Sailors, Saints, & Sinners

Uniquely Tough (Part 1 of 2)

Being in ministry and serving as Pastor of Rock Bridge is an absolute joy for me personally.  Getting to serve alongside my bride is equally rewarding and special.  However, I’d be lying if I did not say that ministry is unique in its toughness.  It is different from being deployed overseas for 6+ months.  It is different from going through Plebe Summer or football camp.  Here’s a few samples:

• 24.  Jack Bauer has not got anything on ministry.  It is a 24-7 job.  I think about it when I am at home, at the Lake, in the car, cutting grass, in the shower, on the toilet … ministry is a passion and I just can’t shut my passion off at 5:00 or on my days off. 
• People Pleasing.  Because ministry is our passion, when people are critical or feel let down or don’t understand, I take it to heart.  When I got chewed out in the Navy it was over in 30 seconds and then it stung for about an hour.  In the ministry, criticism lasts longer and is much more personal … especially as the founding pastor of a church.  Rock Bridge is like my child.  I love this church so much so when people are critical or don’t understand or expect more than I can give, it hurts.
• Letting it go.  I have some perfectionist tendencies and so when a service or message doesn’t go as planned or I missed a point in a message or feel like I underdelivered on God’s Word … man, I want to relive it over and over again.
• Seeing people hurt.  It hurts to see others hurt.  It hurts to see people forfeiting the grace of God that could be theirs.  It hurts to see people in bondage.  It hurts because we have the answer in Christ but they have to want to receive it.
• Sermon block.  Blank page.  The Word seems distant.  The mind is blank and Sunday is coming and you cannot get the deadline extended.
• Saying ‘no’ … to the person who has a pretty good idea for ministry but it does not fit the church’s vision; to the person who wants me to be available 24/7 for counseling, funerals, hospital visits, etc;  to distractions (the good is often the enemy of the best)

Stay tuned for part 2 …