We were out at lunch with another pastor and just talking about various things. Pastor Joe mentioned that I was a chef and the other pastor asked if that was what I did. I replied that I worked for MCI, but I still cook stuff once in a while. But now it is just for fun.
He replied that yeah, he guessed it would be more fun now (because restauraunt work is hard). He then started talking to us about doing things for the fun of it... and that so many times you forget that it is fun. Driving to the conference he had pretty much made up his mind that he was going to close his church. It was just so hard. But after hearing what Jim had to say the first night, and then all the speakers the first morning, he had decided that he wasn't going to. He just needed to quite focusing on the negative and on all "the stuff" and remember why he was doing this in the first place. Because he was called. Because he loved people. Now he was all jazzed, just thinking about it.
So many times in the ministry we start focusing on "the ministry" and "the stuff" rather than the real reason we started it in the first place. We do it because it is who we are. Pastors will preach... whether they are in a pulpit or not. Worshippers (those called to worship teams) will worship, whether they are on a team or not. Its just in you. So... there is no use trying to run from it, you can't. You will do it, no matter what.
But more importantly, keep your eye on what it is you are called to. Keep the joy in what you do. The real meaning of it. And don't get bogged down in the mechanics, in the politics, in "the stuff".
Like I said before, Jim Richards provides a hugh service by holding these conferences. Day one and a pastor has already got a new hold on life. Already had a heart and mind change about how he looks at stuff. Decided to keep going, and is jazzed about it, rather than returning home to close his church.
Pretty awesome stuff.
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