When growth occurs in a person's life that is usually considered to be a good thing. When a person's mind and heart grows through education or experience, that is good. When a person's muscles grow through exercise and training, that is good. When a family grows through the birth or adoption of a child, that is good. When a business grows through new clients and opportunities, that is good. When a local church grows through the increase of people involved in giving and receiving ministry, that is good. And when this growth occurs, as good as it may be, new obstacles and challenges are introduced. Most people refer to these obstacles and challenges as "good problems to have," because such things reflect positive changes taking place in the life of a person, family, business, or church.
At Emmanuel BC, these are days of growth, which is good, and which means we are facing new challenges and obstacles; in other words, the problems we have are "good problems to have." I prefer to look at these challenges, obstacles, and "good problems" as opportunities. For us, they include a need for more ministerial staff, a renovation/expansion of our current facilties, a more effective and efficient way of ministering to the people already here and assimilating the people who are coming here.
On one hand, it would be great if there really was a such thing as an "Easy Button." I could press the button and we would staffed with the right people in the right places instantly. Then, I would press the button again and our facilities would instantly be adequate for our growing congregation. But, that will not happen. God loves us too much to short circuit a process by which we will learn and grow, so we have to face these opportunities as they are presented to us. Failure to do so would lead to our "good problems" becoming real problems, and we don't want that to happen.
So, we move ahead. We press on. We pray. We talk. We work. We plan. We pray. (I know I already said that!) And all the while we view thank God for the good problems we have, and we seek to address such problems in a way that will facilitate further growth, which I know will mean more challenges and obstacles, but that will be good!
Monday, June 25, 2007
Monday, June 4, 2007
Going through the Motions
Do you ever find yourself going through the motions? You know, doing or saying the "right" thing, or reacting the "right" way, just because it is what you are supposed to do? Do you ever feel as though your mind and heart are one place, while your body is someplace else?
For those in vocational ministry...ok, for me, this sometimes occurs. What am I supposed to make of this? Do I neglect to say or do the "right" thing just because my heart is not in it? I think we must be wise and discerning in each situation. Last night, I was honest with the church about this experience. I sought to be transparent with them and let them know that there will be times when you become discouraged in ministry. There will be times when you are saying and doing all the right things, all the while your heart is detached from those things. My opinion is that such transparency, though risky in the eyes of some, goes a long way in connecting with people. Pretending to have all the answers (which we don't), or to always have a sincere heart (which we don't), or to always appear genuinely concerned for ALL people (which we're not), doesn't really help in ministry. So, I was, and am striving to be honest about this struggle.
In response, as a way forward, I think of Galatians 6.9-10 which says, "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." We must continue to strive, to serve, to give. We must keep a diligent watch over our hearts, for from them come the springs of life and upon them the Lord looks and perceives what is really there.
For those in vocational ministry...ok, for me, this sometimes occurs. What am I supposed to make of this? Do I neglect to say or do the "right" thing just because my heart is not in it? I think we must be wise and discerning in each situation. Last night, I was honest with the church about this experience. I sought to be transparent with them and let them know that there will be times when you become discouraged in ministry. There will be times when you are saying and doing all the right things, all the while your heart is detached from those things. My opinion is that such transparency, though risky in the eyes of some, goes a long way in connecting with people. Pretending to have all the answers (which we don't), or to always have a sincere heart (which we don't), or to always appear genuinely concerned for ALL people (which we're not), doesn't really help in ministry. So, I was, and am striving to be honest about this struggle.
In response, as a way forward, I think of Galatians 6.9-10 which says, "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." We must continue to strive, to serve, to give. We must keep a diligent watch over our hearts, for from them come the springs of life and upon them the Lord looks and perceives what is really there.
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