The Biggest Winner

I have been working on shedding a few pounds, getting in shape, and lowering my blood pressure. I have found that exercise really works in helping me achieve my goals, and is a wonderful way to deal with stress to boot. After 3 weeks at the gym I have been able to come off blood pressure medication altogether.

Yesterday, while working out on the elliptical machine, an idea came to me. Why not encourage the entire congregation to get in shape? I noticed several FBC folks working out yesterday morning. I had a conversation a few days ago with a church member who is participating in a "Biggest Loser" contest at work. Should not the church lend her voice to encouraging folks to live a healthier lifestyle?

The Scriptures have much to say about physical health. The one verse that comes to mind readily is 1 Corinthians 3:16—"Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" I do not think many would question the connection between spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical health.

So, I have a rough plan. I will discuss in with our staff at our weekly staff meeting for their input. But I am thinking about preaching a couple of sermons on the importance of physical health and challenging our congregation to set some personal goals. Perhaps we can have some kind of "friendly" congregational contest. Maybe we can call it "The Biggest Winner." After all it is a win/win proposition. Stay tuned for details to follow.

Blessings,
Jimmy

How About a Little Respect?

I had a conversation with a colleague this week who had just completed his annual review with the lay committee in his church charged with reviewing the pastor's "performance." A couple of folks on the committee criticized the pastor's preaching, his pulpit style, and even called into question a few of his pastoral decisions.

My colleague has served this particular congregation for a number of years, is sound theologically, is a caring and committed pastor, and has impeccable credentials. In my judgment the congregation he serves is very fortunate to have him as their shepherd.

I think my friend's experience once again highlights the "junk" that most clergy-persons endure, which adds stress to an already stressful profession. I am not advocating that a pastor should have no accountability. I am not saying that pastors never make mistakes and are immune to slothfulness. What I am saying is that there seems to be an imbalance, and for many lay-persons nothing is "out-of-bounds" when it comes to critiquing clergy. Perhaps it is a loss of respect for clergy-persons in general brought on by failures within our own ranks (televangelists' scandals). Or, perhaps it is an attitude and spirit which prevails in a number of churches that "we own the pastor; we have the right to control him like a puppet on a string."

Let me pose some questions. What lay-person is qualified to call into question a pastor's sermon if it is theologically sound and biblically based? What lay-person can speak with authority about pulpit style, which is highly subjective and tends to differ from preacher to preacher?

I am not on a campaign to silence the voice of the laity or to diminish their role in the life of the church. Certainly the concerns of the laity need to be heard and addressed. But how about a little appreciation and respect for the person who shepherds the congregation? How about a little appreciation and respect for the person who is on call 24/7? How about a little appreciation and respect for the person who is there in the crisis, usually at the neglect of his/her own family, and faithfully delivers the Word of Truth weekly?

Blessings,
Jimmy

Superman

There is not a clergy person living who has not been ribbed about only working one hour per week. I have been in ministry for thirty years, and if I had a dollar for every time someone has said that to me, I could retire tomorrow. I hope I am not becoming cynical, but I am more and more convinced that there are large numbers of folks sitting in the pew each Sunday who actually believe that. Oh, maybe they believe it is a little more than an hour a week, but I do not think that the average parishioner has any appreciation for the workload and stress that most clery persons live with daily.

Most of us readily recognize the stress associated with other "helping" professions. We are not shocked or surprised when we call our physician and the receptionist says to us: "Dr. X is not in today, but you can see Dr. Z." We accept the fact that the demands on a physician are tremendous and if the good doctor is to continue to be a good doctor he/she needs some time away. I cannot count the number of times I have heard this line repeated by a patient the morning of surgery: "I hope the surgeon got lots of rest last night, I want him to be fresh when he is operating on me!" We readily see the value in that, yet we will allow our pastor to run ragged and expect him to be fresh when he feeds our soul on Sunday morning.

Why is it that most denominations require missionary personnel to furlough on a regular basis? Could it be that we see the wisdom in not leaving a missionary "out there" too long under the pressure of working in a "foreign" environment? We see the need to bring them "home" for a time of rejuvenation. Yet, we allow our pastors to go for years upon years stewing in the same pressure cooker and never think of giving them more than a week or two of vacation here and there.

Why is it different with clery persons? Perhaps it has to do with the nature of our work. Maybe folks have concluded that since our work is of the spiritual nature that those of us who are doing it are super spiritual people. After all, we have been called by God and God is on our side. Since our work is super spiritual and supernatural God has given us some kind of super human strength to endure.

Maybe it is because we clergy persons have too often portrayed ourselves as super-heroes as opposed to real people, with real weakness, real hurts, and real needs. I will be the first to agree that ministry is a calling, and the first to acknowledge that there are times and situations that I could not bear without the supernatural power of God. I will also be the first to confess that I am not Superman!

Blessings,
Jimmy

Sabbath

Over the past few weeks I have been researching Clergy Sabbaticals in hopes of selling our congregation on the idea of a sabbatical policy for the ministerial staff. Three great resources, all from the Alban Institute, are: Clergy Renewal: The Alban Guide to Sabbatical Planning by A. Richard Bullock and Richard J. Bruesehoff; Journeying toward Renewal by Melissa Bane Sevier; and a video, Why You Should Give Your Pastor a Sabbatical by Roy M. Oswald. My research has really pricked my spirit. I have been seriously convicted of my own sin.

The practice of a Sabbath (a period of rest and renewal) is taken directly from Scripture. Genesis 2:2-3 reads: "By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which He had done" (NAS). The Gospels are frequent in their depiction of Jesus taking time for renewal, prayer, rest, and worship. My practice has not been so unswerving.

Just today I tried to remember the last time I had taken a day off for the purpose of rest and renewal. I took a few days off last week to help my son-in-law complete a project in preparation for the arrival of their second child, but it has been months since I have taken a day for myself. If God, all powerful, all knowing God had a need for rest (as indicated by the passage above), what makes me think that I am immune? If Jesus, God incarnate, had a need for renewal, what makes me think I am exempt? My need was driven home further this week when I visited the doctor. I discovered that my blood pressure was abnormally high. As the doctor indicated, my family history is certainly a factor to be considered, but my failure to take care of myself is a culprit as well.

I think a clergy sabbatical is a worthy pursuit. I believe congregations should consider the benefit to both the clergy person and the congregation when thinking about sabbaticals. I certainly see the benefits of giving ministerial staff regular and periodic times away for renewal, rest, and reflection. But the one thing I have been convicted of this week is my own failings in this area. I have failed to set boundaries and maintain balance. I have allowed work to become an idol and my busyness to create a sense of pride.

I recently had a retired pastor tell me: "You are in the prime of your ministerial career." I think his assessment is right. I have certainly gained tons of experience and wisdom over the years. But I am also convinced that I cannot continue at the pace I have been going. I pray that our congregation will consider a sabbatical policy for the ministerial staff, but regardless of their decision, it is up to me to set boundaries for my own ministry, and times of rest and renewal. I have made a commitment to myself and my family starting now to take regular times away. I am going to begin by taking at least one day off per week. I need it for myself, and I am sure my congregation will benefit as well.

Blessings,
Jimmy

Mission or Missional?

I have served churches in South Carolina, Mississippi, and North Carolina. Every church I have served has prided itself in being mission-minded. In fact, this past weekend I overheard a member of my present congregation talking to a church guest about what a great mission-minded church FBC Washington is. When most people talk about a mission-minded church they are describing a church which prays and pays for missions. For example, at FBC Washington we contribute generously to our denomination's mission budget. We regularly take special offerings for mission causes; pray for missionaries and people groups; and even send out mission teams. I agree that like many churches of all stripes, we are a mission-minded church.

However, I am becoming more and more convinced that Jesus did not call us to simply be mission-minded; He called us to be missional. Yes, mission funding is important. Praying for missionaries and people groups in unreached places around the world is paramount. But at the very core of the Christian life is our calling to be the presence of Christ in our world. We are His hands, feet, ears, eyes, and mouth. Being the Body of Christ is not just about Sunday mornings. Living the Christian life is more than church attendance. Christ has called us to engage our broken world with His good news of hope and healing. Being the Body of Christ is about what takes place in our neighborhood, our community, our workplace, our school or university.

In my experience, we can be mission-minded and still inwardly focused. We can pay and pray for missions and missionaries, but still be primarily concerned about our comforts and our needs. Being missional means we have an outward focus. Missional takes seriously the words of Jesus who said: "You are to be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the world."

Blessings,
Jimmy

Jesus and Paint

I have been working on a project for more than eighteen months now—painting the outside of my house. I live in a brick ranch-style house, but the trim work needs occasional painting—about once every five years. When I first noticed the paint needed attention, I decided I would re-paint with a latex paint verses the old oil based paint I had been using. I knew this would require additional work, since latex paint cannot be used to cover over oil based paint without a primer coat. So, I decided to paint a section at a time, and to completely finish that particular section before moving on to a new section. It has been a slow process.

As I was preparing to paint a new section this past Saturday, I noticed that there were some places on a section that I had painted a few months back that were beginning to peel. I do not understand why the paint on this small, yet very noticeable area, did not stick. I am sure I gave this area the same attention as I did other areas. I began by washing the area down with bleach, letting the area dry, scraping off any old or loose paint, and applying two coats of primer and two coats of latex. For some unknown reason the paint did not stick and I had to re-paint it this past weekend.

My experience with painting parallels my experience with ministry in many ways. I have often wondered why Jesus seems to "stick' to some folk, while others, no matter how much attention you give them seem to never get it. I have also wondered why faith can be such a permanent part of some folk's life and for others it seems to only last for a season and then it peels away or fades. I remember a young couple in my seminary pastorate. They professed their faith, joined our church, and immediately got involved in every aspect of church life and ministry. But their commitment was short lived. After a few months their enthusiasm waned, their attendance ebbed, and church or faith was no longer a welcomed topic in conversation. This scenario has been repeated numerous times in pastorates ever since.

Paul seemed to have had such an experience with one of his converts. He writes in 2 Timothy for Timothy to "make every effort to come to me soon; for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica."

I guess I will never really understand why Jesus seems to "stick" to some while others take to Him like the place on the side of my house does to paint. But I am thankful for the lives He has touched and the transformation that has taken place in the hearts of those who have truly trusted Him!

Good Friday

Last week I sat with a family as the husband/father underwent heart bypass surgery. The patient, at least in my mind, did not fit the typical profile of a heart-bypass candidate. He is relatively young (just a few years older than me), active, exercises regularly, eats healthy, and basically does all the right things to take care of himself. When the surgeon came out to talk with the family after surgery (and the surgery was very successful), the surgeon said that my friend's problems were probably caused by genetics. In other words, something in his genes makes him more prone to coronary artery disease. The fact that he exercises, eats right, and takes care of himself was to his benefit, but in the long run there was nothing he could really do that would have prevented his problems.

Today is Good Friday, a commemoration of Jesus' death on the cross. I have often wondered why we call it Good Friday. In some traditions it is called Holy Friday or Black Friday. Black Friday seems more appropriate considering the events that historically took place. Jesus was betrayed by one of his own, falsely accused by the religious leaders, stood before Pontius Pilate, beaten and scourged, and ultimately sentenced to be crucified at the insistence of the crowd.

Perhaps the good in Good Friday is a reference to what Jesus did for me? You see, like my friend with coronary artery disease, I too suffer from defective genes. These genes are attached to my spiritual DNA. My disease has left me wounded, broken, and bruised by sin. And like my friend, no matter how hard I try, no matter what I do, I cannot fix the problem. Just as the good surgeon had to intervene in my friend's situation, so Jesus has intervened in my situation. He died on the cross to fix my sin problem!

There's an old hymn that reads: "Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe, sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow."

Thanks be to God!

Blessings,
Jimmy