B-log

What are your strengths?  What are your weaknesses?

Strengths:

• I’m authentic, transparent, and approachable.
• I’m biblically naïve. I believe that if we do what God tells us, he’ll do what he promises.
• I’m hard-working, creative, and persevering.
• I’m empowering, encouraging, and “a communicator.”
• I genuinely like people and I love being a pastor.

Weaknesses;

• I sometimes use $2 words when a 25-cent word will do the trick.
• While God has made me merciful to the hurting & downtrodden, I’m still low on the mercy index.
• I don’t have much patience for posers, players, and frauds. I’m asking God to grow me with all people…not just the ones who are obviously earnestly trying.
• I will some times give a person a long leash with hope and help that they’ll succeed. Sometimes my belief that “people matter more than things” slows things down.

One note:  Sometimes my weaknesses are strengths, and sometimes my strengths are weaknesses. It depends upon the situation and the person assessing/criticizing me.

Another note: You’ll probably identify other of each shortly into our relationship together, and then as we go through life together. Hopefully, our respective strengths will undergird the others’ weaknesses and together, we’ll all walk in total dependence upon Christ.

10. What are your specific and regular practices regarding the spiritual disciplines (e.g., personal prayer, Bible study, meditation, stewardship, learning, etc.)?

First, let me commend you on the proper use of e.g. Most people instead use i.e., which is not correct. So kudos to you on that.

I’d be lying if I said something like “I pray every day from 6-6:30, have a quiet time that lasts 20 minutes,” and so on. Here’s the reality:

I pray every day. A lot. I believe that I’m supposed to pray without ceasing…so that’s what I try to do. Much of my prayer is done with my eyes open, and most of the time I’m listening for God rather than telling God what he already knows. I have times every day of dedicated talking and intercession and petition and confession and praise and worship. I pray for friends daily. But prayer is not something I have on a “to do” list that I check off once I’ve recited some specific prayers. I try to be available to God as much as possible.

I’m in the Word of God virtually every day, and not part of a prescribed reading program. I understand the value in that, and in different seasons of life, I partake in such activities. Right now, I’m spending a lot of time in James, Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes. It’s a bit of a chicken/egg situation, but a lot of my teaching comes from my Bible study discoveries, and a lot of my Bible study discoveries come out of my planned teaching schedule. I don’t separate my devotional time from my study time. I’m just not wired that way, and I think it makes my teaching more genuine and impacting. Again…I always have the Word with me (thank you, technology), and I like to go to the Word in quiet moments, times of waiting, in the morning before things get busy, and at night as I wait for sleep to arrive.

Stewardship - I believe in whole-life stewardship. We practice it and recommend it to others as a way to see the faithful work of God in life.

Meditation - Another ongoing, daily discipline. Either you let the word of God shape your world view, or you let the world shape your god view. Taking every thought captive isn’t something you can accomplish in 30 minutes every day. It requires living perpetually in the third chair and conscientiously letting the word of God be the final arbiter of truth in your life. Case in point: I determined to use this 56-question marathon to meditate on my convictions, rather than just puke out a small booklet to satisfy an initial requirement.

Learning - The world is a classroom and every person is a student. I hope I’m always learning in every opportunity. Not afraid to make mistakes, but determined to not make the same mistake twice. Rarely, learning requires a conference or a classroom, but most often the best learning environments are the ones you visit every day in the normal routine of life. I enjoy reading the writings of smart, godly people, listening to dynamic biblical preaching and teaching, and conversing with all people about the mysteries where faith and life intersect.

Summary - We have a habit of sucking the life out of God’s life-giving purpose. The spiritual disciplines are beautiful, life-giving, enriching experiences that are designed to make a difference in the lives of other people (see 1 Cor. 13). Like the Sabbath itself, believe that the disciplines were made for man, and not man for the disciplines. By being disciplined to explore my relationship with God in spirit and in truth, God develops me for his purpose in this world. 

12. How is the pastor held accountable? What relationships in your life currently provide accountability for responsible attitudes and behavior, both personally and as pastor?

Great question! Many churches get this wrong by isolating the pastor from accountability, or by establishing pseudo-accountability through a personnel committee. The biblical model is to have elders partner with the pastor in his leadership. The pastor is accountable to the elders. The elders can be appointed laymen from the congregation, they can be other called ministers, or they can be a team of both groups (this is a church’s autonomous decision).

The pastor is also accountable to the church for his leadership. While the church is responsible for following his leadership, the pastor is responsible to lead in a Christ-honoring manner. If he strays from this, the church is responsible for addressing the matter biblically.

Personally, I offer myself to be accountable to my wife and a small circle of friends who are also called men/pastors. I welcome the accountability and partnership of elders.

8. What activities characterize your evangelistic interest? What is your approach to personal evangelism? Corporate evangelism?

A friend of mine has a statement about evangelism that resonates with me. He says, “Salvation is an event. Evangelism is a process.” I’m not a “door-to door evangelist,” even though I’ve done that in the past and seen it yield results. The activities that reveal my approach to evangelism aren’t flashy, but they’re effective. I continually look to make new friends…particularly outside the church. If I’m awake, then I’m online, because much of the world is, too. I’m building relationships with people and I’m looking for opportunities to build trust and to be a witness of the grace & mercy of Christ. 

As for corporate evangelism…I think every follower of Christ needs to know how to share their story. There’s lots of useful tools out there, and a church is smart to train its people to know what the tools are and how to implement them into their lives. But the most effective tool is a person’s own experience of being rescued by Christ. Then the church must be encouraged to go be the church. If the church isn’t sharing its stories with the world, it’s not being who it is designed to be. If you aren’t sharing your life with others, then you aren’t being who you are designed to be. Evangelism is not a program. It is the natural outgrowth of a soul that been resurrected. Reducing it to a program may result in increased statistics, but God isn’t beholden to a church’s spreadsheet. When a church is passionate about the transformational power of Jesus Christ, it will offer ongoing equipping to help its people be difference makers in their circles of influence, and its people, in turn will be difference-makers.

7. What are your methods for involving yourself in the lives of your people as their shepherd and overseer of their souls?

Simply, pastoring is about providing a godly example to imitate (1 Cor. 4:16). That means I strive to live according to a standard of grace, holiness, and service that is both winsome and reproducible. At the same time, I work toward building discipling relationships with people that will allow me the opportunity to influence their decisions with the example I give. 

Some means that help this come to be:

1. Have as much of an “open-door” policy as possible.
2. Meet with people often…breakfasts, lunches, coffees, etc.
3. Send cards, emails, notes to people.
4. Pray with people.
5. Visit in hospital, or when in need.

One reality of the ministry is, that as the church grows, it becomes more difficult for the pastor to be available to everyone who wants his time (see Acts 6). The church must be respectful of this reality, and proactive to help foster an environment where the church will continue to grow, where the pastor can have sufficient time to minister and to prepare and to lead. A church unwilling to partner with the pastor in the shepherding ministry of the church places unrealistic expectations upon him and limits the growth they as a congregation can hope to experience. 

6. A pastor is charged by God to preach to the church and to shepherd the people in a more individual way. Which aspect of the ministry appeals to you the most? What are some specific ways you could be helped to develop your skills in either of these areas?

I enjoy all aspects of pastoral ministry. I’m probably a better preacher/teacher/leader than I am shepherd/counselor. But I genuinely like all aspects of the ministry. As for development - there’s plenty of ways to pursue it…OTJ experience, conferences, books, Scripture study, mentoring relationships, blogs/recordings, and on. The point is not just in knowing what is out there, but being determined to be a life-long learner who continually works toward improvement and development.

5. Closely examine each of the Bible’s qualifications for pastors and deacons (1 Tim. 3; Titus 1:5-9; Acts 6:1-6; 1 Peter 5:1-4). Which are your strongest qualities? With which requirements do you have the most trouble? Why do you believe these areas of difficulty do not presently disqualify you from ministering?

Ugh. I’ll try to answer this even though I think this might be the worst series of questions on the entire list. First, I’m being asked to brag about my humility, which makes my brain want to throw up on my mind (or is it the other way around). Then, I’m asked to demonstrate either false humility or disqualifying confession. Yippee.  So let’s ride this roller coaster together…

Here’s the compiled list from all the references above (with redundancies removed):

• Now the overseer must be above reproach
• the husband of but one wife
• temperate
• self-controlled
• respectable
• hospitable
• able to teach
• not given to drunkenness
• not violent but gentle
• not quarrelsome
• not a lover of money
• must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect.  
• a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. 
• must not be a recent convert.  
• He must also have a good reputation with outsiders
• not overbearing 
• not quick-tempered 
• not pursuing dishonest gain  
• one who loves what is good 
• holy  
• must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it
• full of the Spirit and wisdom and faith 
• serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be …but eager to serve  
• not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock 

Whew…that’s a list. Let’s get something straight here…as a list of the expected characteristics of church leaders, it really is a list of what is expected of all mature believers. As such, these qualifications are outward marks of the inner transformation of Jesus Christ in the life of a person. They are the expression of the Fruit of the Spirit. So in reviewing this list, I think I meet the standard of a church leader, one to be considered for the responsibilities of an overseer - because that is God’s call on my life, and that I am not unqualified nor disqualified, by God’s grace and mercy. My “strongest qualities” therefore are the ones where Christ’s power is demonstrated in my most glaring weakness, not where I’ve been particularly fortunate or untested. 

As for where I am weakest…well, let’s just agree that I am human and faith-deep in the process of sanctification. I have and will at times operate from my flesh because I am contenting to walk by faith and not by sight. In those times, may they be infrequent and not disqualifying, I strive to be repentent and forgiven. You can read the “read more” for a lengthier rumination on with these qualifications, if you’re so inclined.

• Now the overseer must be above reproach - This doesn’t mean to have lived a perfect life, or one free from offense. It does mean that you can’t be known for poor character, habitually unethical behavior, or conduct that dishonoring to the gospel.
• the husband of but one wife -  Some suggest this means a person can never have divorced. That’s debatable. What isn’t debatable is that the candidate cannot have multiple wives, nor demonstrate a pattern of divorce as a tool of convenience.
• temperate - Some tend to interpret this as teetotalling, but the standard is rendered minimally as abstaining from inappropriate use of alcohol. 
• self-controlled - also rendered “sober.” This isn’t an extension of temperance, but rather a statement that God’s leaders are expected to submit their self to the control of the Holy Spirit. Apart from Christ, self-control is a myth.
• respectable - This speaks to the modesty of the person, not to the subjugation of the expected behavior of what “a good Christian” should do or be.
• hospitable - friendly to guests, welcoming and inviting. 
• able to teach - not just available…but demonstrating an aptitude and skillfulness.
• not given to drunkenness - here is the extension (or relation, to be more accurate) to temperance. A leader cannot be addicted to alcohol.
• not violent but gentle - not a fighter nor a yeller. Known for fairness and calmness.
• not quarrelsome - Doesn’t argue for the sake of it. Doesn’t demand to be right, and (literally), doesn’t present a sense of invincibility.
• not a lover of money - not greedy.
• must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. - Illustrative that the family is the first institution. If a man fails in his first responsibilities, he cannot be expected to manage well additional ones.  
• a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. - illustrative that the family is also the first mission field, and that dads are designed to witness and disciple their own children.  
• must not be a recent convert - spiritual leadership requires spiritual maturity. This doesn’t necessarily mean “old person,” but it means a person has to have a solid foundation from which to lead.  
• He must also have a good reputation with outsiders - this one’s important. It means that not only do the “insiders” think he’s swell, but he’s also a good ambassador with the outsiders. He is approachable, his reputation is honorable and an open door. He’s respected without being known for being sanctimonious.
• not overbearing - this isn’t about being obnoxious. It’s about being selfish. A leader must be selfless.
• not pursuing dishonest gain  - seems like a no-brainer, like McDonalds “contents may be hot” coffee cup disclaimer. 
• one who loves what is good  - again, obvious, right?
• holy - the leader must be redeemed, and not patterned in unholy behavior.  
• must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. - he strives to teach a faithful, orthodox doctrine, not swaying to unbiblical interpretations.
• full of the Spirit and wisdom and faith  - not just saved, but experiencing a vital, real, relational experience with God’s Holy Spirit (John 15 type stuff here)
• serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be …eager to serve - this leader recognizes the call to the office of overseer and responds in pleased obedience, not in reluctance.   
• not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock  - a servant to the congregation, and a leading example. Showing them what to do for others as he does for them.

postscript:  after revisiting this list for this blog’s purpose, I’m humbled by the fact that God has qualified me for this office, ever mindful of the grace required to make it so. I’m also saddened by the awareness of the many many in spiritual leadership who fall short of these standards in many areas and yet lead without repentance or remorse. I’m amazed that God chooses to work through us at all, and rejoice that he can do so much with so very little.

Pastoring is never something I would have chosen for myself. Growing up, I wanted to be a horror fiction writer - “the next Stephen King.” Who would’ve thought the current Stephen King would enjoy so much being Stephen King for so very long? 

After my salvation experience, I only wanted to “write for Jesus” - whatever that meant, I wasn’t sure. But as I approached graduating from college with a Writing degree (it’s more substantial and important if you capitalize it), I sensed God was calling me to go to seminary.

Again, I didn’t know what that meant. I didn’t grow up Christian, much less Baptist. I didn’t know what seminary was, or what I’d do there. I just had an unmistakable pull to pack up everything and take my new bride to Fort Worth, Texas, in a response to the call of God.

My pastor back then, Rick Ferguson, always said, “Obey the Holy Spirit promptly.”

So I did.

Kelli and I moved to Fort Worth. And I started taking classes at seminary.

I didn’t go with intentions of becoming a preacher, a teacher, a pastor, or a leader. I just wanted to write books about Jesus, books to Jesus, books for Jesus. I was chosen to be a newswriter for the seminary’s public relations team, and I was happier than any young man should have been with making $4.25 an hour at twenty hours a week. I thought I was on a career track to maybe some day be a writer for the denominational news service, or maybe the editor for a state Baptist paper.

But then in my last semester, God let me know he had different plans. I remember sitting at my office computer (i don’t remember what I was writing…probably a fluff piece on a professor  or something), and in an unspoken voice that was louder than audible said, “Go to serve in the church.” My degree was in religious education, with an emphasis in communications, and my interest in small group education was significant. I had taken several theology and preaching classes…God was preparing me, even before I knew it. But in God’s timing, I realized that my purpose wasn’t to write…it was to minister.

So, with not a lot of confidence, I put together a resume’ and sent it to Colorado, and I was brought on staff as the associate pastor in my hometown Baptist church. It was the church I think I may have vandalized as a punk teenager (I remember spray painting a shed…but I can’t remember if it was at the church or somewhere else.  I know…I’m sorry…I’ve made some mistakes). But they took us in and that’s where God really shaped my call and developed my ministry. In three years there, I learned a lot about leadership, serving, and ministering. I was an interim pastor there and was allowed to preach on a weekly basis…which really developed my passion for communicating.

In all, I’ve been pastoring in one form or another since 1998. I’ve been in several staff roles with different titles and responsibilities. Regardless of the shapes its taken, I’ve been serving in the office of pastor because that is the call God placed on my life. It’s a call first to be a servant, but to be a shepherd, a minister, a caregiver, a teacher, and an equipper. I’m good at it when I allow God’s Holy Spirit to work through me (which is what I try to do all the time, and for the most part, successfully). I am fulfilled and satisfied by being a pastor. I am content when I’m using my gifts to make a positive difference in people’s lives. I’m at peace when I’m sharing God’s word with other people. Why do I believe God wants me to do this? Because when I pastor, I am in unity with his word and his call, and I’m obeying his Holy Spirit promptly. 

He is pleased when I do this.

If you’re asking if she supports my call to the pastoral ministry, then the answer is “yes.” If you’re asking something about me dabbling in agribusiness, then she’d prefer I just stick to blogging. It’s much cheaper.

Yesterday, I was told by a person who doesn’t know us well that someone who we deeply respect recently said of Kelli, “She’s the best pastor’s wife they had ever met in more than 40 years of ministry.” That’s high praise, but accurate. She is entirely participating and herself called to the ministry of supportive leadership. She is an encourager, a pray-er, and a creative, innovative thinker. She agrees that people are more important than things, and is committed to minister to preschoolers and their families (particularly moms and wives).