The new guy...

Am running REALLY late tonight. Easter rehearsals are a full-time job right now. But before I headed for home, I want ot give a shout out to my new right-hand man, Kerry. He and his wife and beautiful family are great additions to our team here at NewCov.

Talented... great-looking... smart... what a great addition to our team. I'm looking forward to great things for our ministry. We hope to start a worshpi leader blog soon (probably after Easter). Until then, I'll just keep posting along.

Shared some of this at a staff meeting a few weeks ago. Here are a few of my observations about my years in ministry.

HOW I UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF “THE MINISTRY”

The ministry is a calling, not an occupation.

• Often the ministry is without outward, tangible rewards. Often people are difficult. When it’s all pressing in on you and you feel like cashing it in… that’s the time when you need to go back to the calling that God gave you.
• “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God…” (Romans 12:1)
• “Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from thieves, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.” (2 Corinthians 11:24-27)

The ministry is a life of faith.

• It is faith to follow God where he leads: where you serve and, as a result, where you live. I believe that you need to be willing to follow God wherever He leads.
• “The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.’” (Genesis 12:1)
• It is faith in trusting God to provide for your needs, understanding that the wants are not necessarily part of the deal.
• “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)
• It is faith in trusting God for the “hows” and leaving the “whys” to Him. It is faith to be willing to be content with what God provides and how he provides it.
• “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:12-13)
• “Then he said to them all: 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.'” (Luke 9:23-24)
• God doesn’t always do it my way or in my timing.
• “We need to tender our resignation to God for us running our own lives. He is the Creator… I am a creature.” (Ken Edwards)