Passion of a pastor

One of the blogs I like to read is by a guy named Perry Noble. Perry is the pastor of Newspring Baptist Church in Anderson, SC. Newspring didn’t even exist when I pastored in Anderson about 20 years ago and now they have multiple campuses and gave an average attendance well up into the thousands. Today I read a post about “7 Things A Pastor Should Never Apologize For.” I think he nailed it!

1. Never apologize for dreaming big – How true this is. So often we pastors place in front of our congregations budgets and ministry plans that with a little work and faithfulness can be accomplished without divine intervention. We serve such a big and awesome God; a God that nothing is too difficult for. Should we not challenge our people to exercise a little faith and attempt great things for God; things that when done, only He can get the credit for? Too often we focus on our limitations rather his possibilities.

2. Never apologize for your passion – My passion is seeing people come to Christ. I get fired up seeing people go “on mission” with God. Whether that’s across the street or around the world, nothing fires me up more than seeing the church be the church outside the walls of 500 Eastwood Street or Plano Elementary.

3. Never apologize for wanting to lead – If a pastor is called of God to pastor than leading is simply part of the deal. I remember a lady at my last church saying after I left, “Well the dictator is gone.” Looking back, and also after asking some laymen I served with and trust about my leadership style there, I’m convinced I was not being a dictator but simply being the pastor God called me to be. If a pastor cannot lead than he might want to consider another profession.

4. Never apologize for not embracing someone else’s agenda – This is tricky because as a pastor I never want to squelch what God might be doing in someone else’s heart. But at the same time I can’t embrace an idea without God also birthing that in my own heart. And as pastor, for me there’s only one agenda that I want to embrace and follow and no it is not “Tom’s”. I want to discern what the Lord on His agenda for our church and embrace that.

5. Never apologize for expecting the best from others – I cannot get to the place where I expect perfection from anyone, even myself. But at the same time I don’t think it’s wrong to expect people to give their very best to the Lord.

6. Never apologize for wanting to reach more people – Occasionally people have accused me of only being concerned about “the numbers”. Know what? They are absolutely right! Because behind every “number” in Sunday bible study is a soul that is being taught the priceless perfect Word of God. Behind every baptism is a soul that has been snatched from hell and is now heaven bound.

7. Never apologize for saying “No” to what you need to say “No” to – Of the 7 things listed here, I confess this is the most difficult for me. I struggle to build in proper boundaries and saying “No” to people. I think I’m getting better at this, but honestly I wish I’d learned this lesson while my children were still young.

Just a glimpse today of what the Lord has said to my heart through a great man of God, Perry Noble.

Tom

Phsyicals and spiritual check-ups

Having hit the BIG 5-0 this year has had few side effects … in fact I don’t feel a day over 49 most days (grin). One thing I decided to do though was to go to the doctor and get a physical. I hadn’t had one in about 7 years and so it was time. Most everything went well and many things were exceptional. I have a couple of follow-up things to do based on some lab work and simply my age but all in all it was good.

But after this physical I sat at my desk contemplating … when was the last time I had a “spiritual physical”? Just as my doctor today asked a lot of diagnostic questions, what are the diagnostic questions that would help the Great Physician reveal to me how I’m doing and what I need to work on?

First I think the Great Physician would establish my “case history”. I’m reminded of where I’ve come from (how lost I was and unable to save myself … truth is not even desiring to be saved) and where I am today. The Physician would also then talk about where I want to be 6 months or a year from now and what steps need to be taken to get there.

Next we would probably review what “medicines” I’m taking and what they were for. This would be the Physician reminding me of “problem areas” in my life where I am prone to run into sin or trouble. He’d likely remind me of the “medicine” (my quiet time with Him, avoiding certain places and temptations, etc…) and how I need to regularly take this medicine to avoid future trouble.

Just as my earthly doctor asked how I’d been eating and if I’d been exercising, I think the Great Physician would ask about my spiritual appetite. Have I been desiring the meat of the Word? Have I been feasting on it? Having I been exercising the spiritual gifts He’s given to me? Have I been faithfully serving Him the way I was designed to?

The doctor today pointed out a couple of “pre-cancerous” spots that needed to be removed and we scheduled that. Likewise the Great Physician would likely point out some “pre-cancerous” attitudes or actions that if I don’t remove them likely would lead to much greater trouble down the road.

Finally when you turn 50 the doctor typically wants to schedule a routine colonoscopy. This is where they look on your “insides” to make sure there’s nothing there that needs to be removed … it is preventive as much as anything, so we scheduled that. This reminds me that the Great Physician looks at more than just my outside appearance but gazes into my heart. I know I need to listen to Him as He describes what He sees. If there’s anything going on inside of me, than He certainly knows the remedy and so as I listen I then must confess, repent, pray up, mend relationships, really do whatever the Physician prescribes so that I can be all I’m created to be.

What about you? When was the last time you had a physical? When was the last time you allowed the Great Physician to give you a thorough examination?

3000+ sermons

I was sitting in my office today doing a little reflecting; Mondays are typically good for that. Mondays I’m typically “spent” from Sunday (preaching 4 times can be both physically and emotionally draining) and so I find myself often looking back on the worship services of Sunday and reflecting on life in general. I deiced to do a little math today. I’ve been pastoring almost 21 years now, and have probable preached on average 49 weeks a year, planning 3 sermons a week. That blew my mind to think that I’ve preached more than 3,050 different messages!

I’ve learned some lessons over the years with the most important being that being a pastor is not “difficult” … it’s impossible. Apart from the call of God, and the daily filling by the Spirit of God, there’s no way I’d have been in the pastorate for as long as I have. I’ve made more than my share of mistakes as a pastor, and looking back there are many things I’d do differently if I only knew “then” what I know now. So as I sit reflecting today I thought I’d make a list of what I’ve hoped to embody in the ministry the Lord has given to me. I came up with a list of 12 things I pray my ministry has been “marked” with …
1. Integrity – as Christians our lives should be marked by the highest standards of conduct, character, and ethics and as a pastor I should model this.
2. Vision – I’ve tried to cast vision and dream dreams for the people of God so that they might be all that the Lord desires for them to be.
3. Wisdom – why would anyone seek to follow an unwise leader? I’ve probably been more of a “wise guy” at times, but I’ve tried to seek the mind of Christ that I might then have a word from Him for His people.
4. Communication – preaching really boils down to communication. The caution for me has been to try and communicate what the Lord wants said … as John the Baptist said of Jesus in John 3:30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.” This is especially true in trying to communicate a Word from God through preaching.
5. Motivation – change requires risk, challenge and personal growth. To accomplish this there must be motivational leadership which inspires others.
6. Decisiveness – leaders must make wise decisions. Every decision has not been “perfect” but I’ve found God’s people will forgive the occasional wrong decision and remain loyal but will not long tolerate indecision on part of their pastor.
7. Risk-taking – I believe too many pastors are afraid to take risks. They get comfortable in their position then their people become complacent. It was William Carey who first said that we are to “expect great things from God, and attempt great things for God.” Is it really faith if we only attempt what we can reasonably do on our own? We should be willing to follow the Lord to the point that we attempt things that are doomed to failure unless the He intervenes.
8. Compassion – it’s true, people do not care how much you know until they know how much you care. My experience has been that people will generally follow leaders that they know are genuinely concerned for their well-being.
9. Humility – though I probably come across to most as very self-assured, I am my own worst critic.
10. Self-control – boy this is one I’ve learned the hard way. Leaders need ability to stay calm in midst of turmoil.
11. Balance – another one of those things I’m convinced most only learn the “hard way”. Pastors must be able live well balanced life emotionally, physically, spiritually and mentally. To do this requires the ability to build in boundaries and being able to say “No” at times.
12. Humor – I think life is meant to be enjoyed. I can’t take myself so seriously that I’m not willing to laugh at my mistakes.

Some of you will likely read this today and way “What in the world?”. I’m guessing I wrote this post more for myself than for others; it was therapeutic. But I do hope I’ve been able to portray the philosophy of ministry I’ve tried to live by.

God uses all kinds of people

There was a story back on August 11, 2011 in Baptist Press about Jake “Grece” (his last name was changed for his protection). It told how Jake sits at his computer in Africa answering email from a missionary couple. They have a question about their finances and Jake is their man ... an IMB missionary working as an accountant.

Accountants may not be the first image that pops into people's heads when talking about missionaries, but that's exactly how Jake, a Nebraska native, answered his call to missions. He uses his financial skills in the office while also focusing on ministering to those around him, whether it's frazzled missionaries or local villagers.

Lynn Burton serves as associate vice president for the International Mission Board's office of finance explains people like Jake are a "missionary first with an assignment to do financial support. That's the one thing they are to always focus on. In their job description, the very first line is 'witnessing and participating in Christian life.'"

As I read this, I wondered shouldn’t this be the story of each of us? As God’s children, no matter what task God has gifted and called us to, shouldn’t our job description be “a missionary first … witnessing and participating in Christian life”? Too often we think that God cannot use our particular skill set. Let me remind you that God called you to be a “witness” (see Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:18-20, and other passages) and it was He who gifted you with the ability to work where you do.

Right now in South East Asia there’s a group of 18 representing the Lord and His Church here in Bowling Green. They are faithfully following God’s call to make Him famous in all the world. These include 3 teenagers, a businessman, a retired professor, a house wife, a retired butcher, a pharmacy assistant, a General Motors supervisor, an author and a couple of ministers of the gospel. Did you notice the great variety of vocations and ages represented? You know what the one thing they all have in common, besides Christ of course? They all heard the voice of God when He said, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for Us?” and they each responded, “He am I, send me!” (Isaiah 6:8).

What about you? What stops you from fulfilling the “Great Commission” by going to your classmate, neighbor, co-worker, or ½ way around the world on the next mission trip? For most of us, the only thing stopping us is either an unwillingness to be used by God this way or a disobedient spirit that says in essence “I am my own god and will do what I want to do.”