It's 3 AM

That line started one of the more notable commercials of the last election primary campaign. Then Senator Hillary Clinton used the prospect of a phone ringing in the White House while a family slept in their home to claim an advantage in experience over her rival, Sen Obama. We all know how well that worked in convincing the Democratic voters.

But phones do ring at 3 AM, and they often do signal a crisis.

Perhaps it is a sign of experience as a pastor that when the phone rings in the middle of the night, you immediately think that something has gone dreadfully wrong. There have to be calls being made to let family know that someone got home safe, pulled through, or entered this world to a joyous reception. But when the phone rings in the home of a pastor chances are someone needs help. Of all the skills I have been taught in two seminary programs, numerous conferences, and through literally thousands of books over the years, not one has addressed what to do when that phone rings.

Here's the most important thing you can do:

Start praying while it is ringing for clarity, wisdom, and for God to act on behalf of the one in need.

No, you don't know what's about to transpire. But God does, and I'm a firm believer in getting the attention of the Omnipotent God that His servant and the one he is about to talk to - need HELP!

You'll want to do some other things too, like getting a pen and paper and asking for names, locations, phone numbers, and what the military calls a "SitRep" - a situation report of how everyone is doing right now - but pray. Pray. Pray.

A pastor who has prayed and thrown himself on the grace of God as one who can only minister out of His grace, His mercy, and His wisdom is a far more effective instrument for God to use for His glory and for the comfort and direction those he will care for.

It might be 3 AM, but we serve the One Who never slumbers or sleeps.

Thank God.

Just to remind everyone where the blog title comes from

Yep, greatest job ever. Living the dream.

Will They Grow

My bride got hooked on reading blogs after I turned her onto Google Reader. That little tool makes it easy to find and read blogs on various subjects you are interested in. Not a great deal of our tagged blogs coincide except in the theology area, but even there we diverge to a certain extent.

For example, she reads a blog called "the naked pastor" where a pastor talks frequently about his life, his beliefs, and mostly about his struggles with both. I used to read it, but found myself wondering increasingly whether the guy ought to be a pastor at all. Everyone has areas of weakness, but that guy had acres and acres of them and never seemed to get better.

One of my most fervent prayers for the people God has given me to care for is that some of them would see themselves grow in their faith. I work to spend the time in God's Word, in prayer, and in communion with Him to grow in my faith. Some of that growth comes as a result of failing at times to live up to the example of Jesus. When that happens, I go to Him and ask forgiveness, and for strength and wisdom to overcome. When Paul wrote, "follow my example, as I follow Christ", I figure he meant just that. A pastor has to keep growing - stay hungry - want to do more for God - more with the gift of life God has given him, right up to the moment that God takes him home.

One of the saddest realizations comes for me when I find that a person I love and am praying for to receive more of God's peace, more of His mercy, more of His grace - has decided - "I'm good. I like who I am now. No need to do anything more. No reason to want to grow more."

I can remember back when my boys were little, they'd stomp around the house wearing daddy's shoes. It was comical to see my size twelves on them. But folks, they grew into them. I want so much to see both of them, as well as those I love and care for at New Hope to grow with me as we follow Jesus.

Christmas - weakly

While rereading the accounts of Christmas again last night, it occurred to me - God's powerful act of Incarnation couldn't have come to a more unlikely group of people. His mighty actions elicited a very weak response, didn't they.

Zachariah doubted God and couldn't believe when an angel showed up.

Joseph searched frantically for a way out.

Even Mary, a model of faith asked "How can this be...?"

Each and every one of them had a moment or moments when the situation they were presented with was just too much to believe.

Have you ever been there?

I sure have.

There have been times where, despite years of trying to live a live of faith and devotion to Jesus, something will happen and I'll silently ask the question "How can this be...?" Or really, how in the world am I going to make it through this?

To that question, God answers - "wait."

Uh, not really helpful - see we have this situation here and I need to get it fixed. And to that you say - "wait?"

I realized when I typed it that "wait" is not a word we would ever associate with Christmas, unless we add the obligatory "I can't.." as a prefix.

And yet, waiting is exactly what God required of each of the people involved in Christmas.

Zachariah and Elizabeth had prayed for a son all their married lives.

Joseph and Mary agreed in their betrothal to wait a year before consummating their marriage.

Even after the angel's announcements to them, there was the usual nine month wait for the babies that were promised to appear.

How long have you been waiting for your Christmas miracle to come? I'm not talking about that long promised pony or motorcycle.

I'm thinking of that moment when the faith you have...

...expands to fill your whole life.

When this verse becomes reality... to you.

What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see. Heb 11:1 (NLT)

You know what?

I'm encouraged that Zachariah wouldn't take an angel's word for it.
Likewise by Joseph's worries and Mary's concerns.

Because I am no weaker than they were, when they failed to grasp Christmas.

But then it's not about us, in our weakness. It's about God, and His unfailing love.

Inasmuch

In a certain town there lived a cobbler, Martin Avdeitch by name. He lived in a small basement room whose one window looked out onto the street, and all he could see were the feet of people passing by.

But since there was hardly a pair of boots that had not been in his hands at one time for repair, Martin recognized each person by his shoes.

Day after day, he would work in his shop watching boots pass by. One day he found himself consumed with the hope of a dream that he would find the Lord's feet outside his window. Instead, he found a lingering pair of worn boots belonging to an old soldier.

Though at first disappointed, Martin realized the old man might be hungry and invited him inside to a warm fire and some tea. He had other visitors that evening, and though sadly none were Christ, he let them in also.

Sitting down at the end of day, Martin heard a voice whisper his name as he read the words: "I was hungry and you gave me meat; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you took me in. Inasmuch as you did for the least of these, you did unto me."

Story told in Leo Tolstoy's Walk in the Light while there Is Light and Twenty-three Tales (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2003).

So many times I forget. The person in front of me, or on the phone is the person Jesus put me here to serve. Forgive me Lord.

Pastor/Cheerleader?

When I think about what I'm hoping to project as a pastor, authenticity is at the top of the chart. "Follow me as I follow Christ" Paul wrote, and what I hope to do is to model a follower of Christ.

That means that there will be days in my life that I am happy, days when I am sad, and days in between. I'll react to events and to people in various ways depending on what's happening in my life - always with grace (I hope) - but in a realistic fashion - not fake.

However in the smaller church, I'm not sure that authenticity is valued very highly at times. It seems that people would rather have a pastor/cheerleader.

When something goes wrong, I can deal with it and do. The analytical in me looks to see how it happened, what the effects were, and how we can keep it from happening again. But we don't pretend it didn't happen.

In small church, things are magnified. People leave, even one person leaves, and people react like the entire church is dying. I find myself having to stop and explain who we are again, how God is in control, and that we exist for His glory. not for man's preferences. I find myself doing this again, and again, and again.

I remember reading an article a while back on "Smiling Pastors", focusing on Joel Osteen's appeal. The writer seemed to thing that one of the major appeals Osteen has is his ever smiling face. I must be the most cynical pastor alive, but I'm calling that a made for TV effect. But CEO's apparently suffer from the same expectations. In an article Wired magazine quotes a CEO:

When you're the CEO, you've got to get off the elevator each morning with a big smile on your face. No matter what's going on in the company. Everyone looks to you for a temperature reading.

So what about it pastors?

Do you feel that sort of pressure? And if you do, how do you handle it?

Is this limited to the smaller church?

I'd love to hear some answers.

Wearing Out A Pastor

I never understood it.

Years and years ago I knew a guy who pastored a small church in rural Bibb County GA. The church I attended to play softball played his church in the Lizella league. Seemed like a nice enough guy. Looked like the team liked each other.

Couple of years later, I saw him again. He was working at Sears, selling washing machines.

At the time, I had no frame of reference for that. Pastors were in it for life, I thought. Unless they disqualified themselves because of a moral failure, or they checked out of this life for the next, they were always pastors. Frankly, I thought anyone who didn't pastor after being called, must not have been called to begin with. Wouldn't say I questioned their salvation, but let's just say I was grateful for God's mercy when it came to people like that.

My epiphany has come. In fact there are times when I wonder how anyone can pastor a church and remain there for any period of time.

A friend of mine has feared for his life and that of his family. Another pastor I know has bodyguards. Those are extremes, I know. Most pastors just wear out.

How do you wear out a pastor?

Constantly carp about "being fed."

Remind him who "pays the bills."

Take every opportunity to blunt any good news - for example if you see the Holy Spirit move and someone come to Christ, complain about the music and remind him of those people who left.

If you have a lot of young people coming, complain that all the old people have been run off.

If you have a predominately older congregation, complain that the church isn't reaching any young people.

Find a way, any way to remind him who he isn't. (This could be the pastor before him, the guy down the street, or some TV preacher who'll never be there when they call at 3AM)

Never, ever recognize either his or his family's sacrifices for the work of Christ there. (I have one friend who left a law career to enter the ministry. I left a marketing and sales career. I don't know about him, but I haven't caught up to what I made in 1990 yet)

Never acknowledge their anniversaries in service.

Never insist they take vacation - in fact complain if they ever do.

Don't ever think about their health (or make sure they have insurance), and put as little as you can into a retirement fund, just so you can say that you did your part.

Carp about any efforts they make to improve via education or in purchasing books or going to conferences - after all, you know they are just using your church as a stepping stone.

Make sure their wife is miserable - this may be the single most effective thing you can do.

Agree with them on subjects like worship music in public, but talk a completely different tune among other people inside the church.

Find some way to postpone or if possible derail any new idea they bring to the table. You can use the "we've never done that before" card, the "I'm not sure we can pay for it card" or anything you think will cool anything that might cause the church to see greater impact for Christ.

Right before worship, as they are preparing their heart and mind to deliver the message God has given them, ask them to make an announcement, or question them about something. Anything you can do to make them less effective helps.

Oh and never, ever stop pushing them to do things your way. It may take years, but constant pressure pays huge dividends - ever see the Grand Canyon?

In time, you will wear them out.

They may continue doing what they are doing, but the joy of serving God and seeing Him glorified will diminish. You'll have converted them to the functional equivalent of the Japanese "salaryman" who expects nothing from his work except a paycheck, and has to wonder in many cases if that will come.

Each year, thousands of men and women turn away from the call God gave them and enter life after the ministry. Not because they have lost their calling, or their gifts, but because over time, like water on rock, they wear away.

Shame.