The pastor exhibiting a heart for the people within the context of a small or large church ministry will only help ensure the success, stability, and longevity of the pastor. The requirement for the pastor is to some how master the gift of empowerment in his or her context for ministry. An understanding of the community the pastor has entered, its cultural surroundings, and a historical reference point for the way ministry has been implemented within the life of the church will only lead to a greater understanding for how the pastor is to equip and empower the people of God for kingdom work and to master the gift of empowerment. Vision for how ministry is accomplished and the ministry of sending as outlined in the New Testament is than carried out with purpose.

phew.

While at LJO’s thing last week picked up some more books at the Fuller Book store. Tonight I decided to see what this one was about. Very applicable to my ministry as a small church pastor.

Right from the first chapter…

“Culture is the most important social reality in your church. Though invisible to the untrained eye, its power is undeniable. Culture gives color and flavor to everything your church is and does. Like a powerful current running through your church, it can move you inland or take you farther out to sea. It can prevent your church’s potential from being realized, or-if used by the Holy Spirit-it can draw others in and reproduce healthy spiritual life along the way.”

Learning how to read again in the doctor of ministry program at fuller. Seminary was the place I had my button kicked when it came to reading. Found the blurb below amazing for any church in the middle of transition or in the middle of a project.

In their book, “Who Needs Theology?”Grenz and Olson write, “Our heritage is a reference point in that it contains examples of previous attempts to fulfill the theological mandate from which today we can learn.” (96)

How is it possible that the gospel should be credible, that people should come to believe that the power which has the last word in human affairs is represented by a man hanging on a cross? I am suggesting that the only answer, the only hermeneutic of the gospel, is a congregation of men and women who believe it and live by it. Lesslie Newbigin, The Gospel in a Pluralist Society (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1989, p. 227).

These last couple of months I’ve been in circles where the word “missional” continues to be a “buzz” word amongst folks. I think its awesome. This last week I sat with a bunch of pastors who were asked to think about what Jesus would say about the cities we live in and in our context as pastors. What does this mean to me? It means for me as a pastor that I fall down in the middle of grace in every aspect of my ministry. It means falling down on the side of those who hurt and who ache over the things of this world that don’t seem right. It means weeping for the parent who hopes they’ve given their child what they need in order to survive this world. Falling down in the middle of grace means that we hurt for the lives lost last week and for the parents who grieve. When it comes to being a missional pastor it means helping others to come to grips with the call to fall down in the middle of grace. It means helping others to catch a glimpse of the mission of God, to becoming people sent out into the world, to love as Jesus loved, even when things don’t seem to jive.

Flew solo tonight leading my first Ash Wednesday service at church. It was a special service in so many ways. The church hadn’t had a Ash Wednesday service for several years. It was an honor to lead this service and to help folks get ready for the Lenten journey we all walk as followers of Jesus. We even tried something new. Communion by intinction. Very moving and powerful for me to witness God’s grace in community.  

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwGAKUForhM]
Ok, I’m not usually one to preach from a pulpit stand. I will use it just for notes, but the stand makes me feel all wierd and stuff and when I do preach from a pulpit stand I usually regret it. Just me. Sorry seminary education, but…I think I can get used to this stand for preaching and this would of made preaching class much more fun.

ht: Tim

My son is away this weekend on his first mission trip with these guys. I’m jazzed for him because I know what happens when a bunch of jr. high kids get together, outside of their comfort zones, and what the holy spirit does in laying some groundwork for calling kids to serve those who don’t have much. I remember doing several weekend work projects and mission trips with my jr. high youth leaders and kids from my youth group here. Weekends that I still remember like it was yesterday on how God moved me and changed my heart about the world around me. I also remember doing stuff with these guys that if itweren’t for hearing the need for me to go out into all the world, I don’t know if I’d being doing what I’m doing as a follower of Jesus today. Please pray for his youth group as they spend a couple of days passing out hot chocalate and hosting a block party for some kids just to have some fun and to be loved no matter what.