todd nelson

Before you head off into your weekend, here are three things that I have read and been thinking about this week. Hope they are as helpful and challenging to you as they have been for me.

Happy beginning of meteorological summer tomorrow!

#1

I do not believe in God, but I miss him. – Julian Barnes (atheist)

I am not done processing this statement. So I reserve the right to disagree with myself or update this post… 🙂

Something deep in each of us longs for the transcendent. Something longs for a belonging. Something longs for eternity. Whether we believe in God matters not as Barnes shows us. The hardwiring in our being yields the same longing ache which sets us on a lifetime of seeking what we are missing.

God knows what he is doing. We can trust that the Christian faith will always be relevant for it is the only answer that checks all the boxes for the grand questions in life. Our job is to help offer the answer (ie. the Gospel) by inviting the world to come, taste, and see that the Lord Jesus is good.

#2

The dangers to be avoided are cynicism and naivete – two aspects, I think, of the same problem. Both are strategies of avoidance, and neither contributes to healthy common life. – Caring for Words in a Culture of Lies by Marilyn Chandler McEntyre

I admit that avoidance is a comfortable strategy for me. Sometimes it even works!  I am more cynical than naive. But I can be naive at times. In fact, I have been called naive for remaining in a denomination in which I have theological disagreement. “It is only a matter of time until you are moved out” I have been told. Maybe. But what if naivety, in this instance, is more about obedience and sanctification rather than avoidance? What if staying put is more about contributing to unity rather than division?

My prayer is that together we can contribute to a “healthy common life” by embracing what some may call naive. Or maybe I really am just being naive…I’ll let you know how it goes. Or perhaps, you will let me know.

#3

But when we begin with our own identity in Christ and the pastoral call to assist others in becoming fully alive in him, we are freed from the drudgery of being managers and service providers to pursue something much more creative – being poets of the soul. – The Pastor as Minor Poet by M. Craig Barnes

I wrote last week that pastors wear multiple hats. Spiritual director (poet of the soul per Craig Barnes) and manager/program director are two ways to look at the work. I don’t agree that for everyone managing is drudgery. Some are naturally gifted and lead in that area well. Others do not and therefore need to be released to live into their creativity. The rare few combine the two. I do not fit into the rare category.

I often struggle to know which of the areas provide the most traction in my ministry context. I want to live into the areas that God is using and not simply the one I “feel” more attracted to. Full disclosure: I’d prefer to be in the creative pastor camp. But often it is in the middle of leading the organization that I feel the most traction being gained. In fact, just this week, a colleague and friend reminded me that my primary gift was sitting in a room and assuring others that it will be okay…whatever it is and whoever they are he felt my presence made a difference. Grateful for that reminder. Not sure where to put that gift in the rubric of ministry however. Perhaps a third area in addition to the two mentioned above? Great…as if I didn’t have enough to wonder about already.

Wow…lots of confession in this top3. If you made it this far, thank you!