As we sang, my mind went to High Rocks!
High Rocks is located 2.0 miles south of Spivey Gap on the Appalachian Trail near Burnsville, NC. AllTrails app says it well, “Take a series of switchbacks leading through a steep section of trail up to the summit of High Rocks. While the beginning may be challenging, the views from the top of High Rocks are well worth the effort.”
Continue reading “It’s Well Worth the Effort!”
Yesterday was another typical ministry day in the life of a pastor. It was a WOW!!!!
After spending half of the afternoon meeting Mike and taking a tour of a relatively new ministry nestled in the mountains bordering the Cherokee National Forest, Back 2 Basics Adventures, it was time to make my way back home. There were two visits with church members that I desired to make.
Pulling off to the side of the country road, I said, “Lord, where should I go?” Once again, as always, what He initiates He also guides.
Continue reading “Joy, Even In Old Age!”Monday’s Ministry Encouragement: Written to encourage you, my friend in ministry, to be refreshed and renewed as we live for Christ and look toward the Bema.
“Well, what’s the use in trying to love this congregation! They’ll probably just turn on me.”
“I’m not going to open myself up being hurt again.”
“I knew that’s how they would respond!”
All of these and more are statements from a heart that has grown cynical in the ministry.
To be cynical is to be “contemptuously distrustful of human nature and motives; based on or reflecting a belief that human conduct is motivated primarily by self-interest” (Merriam-Webster).
“Cynicism among Christians appears as a collection of negative attitudes and expectations. Those attitudes may be directed toward ourselves or others, the church, conversions, gospel progress, growth in sanctification, and even toward God himself.” (Peter Adams)
Cynicism in ministry is dangerous ground.
Do any or all of the above describe you, pastor/missionary friend?
Continue reading “Overcoming Cynicism In Ministry”Wednesday WOW is written to remind us, especially pastors, that our transcendent, omnipotent, loving, sovereign God is working today in our lives in thousands of ways. The WOW is God, not the size of the work! How have you seen Him at work in your life today?
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! (Psalm 34:8)
The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. (Proverbs 10:22).
These two passages describe this past weekend of travel and ministry in Maryland. We saw God at work in so many places and in so many ways! We tasted the goodness of God over and over again, and we came home “rich,” and there was “no sorrow with it!”
Continue reading “Wednesday WOW!!”Monday’s Ministry Encouragement: Written to encourage you, my friend in ministry, to be refreshed and renewed as we live for Christ and look toward the Bema.
What is a pastor’s greatest need?
A pastor’s greatest need and most beneficial blessing is . . . prayer!
Pastor, is the quiet place, alone with your Heavenly Father, the dearest place on earth to you?
Is prayer an activity to you or is it your life? In other words, do you have a prayer life or a life prayer?
Since one of the most telling marks of Jesus’ life and ministry on earth was prayer, so must it be for us, His ministers. Jesus prayed alone, all night, with others, on the mountain, in agony, with his disciples, at the tomb of Lazarus, on the cross, etc.
Continue reading “A Pastor’s Greatest Need”“God is always at work around you . . . inviting you to join Him in His work” (Henry Blackaby).
Wednesday WOW is written to remind us, especially pastors, that our transcendent, omnipotent, loving, sovereign God is working today in our lives in thousands of ways. The WOW is God, not the size of the work! How have you seen Him at work in your life today?
Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. (1 Corinthians 2:9)
Denise and I had the grace privilege of traveling to California for ministry, and then adding a couple of days of sight-seeing! Wow!
Continue reading “Wednesday WOW!”Monday’s Ministry Encouragement: Written to encourage you, my friend in ministry, to be refreshed and renewed as we live for Christ and look toward the Bema.
“What do you do for fun?”
This question was posed to me by Sam Brock while riding in his 1946 Jeep Willys on a tour of Ironwood Camp, Newberry Springs, CA.
Pastor friend, may I ask you the same question . . . what do you do for fun?
Whether you are enjoying days of sunshine or stormy weather in ministry, you need to have a release, a time for fun! You need it, your wife needs it, your family needs it, your church family needs it!
Continue reading “Pastors Have Fun???? YES!!!!”Monday’s Ministry Encouragement: Written to encourage you, my friend in ministry, to be refreshed and renewed as we live for Christ and look toward the Bema.
As we gathered around a firepit sharing how God had worked in our lives during the weekend Couples’ Conference at The Wilds, I was reminded again why these events are so important to the health of a local church.
1. The continual spiritual growth of the flock.
Listening to each one transparently share how the Word had worked in their lives, I thought, “Not only does this affect their personal growth in Christ, but it will have an edifying influence upon the marriages and families in our church!”
2. The bonding of believers’ hearts with one another.
This group was made up of couples who have been a part of this local flock from two to fifteen plus years. They knew each other, but now they know one another on a deeper level that will lead to greater discipleship, to passionate prayer, to mutual accountability, and a maturing, genuine love.
3. The blessing of sharing in the safe church.
Saturday night, the following lyrics griped my heart as it was ministered in song:
Jesus, Shepherd, loving Shepherd, sent
from heaven to earth—
You have sought us, found and brought
us safely into Your Church.
The world talks a lot about safe places. The local church should be the safest place on earth as the body of Christ gathers in Christ to live out the “one another’s.” I watched this happen in our group as they shared their testimonies in a segment of safety in Christ.
Pastor friend, the health of the flock you shepherd will be greatly enhanced as you spend time with them and they with one another, especially in camp settings like The Wilds. As you plan for 2024 events, build into the church calendar these kind of body growth times that will mature the flock!
As a pastor, Monday may be a day to rejoice because Sunday was a day of victories, but if so, be cautious. Even if Sunday was a “downer” day in your eyes, be cautious.
After any victory, you are vulnerable for defeat. Just ask Elijah. He had just seen the mighty power of God on magnificent display which wrought a great victory at Mt. Carmel! Then, upon hearing the subsequent news of Jezebel’s threat (1 Kings 19:1-3), he became discouraged and ran for his life!
There we find Elijah thinking unbiblically, living in unbelief, asking God to kill him, tired, weary, depressed, engaged in self-pity, and feeling like a total failure (19:4-10).
Have you been there? Do you know the place?
Continue reading “The Day After Victory”
“Wow! Look what God did!!!”
Pastors, what was your “Wow” from this past Sunday or even today?
Ministry has its share of woes, wars, and worries. Sadly, we may have been blessed with several “wows” and let one woe come into the picture, and we are immediately overcome with the woe instead of the wow! We are fixated on the woe, and we forget the wow!
We need to rejoice and praise the Lord for the “Wows!”
Today’s “wow” happened during a hospital visit. Jeff has endured major trials in his life such as losing his job, his wife passing away, brain cancer, seizures, having to move out of his apartment, and now knee replacement surgery. As I walked into his room, he greeted me with a smile. After awhile, I read Psalm 61. When I finished with verse 8, So will I ever sing praises to your name, I said, “Jeff, may I encourage you from time-to-time to mute the TV and just sing praises to the Lord?”
Continue reading “WOW Wednesdays!!”
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