I am at a loss for words. This takes me to a happy place. To my brother Scott I give a big Star Wars shout out! I’m sorry for making fun of you as a kid and calling you Star Wars Freak. I admit it I’m afreak too and I’m now coming out of the SW closet. I love you man.
What makes you happy?
A must read, by Wayne Jacobsen and Dave Coleman. If you are struggling with church and/or experiencing a longing to know the Father better, this is a must read. After going through some difficult church times, this has been a breath of fresh air into my relationship with Jesus. It has also been challenging all my views of church and leadership.
I will be writing about my conclusions over the next few days/weeks. You can CLICK HERE to order a copy or you can find it at your local christian bookstore.
If you’ve read it or at some point do, please leave your comments.
I’ll say this, the Father is so loving and He wants that to be a living reality. We will have to rethink and unlearn some religious stuff to live in this reality.
Amy’s 20th reunion is coming up soon and she is helping plan the event. My sister sent us her collection of 80’s music and we happened to be listening to some last night when our son (Nathan) came into the kitchen. Nathan constantly cracks us up. Here is a spontaneous dance by Nathan – a lip-sinc, robot, gangsta, hip-hop thing. Jam on it!
“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22
So what goes on at your house that no one would expect?
What makes for longevity in ministry? I read a figure yesterday, that 1500 ministers a month drop out of ministry. Why?
If you are a minister thinking about quiting, please listen. If you are in ministry, listen. If you are in a church and are being ministered to, please listen. I want to share the secret with you.
Ministry cannot be founded on a love for people no more than a marriage can last on a couples love for each other alone. Ministry cannot last on talent, giftedness, or drivenness – unless you are Superman, and we know the answer to that.
I won’t drag you on with a long devotional today. Here it is:
“For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.” 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
The Apostle Paul tell us that the key is the love of God. It was the love of God that controlled what He did. The word controlled is also translated constrains. I know the force of that word. It is a word that pushes from the inside out. It’s not contolled by the love for people, though you need to love people. But, people will fail you. If you are in ministry, you know how you can be ministering and serving people who at the same time expect you to while abusing you, hurting you, not listening to you and turning on you. Sounds like being a shepherd to sheep. Shepherds tend and care while the sheep bite them, bite each other, go the other way and all the while expecting to be fed and cared for.
I know what it’s like to not want to and then the love of God pushes from deep within me, constraining me to press on for His sake and the sake of those He loves, died and rose for.
If you are in ministry you must put your focus on Christ and His love. Let His love drive you and direct you. Let His love energize you, sustain you, and hold your focus. If you don’t, you can find yourself one amongst the 1500 or so casualties of ministry.
“For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake.” 2 Corinthians 4:5
If you are one being ministered to and served, have grace and mercy on us.
“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you. Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things.” Hebrews 13:17-18
It’s been a heck of a day. I woke up to my hall bathroom being flooded. Water must have been overflowing from the toilet half the night. It went through the floor and caused the ceiling in our den to fall, flooded the den with 1/2 inch of water then flowed thought the wall to the garage and laundry room. Praise Jesus!
I spoke about joy on Sunday. New revelation. You cannot know true joy until you are tested. James said to “count it all joy when you face trials of many kinds.” James 1:1 I think this one qualifies.
I must be doing something right. Amy and I went out to eat tonight at Hiro’s for Japanese. My fortune cookie said, “Stay your present course, you are doing the right thing.” I don’t normally take advise from Confucius but I think I’ll believe this ones from God.
You must choose Joy despite your circumstances. When things suck choose joy. Deep huh?
Now I’m more excited than ever about what God’s up to.
It’s JOY BABY!!!! Join the happy wagon!
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