The Journey

A Good Church

Just like anyone else, I can have my good days and my bad days.  Sometimes ministry to people can get a bit complicated: marriage issues, personality conflicts, health problems, and sin.  Sometimes I am tempted to run for cover (INCOMING!!!).  However, thankfully, ministry is also about experiencing God's miracles.  Last night as I was walking through the church, observing the different ministries in operation, I could not help but rejoice in God's calling on my life.  The joy of being a part of a church that works hard to provide a loving environment to build one another up is worth it all.

Thanks church!  You are my daily encouragement.  I would not trade it for the world!

Getting Better

For the last three weeks or so, I have been feeling sick.  Finally, after my wife's insistence, I went to see the doctor.  I was confident he would say: "there's nothing wrong.  It's all in your head."  Well, there was something wrong, and it was in my chest--Bronchitis.  The doctor subscribed a prescription, and now, a few days later, I am feeling almost as good as new. 

You would think that, after forty-four years of existence, I would learn to not let a sickness get so bad.  I don't like seeing a doctor.  But, on the other hand, I don't like feeling sick. 

Spiritually, we allow ourselves to suffer.  Doubt, fear, discouragement, unforgiveness, bitterness, anger, disappointment--all spiritual sicknesses that we somehow allow to fester, and become bigger problems.  We need to remind ourselves that Jesus Christ is the Great Physician--the healer of physical and spiritual problems.  As a believer in Christ, we have access to His presence, where we can find genuine, lasting, authentic healing.

Let's not let things go.  Let's go to the Great Physician, who always knows what we need, even before we ask it.

A Blur

For some reason, and I don't know why, I have been thinking about the time I was a teenager--more specifically, a high school senior.  To augment my thoughts, I dug through a foot locker that contains stuff from the last thirty years of my life.  And there it was--my high school year book.  As I was thumbing through the pages, I became surprisingly frustrated.  I couldn't remember most of my classmates.  I was having a hard time recalling the details of my four years at Saugus High School.  Am I loosing it? 

Sometimes I look at the years gone by and it seems just a blur.  I don't want it to be a blur--I want remember--the good and the bad.  I want to remember conversations, the laughs, the cries, the people, the sights--I want to remember. 

Maybe I am going through the beginnings of a mid-life crisis.  Maybe if blogging existed twenty-five years ago, I would have remembered a lot more--and I would have been lamenting right now about knowing too much. 

Well, just a though!

When Words Hurt

"Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me."  Remember that old nursery rhyme?  Whoever wrote that was lying!  Words do hurt, and are often more painful and long lasting than most physical injuries.  What we say has consequences, and we would do well to not only guard our hearts, but our mouths as well. 

In ministry, the most lasting wounds that I have experienced were the words that questioned my abilities or my integrity.  Often those words were expressed due to misunderstanding or frustration.  Every time that has happened to me, I have taken a pause and wondered what my words have done to others.  As a Christian and as a pastor, my words must always be guarded.  I must always be vigilant to take care not to hurt people.  Even when I think someone deserved it, words can never be taken back.  There is no rewind and erase button.  When I speak, my goal is to encourage, build people up in the faith, and always promote the ministry of reconciliation.

Words do hurt.  Gossip brings destruction.  Careless speech never builds the Body of Christ.  As a Christian, you would do well never to forget that!

What do you think?

Safe

I like it safe--predictable and no surprises.  Change is usually not my cup of tea.  Just like the movies, I want a happy ending.  But, as a believer in Christ, I am called by Christ (See Mark 8) to a life of anything but safe.  He has called me to deny myself (my desire to be safe and happy) and take up my cross (my God-given purpose) to to pursue Him with passion.

As a pastor I am also called to help others experience Christ's calling to "die" to self.  This is easier said than done.  People like comfort, simple, predictable, happy--not a calling to surrender, struggle, trust, faith, and...well, the list goes on and on.  What concerns me is that so many professing Christians rather be comfortable than fulfilling their God-given purpose.  Sometimes I feel that what is expected of me from Christian people is to make people feel good, to entertain.  But, what if I proclaim a message that makes people very uncomfortable, very uneasy? 

Next Sunday I am going to preach such a message.  I have entitled it "The Comfort Zone"--Living a life for Self.  My hearts cry is for people to realize that God has much more for us, if only we allow Him to take control of our lives.  But, surrendering is so hard to do.

What do you think?