I feel like I'm losing sight of the big picture. I feel overwhelmed and busy and on top of that I am apparently oblivious to the people around me. I have to figure out a way to balance this school thing with life because quite honestly what is the point of me going to school if in the process I am missing out on the important things in my life like relationships with friends and family and most definatley God. Something has to change today.
I
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
Ugh.
So I've done all my reading. I think I understand the material and now it's time to get something down on paper. I don't remember this being so hard the first time around. So, the first time around was awhile ago and admittedly my brain has gotten kind of mushy in the last 15 years or so but seriously my 4 year old has an attention span more conducive to writing a book review than I do. Feeling pretty discouraged right now.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
My dad often says...
As I've been reading through this material about "marketplace ministry" I was reminded of something that my dad says on occasion.
"That pastor's so heavenly minded that he's no earthly good".
For almost all of my adult life I've been married to a pastor so I'll be honest and say that whenever he says that it gets me all riled up. I mean it's pretty hard not to take it personally. I've always taken it as meaning that he feels the "work" a pastor does, doesn't make much of a difference in the real world. That being concerned about spiritual things is great and all for the pastor but real people have real work to get done and most of the time the pastor just gets in the way.
I'm fairly certain that my dad never intended that saying to be misconstrued as a compliment:) BUT in my defensiveness, I've never really stopped to consider where that comment was coming from and if there was any truth to it. This idea of accepting criticism without allowing it to be completely devastating to me is pretty new. It takes practice to actually consider the validity of the idea even though the delivery may be lacking. So today I've been mulling over the idea that my dad just might be onto something...it's not like he hasn't been right in a myriad of other ways over the years!
So, my first question is, "Where is that attitude coming from?". The answer to this question is probably just as important as figuring out whether the attitude is right or wrong. Because I'm not my dad (ok, maybe I'm just a little bit like my dad;), at this point anything I offer in answer to that question would be pure speculation but here goes....
I wonder if this comment is a reflection of the lack of interest, respect, support, affirmation or genuine appreciation that he has received regarding his profession (in this case plumbing and heating) from any of the pastors he's had over the years. I mean we (and in this case I mean people in "paid" ministry) often give lip service to the idea that body is made up all different parts and each one is important but does the ministry of our church or even what we do on Sunday when we meet together as a body of believer's really demonstrate that? I would argue that church is not just a Sunday morning affair, that what happens every other day of the week is vitally important but do the people in my church truly believe that as well? Do the people who make up the local body of believers I worship with and serve with know their work, whether they work in the marketplace or stay home with their children or volunteer their services, know intrinsically that what they do is of great importance because they have been taught that at church?
My dad is great at what he does. He's a fantastic plumber...people pay loads of money for his services. He is respected in his profession and even though he's retired people go to him simply for advice and even pay to consult with him. Despite the confidence he has as a result of his experience and expertise in his profession he feels, and I think I can express this because he's said things like this on many occasions, that he has very little to offer the church. WHAT?!? Here's a capable and accomplished man who thinks that because his talents and gifts don't look as "spiritual" as the pastor's that he's not useful. Oh sure, he may single handedly keep the boiler going at the church with no pay or recognition and he might be the biggest reason the church's camp facility is maintained and functions every year with very few glitches. He might be the person that ANYONE in the church feels free to call if they have a plumbing dilemma. But for some reason he doesn't see doing those things as a significant or viable ministry. Granted, he has to take responsibility for what he does with those feelings and thoughts. But what role does the church and more specifically do the pastors in his life play in helping him to keep from falling for that misconception? I also have to wonder if in believing that what he has to offer isn't spiritual in nature he might feel let off the hook to really develop and mature in his relationship with God. Once again...pure speculation.
I suppose my second question would be something like this..."Is it possible to be so heavenly minded that you're no earthly good?" When your "work" is wrapped up in church do you tend to stress the importance of commitment to the church over the rest of life? Do we promote an elitist spirituality that reinforces the destructive mindset that "spiritual" professions are more noble than "secular" or regular professions. If so what does the pastor do when he needs a plumber? So many questions....think I'm going to take a break and chew on that thought for a little while.
"That pastor's so heavenly minded that he's no earthly good".
For almost all of my adult life I've been married to a pastor so I'll be honest and say that whenever he says that it gets me all riled up. I mean it's pretty hard not to take it personally. I've always taken it as meaning that he feels the "work" a pastor does, doesn't make much of a difference in the real world. That being concerned about spiritual things is great and all for the pastor but real people have real work to get done and most of the time the pastor just gets in the way.
I'm fairly certain that my dad never intended that saying to be misconstrued as a compliment:) BUT in my defensiveness, I've never really stopped to consider where that comment was coming from and if there was any truth to it. This idea of accepting criticism without allowing it to be completely devastating to me is pretty new. It takes practice to actually consider the validity of the idea even though the delivery may be lacking. So today I've been mulling over the idea that my dad just might be onto something...it's not like he hasn't been right in a myriad of other ways over the years!
So, my first question is, "Where is that attitude coming from?". The answer to this question is probably just as important as figuring out whether the attitude is right or wrong. Because I'm not my dad (ok, maybe I'm just a little bit like my dad;), at this point anything I offer in answer to that question would be pure speculation but here goes....
I wonder if this comment is a reflection of the lack of interest, respect, support, affirmation or genuine appreciation that he has received regarding his profession (in this case plumbing and heating) from any of the pastors he's had over the years. I mean we (and in this case I mean people in "paid" ministry) often give lip service to the idea that body is made up all different parts and each one is important but does the ministry of our church or even what we do on Sunday when we meet together as a body of believer's really demonstrate that? I would argue that church is not just a Sunday morning affair, that what happens every other day of the week is vitally important but do the people in my church truly believe that as well? Do the people who make up the local body of believers I worship with and serve with know their work, whether they work in the marketplace or stay home with their children or volunteer their services, know intrinsically that what they do is of great importance because they have been taught that at church?
My dad is great at what he does. He's a fantastic plumber...people pay loads of money for his services. He is respected in his profession and even though he's retired people go to him simply for advice and even pay to consult with him. Despite the confidence he has as a result of his experience and expertise in his profession he feels, and I think I can express this because he's said things like this on many occasions, that he has very little to offer the church. WHAT?!? Here's a capable and accomplished man who thinks that because his talents and gifts don't look as "spiritual" as the pastor's that he's not useful. Oh sure, he may single handedly keep the boiler going at the church with no pay or recognition and he might be the biggest reason the church's camp facility is maintained and functions every year with very few glitches. He might be the person that ANYONE in the church feels free to call if they have a plumbing dilemma. But for some reason he doesn't see doing those things as a significant or viable ministry. Granted, he has to take responsibility for what he does with those feelings and thoughts. But what role does the church and more specifically do the pastors in his life play in helping him to keep from falling for that misconception? I also have to wonder if in believing that what he has to offer isn't spiritual in nature he might feel let off the hook to really develop and mature in his relationship with God. Once again...pure speculation.
I suppose my second question would be something like this..."Is it possible to be so heavenly minded that you're no earthly good?" When your "work" is wrapped up in church do you tend to stress the importance of commitment to the church over the rest of life? Do we promote an elitist spirituality that reinforces the destructive mindset that "spiritual" professions are more noble than "secular" or regular professions. If so what does the pastor do when he needs a plumber? So many questions....think I'm going to take a break and chew on that thought for a little while.
Friday, February 6, 2009
A recurring theme...
So, I'm working on assignment #2 which is to read "Doing God's Business" by R. Paul Stevens and an article called "Marketplace Ministry" and then contrast and respond to the different definitions of work and marketplace ministry among other things.
What I've found interesting is the emphasis on the importance of practicing spiritual disciplines in the effort to "go deep" in all areas of our lives. This is something that has come up REPEATEDLY in the last few years in many different ways so much so that it is hard not to take it personally:) I really wasn't expecting to stumble across this again in this course. I must be totally clueless. But what all of this makes me wonder is why isn't this something that I've learned over the course of my Christian life? Perhaps I wasn't listening. I really don't know. In any case, one of the things that I'm supposed to be thinking about in relation to this course is what is the role of the church in facilitating "marketplace ministry". This is the line of thinking that I'm going to pursue.
Here's an interesting quote for you:
"For Christians the need of the world is not the call of God. The call comes from God and we will need to withdraw frequently and regularly from compulsive need-meeting in order to hear the voice of God" (Stevens 136).
What I've found interesting is the emphasis on the importance of practicing spiritual disciplines in the effort to "go deep" in all areas of our lives. This is something that has come up REPEATEDLY in the last few years in many different ways so much so that it is hard not to take it personally:) I really wasn't expecting to stumble across this again in this course. I must be totally clueless. But what all of this makes me wonder is why isn't this something that I've learned over the course of my Christian life? Perhaps I wasn't listening. I really don't know. In any case, one of the things that I'm supposed to be thinking about in relation to this course is what is the role of the church in facilitating "marketplace ministry". This is the line of thinking that I'm going to pursue.
Here's an interesting quote for you:
"For Christians the need of the world is not the call of God. The call comes from God and we will need to withdraw frequently and regularly from compulsive need-meeting in order to hear the voice of God" (Stevens 136).
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Moving right along...
Well, I finished my first assignment! Can I just say what a relief that is? I have to admit that it was a real struggle to finish that paper. It was MUCH tougher to articulate my own personal sense of Christian calling than I thought it would be but here's what I came up with:
I am a Christian. I have significance and purpose because God has called me into a relationship with him. I am in the process of “…becoming what I am not yet but (have been) called by God to be”(30). It is a journey of self-discovery in light of who God says I am and who he has created me to be. Quite honestly, it would be very easy to become so inwardly focused that I could lose sight of the fact that God called me to himself for a purpose. I love how Guinness expresses this: “The truth is not that God is finding us a place for our gifts but that God has created us and our gifts for a place of his choosing – and we will only be ourselves when we are finally there”(46). I believe that the place of his choosing at this time in my life is exactly where I find myself. It is partly about location which is Port Hardy, but is mostly about relationships. I know that the occupation I currently find myself in is truly a privilege. I am a stay at home mom and wife. My job is really more of a role than an occupation. The work that I find myself doing is complicated and demanding yet ordinary and mundane. It’s stretching and challenging and there really is no more practical place to work out the secondary callings on my life. I agree with Guinness that you shouldn’t “…necessarily be able to state your calling in a single sentence. At best you can only specify a part of it”(51). I realize that there are callings in my life that I’m probably not aware of yet and most likely there are also callings that will be in process for the rest of my life but at this point in my life and in my relationship with God I am beginning to recognize calling in my life in two different but related areas. First of all, God has been challenging me to mature in the area of emotional health and spiritual growth. He is calling me to pursue maturity in my relationships which relates entirely to my ability to parent and to be a godly wife and complement to my husband. I don’t think that this calling is by any means specific to only me except that the circumstances and means by which God placed this call on my life were indeed very personal. I know that this calling is wrapped up in the corporate calling on my life however in the last two years God has been orchestrating events and cultivating desires and gifts in my life that have led me to pursue going back to school. Being obedient to this secondary and individual call on my life has required me to step out in faith. I think this will be part of the journey that bring more clarity to determining what God is calling me to do in the next stage of my life.
I am a Christian. I have significance and purpose because God has called me into a relationship with him. I am in the process of “…becoming what I am not yet but (have been) called by God to be”(30). It is a journey of self-discovery in light of who God says I am and who he has created me to be. Quite honestly, it would be very easy to become so inwardly focused that I could lose sight of the fact that God called me to himself for a purpose. I love how Guinness expresses this: “The truth is not that God is finding us a place for our gifts but that God has created us and our gifts for a place of his choosing – and we will only be ourselves when we are finally there”(46). I believe that the place of his choosing at this time in my life is exactly where I find myself. It is partly about location which is Port Hardy, but is mostly about relationships. I know that the occupation I currently find myself in is truly a privilege. I am a stay at home mom and wife. My job is really more of a role than an occupation. The work that I find myself doing is complicated and demanding yet ordinary and mundane. It’s stretching and challenging and there really is no more practical place to work out the secondary callings on my life. I agree with Guinness that you shouldn’t “…necessarily be able to state your calling in a single sentence. At best you can only specify a part of it”(51). I realize that there are callings in my life that I’m probably not aware of yet and most likely there are also callings that will be in process for the rest of my life but at this point in my life and in my relationship with God I am beginning to recognize calling in my life in two different but related areas. First of all, God has been challenging me to mature in the area of emotional health and spiritual growth. He is calling me to pursue maturity in my relationships which relates entirely to my ability to parent and to be a godly wife and complement to my husband. I don’t think that this calling is by any means specific to only me except that the circumstances and means by which God placed this call on my life were indeed very personal. I know that this calling is wrapped up in the corporate calling on my life however in the last two years God has been orchestrating events and cultivating desires and gifts in my life that have led me to pursue going back to school. Being obedient to this secondary and individual call on my life has required me to step out in faith. I think this will be part of the journey that bring more clarity to determining what God is calling me to do in the next stage of my life.
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