Thursday, May 24, 2012    

A Letter of Recommendation

Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010

I can only think of one time in my life when I had to get someone to write me a letter of recommendation. I was blessed with longevity in my professional career so it only came up once. And I was a little surprised to read the term this morning in 2 Corinthians, but it has given me a lot to think about today…

The only letter of recommendation we need is you yourselves. Your lives are a letter written in our hearts; everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you. Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This “letter” is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts.

2 Corinthians 3:2-3, NLT

As a new pastor (3 months in now) this gives me pause. The letter of recommendation for my ministry (and it applies to everyone by the way) is not going to come from another pastor or someone in the church. It’s the result of the work itself…the spiritual lives of those I am touching and reaching every day. Our letter of recommendation is written “on human hearts” not with “pen and ink”.

I wonder what my letter of recommendation looks like right now…

  • Mystery or How-To?
  • Short Story or Novel?

And this letter of recommendation comes from Christ Himself…”showing the result of my ministry”. Christ is writing the letter of recommendation. Can’t think of anyone better to write it…I’m just praying that the letter is shaping up to be a good one, a letter I’ll be proud to show others instead of shoving it in a drawer to hide it.

How’s your letter of recommendation coming along?

What Now?

Monday, January 4th, 2010

I vividly remember the first day we brought Lindsay home from the hospital. We set her down in her car seat (she was still asleep)…we looked at eat other and thought/said, “What now?” We were new, young parents with the awesome responsibility of caring for and raising another human being (you have to pass a test to drive a car, but not a parent?). There was a mix of emotions ranging from excitement to terror at what lay ahead. Could we do this? What were we supposed to do now? What had we gotten ourselves into? Where are the Doritos?

As I sit here in the church during my first day I am struck by the similarities. The responsibility is not quite the same magnitude, but it’s awesome none-the-less. The same questions are running through my head. I want to do this right…I want to focus on the right things and not just be about programs and curriculum. I want God to lead the way, not the other way around. I have a list, but is it God’s list?

My prayer is truly to be about God’s business and not my own. I want Him to take the lead and I want to follow. I know I can’t do this in my own power. I need Him.

The similarities don’t stop with the questions and the doubts…

We need God to help us raise our kids…it’s not a solo job.

I need God to help me do this “job” (there has to be a better word than that)…it’s not a solo flight either.

I’m excited about what lies ahead. Today has already been a good day and the calendar is starting to fill up…meeting with the people who are doing the real work in the trenches and starting to build the framework of support for our growth (spiritually and numerically).

We figured most of it out with Lindsay (we’re still in the process)…I’ll figure it out here. Because I’m not alone. Thank God!

A New Start

Friday, January 1st, 2010

This new year is new for me in different ways than usual. Of course, it’s a brand new year and I’m doing the typical reflection of 2009 and looking forward to 2010. But this year there’s more.

Yesterday was my last day in the corporate work force after 20 years. Today…the first day of 2010…is the first day of stepping into my calling as a full time pastor. And there are mixed “emotions”…

It’s exciting.

It’s a little intimidating.

It’s new.

It’s different.

2010 is already shaping up to be like no other year. And I plan on chronicling my “new life”. There will be challenges, failures, excitement, victory, and who knows what else—and I want to share it all with you. I’m on the ride with God and we’re trusting Him for everything else. I know without a shadow of doubt that we are doing exactly what God wants us to do. And that’s exactly where you want to be.

So as this year unfolds…take the journey with me. You might learn something too…and I know you’ll teach me a thing or 12.

2010 here we come…

Suffer and Work

Monday, September 21st, 2009

Over the past few weeks I have been reading through 1 and 2 Timothy. There is some great instruction there from a seasoned veteran of the faith to relative newcomer to the hardship (and rewards) of ministry. Given my current station in life and wait awaits me in the near future, much of Paul’s words to Timothy are encouraging and instructive.

This morning…instructive, not so encouraging…

Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord.
Work at telling others the Good News,
and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.
2 Timothy 4:5, NLT

I don’t think Paul understands how we American Christians function. Suffer? I don’t think so…just need to pray harder or figure out what we’re doing wrong. If we’re suffering…something must be wrong. And we don’t really suffer much anyway…can’t remember the last time I really suffered for God (especially within the context of what Paul considers suffering).

This whole idea of suffering…and not being afraid to suffer for His Kingdom…has me thinking about how I pray. I pray too much for my own comfort. I search for it…I strive for it. Frankly, I’m afraid of being uncomfortable, much less suffer. But there it is, in black and white: Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord.

And I can make no mistake…He was talking to me this morning. Who knows what He has around the corner…what He’s trying to prepare me for…but I’m in His hands and I will continue to work and carry out the ministry He has given me.

That’s in black and white too.