are called to nurture in their walk with Christ. I’m coming to a greater peace about the fact that firm and stubbornly forward thinking leadership needs to take a back seat to nurturing the people I lead. I find the image of the shepherd to be a good balance. Yes, the shepherd leads the flock, but the shepherd also feeds, leads to calm waters, dresses wounds, and in all kinds of ways looks out for the best interest of the sheep. The Lord from whom we receive our call is the Good Shepherd. My goal is to be a “pretty good” shepherd for Him!
(The shepherd in the picture is a neighbor of our daughter and her family, where they live on a mountainside in Mexico.)
A Pastor's Heart 