It is a typical Monday morning here in the office. I’ve had fifteen visits from folks who have just wanted to talk with me; three phone calls; one phone message; a fax; sixteen emails; two text messages; and all the mail that was in my mailbox. Not to mention the fact that I have yet to clear away my desk from yesterday’s worship service, and last night’s bible study. I am not complaining, mind you. I like people. I like life when things get busy. It is invigorating – most of the time. Mondays are like trying to play catcher to about fifteen little league pitchers who are all throwing wild!
Mondays are strange. It is the beginning of the work week, however, it isn’t the beginning of the week. I start my weeks on Sundays. (I know, Sunday is supposed to be a Sabbath time for Christians, or so someone once said. I take my Sabbath rest on Fridays. The common misconception is that preachers only work an hour a week. A pastor friend of mine once told me that “preachers work more than that. We work weekends and holidays!” I think he may be on to something there.)
Truth be told, being a pastor is fun. It is filled with opportunities to make a difference in peoples’ lives, to watch each generation draw closer to God in their daily walks with Christ, and to be the link to God in the midst of all the craziness of life. To watch that smile that comes over a sweet, innocent face when a small child takes that piece of bread and the juice while you say to them that “this means God loves you very much,” is to reach out and touch God’s face. To be there when someone “gets it” and catches that glimpse of the eternal, that makes it all worthwhile.
But it is also a difficult task. To sit at someone’s bedside and watch the last breath God has given them exhale into nothingness, and to hold their hand into eternity, is a moment that no pastor ever forgets. To watch as a marriage that has been barely held together by wishful thinking fall apart like so much dust in the wind, can break your heart. To have shared the life-giving, life-sustaining message of hope and salvation to someone who is struggling with all the entrapments of worldliness, only to watch them walk away, rejecting the God who loves them so much that not even the only begotten Son was spared, can rend the soul.
Ministry requires that you have the ability to do several things at once – kind of like that circus performer who spins the plates on a series of dowels. Ministry means that you have kind of a double vision – able to see the immediate faith issues before you while at the same time being able to focus on the long distance vision and direction that the church is called by God to go. It means being able to know that sometimes, not everyone is going to be happy. It means that occasionally, someone’s feelings may be hurt. And while it is never a pastor’s aim to have that happen, it still, nonetheless happens.
Since I started writing this article, I’ve had three more people knock on my door for a short visit. I’ve also had two more phone calls. It is a typical Monday morning. Still, it is a good day, because God is still good. And God’s grace is still very much present, and definitely appreciated. After a moment or two of reflection, I believe that it is precisely that Amazing, Holy Grace that allows us to have a moment of breathing room – especially when we need it most. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
See you in Church!
Grace and peace,
Brad
Monday, July 27, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
To Infinity And Beyond!
One of Braedon's favorite movies a few years ago was the Disney animated "Toy Story." It is the story of a little boy's toys, who have to deal with change, especially when the boy is getting ready for a birthday party with lots of friends. Ultimately what this means is, friends + party = new toys. Fear and pandemonium breaks out when they come to the conclusion that some of the toys will be given up and sold at a garage sale. Still, the greatest issue comes when the new toy somehow replaces the older, "favorite" toy, and the conflict begins. The new toy, a "Space Ranger" named "Buzz Lightyear" takes the coveted place of honor on the child Andy's bed, and Woody gets accidentally knocked down onto the floor behind the bed. Conflict builds as the family's garage sale is the precursor to the family moving day.
Buzz Lightyear's favorite slogan is "To Infinity and Beyond!" He says it frequently, and it begins to irritate Woody. But there's something about this movie that sets the mind racing. Obviously it is a children's movie, but there are some very real grown-up concepts being presented.
Change, for one. Suddenly, the thought of being replaced is frightening. The thought of someone or something new coming along may upset the delicate balance that has been worked on so hard to maintain. Change is never easy. But it happens. All the time.
Last week, while we were at Ft. Davis, our family visited the McDonald Observatory. The information that we gleaned there was fascinating for an amateur scientist like me. I have always loved looking at the stars, but couldn't begin to tell you about the constellations, or even find the North Star. Now, however, I have been educated! I know exactly how to find it! I have been given a glimpse into the concept of "To Infinity and Beyond!"
But as we were driving away from the observatories, I mentioned to Jan that I had been thinking about all the changes that have happened over the last hundred years. I was musing about our attitudes toward the past, how we thought then we were so advanced, and yet today, we're so much farther along in our critical thinking and scientific research than back then. I mentioned that I wondered what people will think a hundred years from now! What will they think about all the great advances in the Internet, and mp3's, and digital phones and television, and on and on. We'll probably look very primative to those folks a hundred years from now! Change is inevitable.
A few weeks ago during a meeting, our group was presented with a phrase that is absolutely stark and powerful in its meaning: "When you are through changing, you're through." Change is inevitable. But how we learn to deal with that change makes all the difference in how well we will survive. Failure to change leads to stagnation, and ultimately death. Resisting change leads to exhaustion, fatigue, frustration, disappointment, anger, hurt and pain.
Unfortunately, acquiescing to change is not necessarily always good either. Going along to get along does little for growth. Sometimes change needs to happen. Other times, change just for the sake of change is not necessarily the best option. Just going along with change in an effort to avoid conflict is not a healthy way of dealing with the change. Perhaps this is why change can be so painful. So, what are we to do?
First, we must recognize that change is going to happen. With or without our blessing, it will happen. Ten years ago, who would have ever believed that the single largest corporation in the world, General Motors, would be in bankruptcy and threatened with extinction? And yet, in the midst of a restructuring process the world has never before seen the likes of , the giant auto maker is having to rethink its entire existence. Entire lineups of automobiles are being sold off, or dropped completely. Divisions that have been the bread and butter of the company's profits for the last several decades are suddenly flooded in sales lots across the land. Ten years ago, change meant how to redecorate or remodel the existing lineup of cars and trucks. Today, change means rethinking every single thing the company does, right down to the amount of paperclips it buys. Change is going to happen. Those that refuse to believe it, are destined for some dramatic and very bumpy rides ahead.
The same is true of our churches and pastors. Twenty years ago, when I was in seminary, we were taught that ministry was relatively unchanged. Churches could continue on, business as usual - potlucks in the fall, spring yard sales and bazaars. Bishop Robert Schnase once compared it to learning how to row a scull, those long, sleek, thin, multi-person canoes with the oars that all row together. If you've ever watched that sport, you'd see all of them rowing together, in sync with one another. The water is placid, almost glasslike. Rowing a scull together in unison takes practice, skill, and dedication, and a dedicated caller, who shouts out, "Stroke! Stroke! Stroke!" in an almost metronomic fashion.
The problem is, we don't live in a placid world, do we? We live in a world that more closely resembles a whitewater world, where the rapids are rated at 8's and 9's and even 10's sometimes. Our boat cannot be a scull - long, sleek, hard-sided. It would get destroyed fairly early on as it encountered the rapids and the rocks. No, what we need is a pliable, inflatable rubber craft - one that gives and takes the abuse of the rocks and volumes of water rushing by. We need a craft that is able to withstand the possibility of getting wet - really wet! And we need to have a guide that is able to see what is coming up quickly, and shout commands to those who are rowing, steering us quickly and safely through the rapids.
Changes are coming, and we need to be ready for them. My prayer is that we'll not be so afraid of them that we won't want to change at all; and that we'll not be so used to changes that we'll simply give in to them. My prayer is that we'll be able to walk with God in the midst of them, knowing that changes can be used for the most important work of all - the Kingdom of God. I pray we'll focus on how our changes will help to bring people to Christ, and how their lives (and ours) will be transformed for the better. Maybe it won't be for infinity, but certainly, as Jan likes to say, "To Eternity and Beyond!"
See you in Church!
Grace and peace,
Brad
Buzz Lightyear's favorite slogan is "To Infinity and Beyond!" He says it frequently, and it begins to irritate Woody. But there's something about this movie that sets the mind racing. Obviously it is a children's movie, but there are some very real grown-up concepts being presented.
Change, for one. Suddenly, the thought of being replaced is frightening. The thought of someone or something new coming along may upset the delicate balance that has been worked on so hard to maintain. Change is never easy. But it happens. All the time.
Last week, while we were at Ft. Davis, our family visited the McDonald Observatory. The information that we gleaned there was fascinating for an amateur scientist like me. I have always loved looking at the stars, but couldn't begin to tell you about the constellations, or even find the North Star. Now, however, I have been educated! I know exactly how to find it! I have been given a glimpse into the concept of "To Infinity and Beyond!"
But as we were driving away from the observatories, I mentioned to Jan that I had been thinking about all the changes that have happened over the last hundred years. I was musing about our attitudes toward the past, how we thought then we were so advanced, and yet today, we're so much farther along in our critical thinking and scientific research than back then. I mentioned that I wondered what people will think a hundred years from now! What will they think about all the great advances in the Internet, and mp3's, and digital phones and television, and on and on. We'll probably look very primative to those folks a hundred years from now! Change is inevitable.
A few weeks ago during a meeting, our group was presented with a phrase that is absolutely stark and powerful in its meaning: "When you are through changing, you're through." Change is inevitable. But how we learn to deal with that change makes all the difference in how well we will survive. Failure to change leads to stagnation, and ultimately death. Resisting change leads to exhaustion, fatigue, frustration, disappointment, anger, hurt and pain.
Unfortunately, acquiescing to change is not necessarily always good either. Going along to get along does little for growth. Sometimes change needs to happen. Other times, change just for the sake of change is not necessarily the best option. Just going along with change in an effort to avoid conflict is not a healthy way of dealing with the change. Perhaps this is why change can be so painful. So, what are we to do?
First, we must recognize that change is going to happen. With or without our blessing, it will happen. Ten years ago, who would have ever believed that the single largest corporation in the world, General Motors, would be in bankruptcy and threatened with extinction? And yet, in the midst of a restructuring process the world has never before seen the likes of , the giant auto maker is having to rethink its entire existence. Entire lineups of automobiles are being sold off, or dropped completely. Divisions that have been the bread and butter of the company's profits for the last several decades are suddenly flooded in sales lots across the land. Ten years ago, change meant how to redecorate or remodel the existing lineup of cars and trucks. Today, change means rethinking every single thing the company does, right down to the amount of paperclips it buys. Change is going to happen. Those that refuse to believe it, are destined for some dramatic and very bumpy rides ahead.
The same is true of our churches and pastors. Twenty years ago, when I was in seminary, we were taught that ministry was relatively unchanged. Churches could continue on, business as usual - potlucks in the fall, spring yard sales and bazaars. Bishop Robert Schnase once compared it to learning how to row a scull, those long, sleek, thin, multi-person canoes with the oars that all row together. If you've ever watched that sport, you'd see all of them rowing together, in sync with one another. The water is placid, almost glasslike. Rowing a scull together in unison takes practice, skill, and dedication, and a dedicated caller, who shouts out, "Stroke! Stroke! Stroke!" in an almost metronomic fashion.
The problem is, we don't live in a placid world, do we? We live in a world that more closely resembles a whitewater world, where the rapids are rated at 8's and 9's and even 10's sometimes. Our boat cannot be a scull - long, sleek, hard-sided. It would get destroyed fairly early on as it encountered the rapids and the rocks. No, what we need is a pliable, inflatable rubber craft - one that gives and takes the abuse of the rocks and volumes of water rushing by. We need a craft that is able to withstand the possibility of getting wet - really wet! And we need to have a guide that is able to see what is coming up quickly, and shout commands to those who are rowing, steering us quickly and safely through the rapids.
Changes are coming, and we need to be ready for them. My prayer is that we'll not be so afraid of them that we won't want to change at all; and that we'll not be so used to changes that we'll simply give in to them. My prayer is that we'll be able to walk with God in the midst of them, knowing that changes can be used for the most important work of all - the Kingdom of God. I pray we'll focus on how our changes will help to bring people to Christ, and how their lives (and ours) will be transformed for the better. Maybe it won't be for infinity, but certainly, as Jan likes to say, "To Eternity and Beyond!"
See you in Church!
Grace and peace,
Brad
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)