In the fall of 1990, I moved to Joplin Missouri to attend Ozark Christian College. Just a few short minutes away in the city of Carthage there was a new attraction that had opened to the public called “The Precious Moments Chapel.” Since I was new to the area, I went over to see this chapel that was painted inside with murals by Samuel Butcher. My first trip included a tour that lasted over an hour with detailed descriptions and interesting facts. The site quickly became a place that everyone must visit when they were in the area. By my second year of college, they had added new buildings, expanded the parking lot and saw thousands of visitors. I took every person family member that visited me out to show them the chapel.

As my visits increased, there were noticeable changes at the chapel. The parking lot was expanded, and you could expect a long walk and often long waits for anything. The tours were dropped to 30 minutes or less, and people were moved quickly from place to place. I cannot tell you how many times I have visited with family and friends to see the chapel with its new paintings and peaceful setting. Then in 1996 I left the area and had not returned.

Then last week my wife and I were able to take two days away together. Without much time for travel or much extra money to spend I suggested we make a return visit to our college days including a stop by The Precious Moments Chapel. When we arrived, the parking lot was nearly empty. Granted, it was a Monday in the middle of October, but that had never slowed the crowds in the nineties. We walk through the facility where we noticed empty buildings, closed shops, and very few workers. There were three people in the gift shop, one in the chapel and one guy mowing. It was a shell of the place we had adored 20 years ago.

Always thinking about the Church and the Lord’s work I made a couple of mental notes for the local Church to consider.

1. Fads Come and Go Quickly. The Church needs to be careful with the passing interests of the time. Precious Moments figurines were a huge hit, but with recessions and the internet, things changed. It reminded me of Church bus ministries that flourished and then died, along with a host of other things that worked at one point in history. A Church walks this fine line of holding onto an ancient message while using modern methods. We must be wise in evaluating our approach to ministry and not keep offering programs that no longer work.

2. Lack of Leadership. The tour told us that the last time Mr. Butcher added anything new to the chapel was in 2009. He now lives in the Philippines and rarely visits. It seems he has no interest in what happens in Carthage any longer and it shows. Every thriving organization needs strong leaders who believe in what they are doing.

3. Lost Passion. The woman who gave us our tour could care less about her job. When she asked us if we wanted to hear the tour and we responded with a yes, she was clearly disappointed. She then proceeded to gives us less than 15 minutes of poorly rehearsed information that she had no enthusiasm to share. If you have no fire for the work of the Lord through the local Church, it is clear to everyone who knows you.

4. Survival Mode. It appeared that no one wants to shut down the chapel, so their solution is to do the bare minimum. They have very few staff which I am sure make near minimum wage. They have closed buildings and have “off seasons” when other areas are closed. I actually drove across the road to the parking lot they added in the nineties. It had limbs on it with leaves and untrimmed grass. I know Churches exactly like this in their approach. They do just enough to keep the doors open and wonder why no one comes to visit anymore.

My wife and I enjoyed our time at the Chapel. We took selfies and held hands. Together we walked down memory lane and marveled at what used to be a great attraction. I learned a little that day too. The Church must always be careful to serve God in the present and not survive on fond memories of the past. If we do, one day we will have eight people in attendance and wonder what happened.

This past week I took a vacation for only the second time in 52 weeks. It was a much-needed break for me from the duties of ministry. My wife was able to join me for two days, but the rest was just me away from the Church. I never want to glorify the paid role of a pastor over the volunteers who compose the Church, but I do want you to know a few things about my chosen profession.

1. Caring for Souls is Emotionally Demanding. As a pastor, I believe that my work involves things of eternal significance. Heaven and hell hang in the balance. I desperately want people to know Jesus as both their Savior and Lord. I want them to start strong in their faith and continue to grow in it. I want people to spend their lives in the will of God until we are welcomed in the arms of Jesus. Every person who walks away or drifts aimlessly tears a pastor’s soul apart.

2. Decision Making is Emotionally Draining. I once read an article saying the most draining mental activity to a person is decision-making. Anyone in a leadership position understands this concept. All decisions come with an amount of stress, especially in Church. The songs I choose will be scrutinized. The sermon will be dissected. Every decision will be analyzed in detail and I know I frequently make the final choice that will help bring the Church together or divide it.

3. Creative Thinking is Mentally Tiring. Every week I try to create the best sermon possible. Ultimately it is a work of the Holy Spirit, but I still desire to put together my best effort. On top of the sermon, I teach a Youth group lesson at least three times a month, and I blog five days a week. I am always working to create, and it gets exhausting.

4. The Forces of Evil Hate Christian Leaders. I just finished a series on the devil and his attacks on the heart and minds of believers. I often think the work is much more intense on the leaders of the people of God. Destroy the shepherd, and the sheep will scatter has been a theme repeated throughout the Bible, even into the life of Jesus. As a leader, I battle pride, temptation, anger, depression, loneliness and every kind of emotional high and low. There are days I want to quit and days I desire for people to sing my praises. I know that my life affects more than my own faith, and so does evil, and the struggles are hard.

5. Ministry Has No Boundaries. Every pastor dreams of a 9-5 job. In my week of vacation, I had emails and text from people needing and wanting help. There was even a guy who showed up on my doorstep asking for assistance. It can be very draining to be on call every day and all the time.

These are some of the reasons I needed a break. In fact, I am planning a break every other month for the next year. I feel myself slipping into the cynicism that comes with burnout. I love my Lord Jesus, my job and the people I lead. I pray that an occasional break will keep me fresh and help me to minister long into the future.

Here is another great quote I found in my reading. Words to ponder.

-Carey Nieuwhof in “Didn’t See It Coming” page 84

The single greatest counseling video of all time. I can’t tell you how many times I have wanted to simply say “Stop It.”

It does not take courage to circumnavigate the globe, just time and money. You will need to be brave and have the strength of character to make the longest journey I know. That is the one that takes you out of your current location to the place where you can do the right thing.

It is a difficult walk from your desk to the boss to take responsibility for your failure.
It is a tough journey from your chair in the living room to the bedroom to say you are sorry.
It is a challenging move to leave the comfort of your home to help someone in need.

If you are like me, there is something you need to do to make things right in your life. Whenever you think about doing it you feel your knees go weak, your palms begin to sweat, and your heart starts to race. To do the will of God in your life not only takes faith, but it requires the courage to do the difficult thing.

God never calls us to comfort; instead, he asks us fearlessly do the right thing … today and every day.

This week the world lost a great pastor, writer, and thinker on Monday with the passing of Eugene Peterson. (You can read more HERE). That name may not mean much to you, but he was significant to me on my spiritual journey. A professor at school required us to read his book, “The Contemplative Pastor” as a class assignment. That book would help me to think more clearly about ministry and was a significant first step into the world of a pastor.

Over the years that followed, I would read many of the books he wrote, and one of them played a special role in my life. A group of students met with a local pastor to discuss books and knowing that I enjoyed Peterson’s material, they invited me to attend. Over the next several months I poured myself into the book, “Under the Unpredictable Plant” at the weekly gatherings. As the interest of the group waned, mine increased, and I asked that pastor to mentor me through other books for the next two years. Those weekly meetings with Kyle shaped my heart and mind in unique and wonderful ways.

In the years since college, I have collected more of Peterson’s books, but nothing has rivaled his paraphrase of the original Biblical languages into The Message. It has served as a blessing in my ministry and to help me think through the Bible in everyday language. Whenever I feel stuck in scripture reading, a quick turn to The Message has enabled me to understand the difficult texts. It has also challenged me to work at making the Bible understandable for others.

Peterson has stood as a giant on the religious landscape of the United States over the last 30 years, and his passing is mourned by many, including me. This week I have read all kinds of tributes and thoughts about his life and ministry. They have blessed me while serving as a reminder of the significance one life can have over another.

Today I read a post that asked the question, “Who will be the next Peterson?” While I appreciate the question and wonder who will rise to promote a Godly life rooted in the spiritual disciplines, I also think about the unknown ways God uses us. I never met Eugene Peterson, other than through his written words, and yet he touched my life. His work also served as a tool to open discussions with another minister that molded my ministry.

Your life, whether you like it or not, is making an impact for God. Your actions, your words, the things you post on the internet, your volunteer service along with everything you do for the Lord are sending a message. You have the potential to impact people you have never met. You have the power to mold and shape people in profound ways by using how God has gifted you. While I like the question, I am not really worried about who will be the next Peterson. What concerns me is more personal, “Whose life will feel my impact like the one I felt from Eugene Peterson?” Whose life will be shaped by you and me?

Jesus longest recorded teaching is called the Sermon on the Mount. There he teaches his followers how to live the life God desires for them. The material is found in the Gospel according to Matthew chapters five, six and seven.

Within this body of teaching Jesus addresses a topic that is as applicable today as it was in his time. Matthew chapter six starts with Jesus saying, “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”

Jesus is very clear in his words; you probably do not need a commentary or preacher to explain them. He warns his followers not to make their life a public spectacle of our own righteous behavior. In fact, showy goodness has no reward from God. Sure, it might impress friends and convince people of your genuine kindness, but it will not have any impact on eternity.

To drive the point home, Jesus gives us three examples of this type of behavior. First, “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others.” (Matthew 6:2) Second, “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others.” (Matthew 6:5) Finally, “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting.” (Matthew 6:16)

Each one of these examples that Jesus addresses are not hypothetical. The so-called religious people of his day practiced these regularly as s sign of their devotion to God. In every case Jesus reminds us that God is not getting the glory, rather the person doing the action is getting the praise.

I go to these words again and again in 2018. I believe social media is the new street corner. This is the place where people announce their good deeds with trumpet blasts to be seen by them. Let me ask you a couple of questions. What would happen if the next time you went to do some good deed you put your cell phone away? What would happen if you did not post any pictures on social media of your children’s selfless behavior? What would the result be if no one ever knew about anything you did for God? Jesus answers all those questions by saying “your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

I know you are proud of the good deeds that you or someone you love is doing. I know you want to let your family and friends see the things they are missing. I know you want to post it on social media as a place to receive a pat on the back. Go ahead and post it, just know that the reward you receive in the form of praise will not be from God.

Over the last six years, I have frequently found a piece of paper and scribbled an idea into the blank space. Sometimes the ideas come while I am driving in the silence of my car, other times they happen during a conversation, and often they come to me during worship. I scribble down a line or a phrase and then put it in my pile of papers to process. Those words will then get written or typed into a notebook. Then they become the fodder for this blog and my sermon series.

Recently I was flipping through the pages and noticed some patterns. Several of the topics come up again and again in my thinking. Here are the three biggest concerns of my life and ministry as seen in my notebook.

1. How people become spiritually mature. What is it going to take to get you to grow in your faith? I want to help people to become more like Jesus in the ways they think, feel and act. Sometimes I teach from a passage in the Bible and other times through practical steps learned from life experience. I long for everyone to become fully mature believers no matter where you are on your journey with God now. My question for today is, “What are you doing this day and this week to develop a life fully committed to God?”

2. How we view and relate to people who call themselves believers. This one takes several pages to cover completely in my notebook. What should we say to new believers? What do we do about people we don’t like or agree with who come into our lives? Some of the latest thoughts have been focused on false or fake believers. The Bible repeatedly refers to false teachers, false apostles, and Christians who are only after self-interests. One of the most significant issues every follower of Jesus is going to face is how they relate to the other followers of Jesus. How might God be pushing you to grow in your love and understanding of those who also call on his name?

3. What it means to be the Church body. As a Church leader, I am always hoping to learn and grow in my knowledge of this thing that I lead. I want to know the best practices and the worst habits. I want to know how to engage the world while remaining faithful to Jesus. The people who follow me should know my hopes and dreams for God’s people. There is so much to learn about being the body of Christ, and I want the Church I lead to be fully equipped to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our community. What are you learning about the Church lately that is worth repeating for the benefit of everyone?

At this moment I have pages of scribbled notes and incomplete thoughts. One day all of them will probably make their way onto this blog or into a sermon. I did find it fascinating that I can write an idea and then go back a year and find a similar idea already written down. I guess the writer of Ecclesiastes was correct, “There is nothing new under the sun.” My ministry is repeating the same basic ideas until we all reach unity in the faith, which should take a lifetime.

Here are some of the best posts I have read lately. I hope you enjoy.

5 Reasons We Need to Pray For Our Teachers

Don’t Become Weary in Doing Good

Context Matters: Your Body is a Temple of the Holy Spirit

If We Can Worship Anywhere, Why Go To Church?

IDES helping with hurricane recovery on two fronts – International Disaster Emergency Services is an organization in our brotherhood of Churches who specialize in disaster relief. I highly recommend you use them if you are interested in helping in times like these.

Mirror, mirror – A thought worth pondering

Gloom (and doom)

The old saying does something like this, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over, each time expecting a different result.”

Even with that definition and understanding I still see people doing the same actions repeatedly. Either they repeat their own actions, or they do what everyone else is doing. Very few people who I encounter seem interested in results.

Almost weekly I have a conversation with someone who tells me how tired they are right now. Usually, that is followed by an explanation of how busy they have been lately. The end result of their actions is exhaustion. Here is where it gets interesting to me. Even though their life is draining every ounce of energy out of them, they do nothing to change it. Then somewhere in the not so distant future, they will be tired again because they have been so busy. And on and on it goes, week after week and month after month. I always want to ask them directly, “How long are you going to run on this treadmill before you realize it is leading nowhere?”

It gets worse, we then look out our window and watch our neighbor, co-workers, and the people we admire also running on the treadmill. We guess that must be the best way to live and we repeat the same pattern. Somehow, we never notice their marriages falling apart, children who are far from God, and their emotional wreckage.

People all around us, and quite possibly that person is you, are exhausted, burnt out, struggling in their marriage, fighting with their kids, feeling lonely, and living with a host of other issues. Yet, no one seems to adjust their behavior.

If you want a better life, a life more like Jesus, then you are going to have to stop doing the same old things. If you are not happy with your spiritual life, emotional health or family dynamics then the solution is not found in repeating the same weekly routines over and over again.

The life of faith calls us to a different type of thinking and action. Paul told the Church in Rome that they needed a renewing of their mind that would lead to different action. Only then would they see a different result.

Before you spend this day mindlessly doing the same things would you take a few minutes and ask, “Is this getting the results I desire in my life?” Before you plan another weekend would you ask, “Will my actions these few days get the results I desire?” Before you start next week would you ask yourself, “Why I am I doing the same things every week?”

I believe that Jesus life looked nothing like the culture of his time. Quite possibly God is calling your life to look more like his than anyone else.