So I had this interesting conversation with myself on the way to work this morning and thought I would try and capture the essence of it here, in a blog post. Sooo if it doesn’t all make sense to you, that’s ok, it wasn’t all clear to me either and I was the only two talking at the time…

Lattes, Laptops and the Lord

So I was thinking, I wonder if this can become the new mantra for all print material advertising a youth/college events, to replace the now defunct “food, fun and fellowship”.

Lattes, Laptops and the Lord.  It might catch on.  You never know.  But actually that isn’t what this post is really about.  :)

Then I was thinking about a conversation with my pastor I had a few months ago, and he was like. “I really don’t see how you do it.”  Actually I’ve had that conversation with several people of late.  And I simply replied “Honestly… everyday I don’t see how I can do it.  I just take the next step and hope it all works out.”

How do I know that’s what I said months ago?  WELL… you see… I was recounting the conversation with my wife, because well, she asked what we talked about, and when I recounted what I said, I was like hmmm and wrote it down on a yellow sticky note that now sits stuck to the bottom of my monitor.  Its just a daily reminder that in the end, its really not about me or my skills and abilities but rather simply stepping into what God has already put into place for me to do.  Then, just do it.  SOUNDS simple anyway….

Ok so now Im thinking, is it Ok to quote yourself?  Im mean sure guys like Rob Bell, Erwin McManus, guys who have written several great books. Or guys like Andy Stanley, Ed Young or Steve Sawyer who deliver great sermons heard by countless people.  Sure THEY can quote themselves.  But a lowly servant with no permanent platform, no big books deals, and in the eyes of some… not even a REAL Pastor… just some part time hack… (Don’t worry, I don’t believe em, I know Im a pastor and love what God is doing in my life and ministry)?

So then Im thinking, dang I hear that all the time?  What you might ask… Well… when I start talking to people about ministry opportunities.  Maybe things that aren’t exactly traditional, heck even if it is something traditional, I hear so many times… “I would love to do more, I just don’t have the time.”…  “Really?” I ask.  “Yes really, you just don’t understand how busy my life is.”    Ummm… I don’t?

You know what I think that is?  I think it’s a lie that has infiltrated the body of Christ.  It was sent here to paralyze the church and its working to some degree.  But you see God placed inside of each on of us some passion or desire.  There is some sort of service he wants us involved in.  And the thing is, he usually lets its line up with our passions and desires.

Now I know we are all busy.  I know there’s only so many hours in the day.  But here’s what I have discovered.  Sometimes you don’t know you have the time or ability to do something, until you step out and just start doing it.  If you begin to feel overwhelmed, like you have too much going on, like you just cant do it anymore… well then simply step back and realign.  Maybe the things you are doing are not in line with the things God wants to be doing through you.

For example, I LOVE doing baptisms.  I mean they are great.  You get to hear all the amazing ways God has freshly touched lives.  You are given this great privilege to share in a moment that will forever be marked in their minds as a day they showed the world they believe in Jesus.  I mean, who wouldn’t want to be a part of that???  (That’s why I think baptisms need to be a BIG deal at the church, not just some side deal we rush through because we need to have time for the rest of the service…)  I mean, baptism is a sacrament that was given to the church by God.  Heck yeah I want in on that.  But a couple years ago I began getting that “overwhelmed, I just want to quit, I cant do this stinkin ministry thing a day longer”, feeling so I stepped back and checked myself.

Well even though I loved doing baptisms I had to let it go.  That sucked, but it was good too.  Periodically we have to check our alignment.  I believe if you are in line with God, he will make time for ministry.  Im not saying you wont be stressed or wont feel like quitting and that it wont be hard sometimes… heck that’s just part of it.  But when God is walking with you, or you walking with him, it just makes it possible some how.

Ok that was it… then I drove into the parking lot… sat down here… and tried to capture all that went on in my mind on the way to work…