On The Other Side Of The Dream
When I became a minister I wanted to build a church...a big church, a mega-church, an in-your-face, Willow Creek! kind of church. Real Christian of me, huh?
I was sooo far off-base.
But in fairness to me (and most of the pastors who are still wet behind their pulpits), ministry is a competitive field in which one can easily get caught up in the stats. I think the only guys who keep better track of the number of vehicles in the competition's parking lot are car salesmen. It's a dirty secret, I know. And maybe one you didn't want to hear. But I think it's time to let some light shine on that darkness.
What changed?
I worked hard and long with some great folks who didn't mind the trenches. And as time went by I came to believe in them and their ability to change the world one person at a time, more than I believed in the idea of me on a stage building my resume' a hundred people at a time.
I started spending less of my time reading the industry's best seller list and more with the best seller of all time, God's Word. And in my reading I was reminded that Jesus never rented, bought, or built a church building, never formed a fellowship committee, never analyzed the market, never subscribed to a current trends newsletter.
I started spending less of my time in meetings and more meeting with God, letting the Spirit teach me and lead me and heal me and love me. And soon I came to understand the knowing that comes with being still.
I started spending less of my time thinking about money and more thinking about what Jesus really meant when he said I have come that you would have life...more abundantly. And that is when I ditched the dream for the pearl.
You've heard it said that some folks are too heavenly minded to be any earthly good?
I was too churchly minded to be any heavenly or earthly good.
The makeover was slow and painful and it tried my faith sorely. But it was fruitful and maturing and it grew my faith surely.
What I know now is how little I know.
What I hope now is to mirror the source of my hope.
What I dream now is going beyond the dream...to a reality in which God's house is a house for all people, where God's people are a people who work for change, where God's change includes a change of heart and direction and definition in those to whom God has trusted the Bride.
I was sooo far off-base.
But in fairness to me (and most of the pastors who are still wet behind their pulpits), ministry is a competitive field in which one can easily get caught up in the stats. I think the only guys who keep better track of the number of vehicles in the competition's parking lot are car salesmen. It's a dirty secret, I know. And maybe one you didn't want to hear. But I think it's time to let some light shine on that darkness.
What changed?
I worked hard and long with some great folks who didn't mind the trenches. And as time went by I came to believe in them and their ability to change the world one person at a time, more than I believed in the idea of me on a stage building my resume' a hundred people at a time.
I started spending less of my time reading the industry's best seller list and more with the best seller of all time, God's Word. And in my reading I was reminded that Jesus never rented, bought, or built a church building, never formed a fellowship committee, never analyzed the market, never subscribed to a current trends newsletter.
I started spending less of my time in meetings and more meeting with God, letting the Spirit teach me and lead me and heal me and love me. And soon I came to understand the knowing that comes with being still.
I started spending less of my time thinking about money and more thinking about what Jesus really meant when he said I have come that you would have life...more abundantly. And that is when I ditched the dream for the pearl.
You've heard it said that some folks are too heavenly minded to be any earthly good?
I was too churchly minded to be any heavenly or earthly good.
The makeover was slow and painful and it tried my faith sorely. But it was fruitful and maturing and it grew my faith surely.
What I know now is how little I know.
What I hope now is to mirror the source of my hope.
What I dream now is going beyond the dream...to a reality in which God's house is a house for all people, where God's people are a people who work for change, where God's change includes a change of heart and direction and definition in those to whom God has trusted the Bride.