Preaching

Sermon in a Sentence…

/ pastorlynnmalone / Leave a comment

I’ve been reflecting on and praying over the Apostle Paul’s second letter to his young protege Timothy all week in preparation for Sunday morning. Chapter 4 has particularly captured my attention as I study all the rich imagery Paul shares with Timothy as a means of passing on that which is most important in life and ministry.

As I thought about sermons from this passage, I realized there was absolutely a sermon in every sentence. Seriously, here are some of those sentences:

  • “I give you this charge…” (verse 1)
  • “Preach the Word.” (verse 2)
  • “Be prepared in season and out…” (verse 2)
  • “Correct, rebuke and encourage…” (verse 2)
  • “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering…” (verse 6)
  • “The time for my departure is at hand…” (verse 6)
  • “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (verse 7)

Well, you get the idea. The imagery is such that each line is a sermon unto itself.

Now, I’m no Apostle Paul, but as I prayed over the passage this week, short little one or two line thoughts kept popping up. I kept writing them down thinking they’d be good to include in a sermon, but as I sat down to write a sermon, I thought many of them were, like Paul’s letter to Timothy, sermons unto themselves.

I share them with you here, and I call them A Sermon in a Sentence…okay, so some of them are two sentences, but…

  • There’s nothing quite like death to make one take a look at life.
  • Scripture is meant to shape culture. Culture should never shape Scripture.
  • People don’t want truth. They want permission.
  • It’s not our task the make the Bible relevant. The Bible is timeless, it’s the Holy Spirit’s job to make it relevant.
  • We desire comfort, not conviction.

I thought this was a good one!

  • We live in an age that seeks flattery rather than a fix, entertainment rather than edification and soothing over salvation.

A few more that I wrote down:

  • People don’t reject the Bible because it’s unclear, but because it’s inconvenient.
  • We desire redefinition over repentance.
  • Discipleship isn’t comfortable, it’s costly!
  • The Church isn’t called to be trendy, it’s called to be holy.

So, this next one is longer, but here goes:

  • People say, “I’m spiritual but not religious.” That’s just another way of saying, “I’m looking for a religion that affirms my choices and my actions.” They’re looking to have their “ears tickled.” They want to walk down the buffet line of religious choices and pick a little bit of this one and a little bit of that one until they’ve crafted a spiritual philosophy that matches their preferences.

Lest one think I’m referring to people “out there” in the world, you’d be incorrect. I’m referring to people in the church. Let’s not be “those people.” Let us be people who embrace Truth, as challenging and convicting and inconvenient as it might be. Unbelief in the Church is not the problem. False belief is the problem.

Actually, any of those, or all of those, or none of those may show up in today’s sermon. Who knows? It’s 6:30 on a Sunday morning and that sermon is still a work in progress. One thing I’m sure of: The folks at Haughton Methodist Church only wish I would preach a sermon in a sentence.

Hey? If you want to know which ones (if any) show up in today’s message, why don’t you join me at 10:30 a.m., at 966 Highway 80 in Haughton, LA? I’d love to see you there!

Until next time, keep looking up…

Reflection and Realignment, Part 2: The Advantages of Bi-vocational Ministry

/ pastorlynnmalone / Leave a comment

I shared in last week’s blog the challenges I’ve faced after a year in this new season of bi-vocational ministry. Lest you think the past year has been nothing but challenges, I will share some positive aspects I’ve experienced as a bi-vocational pastor.

There are some personal advantages I’ve noted, but also some advantages for the congregation (or at least I see them as advantages). As I started writing my list, I thought I might divide them into personal and congregational, but I discovered they really work in tandem, so I’ll just make one list.

Many years ago, while I was serving as a District Superintendent with the United Methodist Church, I wrote a blog praising the efforts of bi-vocational pastors (read it here). Having now served a year in that same capacity, little did I know just what a sacrifice those guys and girls were making. That’s not to pat myself on the back, but to acknowledge my own failure to give proper respect and gratitude to those who paved the way before me.

Freedom

The first advantage I’ve noted personally is freedom. What do I mean? I mean when I’m dealing with a difficult passage that challenges the congregation, I feel a particular freedom to be more direct in my preaching–to say the hard thing, the challenging thing, to question their assumptions–because my livelihood is not dependent on the paycheck I receive from the congregation.

I’m not saying that I’ve pulled my punches in the past, but I am confessing that I might not have always been as challenging in every aspect of preaching (or leadership) because of who I might offend. Knowing that my livelihood was dependent on the congregation was always in the back of my mind. Call me a coward, but I know I’m not the only pastor who may or may not have done likewise.

I can tell you, personally, I’ve experienced a greater freedom in my preaching as a bi-vocational pastor. I believe that to be an advantage for the congregation as well.

Perspective

I certainly view my role with a new perspective. I get to see more of what the laity see week-in and week-out. The laity get up and go to work every day and we (and by “we” I mean clergy) expect them to have a devotional life and volunteer at the church. I never knew how challenging that was, and I see that challenge as a positive outcome of bi-vocational ministry. As a pastor, laity and clergy are now on the same playing field.

You mean you want me to work 40 – 50 (or sometimes 60) hours a week, raise a family, keep a home, volunteer in the community AND lead a bible study, teach a Sunday school and serve on the church board in addition to attending worship every Sunday and reading the Bible for 30 minutes a day? Well, yes, as a matter of fact, I do. But, I’m doing it, too, so…

Mission Engagement

This one is a no-brainer. Going to a “real” job every day puts me smack dab in the middle of the mission field. It affords me a very unique opportunity to engage the mission field and evangelize every day. I see people in my secular job that I might likely never see if I were in full-time ministry.

Now, do I always take advantage of the opportunity? Well, that’s a conversation for another blog post, but the opportunity exists, nonetheless.

Avoids Isolation

Let me make another confession: When I was in full-time ministry, I tended to isolate myself from the secular world. It was actually fairly easy to do. Always in the office. Making hospital calls. Going to church meetings. Attending denominational functions. Traveling to Christian conferences. Hanging out with other clergy. There was no (or very little) contact with the “real” world. We clergy could easily develop our own “ivory tower” syndrome, just from a religious perspective instead of an academic one.

Secular employment gets me out of the religious bubble that clergy can sometimes live in, and that’s an advantage for both clergy and the congregation.

Financial Freedom

Okay, so I don’t know if “freedom” is the correct word for what I’m trying to communicate. I didn’t take the pastoral position because I needed the money. The Lord has blessed us in our business, so I’m not talking about that aspect of it, but I will say that a part-time salary for many bi-vocational clergy serves as a means to financial security.

I know many retired pastors who supplement their retirement income by serving a congregation. I also know some bi-vocational pastors who use their church income to increase their generosity.

For the congregation as well, a bi-vocational pastor allows them to have a pastor when they otherwise might not be able to afford it. Technically, one might argue that if a congregation can’t afford a pastor, are they legitimately a congregation, but I would argue that the early church couldn’t afford clergy either. There are many, many small congregations that are making a significant Kingdom impact. I pray Haughton Methodist is one of them. Having a bi-vocational pastor frees congregational resources to be directed toward evangelism and outreach.

Leadership

Being a bi-vocational pastor has forced me to rely on laity for getting things done in the congregation. This is an advantage for me and for the congregation. I have had to “let go” of some aspects of congregational leadership, and as a former full-time clergy, this has forced me to deal with my own control issues. Of course, I now have control issues as a small-business owner, so am I really dealing with it on a spiritual level? That notwithstanding, it has definitely been an advantage in ministry.

Likewise, the laity has, of necessity, had to embrace leadership responsibility in the life of the congregation that having a full-time pastor may not have allowed. A healthier and more biblical leadership structure is developing in the life of our congregation as a result. That can only be a positive thing.

Strategic Conversations

By my count, that’s twice as many advantages to the challenges I noted last week. I guess that means I’m doubly blessed by serving in a bi-vocational role. Seriously though, I honestly believe the advantages far outweigh the challenges of bi-vocational ministry. I also believe more clergy and more congregations should explore God’s call to see where He might be leading them. Might bi-vocational ministry become an intentional strategy to enhance ministry and build the Kingdom?

I’d love to hear your answer to that question. Hit me in the comments with your thoughts.

Until next time, keep looking up…

Nine Things For a Church in Transition…

/ pastorlynnmalone / Leave a comment

So, I’m pastoring a small congregation these days. As I reflect on my past leadership as a vocational minister, and I think about where God is calling me to lead as a bi-vocational pastor, I’ve sought to define the necessary actions that will help our congregation be faithful to God’s calling for this stage in our life.

What stage is that? I can’t actually answer that question, but if I attempted to provide an answer, it would be the transitional stage. We are a congregation that is in transition. We’re meeting in a storefront. I would define that as transitional. The storefront can’t be our permanent home unless we are content to be who we are where we are, and I don’t believe the Lord ever wants us to be content with who we are where we are, so we’ll see how that plays out.

We’re also transitional in our mission. As a congregation that was displaced from its property, there is a time of defining who God is calling us to reach with the Gospel. Our “target” now is not who the “target” was a year ago, because our storefront is located in a different part of the community. We’re in transition in figuring this out.

We’re also transitional in our worship style. The Lord has provided us with some amazing musicians to lead us in worship, and working to their strengths has made us adapt from a more traditional worship style to a more “contemporary” worship style. It is definitely a transitional time for the congregation.

One other transition the congregation is facing is in leadership. No, not in finding new leadership, but in understanding what it means to have a truly bi-vocational pastor. How does the congregation provide leadership in tandem with a bi-vocational pastor? Certainly a transitional aspect of life for the congregation.

These transitional aspect of congregational life have forced me to consider this question: What are nine things we MUST do to be faithful as a congregation in this time of transition? In no particular order, here are the nine things I’ve defined as necessary to navigate the transitions:

1. Biblical Teaching/Preaching

This almost goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway. Let me clarify what I mean: I mean keeping the message simple without all the smoke and mirrors, sounds and light shows and video driven illustrations. It’s not about flash, it’s about truth and the Gospel message is a simple message for everyone. Keep it simple. Preach the Bible. Preach truth. The fluff is a distraction from the truth.

Technology is great, and it can really bring a “Wow” factor to worship, but in this transitional time, we need to let God wow us, not the technology.

2. Participatory Worship

Traditional worship (and by traditional I mean pretty much every church worship service these days) has become more of an observation exercise than anything else. Folks show up, sit in rows, listen to singers perform and preachers preach. Worship has become more performance than anything else.

Nope! Worship is meant to be a participatory experience. From music, to prayers, to preaching and teaching, to communion. All of the body of Christ is meant to participate in worship. Participatory worship will be another way that we encounter God, and we need to encounter Him over and over again during this period of transition.

3. Holy Spirit Led

One of my old mentors used to pray before he entered worship, “Lord, let something happen today that is not in the bulletin!” During this time of transition, we have to leave room for the Holy Spirit to move. We’re looking for flexibility not rigidity, allowing room for the Holy Spirit to move, even in our corporate worship.

That scares a lot of people, and it kind of scares me, too. It’s also a little bit counter to the argument that the Spirit works in our preparation for worship. Well, yes He does, but He can also lead in the present and we have to attune ourselves to His presence and moving.

4. More Fellowship Time

One of the reasons we have divisions is because we don’t spend enough time sharing meals together and doing activities outside the worship setting. No, I’m not talking about Sunday school or small group time. I’m talking about playing together. I’m talking about having fun together.

What does that look like? That’s yet to be determined, but it is necessary to navigating transitions in a healthy way. It will also help us define who God is calling us to be as a congregation.

5. Hear the Bible Again

I have to confess that I’ve been guilty of listening more to what other people say about what the Bible says than simply reading the Bible and letting the Bible say what it says.

Do you know what I mean? I mean I want to listen to what Billy Abraham says the Bible says than what the Bible says it says. Don’t get me wrong. Biblical scholars are great, and we shouldn’t be anti-scholarship, but often we hear 90% of what someone thinks what the Bible says and 10 of what the Bible actually says.

How about we start with hearing the Word and start with the Word we just heard?

6. Less Clock, More Connection

How did we ever come to believe that church/worship needed to be limited to one hour? Yes, I know the adage “The mind can absorb only what the seat can endure.” And, yes, I know there is the one guy always sitting in the back of the congregation checking his watch.

Seriously, we have to move past that mentality if we’re going to encounter the living God. Just when the Holy Spirit starts to move the preacher says, “Well, we’re out of time, so I’ll close.” I’ve said it many times. I wonder how often I quenched the Holy Spirit by making that statement?

Yup, I get hungry, too, but we can’t let our need to finish in an hour cause us to miss the Spirit.

7. Talk About Sin

I’m not talking about making every worship encounter fire and brimstone. I’m talking about acknowledging the reality of sin and acknowledging the destructive nature of sin. Sin has become unpopular topic in many churches these days. That’s unfortunate because unless we realize the destructive nature of sin, how can we know the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ?

Who needs salvation when there is no sin?

8. Engage the Community Spiritually

We love giving backpacks and school supplies to kids. We love feeding the hungry and clothing the naked. We love, love, love meeting physical needs and we love to pat ourselves on the back when we do so. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. We are supposed to minister to the needs of others (read Matthew 25), but people’s greatest needs are more often spiritual.

What are we doing to engage our community on a spiritual level? What are we doing to address their spiritual needs? Those are questions we must ask during this transitional period of our congregational life.

9. Develop a Kingdom Vision

For too many congregations in transition, the vision is to simply stay afloat–to keep the doors open, to keep the bills paid, to hang on to the status quo. Transitional congregations must be intentional in developing a Kingdom vision–a vision for the future and for growth. It is about a vision for expanding the Kingdom of God, not about keeping people inside the walls of the church.

Developing a Kingdom vision takes time and intentionality. It takes patience and it takes relying on the Holy Spirit to move among us. Don’t rush it.

Conclusion

One would think I could come up with one more thing for the congregation to do in this transition. We like top ten lists, right? Honestly, though, anything I might add to the list above would really just dovetail off one of these nine, so I’ll leave the list at nine.

We could also spend more time unpacking each of the nine, but I offer them hear as conversation starters. I’d love to hear your feedback, and I’d also love to hear if you have any you would add to the list. Add them in the comments and let’s keep the conversation going.

Until next time, keep looking up…

Am I Doing it All Wrong?

/ pastorlynnmalone / 2 Comments

I haven’t written for a couple of weeks. I’ve either been busy or lazy (or a bit of both), so the words getting on the page have been slow to come. The respite from writing has given me time to think, though, and that can be a dangerous thing.

What have I been thinking about? I’ve been thinking about my role as a “pastor.” Actually, not my particular role as pastor, but the “pastor” model of the church of church leadership.

I was a “pastor” vocationally for 28 years. I’ve been a “pastor” bi-vocationally off and on since 2019. That gives me a total of 34 years experience, so maybe I have some insight into the role. Then again, maybe not.

Let me preface this blog with the statement that I think most pastors do a fantastic job and fill their role with integrity, character, diligence and faithfulness. The question I’m about to posit isn’t a reflection on anyone’s service in ministry, nor is it a reflection on God’s calling on anyone’s life. After all, ministry has been my calling since the age of 27 (perhaps longer, but I was deaf to the call), so the question has shaken me to my core.

Pastor vs. Pastor-Model

What is it that has shaken me to my core? Drum roll, please! Is the “pastor” model of leadership as we know it even a biblical concept?

What has prompted the question in this season of my life? Well, I “pastor” a small local church. They call me pastor and I call myself their pastor, but what I really am is their Sunday preacher. I don’t mind being their Sunday preacher. They need a Sunday preacher and I like to preach, so it seems to be a good fit. The folks are wonderful, faithful people who love Jesus, and I’m blessed to be their Sunday preacher, but, they need a pastor, too (or someone who fills the role that is traditionally called the “pastor”)

Perhaps they don’t need a “pastor” as traditionally defined. What they need is leadership. And, here might be a good place to clarify that I’m not really talking about the “pastor,” but more the “pastor model” that the Church has developed through the years. Yes, the “pastor” is a biblical calling:

11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the PASTORS (emphasis mine) and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-12 NLT)

As certain as I am that “pastor” is biblical, I’m not equally certain that the “pastor model” of church leadership is biblical. The Apostle Paul, in writing to the Ephesians, certainly seems to indicate that there is some sort of plurality of leadership in the body of Christ (the local church), not one person who is the “pastor,” or the “senior pastor,” or the “founding pastor” who makes all the decisions in the church, or does most of the leadership work in the congregation.

Actually, Paul makes the case that the local church is to be led by “overseers” and “deacons” who would shepherd (pastor?) the church:

3 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task…, and

8 In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain…

(1 Timothy 3: 1, 8 NIV)

Likewise, in Titus 1, Paul instructed Titus to appoint “elders” who would serve as “overseers” of the local congregation:

5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. 6 An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. 7 Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. (Titus 1:5-7 NIV)

I think the Bible is relatively clear that there is to be a plurality of leadership in the local congregation, with each one fulfilling the gifts given to the Church by Christ Himself. It is Jesus Christ who is the head of the Church/church. The plurality of leaders sit under His headship/Lordship. He is the One to whom we look for guidance. He is the One whom we follow.

Priesthood of All Believers

I also don’t see any biblical evidence for the distinction between clergy and laity in that plurality of leadership. Actually, I don’t see any distinction between clergy and laity at all. Sure, there were priests in the Old Testament, but I distinctly recall the passage in Matthew’s Gospel when Jesus breathed his last breath on the cross and “the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Matthew 27: 51 NIV). Since the death of Jesus, anyone (I repeat-anyone!) could enter the holiest of places. The separation no longer exists.

Likewise, the Apostle Peter affirms that fact:

4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2: 4-5 NIV)

This would be an excellent place to talk about men and women in leadership, and qualifications for elders, overseers and deacons, but I’m not perplexed by those questions, so I won’t chase those rabbits. I’m perplexed by the whole “pastor model” of church leadership, and I just wonder (as one who tries to live biblically) if I’ve been doing it wrong all these years?

I may not have been doing it wrong, but I certainly don’t believe I’ve been doing it biblically. I’ve been doing it the way I’ve been trained to do it, so it’s not necessarily the “wrong” way, it’s just not the biblical way. There’s nothing sinful about the way the pastor model has been/is being done, it’s just got me wondering if the pastor model has run its course and it’s time to get back to doing it the biblical way.

Perhaps all I’m doing is trying to justify my own inability to lead the congregation in a healthy, effective way these days. That, or the Lord is prompting me to dig more deeply into His calling upon my life and how He wants me to live that out. I pray it’s the latter. I fear it’s the former.

I suppose time will tell, but today is Sunday, and the folks need a Sunday preacher. So, until the Lord (or the congregation) tells me different, I’ll go be a Sunday preacher. That’s all I know to do right now. If you’ve got any clarity for me, please leave a comment below. I’d love to hear it.

Until next time, keep looking up…

Advice to Young Preachers (and maybe some old ones, too)…

/ pastorlynnmalone / 1 Comment

I’ve been preaching for 34 years. It was 34 years ago this month that I preached my first sermon in my home church of Chatham, LA. I’ve been reflective this week as I look back on that event. I remember being scarred stiff, nervous as a long-tailed cat in room full of rocking chairs and utterly exhilarated, all at the same time.

What I remember most, though, is that the sermon was short and I read through it at supersonic speed. It probably lasted all of ten minutes, but for the kid who was delivering the sermon, it felt like an eternity.

I think I’ve come a long way in 34 years. As I reflect on 34 years of preaching, I thought I’d share a few things I’ve learned along the way with any young preachers (and old ones, too) who might read this blog. So, here goes…

1) Stay Teachable

I don’t care that we live in the Information Age and that you grew up with a phone in your hand that holds more information than all the books in the Smithsonian Library. You don’t know it all. How do I think you think you know it all? Because as a 27 year-old young man, I thought I knew it all, too. I didn’t!

No matter how many years you’ve been preaching, there’s always more to learn. Stay humble, be open to correction, and continually seek growth. Whether it’s from books (yes, books!), mentors, or life experience, always be a student of the Word and the world around you.

2) Guard Your Heart

Listen to me, you young whipper-snapper: The Devil is coming after you. No matter what you think, he is working to defeat you and God’s Word, and he will use every tool at his disposal. You are not invincible. How do I know you’re not invincible? Because I wasn’t.

I have fallen. Many times. The Devils attacks never cease. That’s why it is necessary to ALWAYS guard our hearts. The demands of ministry will lead to burnout (been there, done that), frustration, and even moral failure (ask this preacher, and this one and this one, too).

This veteran preacher would warn you to protect your heart—stay faithful to your spouse, keep your integrity intact, and be wary of the temptations that come with being in a position of power or influence.

3) It’s Preparation over Performance

It’s easy for preachers (both young and old) to get caught up in the performance aspect of preaching—delivering a good sermon, impressing the congregation, or even gaining popularity.

Preaching isn’t about performing. Yes, there are aspects of “performance” that every preacher brings to the pulpit. But, preaching isn’t about the performer. It is about communicating the Truth of God’s Word. That can only happen after the preacher has spent time in the Word, given his heart to preparation and been obedient to the Holy Spirit.

This old preacher would remind you to keep Christ at the center of everything you do. The goal is to be a humble vessel for the Lord’s message, not the messenger that gets all the attention. Our job is to point people to Jesus, not to make them admire us.

4) Don’t Fear Failure

I always wanted my next sermon to be better than my last sermon. It is a lofty goal, and one worthy of pursuing. After all, we are supposed to offer our best to the Lord. Give him the best fruit, not the last fruit.

Let this old preacher remind you that you will not hit a home run every time you step up to the plate. Home run? Heck, you’re not even going to get a single every time. A fellow by the name of Josh Gibson holds the all-time record for batting average in professional baseball at .3716. That’s getting a hit less than 40% of the time.

Do your best to prepare (see #3 above). Seriously, I used to contemplate theatrics and drama, bells and whistles, etc., to make the sermon better. I’ve shared about the philosophy that drove that mentality before (see it here), so I won’t unpack that again. I no longer seek out those “dramatic” elements, but the desire for the next sermon to be better than the last one hasn’t gone away.

If you fail (and you will), fail in the delivery. Please, please, please, do not fail in the preparation. Failure is part of the journey. Learn from it (see #1 above), and keep moving forward.

5) Stay in Love with the Lord

This should probably be number 1. Oh, well! I’m not reorganizing the list now. Our ministry can only be as deep as our personal relationship with the Lord. We cannot lead our people where we have not been.

Ministry is a calling that requires spiritual depth. This old preacher would stress the importance of prayer, Bible study, and personal devotion. Without these, your ministry risks becoming shallow and empty, and you’ll struggle to minister effectively to others.

Put another way, your next sermon may be better than the last, but it will only be from the performance aspect.

Staying in love with the Lord will also help you guard your heart (see #2 above).

6) Preach the Gospel, Not the Culture

It’s tempting to give people what they want to hear, but this seasoned preacher would encourage you to always stick to the truth of God’s Word, even when it’s difficult. Our role is not to appease the crowd but to communicate the life-changing truth of the Gospel, which may not always be easy to hear.

You will hear from your congregation occassionally these words: “I come to church to feel good, to get a re-charge.” How do I know you’ll hear that? Because I’ve heard it, too…in every congregation I’ve served. Don’t fall for it. Sometimes the Gospel is meant to challenge us. Live into that reality.

Don’t preach only what’s easy to preach. Preach what is True!

7) Love Your Congregation

It’s easy to get caught up in programs, projects, or numbers, but might this old preacher remind you to genuinely care for your people? Ministering to them requires listening, understanding, and showing them love in practical ways, not just delivering a sermon on Sundays. People need to know you genuinely care about their lives, their struggles, and their joys. Besides, you can’t preach Truth to people you don’t really know.

8) Don’t Do it Alone

Never stop seeking the wisdom of those who’ve been in the trenches before you. The value of mentors is immeasurable. I encourage you young preachers to find and lean on those who have walked the path before, seeking counsel, encouragement, and accountability. You don’t have to figure it all out alone.

9) Take Care of Your Family

Your ministry at home is as important as your ministry in the pulpit. Let this old preacher stress the importance of balancing family life with church responsibilities. A healthy marriage and family will not only keep you grounded but will also provide a good model for your congregation. Don’t neglect the people closest to you in the name of serving others.

10) Embrace the Responsibility

Do not take your calling lightly. It is the greatest calling in the world. It is also the most humbling calling in the world when one considers the spiritual destiny of others is in our hands. This old preacher would tell you to be mindful of the heavy burden that comes with leading people in their spiritual journey. Be cautious with your words, actions, and decisions because they can have a profound impact on others’ faith.

Conclusion

So, there are ten things I would say to a young preacher after 34 years in the pulpit. I probably didn’t say them very well. There is probably more I could add, but I figure ten is a solid list to begin with. Maybe we could share a cup of coffee and come up with more.

Maybe you could add more to the list. Please do so in the comments. I’d love to hear them because old preachers need advice, too.

Until next time, keep looking up…

A Little R & R…

/ pastorlynnmalone / Leave a comment

Broken Bow Getaway

I write this morning from beautiful Broken Bow, Oklahoma. Vanessa and I took a few days (very few) for some rest and recreation. It is our first journey to Broken Bow. It has been a very nice and relaxing time away, and it was much needed.

We really wanted to go to the beach…the beach (any beach) is our go-to spot for reconnecting with each other and to get away from it all, but unfortunately, there aren’t any beaches close enough to make it feasible for a three-day trip (three days is all we have). Broken Bow is only three hours or so from the house, so that left more time for doing nothing than spending a day driving to the beach…so, here we are.

It’s been enjoyable. It’s been relaxing. Both what we needed. We’ve eaten too much trying local restaurants (Grateful Head Pizza, Mountain Fork Brewery, Beaver’s Bend Restaurant, Buffalo Grill). We’ve napped both days. We’ve seen new sights. We’ve taken a boat ride on pristine Broken Bow Lake. We’ve soaked in a hot tub. We took a ride through Beavers Bend State Park. Dipped our toes in the river. Watched fishermen fishing for trout in the stream. I even slept in one morning of our trip.

We’ve scoped out a lot of territory for a return trip with the grandchildren. They’d probably enjoy it more than we have. There’s ATV riding and hiking and swimming and paddle boarding and fishing…all great outdoor activities. I could see us renting a pontoon boat for a day on Broken Bow Lake tubing and fishing and cooking. I’d love to get a guide and take the grandsons fly fishing. Vanessa says she and the granddaughter want to learn to fly fish, too. Maybe my son could bring a couple of his Cushman carts and we could do some ATV riding along the trails in the Ouachita National Forest. So much to do. So little time.

We needed some time away. The only “time away” Vanessa and I have had in 2024 was to the EMC Journey session in Copperas Cove, TX in May. That was a refreshing time away, for sure, but it was a “working” conference, so does it really count as vacation? No, I don’t think so.

That’s the way it is when you own your own business. What’s the old saying? “The eye of the master fattens the calf.” No one watches your business like you do. I now know why Bill Malone spent so much time at Malone’s Grocery and Hardware in Chatham, LA.

A New Journey

We also needed some time away because next Sunday, September 29th, Vanessa and I begin a new journey as pastor at Haughton Methodist Church. Their’s has been a challenging journey out of The United Methodist Church. They have been without a pastor for some time now and after much prayer and consideration, we feel called to serve them in this capacity.

The congregation has been meeting for a little over a year in the Holiday Inn in Bossier City (part of their challenging journey), but will soon be moving into their new home at 966 Highway 80 in Haughton, LA on October 6th. I look forward to being a part of this transition, and I’m excited about all the possibilities that exist to grow the Kingdom of God in the Haughton area.

Hey? If you’re in the area, we meet for coffee and fellowship at 10 a.m., with worship following at 10:30 a.m. Plan on joining us September 29th at the Holiday Inn on Highway 80 in Bossier City and on October 6th at our new home. We’d love to see you!

I’ll be serving as a bi-vocational pastor for as long as they’ll have me. I’ll be selling oil during the week and pastoring on the weekend. We’ll see how that works out. We gave it a try at Lakeview Methodist Church for a few months, but the day job made it difficult to commit to the congregation the time it needed to grow the congregation. My prayer is the same thing won’t happen this time with the Haughton congregation.

Right now, we’re at a staffing level with the business that I absolutely don’t have to be there ALL the time. Join me in prayer that it stays that way and that I can eventually be more than just a Sunday preacher in Haughton.

Anyhow…it’s time to get up, start packing up and make the drive back home and to the real world. Monday is coming and there is oil to sell, cars to service and the Gospel to preach. Next week, by God’s grace, I’ll be doing all three–rested and ready to do so!

Until next time, keep looking up…

A Glimpse Inside a Preacher’s Mind…

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I went to church last Sunday. I heard a good sermon from a good preacher. These former United Methodists, though, they are in uncharted waters. The preacher who was preaching was doing so “in view of a call” to be the church’s pastor. The congregation was handing out ballots so the people could vote. It just seemed all so Baptist to me, but we are living in a new world as former United Methodists, aren’t we?

A Critical Mind

I did what I usually do when I attend worship where I’m not preaching. I critiqued the sermon. Don’t judge me! I suspect it is what most preachers do when they attend worship. They’ll probably tell you otherwise, but only a few (those really holy few) really mean it.

What is there to critique? Well, there is first the choice of text. Unless the preacher is preaching from the Revised Common Lectionary, I wonder why the preacher chose the text he/she chose. Did the preacher spend time in deep prayer and devotion and was moved by the Spirit to preach this text? Or, did the preacher just pull out an old sermon, dust it off, freshen it up and preach it?

Next, I can usually find a reason to critique the points of the sermon. “Well, I don’t know if I would have included that in the message.” “Interesting direction he/she took with that point.” “That application doesn’t really work with that point.” “I think I could have found a better illustration for that point.” And on it could go…

Then, I can usually find a critique of the preacher’s exegesis. Exegesis is one of those three dollar theological words that simply means “read out of.” It is taking the biblical text and bringing out the meaning, rather than reading meaning into the text.

Let me see if I can say it another way: Reading into the text (called eisogesis) would be like saying, “This is what the text means to me.” Reading out of the text would be saying, “This is what the author meant when he wrote the text.” There is a world of difference between the two.

Finally, I can usually find a critique or two on the preacher’s delivery. The preacher’s dress code, the preacher’s cadence, the preacher’s inflection, the preacher’s diction. And, on it could go…

Not to worry, though. I know that when I preach to a congregation that has other preachers in it, I’m probably getting the same treatment. Nonetheless, we preach on in spite of the critique. And, seriously, the guy is a good preacher and he preached a good sermon. That’s what you do when you’re preaching in view of a call (it still sounds strange saying that as a Methodist).

A Thoughtful Mind

How do I know the sermon was a good sermon? Because it was thought-provoking. The notes I made from the message cover the worship folder from the service.

The scripture for the message was Matthew 14: 22 – 33–

22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

29 “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

So, here’s your opportunity to get a glimpse into how my mind works when I’m listening to someone else preach.

Thinking About Peter

The preacher’s message prompted me to look at the event from Peter’s perspective. My first thought was, “I wonder how many steps Peter took on the water?” Did he take one and then began to sink? Did he take ten before he began sinking? Even if he took one step, what a miracle that is because people don’t walk on water!

Also, Peter was actually willing to get out of the boat. What a risk of faith! Those who are willing to take the risk of faith generally reap the greatest rewards. Seems like there is a sermon in there to me. I’ll come back to this note another day. Yeah, I know, John Ortberg wrote an entire book about it. Nonetheless, I can put my own spin on it.

Peter, even in the midst of great faith, exhibited doubt and fear. No one is perfect…not even Peter…even as great as his faith was. Even the greatest among us can be overcome by doubt and fear…even in the midst of a miracle. Maybe it’s in the midst of a miracle that the devil shows up to do his most deceptive work?

Thinking About the other Disciples

I also think about the disciples who remained in the boat. I first got the impression that the disciples who remained in the boat are like most followers of Jesus. We are unwilling to take the risk of faith. The safest place is in the boat in the middle of the storm.

Interestingly, though, even disciples who aren’t willing to take the risk of faith still reap the benefit from those who do. They witnessed the miracle of Peter walking on water and of Jesus calming the storm. See how much difference one person’s faith can make? Yeah, probably a sermon in there, too. I’ll hold on to this note.

Thinking About Jesus

Of course, this is one of the Gospels, so what is most important is what do we learn about Jesus? First, Jesus is in the storm. That doesn’t mean Jesus causes the storm. It just means He’s there. Probably a sermon in there somewhere, too.

Not only is Jesus in the storm, sometimes He calls us into the storm. Yeah, I could do an entire sermon on our uniquely American name-it-and-claim-it prosperity gospel with this as an example of how we don’t need to avoid the “storms of life.” Jesus is there in the storm and He calls us to join Him there. It is where faith is built and miracles happen.

Jesus also gives us a powerful example of the spiritual disciplines of prayer and solitude. He went away alone (as was often His want) to pray. Jesus’s power was rooted in His relationship with His Father. I’m not so sure that this is not the most important point of the encounter. Jesus was sustained by this relationship, and all He accomplished He accomplished because of His connection to His Father. Exegesis (see above) proves this point well. Yeah, there’s a sermon in there.

One final thought I noted was the simple fact that Jesus is our salvation. Whether we are in the storm or in the boat, it is Jesus who saves us. Jesus saved Peter from the doubt and fear he experienced in the storm (while he was walking on water, I might add), and Jesus saved the other disciples when He calmed the storm once He got into the boat. Perhaps this is the most important point of the encounter–Jesus saves!

A Hopeful Mind

See? I told you it was a good sermon. No, the preacher didn’t make all these points in his sermon (it would be insufferably long if he did!). The sermon was good enough to get me to think all those things. So what if I might have gone a different direction? So what if the preacher’s diction wasn’t the greatest? So what if…? So what?

I left challenged to think more deeply about this event and its implications in my life and the life of the Church. I left asking more questions about Jesus and wanting to find the answers. That’s what good sermons do. I can only pray that my sermons are that good, too.

So now, you’ve had a brief glimpse into how the mind of a preacher works…or, at least how this preacher’s mind works. Please don’t judge me. I am, after all, not the perfect pastor.

Until next time, keep looking up…

Don’t Be Insane…

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You know the definition of insanity, right? Insanity is doing the same things over and over and expecting a different result. The definition has been attributed to Albert Einstein. No one really knows if Einstein said it, but regardless, it is still true.

I bring up insanity only as a follow-up to my previous blog (here) dealing with the pastoral supply shortage in the church world (particularly among Methodists). Many congregations are searching for pastors and they are doing so with a mentality that is either dying or already dead.

Many congregations want a pastor like the pastors from the “good old days”–one who visits the sick, comforts the grieving, preaches good sermons, leads great bible studies, attends all the church functions, opens and closes the church on Sunday, etc. Many congregations are looking for a pastor “Who can meet our needs.” They are looking for Pastor Fetch.

If you’re a congregation that is searching for a leader, and you’re looking for a Pastor Fetch, you’re being insane. The reason for your insanity is because you’re trying to do ministry in a world that no longer exists. The world (the culture) has changed and your congregation is not changing with it. My counsel to you is “Don’t be insane!”

The 21st century and the dawn of the Information Age (call it the rise of the internet), along with the introduction of social media, has changed the landscape for EVERYTHING in our world. The church, as per usual, is one of the last institutions to adapt to that changing landscape (although the Covid pandemic did speed up the process for some). The tectonic shifts in culture have rendered the “old” models of ministry (and ministers) dead, or at the very least, on life support.

The “Old” Models

What are the “old” models of ministry I’m referencing? First, there is what I will call the “priest” model. This model has the leader who has been “trained” in all the rites of the faith tradition, and has the credentials to prove it. This person “stands apart” from the lay persons in the congregation and is the go-between for God and the people.

Another model of “old” ministry is that of “chaplain.” Yes, this model has the congregational leader as a “shepherd” of souls. You need a “pastor” with counseling skills and psychological insight who can visit the sick and care for the needy.

Another “old” model of ministry is that of “preacher-teacher.” The leader has to be trained in Greek and Hebrew in order to interpret the ancient texts. This leader is the resident scholar and theologian, and the sermon is the centerpiece of this model of ministry. An entire industry of theological education grew up to support this model of ministry, and the reality is that industry depends on the survival of this model for its continuation.

A more recent “old” model of ministry is that of “CEO-Manager.” This model has a leader who manages budgets, recruits and manages people for tasks, develops programs for ministry, gains new “customers” (converts) and casts vision for the congregation. This model is pretty much a singular reason we have so many “megachurches” these days.

None of these models has been ineffective. None of these models are necessarily un-biblical (with the exception of the CEO-Manager model). Unfortunately, each of these models have been rolled into the job description for one person, thus the leader who became “Pastor Fetch.”

A “Pre-Christian” World

The parallels between the first and twenty-first centuries is striking. I guess we might say is “there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). The parallels include globalism, religious pluralism along with a new focus on “spirituality” (people are “spiritual but not religious), and the collapse of institutions (including religious institution) are but a few of the most obvious ones.

The re-emergence of a pre-Christian world (culture) necessitates a new model of leadership in the church. It is called the “Apostolic” leadership model, and it harkens back to the days of the first apostles. I believe God is calling congregations and Christian leaders to re-learn and re-engage in this model of ministry to be effective in this new “old” world.

The “Apostolic” Model of Leadership

So, what does it mean to engage in this new “Apostolic” leadership model? First, this model is “missional.” The congregation (and its leaders) must be on mission–the Great Commission.

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28: 19-20 NIV).

Evangelism and sharing the Gospel must be at the heart of every congregation. We must be prepared to tell the story of Jesus to a world that increasingly has not heard the Word, and we must do it with creativity–taking the church to the street, or the amusement park, or the ball park, or the concert venue–well, you get the point. One congregation actually leases an amusement park once a year and invites the community free of charge to come as a means of promoting the Gospel.

Next, the new “old” model is “kingdom focused.” To be kingdom focused means that we believe Jesus’ kingdom does not fit the model of this world, and that it actually extends past the walls of church building programming. This does not mean we are pursuing political power, but are looking for collegial relationships that are community based and community focused. It is not about “how do we get people to come to our church,” but more about, “how do we take church to the people.”

Thirdly, the new “old” model is “team-oriented.” Pastor Fetch cannot and will not do it all in the apostolic model. Jesus had a team of twelve (probably more) that he taught and commissioned to begin the work of ministry. The Apostle Paul had Barnabas, Silas, Timothy and Luke as helpers for the work of ministry. A team orientation to ministry assists in bringing ALL the necessary skills to the work, and it promotes accountability among leadership in a much more spiritual way.

As part of this team orientation, ministry leaders will be focused on developing disciples who exhibit and practice the “five-fold ministry gifts” found in Ephesians 4.

11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature,attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4: 11-13 NIV).

Ministry leadership is about developing others to fulfill the calling of the mission. Congregations seeking pastoral leadership need to be looking for persons who can lead them in learning to the do the ministry instead of leaders who do the ministry for them.

The Leader a Congregation is Looking For

In this cultural age, every congregation should be looking for a pastor who is evangelistic, meaning their primary desire should be to see others come to Jesus. The primary desire of your new pastor should not be to meet your spiritual needs, but rather should be concerned with inviting others into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.

Another characteristic that should be high on a congregation’s list of qualifications is a person who is interested in community engagement, a person who has demonstrated the ability to engage in building relationships across congregations, businesses and other non-profits in the communities they’ve served.

A final characteristic I would be looking for if I were looking for a pastor is a team-building mentality. Is the person capable and has he/she demonstrated the capacity to surround him/herself with other leaders and allow them to share the work of ministry. Has this person delegated responsibility to others, and has this person taught and trained others how to use their giftedness for ministry?

Those are not necessarily qualities that have been high on your list for previous pastors, but if a congregation goes looking for a pastor like their previous pastors, then they’ll likely get exactly what they’ve gotten in past, and that will only lead to a continuing decline in the congregation. But, I say, “Hey, if you want what you’ve always had, then by all means, go for it. You’ll get what you’ve always gotten, and that’s just insane.”

But, then again, what do I know? I’ve been out of vocational ministry for five years. I don’t know much of anything. I’ve just been observing from the sidelines. One can learn a lot, though, when observing from the sidelines.

Until next time, keep looking up…

Re-gaining Focus…

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Once again, I’m discovering that this Lenten season just keeps on giving. Or, perhaps it’s the Lent that won’t end. I’m just not sure. What I do know is that it’s been another week of discovering how out of focus my life has become. What clued me in to the fact that my life is out of focus? Well, the Holy Spirit, of course, but He did so through this little verse from Paul:

9 So we make it our goal to please him,whether we are at home in the body or away from it.

2 Corinthians 5: 9 (NIV)

“…make it our goal to please him…”

I confess that pleasing Him hasn’t always been my goal. Oh, I always hope that the things I was doing He would find pleasing. After all, I was doing many of those things in His name, but HE wasn’t always the focus.

There was a point in my life where the goal was “climbing the ‘corporate’ ladder” of the United Methodist system. In so doing, I thought He might find it (and me) pleasing. For the most part, I achieved the goal I was pursuing, but it left me flat…and dry…and empty…and doubtful. That’s because it was the wrong goal. I should have been pursuing Him.

I could run down a long list of “pursuits” over the years in ministry (and as a believer), but it would only lengthen the blog and end up making the same point as the previous example. Suffice it to say, this Lenten season has “brought those chickens home to roost.” I’ve lived with the dawning revelation that I have lost my focus on Jesus. It is a further exploration into the whole “working for Him or walking with Him” thing that I questioned previously here.

It came home to me in a profound way this week when I started feeling sorry for myself that I wasn’t getting more requests to fill pulpits. I love preaching and I do miss it, but the phone hasn’t been ringing much lately (not at all, actually), and it had me feeling rather down. Then, I read Paul’s words.

My goal is not to preach. My goal is to pursue Him. My goal is to please Him.

My goal is not to write. My goal is to pursue and please Him.

My goal is not to obsess over politics (Lord, have I been doing that!). My goal is to pursue and please Him.

My goal is not to sell a lot of oil (though I sure do need to!). My goal is to pursue and please Him.

My focus has been on all these things. He has just sort of been in the background.

“Lord, You guide me in my preaching, guide me in my writing, guide me in my selling oil and running a business.” That’s been my prayer. My focus has been on the performance and the completion of the tasks rather than on the One who makes all things possible.

My pursuits have been for selfish ends. Accolades, adoration, affirmation and good, old American profit. Hey, if He receives glory from those pursuits, then good for Him! Of course, the undertone was that it was all for His glory, but this week has shown me that it was really all for me. Darn this Lent!

I earnestly pray that He is giving me this Lent as a gift to re-gain focus on the right things. I say the “right things,” but there is only one right thing–Jesus Christ. He is, and always must remain, our true north. He is, and must always remain, our only pursuit, our only goal.

As He is helping me re-gain my focus on Him, He is also showing me the again the dangerous nature of sin. I guess that’s what happens. I was sinning without even knowing I was sinning. That’s because that’s what sin does. Oswald Chambers says, ‘One of the penalties of sin is our acceptance of it.” We get so accustomed to performing for Him that we forget to pursue Him. We think it’s our performance He finds pleasing when it is actually our pursuit of Him that most pleases Him. It is then that our performance can actually become sin…and we never even realize it.

Then, Lent comes, and we are reminded that we are sinful…that from ashes we come and to ashes we shall return…that we are called to “repent and believe the Gospel.”

I thank God that Easter follows Lent. I look forward to Easter. I look forward to the resurrection, when we’ll receive new bodies no longer stained by sin. Until then, I’m going to make Jesus the goal. May every activity of life flow from my pursuit of Him. I’ll pursue Him through prayer. I’ll pursue Him through Bible study. I’ll pursue Him through worship. I’ll pursue Him through Christian fellowship. All those will be the means. He will be the end.

I can’t wait for Easter.

Until next time, keep looking up…

Random Ramblings and Rants…

/ pastorlynnmalone / Leave a comment

So, this has been a week where I’ve been challenged by so many thoughts in my mind that I think I need this venue to try to gain some clarity from them. Processing all these thought via this means may bring me some clarity, but it also might serve to confuse you in the process, so…be prepared!

Ramblings

First, I’ve been challenged by Eugene Peterson this week. Last week, I went to the bookstore (I haven’t been in ages!) and in my browsing I came across a recently released compilation of Peterson’s sermons entitled “Lights a Lovely Mile.” I incorporate reading other peoples sermons into my devotional routine on occasion, and having a fondness for Peterson, I thought the book would be good to further that endeavor.

I have been challenged by two particular thoughts this week. The first is this:

“Jesus became an event. He was a stopping place for sacred history. The birth of Jesus was like arriving at the top of a mountain peak after a long, difficult climb: You can look back and see the whole trip in perspective, see everything in true relationship. And you don’t have to climb anymore.”

Lights a Lovely Mile, Eugene Peterson

I have read that paragraph over and over this week. Peterson’s capacity to use the English language to craft a beautiful thought is unrivaled, but honestly, as I’ve read and re-read the passage this week, I’m still trying to grasp the essence of what Peterson is communicating.

Yes, Jesus is a stopping place for sacred history and the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies. Only from the perspective of Jesus can one truly understand the Old Testament. But, that last phrase, “And you don’t have to climb anymore” confuses me. Why do I feel like I’m still climbing?

Perhaps I’m not climbing, but rather I’m running. I’m reminded of Paul’s counsel to the Corinthian church:

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

1 Corinthians 9:24 (NIV)

Whether I’m climbing or running, I feel like there is so much further I have to go on the journey to be like Jesus, so I haven’t squared that circle with Peterson’s thought just yet. But, I’m working on it.

The second of Peterson’s thoughts I’ve pondered endlessly this week is this:

“The bottom step in a staircase is neither better or worse than the top step: It is good in its own right and a way of getting upstairs.”

Lights a Lovely Mile, Eugene Peterson

I like this imagery by Peterson. Most days I feel like I’m still closer to the bottom step than the top, but at least I’m on the staircase, and I’m still climbing. There are days I don’t feel like I’ve made any progress. I look back and the bottom seems so close. I look up and the top looks so far away. It’s good to be reminded that the bottom step is no better or worse than the top. It’s just a step. The question I’ve wrestled with all week is: Am I still on the staircase?

At least Peterson has me thinking…

Advent Rambling

The dawn of another Advent season has me thinking, as well. I suppose Peterson’s analogy of the staircase is appropriate for me this Advent season. Advent is a time to look back to the coming of Christ, but also to look forward to His coming again. It is a season of anticipation and preparation. An event over the past week has caused me to contemplate an integral part of preparing for Advent.

There is on my 40 mile route to work a place where the local constabulary likes to hang out to monitor traffic. Many times on my way to or from work, I’ll see an officer parked at this same location. I know he/she is likely to be there, and as I approach this location I always glance down to insure that my foot hasn’t gotten heavy on the accelerator of my truck. I think that’s called accountability.

So, last week I’m driving along and I pass this location, and sure enough, there sits the police officer. I glance down and yup, I’m only going 74 miles per hour. Should be fine, right? That’s what I thought until after I passed the officer. After my passing, the officer pulls out onto the interstate. So, I slow down to 70. Who wants to see blue lights in their rearview? Not me!

So, why not think of Advent like that police car? When there is the possibility of blue lights in the rearview, the speed you drive suddenly takes on a new importance. That blinker that you frequently fail to use when making a lane change or a turn suddenly matters. Oh yeah! That yellow light on the traffic signal no longer means “Hurry up and get through the light.” It now means, “Slow down, fool, there’s a police officer behind you!” What a difference blue lights in the rearview make.

Advent can serve as a reminder of the fact that just as accountability is a part of being a licensed driver, so too, it is a part of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. What we do with our lives does matter. How we think, act, speak, these are a part of the fabric of our response to God’s grace, and we will someday face an accounting of our living.

Perhaps that’s why Jesus told his disciples to “Be ready!”

42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming,he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Matthew 24: 42-44 (NIV)

A Couple of Rants

I’ve rambled, so now let me rant. My first rant has to do with the way we Christians treat one another. This article explains it better than I can, but suffice it to say when I read how the Louisiana Annual Conference and its leadership threatened its retired clergy with retributive action should they preach or worship in any congregation that had disaffiliated from the UMC, I was livid. How dare they! Is it even legal? So much for having an “amicable” separation.

I was livid, for sure, but it wasn’t long until the Holy Spirit gently reminded me that I didn’t have a dog in that hunt anymore. I wasn’t “retired.” I left! Still, I have many friends and former colleagues who were now faced with a decision that was imposed upon them in a totally unjust manner. I could have stayed and fought the fight with them. Would have probably been the appropriate thing to do.

Honestly, I just sensed (from one who had been on the “inside”) how ugly it was going to get, and selfishly, just didn’t want to subject myself to the treatment some of my former colleagues have since experienced. I should probably repent for leaving, but I still believe it was the right decision.

One final rant–and, it’s about politics. Did you see the big debate on Thursday? You know? The one between Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida and Gov. Gavin Newsom of California. I’m not going to critique the debate, but I am going to rant about the debate on abortion. Actually, I’m going to say they were debating the entirely wrong point–at least from a Christian perspective. The debate was over when an abortion should be allowed–six weeks or fifteen weeks (or as some Democrats suggest, up until the moment of birth).

The question is not when should it be allowed. The debate should begin with this question: What is in the womb?

My answer? A person. At the moment of conception or the moment of birth what is in the womb is a person. How do we treat a person in our culture? We do not kill them. Period. Either at the beginning of life, at the end of life, or at any point in between. Any debate on the issue of abortion must begin with the answer to the question “What is in the womb?” Without agreement on the answer to that foundational question, no answer will be sufficient.

I’m ranting because both the Democrats and the Republicans have the answer wrong. Six weeks, fifteen weeks or 39 weeks, there is a life in the womb, and the only Pro-Life answer is to not support abortion under any circumstance. Yes, it’s an extreme position, but I hold it, and it’s out there now, so do with it what you will. Perhaps that’s another reason I’m no longer a Democrat or Republican.

We can talk about alternatives to abortion another time. That’s enough rambling and ranting for one day. Besides, I have to preach today. I have a lot of praying to do between now and 10:30 a.m., to get my heart and my mind right after the week I’ve had. All this rambling and ranting has distracted me.

Until next time, keep looking up…