Ministering from the Outside

I hope this topic stays with the theme of my blog but I'm writing it on here anyway. It's very difficult to have been in professional ministry, whatever that is, and go back to being a church paean. I have so many ideas about things that would make the mission of the organization fulfilled, but no one to talk to about them. Or if there is talking there is no implementation.

I just read an interesting article by Perry Noble, the guy who pastors a complex of churches in South Carolina, about the things he wants from the people he works with. Where does that leave the people outside the professional staff? Did Paul or Jesus only work with the professionals or all those who were committed to the cause of seeing people become Christians and grow in that life? I'll bet it was the second one...

So, to all the pastors out there, remember those who were in ministry full-time but had to leave it for good reasons; maybe we have some good advice to offer. Or maybe we've already offered it and you haven't followed through. If you want those people to hang around maybe you should involve them. If not maybe they'll go somewhere they can be more involved.

But maybe this is just advice from someone that desperately needs a job to stop thinking about dead end issues, like what I used to do and where I used to be. I sure hope not.

Onward and upward.

Still seeing the Enemy

I thought I was through discussing the school I worked for here but I guess not. I seem to keep running into people that worked there or had dealings with me as principal and just wish I could disappear. I rehearse all the things I did during that one year of work and always feel that I did what God would have me do, and yet when I see someone, I always feel ashamed. I responded with integrity and prudence and still feel embarrassed. I put up a quote from Buddy Hackett recently about not holding a grudge cause it's only hurting me. The other person is dancing. I don't want them to suffer or even acknowledge that they've done wrong. I just want to feel that I did my best there and that God approves. But God is very quiet. And even those old "friends" all feel like enemies now.

I just want to stay home.

Love Wins review

Another great review by a Christian philosopher of the Rob Bell book. I hope you'll like it too. I'm also looking for a great book reminiscent of the writing style of CS Lewis or GK Chesterton if anyone would like to make a recommendation.

a smart review of Love Wins

I'm so glad someone intelligent did this, but a real Bible scholar cared to review Rob Bell's new book. I don't mind saying I'm not super Bible literate, although I've been reading it or listening to stories and sermons about it my whole life. I loved Rob Bell's sermon "Covered in the Dust of the Rabbi" that I heard years ago, but he seems to be interested in the whole emergent "we're all one family" thing. That has just never set right with me.

Anyway, here's the review.

the Kiss

I guess since I'm up early, I might as well blog.

Well, since Victoria Jackson, former SNL funny lady, has blogged about the gay kiss on Glee this week, I thought I would at least support what she's saying. She may be branded as a bit of a loony but I think she's OK with that. People on youtube are absolute sheep in the culture war and condone the "anything goes" attitude that says you can go beyond posting that Rebecca Black's "Friday" video is "terrible pop music" to "you should kill yourself."

Jackson is right. It's not OK for 2 men, or women to kiss each other. The Bible is clear about this and other sins. It's just tough for those of us that once thought this was a Judaeo-Christian culture to see what it is now, and that seems to not just be secular but anti-Christian.

And while you're over on youtube, you should watch and comment on my singing. I would really appreciate it. It's relatively wholesome.

on the missing of humility

A guy I really respect, Thomas Sowell, wrote an article on how meaningless media coverage of sporting events had become. I want to say things and listen to things that really matter, so this was just what I wanted to read.

getting out there

This has been a big season of life for me. I've begun really extending myself, I think, in hopes and preparation of my future here, whatever that is. My music is going pretty well, but it looks like the way I've done that for some time will need to change as well. Singing at church is great and it's the highlight of my week when I'm on the schedule. I'm also involved with Christmas at the Playhouse, which is waaay out of my element, since it's musical theatre and I don't really do that stuff. It's more like acting than singing.

So anyway, the whole Playhouse thing has been so overwhelming I almost decided not to do it. I got a solo, which I've been told is quite rare for a first-timer, and I have awakened many nights lately fretting about it. I have pretty terrible stage fright, which I intend to improve as time goes on, and the time commitment to this thing is large. I had almost convinced myself that it's not worth it.

But how much am I around non-Christian people? Almost none. I mean, I'm not working so I'm not talking to them at a job. So I guess this is where God intends me to be. I pondered the idea of working for a church again someday, but I don't think I'd ever do that. It's like Os Guinness has described "a religious ghetto." It's just not for me. So, although I'm concerned about my next job and have no idea about what it could be, I've just GOT to be around seeking people. I mean, I'm a Christian and I'm still seeking. There's got to be people God wants me to talk to.