I’m finding my appreciation for growing for bi-vocational pastors this morning, particularly as I have spent most of this early Sunday morning finishing my message for worship. I have over recent weeks reserved Sunday morning for blogging as a discipline, but the tenor of the week has not allowed me that luxury. We used to joke about the “Saturday night special” sermon, but the joke is on me with this “Sunday morning message” that I pray will preach well since I’m just now able to finish it. Here’s a great article on bi-vocational ministry.

Oh, and the blog, well, it’s just going to be rambling thoughts and that’s only because I need to maintain the rhythm because it is so easy for me to become undisciplined. Of course, it would be too easy just to post the sermon here, but I don’t think it’s a very good sermon and I wouldn’t want you to confirm that for me.

On the plus side, I have found a great place where reflection comes rather easy. It’s my back porch. I can honestly say that one of the best investments we’ve made in our home is the addition of the back porch. I’d much rather spend my time sitting out back (except when it’s 104 degrees) than watching another episode of Everybody Loves Raymond.

Again, let me hand it to all you bi-vocational pastors who have been doing it a long time. I applaud you! I’ve discovered that a bi-vocational pastor really has two full-time jobs (unless he/she is retired) because there is no such thing as part-time ministry. There is only part-time pay! Ministry is a full-time job regardless of circumstances. Kudos to all you guys and gals who have been so faithful over the years. I’m trying my best, but try as I might, some things just get missed in all that needs to be done. I’m just happy in knowing that failure does not have to be final. There is always the opportunity to start over.

So, here’s another random thought (not related to matters of faith–well, it might be!). Can we get Donald Trump to just go away? Yup! I just jumped right into politics, but the question has been on my mind for several weeks now. Yes, it has to do with his legal troubles.

Full disclosure for all you Trump fans out there–I voted for Trump. Twice! More transparency–if he gets the Republican nomination again, I’ll probably vote for him a third time, if for no other reason than a protest vote against the current administration, but I pray with every prayer I can utter that he doesn’t get the Republican nomination. Yes, I know his legal problems are mostly (mostly) politically motivated, but let’s be honest, the political motivation behind the legal troubles only help him with his base and do little or nothing to help with the independent voter who will likely decide the presidential race.

I get the sense that Trump is more interested in vindicating himself and exacting revenge on his adversaries than he is concerned about the direction of our nation. Nothing new there I suppose. He is a narcissist to the nth degree, but I also know it takes a good bit of narcissism to run for the presidency anyway. Trump’s legal troubles will prevent him from running any type of credible campaign and that is what our nation needs now more than ever–a competitive campaign focused on the issues facing our nation so voters can decide which direction our nation should go. Probably won’t happen, but a guy can pray, can’t he?

Enough politics for one blog (should pastors even jump off into politics?)…

Here’s another random thought: Love is not always love. I don’t care what the world says. If the world says “Love is love,” my first reaction is to say, “Let’s be more specific.” It’s on my mind because I’ve been reflecting on this passage from 1 John:

¹⁵ Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. ¹⁶ For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. ¹⁷ The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

1 John 2:15-17 (NIV)

Yup, that passage deserves a lot of unpacking, but I don’t have time for it this morning. Worship beckons and I must prepare. Suffice it to say there are some things we shouldn’t love, and there is some love that is misdirected. Fanciful words and quaint phrases can be deceiving. They can be tools of the one we know to be the Deceiver. Let us be careful in the use of our turns of phrase. Let us be intentional in our use of words.

As I read back over this blog, I probably shouldn’t publish any of it, but hey, why not live on the edge? Just so you know…this my blog and any comments I don’t like may be summarily deleted! LOL!

I have more random thoughts, but I may have to save them for next Sunday. Depends on how my week goes and whether I get the sermon done earlier than Sunday morning.

Until next time, keep looking up…