Pastors vs. Ministers

Jesus was a model Pastor--a charismatic leader and guide, who was completely tuned in to the Father. He was devoted, compassionate, wise, powerful, and ready to sacrifice His life for others. I have yet to personally meet anyone else who fits this level of dedication. However, I have encountered many ministers—mid-level followers, teachers, speakers, and servants—who have been elevated to the role of Pastor.

I don’t think that most humans have what it takes to shepherd, guide, and protect others from evil.

Yet, many of us are equipped to minister—to serve.

Those of us who are used to being dependent, vulnerable, caring, and nurturing—are uniquely blessed to fill this role.

Unlike Pastors, ministers often go unrecognized because they often keep a low profile. Some of the most effective ministers I know are women. Most are freelance servants—those who extend their ministries outside of their churches or non-profit organizations. Although none of them will call what they do a ‘ministry’, their services are invaluable. These incredible women-- ‘take care’, ‘do for’, encourage, support, nourish, nurture, listen, mentor, give, help, clean, visit, call, teach, hug, and share.

I’m continually inspired by these women who serve God quietly behind the scenes, without titles, without recognition, giving all the glory to God.

Thanksgiving List

Here are a few of the things I am thankful for this year. (I can’t rank these in order since they are all really important to me.)

Faith

Health

Love

Family

Friends

Forgiveness

Stability

Safety

Shelter

Provisions

Dedication

Trust

Time

Silence

Peace

The Peter Principle

Dr. Laurence J. Peter came up with the Peter Principle, which is based on the following observation: “In a hierarchy, members are promoted so long as they work competently. Sooner or later they are promoted to a position at which they are no longer competent (their "level of incompetence"), and there they remain, being unable to earn further promotions. http://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Peter_Principle.html

Although the Peter Principle is mostly used in business circles, I think it applies to a variety of situations. If you are capable of doing something well, there will be pressure, both internal and external, for you to move on to something bigger. If you are satisfied with your accomplishments in life, then you will be perceived as lacking ambition.  

For example, if you are a good physician, there will be pressure for you to move up the hierarchy into administration, research, teaching, or a more lucrative practice. Or, maybe you are a decent cook and are able to come up with delicious meals for your family and friends. Sooner or later, you will feel the urge to do something more with your talents—maybe open a restaurant or a catering business. Or, if you happen to enjoy gardening and are able to grow vegetables on a small plot, then someone will suggest you dig up a bigger area next year and possibly make some money off your produce. Most of us have internalized this convoluted message: If you are competent and content, then you are not maximizing your talents and opportunities.

“Whether we are poets or parents or teachers or artists or gardeners, we must start where we are and use what we have. In the process of creation and relationship, what seems mundane and trivial may show itself to be holy, precious, part of a pattern.” (Luci Shaw)

If we do something long enough, it will eventually feel mundane. Yet, there are precious lessons, windows of enlightenment, and opportunities for personal growth that can only be reached once we have mastered our roles. When you first learn to ride a bike, it takes a great deal of physical and mental energy just to stay balanced and moving forward. Turns, hills, traffic, uneven pavement—all require your full concentration. However, once you are a competent bicyclist, you have a chance to appreciate the beauty around you, even opportunities for reflection during long rides.

Ultimately, it comes down to what you value most, accomplishment or enlightenment. If you assess the quality of life by acquisition—whether of accolades or external manifestations of success—then you will continue to strive until you hit a point where you are no longer competent. However, if you measure your worth on the basis of meaning, purpose, insight, and wisdom, then there is no limit to your growth potential.

Basic Prayers

Anne Lamott wrote a cute little book titled Help, Thanks, Wow—The Three Essential Prayers. The title pretty much sums up the main idea—that you don’t need elaborate prayers—just ask God for help when you need it; thank Him for everything; and worship Him.

I agree with Annie. (Yes, I like to imagine that I’m on a first-name basis with her and all my other favorite authors.)

Yet, I want to add a few of my own corollaries to her basic idea:

We have a Savior who has rescued us from the influence of darkness. Now, we are under the influence of the Son.  

“For He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son.” (Colossians. 1:11-13 NLT)

“Help!”—when we are at our most desperate, this is all we need to say. Imagine that you are drowning. You call out to the lifeguard on duty. Once the lifeguard reaches you it is counterproductive to struggle and flail about. Neither is it necessary to offer instructions or suggestions on how you like to be rescued.

“I Trust You.”—This is an important prayer for me. I have major trust issues. When my Savior comes near, I need to reiterate this phrase—not to reassure Him, but to keep myself calm. I have to place my life in His hands. I have to allow Him to rescue me. I am still a long way from the shore. The Lifeguard will swim with me all the way back. As I get close to the shore, as soon as I feel my toes touch the bottom of the ocean floor, I’m tempted to tell Him that I can do the rest on my own. Bad idea! I should just hang on. He will release me when it is safe to do so.  

“Thanks.”—This should be the simplest part. Stop and express sincere gratefulness. Don’t be in a hurry to get away and move on. I’ll be honest—I have a tendency to use this time to tell God how He could have improved his technique and timing. As if I’m filling out a customer service survey! I find myself saying things like: I’m thankful, I really am…but next time, could you be more prompt when I call for help…oh, and don’t hold me so tight—I could hardly move or breathe.”

“Wow!”—Express amazement, praise, adoration—again, this is more for my own edification. It trains me to look higher, to a glory beyond myself.

Stress, Struggle, and Strength

I was noticing how the words stress, struggle, and strength all start with the prefix of str-. I have no doubt that these words are connected with each other. Stress and struggle are essential preludes to developing strength.

I once read a story about a person who tried to help a caterpillar. The caterpillar was developing in its cocoon and straining to break free. The observer decided to help by cutting a slit in the cocoon. The butterfly emerged immediately, but its wings were weak and unformed. The struggle within the cocoon was an essential part of its development. In order for a butterfly to have strong wings, it needs to push the fluid from its abdomen into its wings. There are many versions of this story, but the moral is the same: Sometimes, in our desire to help someone —we actually hinder his/her development.

I was reminded of this story recently as I observe my son struggling out of his chrysalis. I am tempted to intervene, to help, to ease his struggle.

College athletes—especially football players—are put through rigorous strength and conditioning workouts. Strength training coaches prescribe the amount of weights and repetitions. The athletes are trained in the proper mechanics of lifting—so as to minimize injury. A solid strength and conditioning program increases overall strength, flexibility, and stamina.

I doubt that they ever let an athlete’s mom enter these weight rooms during a training workout! 

I keep reminding myself that God is my son’s strength training coach. God knows how much to push my son, how much weight he can lift. Under God’s supervision, my son will eventually grow stronger. A coddling mom is detrimental to the maturation process. I need to stay out of the weight room.

I can, however, provide nourishment, encouragement, and care packages.

Firewall

Most of us who use personal computers have encountered firewalls. Even if we don’t have a complete understanding of their function, we know firewalls protect our computers, somehow. Here is a technical description of what a firewall actually does:

“In computing, a firewall is a software or hardware-based network security system that controls the incoming and outgoing network traffic by analyzing the data packets and determining whether they should be allowed through or not, based on a rule set. A firewall establishes a barrier between a trusted, secure internal network and another network (e.g., the Internet) that is not assumed to be secure and trusted.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firewall_(computing) )

When I read the above description, I realized how much I need a firewall for my mind. Every day, I have incoming and outgoing thoughts (or data packets). Some of these ideas are useful, while others are harmful. I wish I had a firewall around my mind that analyzed these data packets and determined whether they should be allowed through or not.  

 “And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the LORD, and I will be the glory in her midst.” (Zeph. 2:5 ESV)

God is our firewall protecting us from the Enemy. He is the trusted, secure, internal network. Just as firewalls protect computers from malicious attacks, God creates a barrier between our minds and the other network that is not secure or trustworthy.

There have been a few occasions when I have disabled my computer’s firewall--so as to install a new program--and then forgotten to turn the firewall back on afterwards. Similarly, I sometimes disable the spiritual firewall that God has provided and forget to turn it back on—thus allowing all sorts of malignant thoughts to enter my mind.

I need to check my firewalls--the one that protects my computer and the ONE that protects my mind.

Summer School

A high school student who fails a class is required to take it again during the summer. Unfortunately, even though I finished high school decades ago, I have had to attend a kind of summer school.

Let me explain:

I have repeatedly flunked out of the following courses: Trust, Flexibility, Hospitality, Tolerance, and Stress Management. I am forced to repeat these classes over and over again in summer school.

Summers, which often mean prolonged visits with extended family members, test my patience and expose my weaknesses. I come unraveled at the seams, revealing my lack of faith. I become inflexible, defiant, inhospitable, and frazzled. All the lessons I previously learned on these subjects are erased from memory. Each summer I have to repeat these same classes over again. I feel like an idiot.

I wonder when I will actually gain mastery over these subjects.

“We go around and around the same mountain instead of making progress. It takes us years to experience victory over something that could, and should, have been dealt with quickly and put behind us.” (Joyce Meyers)

In order to advance to higher levels, I have to first ‘pass’ these pre-requisite classes. Imagining that these lessons are optional is partly why I’m stuck. Even though these lessons are difficult, I must somehow grasp them so I can move on.