The life of a church planter/site pastor is not an easy one, especially at the beginning. I knew it was going to be that way - all the books had warned me. But even when things are not easy, they are still good and that is a change from what I would have said even a year ago.
It only became clear to me recently, but for the first time in my ministry I actually miss my congregation. The students that are the primary part of The Bridge at this point are gone for Christmas break and I miss them already. They just left at the end of last week, less than seven days ago and I really miss them. In prior times of ministry, I would have missed certain people and I would have been concerned about certain things going on in the lives of my parishioners, but not like this. I truly miss those I am working with/serving in this new calling and I imagine that is a good thing.
I guess that I am shocked that I have never missed a church before, but I can honestly say that this is very new for me. Time away, for all of my ministry up this point, was something I longed for and felt that I truly needed. Time away now only serves to make me wish they were here so we could continue this journey together.
For those special folks that are at home across the state, country and world this season, know that your new pastor here in Radford loves you very much and can't wait to see what God will do with us when you return. I know that He has big plans and I am so thankful that I get to be a part of those plans with you guys.
Merry Christmas!
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Positive update
As it turns out, I think I jumped the gun a little on calling myself arrogant. I know, its sounds arrogant to declare myself not arrogant, doesn't it?
Let me explain. Before I started working at a fast food place a few weeks ago, I was greatly dreading it and I wrote about it. My thinking, at that point, was that those feelings must come from arrogance. Why else would I dread working at a place like that? Now, I think I know why.
I was dreading working there because I knew, in my heart, that working 30 hours a week at a job 20+ minutes from my calling, i.e. pastor of The Bridge, simply would not work. When I arrived for work that day I was actually a little excited. I dove in and enjoyed working with the people there. My primary job was not glamorous - I worked all three days taking care of the dining room which basically meant that I was cleaning the building. I didn't mind the work, even the not so pleasant parts - trash and bathrooms. I felt positive to be working.
Inside, however, it was obvious that I could not do this regularly. That job required dropping your life at that door and giving your all for the time you were on the clock. I don't have that ability right now. It also would require me to know the time I need off weeks ahead of time and I have no clue that far ahead for many things. As we set up for a big launch in January, the 30th to be exact, I have to be able to get things done when they need to be done and this job does not offer that luxury.
I learned a lot about myself and a lot about the fast food world that I likely would have never known if I didn't have that brief experience.
*I found that I don't mind work, regardless of the kind of work. I suppose that I got that from my hard-working father who drove a coal truck from 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day for many years.
*I found that adults are just as prone to "drama" as youth and college students.
*I realized that there is much more to working such a job than meets the eye. It is not easy and to be done well it takes effort.
*I found that there are a lot of lonely people who need more than they have found in life so far. They may not know it, but they need Jesus.
*I found that my kids are not accustomed to having me out of the house that much, at least when they are home. They actually, at least at this stage, want me around and that is a good thing.
*I realized that serving people can be done in "ministry" and outside of ministry. I can serve someone in the church body, giving of myself to meet their needs. I can also refill a drink or clean a table as an act of service for someone. They are much more related than I realized going into this experience.
The management was willing to let me walk away after a week of working there. I think they knew all along that doing a job like that would be difficult if my heart and concentration was focused in another place. I am grateful for the experience.
God is good. I will keeping seeking.
Let me explain. Before I started working at a fast food place a few weeks ago, I was greatly dreading it and I wrote about it. My thinking, at that point, was that those feelings must come from arrogance. Why else would I dread working at a place like that? Now, I think I know why.
I was dreading working there because I knew, in my heart, that working 30 hours a week at a job 20+ minutes from my calling, i.e. pastor of The Bridge, simply would not work. When I arrived for work that day I was actually a little excited. I dove in and enjoyed working with the people there. My primary job was not glamorous - I worked all three days taking care of the dining room which basically meant that I was cleaning the building. I didn't mind the work, even the not so pleasant parts - trash and bathrooms. I felt positive to be working.
Inside, however, it was obvious that I could not do this regularly. That job required dropping your life at that door and giving your all for the time you were on the clock. I don't have that ability right now. It also would require me to know the time I need off weeks ahead of time and I have no clue that far ahead for many things. As we set up for a big launch in January, the 30th to be exact, I have to be able to get things done when they need to be done and this job does not offer that luxury.
I learned a lot about myself and a lot about the fast food world that I likely would have never known if I didn't have that brief experience.
*I found that I don't mind work, regardless of the kind of work. I suppose that I got that from my hard-working father who drove a coal truck from 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day for many years.
*I found that adults are just as prone to "drama" as youth and college students.
*I realized that there is much more to working such a job than meets the eye. It is not easy and to be done well it takes effort.
*I found that there are a lot of lonely people who need more than they have found in life so far. They may not know it, but they need Jesus.
*I found that my kids are not accustomed to having me out of the house that much, at least when they are home. They actually, at least at this stage, want me around and that is a good thing.
*I realized that serving people can be done in "ministry" and outside of ministry. I can serve someone in the church body, giving of myself to meet their needs. I can also refill a drink or clean a table as an act of service for someone. They are much more related than I realized going into this experience.
The management was willing to let me walk away after a week of working there. I think they knew all along that doing a job like that would be difficult if my heart and concentration was focused in another place. I am grateful for the experience.
God is good. I will keeping seeking.
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