What? Are you jackasses back to bloggin' over here. Good grief, I hate you people. The truth is I don't like anyone. It's not just you guys. I kicked my dog this morning. But if we are back to commenting over here maybe we could do the whole fr-enemies thing? Grace and Peace, Dan
(They told me at the leadership conference to say that what I want to say is Turmoil and Grief to you.)
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
New Adventures
I was investigating migrating my personal blog from the Story Point server over to blogger and happened to notice that there was activity here again. Huzzah! As I step deeper into the journey, I welcome the thoughts, advice and insight of fellow pastors. I'm only 7 weeks in, and I'm only the interim guy, but I'm already encountering some wild and crazy stuff that I've been sheltered from for the last 6 years. Perhaps you fellows can help me avoid the wall experience all together. Probably not, but one can hope. Welcome back my friend, even though you don't like me. :)
I stumbled across this today, and it seems appropriate.
I stumbled across this today, and it seems appropriate.
"People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway."
— Mother Teresa
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway."
— Mother Teresa
Church on! (as Dan would say)
Friday, March 4, 2011
Ossi (my devotional mentor, Oswald Chambers)
Hi all,
WOW!! This devotional thought..... uh!!!..... I am just undone!!
WOW!! This devotional thought..... uh!!!..... I am just undone!!
None of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself . . . —Acts 20:24
It is easier to serve or work for God without a vision and without a call, because then you are not bothered by what He requires. Common sense, covered with a layer of Christian emotion, becomes your guide. You may be more prosperous and successful from the world’s perspective, and will have more leisure time, if you never acknowledge the call of God. But once you receive a commission from Jesus Christ, the memory of what God asks of you will always be there to prod you on to do His will. You will no longer be able to work for Him on the basis of common sense.
What do I count in my life as “dear to myself”? If I have not been seized by Jesus Christ and have not surrendered myself to Him, I will consider the time I decide to give God and my own ideas of service as dear. I will also consider my own life as “dear to myself.” But Paul said he considered his life dear so that he might fulfill the ministry he had received, and he refused to use his energy on anything else. This verse shows an almost noble annoyance by Paul at being asked to consider himself. He was absolutely indifferent to any consideration other than that of fulfilling the ministry he had received. Our ordinary and reasonable service to God may actually compete against our total surrender to Him. Our reasonable work is based on the following argument which we say to ourselves, “Remember how useful you are here, and think how much value you would be in that particular type of work.” That attitude chooses our own judgment, instead of Jesus Christ, to be our guide as to where we should go and where we could be used the most. Never consider whether or not you are of use— but always consider that “you are not your own” (1 Corinthians 6:19). You are His.
I AM HIS!!! IS THIS NOT THE HEART OF BEING A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST????
What do I count in my life as “dear to myself”? If I have not been seized by Jesus Christ and have not surrendered myself to Him, I will consider the time I decide to give God and my own ideas of service as dear. I will also consider my own life as “dear to myself.” But Paul said he considered his life dear so that he might fulfill the ministry he had received, and he refused to use his energy on anything else. This verse shows an almost noble annoyance by Paul at being asked to consider himself. He was absolutely indifferent to any consideration other than that of fulfilling the ministry he had received. Our ordinary and reasonable service to God may actually compete against our total surrender to Him. Our reasonable work is based on the following argument which we say to ourselves, “Remember how useful you are here, and think how much value you would be in that particular type of work.” That attitude chooses our own judgment, instead of Jesus Christ, to be our guide as to where we should go and where we could be used the most. Never consider whether or not you are of use— but always consider that “you are not your own” (1 Corinthians 6:19). You are His.
I AM HIS!!! IS THIS NOT THE HEART OF BEING A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST????
Monday, January 24, 2011
Lonely Work
Regarding your post, "Reengagement" -
You don't even like us, huh? Ha... wow, that certainly is honest!! :-) I know how you feel though, Tom... pastoring ain't for the weak of heart for certain. Every ministry situation is kind of the same, only radically different! And (in my limited experience) church planting is an incredibly lonely, up-and-down process that pushes you to your limits of doubt, frustration, and confusion. Oh, there's joy to be found and collected along the way, but dang, it ain't a walk in the park by any means. Back in seminary, I knew what I wanted to do, and was ready to go out and do it - I'd attract a bunch of on-fire disciples along the way (all of us ready to take on the world), and we'd transform our community by loving God and loving our neighbor. Easy, right? But nearly four years later, and hmmmm... people seem more independent, aloof, and whacked-out busy than on fire.
Heck, I'd like to think I'd settle for medium warm Christianity... but too much of the time the embers are nearly ready to die out. Actually, some of those embers actually have died, which is heartbreaking and a serious blow to the ego. It's like watching a train wreck in that I've watched people I dearly love just walk away from me (and my teaching)... from the church... and from God. They don't like what I said, or what I didn't say... or what I did or didn't do. Deep down, I know they're probably rejecting how close God is getting and they feel the heat of His presence - but that doesn't make it any easier when they blame the pastor, does it?
“The most terrible poverty is loneliness, and the feeling of being unloved.” -Mother Teresa
So ya, I'm ready to reengage with some fellow sojourners, that is, if ya'll are so inclined. Frankly, I don't think I bring a lot of profound insight to the table, but nevertheless, I have learned a few things along the way... and would love to (re)discover a group of peers with which to occasionally discuss them. Let's tear down those "walls" of isolation and enjoy some time conversing.
You don't even like us, huh? Ha... wow, that certainly is honest!! :-) I know how you feel though, Tom... pastoring ain't for the weak of heart for certain. Every ministry situation is kind of the same, only radically different! And (in my limited experience) church planting is an incredibly lonely, up-and-down process that pushes you to your limits of doubt, frustration, and confusion. Oh, there's joy to be found and collected along the way, but dang, it ain't a walk in the park by any means. Back in seminary, I knew what I wanted to do, and was ready to go out and do it - I'd attract a bunch of on-fire disciples along the way (all of us ready to take on the world), and we'd transform our community by loving God and loving our neighbor. Easy, right? But nearly four years later, and hmmmm... people seem more independent, aloof, and whacked-out busy than on fire.
Heck, I'd like to think I'd settle for medium warm Christianity... but too much of the time the embers are nearly ready to die out. Actually, some of those embers actually have died, which is heartbreaking and a serious blow to the ego. It's like watching a train wreck in that I've watched people I dearly love just walk away from me (and my teaching)... from the church... and from God. They don't like what I said, or what I didn't say... or what I did or didn't do. Deep down, I know they're probably rejecting how close God is getting and they feel the heat of His presence - but that doesn't make it any easier when they blame the pastor, does it?
“The most terrible poverty is loneliness, and the feeling of being unloved.” -Mother Teresa
So ya, I'm ready to reengage with some fellow sojourners, that is, if ya'll are so inclined. Frankly, I don't think I bring a lot of profound insight to the table, but nevertheless, I have learned a few things along the way... and would love to (re)discover a group of peers with which to occasionally discuss them. Let's tear down those "walls" of isolation and enjoy some time conversing.
REENGAGEMENT
Howdy all,
My oh My. the past year has kinda been a bumber. I have been reading the book by Janet Hagberg entitled, "The Critical Journey" which discusses the stages of discipleship in a descriptive was as opposed to a prescriptive on and has enlivened me to a great many things about my faith and journey. The book describes an experience of "the wall" where we enter into a time of doubt, questioning previously adhered to presuppositions, etc. This is fine for others on their journey, but not the pastor!!!! We are to have all of those things figured out and are here to lead others through this "wall" experience.
Without a doubt, I have been in a battle with this Wall experience for perhaps as many as 4 years. I have tried to deny it, avoid it, go around it, over it, ANYTHING BUT THROUGH IT!!
It is only recently that I have had some moments of Epiphany, (not intentionally connected with the church calendar)
Interestingly, in "The Critical Journey" part of the description of the "wall" experience is the journey inward and a tendency to isolate. That is definitely descriptive of my journey which explains why I have not been active in blogging. I would not blog with a fox, I would not blog in a box, I would not blog here or there, i would not blog anywhere. I even at one time convinced myself, "why should i blog here, I don't even like you guys". Sorry, but part of pushing through is becoming more honest on the other side.
So there you have it. I would enjoy reengaging here with you. Let me know your thoughts.
My oh My. the past year has kinda been a bumber. I have been reading the book by Janet Hagberg entitled, "The Critical Journey" which discusses the stages of discipleship in a descriptive was as opposed to a prescriptive on and has enlivened me to a great many things about my faith and journey. The book describes an experience of "the wall" where we enter into a time of doubt, questioning previously adhered to presuppositions, etc. This is fine for others on their journey, but not the pastor!!!! We are to have all of those things figured out and are here to lead others through this "wall" experience.
Without a doubt, I have been in a battle with this Wall experience for perhaps as many as 4 years. I have tried to deny it, avoid it, go around it, over it, ANYTHING BUT THROUGH IT!!
It is only recently that I have had some moments of Epiphany, (not intentionally connected with the church calendar)
Interestingly, in "The Critical Journey" part of the description of the "wall" experience is the journey inward and a tendency to isolate. That is definitely descriptive of my journey which explains why I have not been active in blogging. I would not blog with a fox, I would not blog in a box, I would not blog here or there, i would not blog anywhere. I even at one time convinced myself, "why should i blog here, I don't even like you guys". Sorry, but part of pushing through is becoming more honest on the other side.
So there you have it. I would enjoy reengaging here with you. Let me know your thoughts.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Exasperating God
In Deuteronomy 3, God says to Moses, "That is enough. Do not speak to me again about this matter." Simple question really. What have you pestered God about that has driven him to this response? What is the difference in persistence and annoyance?
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