Day Five

OK. I missed a day. A couple of things I am learning—1. I need to redefine my role as pastor. Things have changed over the past 30 years (duh!) and my role as pastor has to change. I am praying through some changes I may propose to my deacons and leadership team next month regarding some changes. 2. I struggle to receive God’s love. There, I’ve said it. I am asking God to reveal to me barriers that I have built that keep me from experiencing the full love God has for me in Christ. 

I think these two issues will help me avoid the traps I so recently barely avoided. 

 

Day Three

Already God is helping me discover several issues that have created the stress and pressure in my life the last few months. Today, as I read 1 John 3:16, “This is how we have come to know love: He laid down His life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers” I was challenged to ask myself- how much of what I have taken on is laying down my life because God gave me the direction and how much of what I have taken on is because I thought my being busy and overcommitted was a godly thing to do? 

I am also learning that waiting is more important than ever. I have so many dreams and visions that I sometimes (probably far too often) am too far ahead of those God has called me to lead, and that I have strayed too far from God’s paths for me (see Psalm 25:4-5).

So, as I continue to rest and read and pray,,,let’s see where God wants to take me; and where God wants to lead His people in Winston that gather as Community Baptist Church- the most caring and godly group I know!

 

Day Two

As I look over the past few months a couple of things are clear. 1. I want everything to be perfect. When it is not, when others fail to measure up to a standard even I can’t measure up to, I get frustrated and snap at those around me. 2. Somewhere along the way I stopped praying. Oh, I could pray a passable prayer over a meal, even lead a decent pastoral prayer. But somewhere along the path I stopped talking to God. More importantly I stopped listening. 3. I allowed the demands and desires of other people to dictate my calendar and establish my priorities. I stopped listening to God’s direction – Oh, I continued to read God’s Word (it is after all on my official what Christian’s do list). But I read to check it off my list, not to hear what God had to say about my life, my time, my responsibilities.

So, where do I go from here? I want to listen again. I want to hear God’s Word speak to me- not just so that I have a message to share, but so that I can nurture and nourish the relationship He wants to have with me.

It’s Monday. Y…

It’s Monday. Yesterday in our quarterly business meeting the deacons directed me to take a two week vacation (with my hearty approval). There are a number of factors that have contributed to my need of some time away from the weekly pressure of preparing messages. First, there are some spiritual struggles occurring in our ministry- nothing earth shattering, but no less draining. Second, I have been overcommitted and underresourced the past few weeks (yes, I know that spell check tells me both are not really words). The commitments I an handling by weeding some things out…the resources I have to work on. A couple of things are extremely clear as I evaluate the past few months: a). I have not taken care of myself. Not enough time off, lack of physical exercise, eating habits that are unhealthy. So, these next two weeks will help to make up some of that. b). I have allowed my schedule to run my life rather than my ministry and life determining my schedule. I need time to read…but unless I program that into my days and weeks, well, it just doesn’t happen. I need time to pray- more than the daily devotional prayers for my family and ministry.So, during these next two weeks (keeping the commitments I’ve already made for community ministry…mtgs with local business and political leaders; facilitating the city’s annual goal-setting workshop this Saturday; and some other meetings that are on the schedule) I will be taking some time to read- immersing myself in God’s Word; praying; and reading- Hisotical Theology and Beale’s new book on a biblical New Testament Theology are on my shelf- along with some fiction…). So, let’s see where God takes me… and what God has in store for our ministry. Steve

Releasing Kids

I am glad I have two children. Just yesterday we sent off our youngest (daughter) to pursue her dream of living and working in Washington DC. Almost ten years ago we sent off our oldest to the United States Air Force. Now he is in Afghanistan, serving a six month deployment while his wonderful wife holds down the home place in Pensacola FL. 

I am glad I only have two children. Even though our daughter moved out to college some 8 years ago, and then into her own apartment about 3 years ago, it was hard to let her go on that plane yesterday. I thank God for my kids on a daily basis and pray that God will continue to use them as they pursue the dreams He has given them. But, boy, I’m glad I only have two kids to set free! 

I know a little of how my folks and my wife’s parents felt some 35 years ago when we boarded a Greyhound bus with three boxes of clothing and possessions to serve the Lord here in the Northwest. Of course communication is certainly different. I was on facebook with my son for a while today, my daughter just texted my wife on her phone, but knowing they are no longer driving distance away is still hard. So, again, thank God I have two children, but thank God I only have two children!

The Stuff or Reality

I’ve been reading Issacson’s biography of Albert Einstein recently. I admit much of the theory is over my head, but Issacson does a great job of communicating the basics in an understandable way.What intrigues me about the latter part of the book which focuses on Einstein’s search for a unified field theory is the grasp Einstein had on the mystery of the universe. Though certainly not religious in any way we as evangelical’s would understand, his grasp of the mysterious and unknowable part of the world in which we live certainly challenges my constant effort to make sense of everything. I want to be more comfortable with mystery, with the unknowable. Job, in one of his responses to his friends spoke of knowing just the fringes of God’s ways (Job 26:14). As Christmas approaches I long for the ability to just marvel at the wonder and the unexplained aspects of the Christmas event. Angelic announcements, dreams and visions, prophetic people speaking prophetic words…. There is certainly mystery in the account of Jesus’ birth. May we be more comfortable with the mystery as we observe the celebrations that center on the birth of our Savior.

NWBC Reflections

It’s the Monday after the Annual Meeting of the NWBC (the 64th or 65th annual meeting if I’ve counted correctly). Several observations: 1. it appears that the number of registered messengers grows a little smaller every year; 2. It seems that the average age of the attenders increases slightly every year; 3. the business sessions are over very quickly and without any significant questions. The past two years I have presented the budget on behalf of the Executive Board- the 2012 budget required a significant reduction in personnel – and there were no questions from the floor.Do people read the budget? Do they understand the budget? I was prepared for a healthy exchange of questions and answers… and was a little disappointed that there were no questions from the floor. The line up of speakers was one of the best we’ve had in the past few years. I did miss allowing the president an opportunity to speak on Tuesday evening as we’ve done in the past couple of years. But then having the opportunity to hear Wayne Cordeiro was worth the change. Having served on the Order of Business Committee in the past I must commend the current group for doing a superb job of planning. Having been on the Executive Board the past couple of years has given me a deeper understanding of all the details that must fall into place for a successful annual meeting. However (and you sort of knew that was coming…) let me share a couple of additional observations: First, I wonder if we have done an adequate job of helping our church folk truly understand the role of a regional convention? Since we have adopted a strategy that has moved NWBC and NAMB workers closer to the churches I am not sure we have truly communicated just how important a regional connection is for the advancement of the kingdom of God in the Northwest. The Pastor Cluster groups and VBS training are the most visible signs of how regional networking can advance our agenda, but there is more to our work as a regional convention than just these two vital areas. While I have no specific agenda or solutions I hope to discover ways to make the work of our regional network more significant to the people I serve as pastor. Second, are we using the time that we gather to our best advantage? Certainly networking and reconnecting with friends is a significant part of the meeting. I was unable to attend the Q/A session with Ed Stetzer, but I would hope we can build more of these kind of opportunities into the planning. I know Ronnie Floyd had to catch a plane, but an Q/A time with him would have been interesting, as well as a time with Wayne Cordeiro. Well, it was a great meeting. I was humbled by the confidence expressed in me as the convention chose me as the President. I will prayerfully consider the challenges ahead and seek to serve in such a way to honor the purposes and presence of God as He works among and in us.

Inegrated Education

I have been working with some very bright people in our community on thinking about developing an integrated educational system for all children ages 1-20 (the Gov of Oregon has developed several initiatives to this end…we are trying to stay in step with the Gov and legislative decisions regarding these issues). A couple of key issues: what information do we need to have in order to provide access to available resources (remember, in the US public education model all students (i.e. even those with any type of physical and/or mental and/or emotional disabilities must achieve the same educational measurements as other children). Children who live in disintegrating families; children who live in serious and significant poverty; children who are homeless; children whose biological parents were struggling with addictions when the child was conceived all need an education, Various social service agencies (some state funded, some federal funded, some privately funded through non-profit organizations) have been developed to assist in meeting these challenges.
The problem is simply this: is it possible to pull all the providers to the same table and have a meaningful discussion about providing the right resources to the children and families currently being served in our educational system.
THis is a huge challenge, and an undertaking for which none of my education prepared me for…but we are plunging ahead with the assistance of some very very capable and bright people currently working in a variety of social service agencies.
It is an interesting challenge to say the least…and one which is forcing me to think differently about the assumptions that have directed my thinking.
Appreciate your prayers and any knowledge or insight you might have!

Just Wondering

Early this morning- or late last night—I haven’t been sleeping very soundly- I was struck by this thought: I plan ministry activities/preaching/teaching/worship/discipleship and the like based on the people we have reached. What would need to change for us to plan these things for those God has given us responsibility to reach? Am I ready for the challenge of changing our entire church system so that we are geared to those to whom we are trying to reach?
Do I know who we are trying to reach? What kind of relationships must we build in order to reach these who live in our community?

40 Assets

I was part of a team of faculty presenting some information on the 40 Assets to several youth service organizations (YMCA; Douglas County Juvenile Services; Southwest Area Health Education Center/Mercy Medical Center; several schools; and other assorted interested individuals). The 40 Assets area strategy for helping communities and individuals think in terms of helping young people build on their strengths and the strengths of their community. The Search Institute (go ahead, google them…) has developed a list of 40 Assets that can help young people succeed. Half of them are internal assets and the other half are external assets. I have been involved in helping move the various non-profit youth serving agencies in our county towards using the 40 Asset framework for talking about and strategizing ways of helping children and young people succeed.
It was an amazing day of networking and connecting with people from these county groups that are all primarily interested in helping kids succeed – not just in school, but in life.
There are numerous places for churches to connect with these 40 Assets. But the primary way I have used this framework is to secure a place at the table with other agencies for faith groups.
Helping students succeed is a huge undertaking. Making a difference in even one young person’s life can and will make an impact for the Kingdom of God.