Life

Back In The Saddle Again

David — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 15:35:42 -0700

Over the past two months I have celebrated Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's and moved. It was the moving part that really got me behind in just about everything. Next on my agenda is a class in my D. Min program. I'm feeling like I'm getting closer to catching up with everything. That includes this website and the Facebook page and other fun projects.

High Wire Act

David — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 21:24:47 -0700

I found myself on a blog the other day of a pastor who sounded stressed out. He was writing about how and why he hadn't been blogging very much. Because his life had become so busy with activities at the church, he was unable to spend time blogging. What caused me to pause was his list of activities. He was doing this and that, planning, performing, preaching and trying to be a father and husband.

I think every pastor discovers, at some point, that being a pastor is a bit like having a high wire act. You know, it takes balance. Balance is hard. It is easier to fall off the wire on one side or the other. As pastors we have wonderful opportunities each day to make a difference in people's lives. As much as the bad news makes headlines, there are a lot of good things going on and many wonderful things to be a part of. At times, it is hard to say no.

Added to the stress of having opportunities is our family. It's not that our family causes us stress, but we know that our family is always on the sidelines waiting for us. We go off and do wonderful things and make a difference in other's lives, yet, the temptation is to believe that our family will always be there, so we can put them on hold for a while. Those of us who realize that each day is a gift and we have no guarantees in life try to live each moment the best we can....but balance is still difficult.

What is a pastor to do? What is someone who believes they are called to be missional to do?

Perhaps the first step is to be honest. We need to be honest with God and with ourselves. God didn't create us as superheroes. We are not god and God did not create us so that we can do everything. We have to be honest about who we are; our gifts and our limits. Then in prayer, as we live our lives, we allow God to use events in our lives to direct us to what God yearns for us to be and do. It is a difficult process though....kind of like a high wire act.

The saddest thing, however, is many times we get so busy with wonderful opportunities, trying to fit family into the picture and we end up not spending time with God. When this happens, we no longer can 'hear' the directives God places in our lives. We are unable to find the balance because we never really know who we are or who God has created us to be.

Yes, life on the high wire isn't easy. Yet, the God who calls, also sustains (Bishop Rueben Job) and God will never ever forsake. Through God, I believe we can discover who we are, who God has created us to be and the call God has placed on our lives. We don't have to do it all....just follow the call.

Summer is Over

David — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 07:35:35 -0700

Summer vacation is over for my kids. So, today, is the first day that all four of my kids have been in school and my wife is at work (at the school library). This means the house is empty and quiet. It seems like this summer has been very busy with camps, vacations and school (for me). Add to that VBS the 4H fair and other activities it seems like I have not had time to catch my breath.

Within all of that, this site and vision was born. I'm hoping, now that school is in session and things are a bit more scheduled in my life, that I can spend more time developing this, the UMSource.net site and also working on my research in spiritual formation.

I'm really excited about this site though. I'm learning Drupal and I hope that this turns into a place where Methodists can meet and begin the difficult work of transition to missional.

- Dave.

Slipping Away...into the Future....

David — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 14:13:15 -0700

Yes...time certainly does slip away. About a month or so ago Jeff and I thought by July 19th this site would be up and running and we would be promoting it all over the place. Well, today is July 19th and not much has changed. Both Jeff and I have been extremely busy with other things.

Yet, living and ministering in a missional way is a passion of ours. So, we want to see this site go forward and be a place where we can connect and talk to other UMs who are trying to live missionally.

Hopefully over the next couple of months we will be able to add more information and forum topics to this site. Hopefully people will visit, register and begin discussion in the forums and comments. Hopefully this can be the beginning of a missional movement in the UMC.