Unplugged for a night!

Technology has many benefits, both personally and for the church. I can connect to people on the other side of the country (or world). I have the ability to keep up with old friends from high school or college. In fact I know more about some people I haven't seen or spoken (verbally) to in 15 years than I did when I saw them daily because of facebook! In the church I have simultaneously worshipped with brothers and sisters in India, and Africa through skype. The ability to stay connected with missionaries in various countries allows us to give emotional and spiritual support beyond just providing for them financially. Not to mention the benefits that come through the unlimited amount of resources for study and spiritual growth found on the internet.

Although there are many benefits of technology, there are many downfalls as well. One of the biggest is the disconnect it potentially causes with those we are closest to. Have you ever been in a large group of people and no one is talking to each other because everyone (including myself) is plugged in to some device? Last night I was reminded of the need to unplug every once in a while and spend time with the ones we love.

For the last week West Texas has been suffering from a severe winter storm. About an inch of ice built up on everything. 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon the power went out, and about 7 we no longer had cell service, forcing us to unplug. As the temperature in the house quickly dropped, we (un-excitedly) informed the kids we would have to snuggle up altogether in mom and dad's bed tonight to stay warm. You should have heard the reply from our daughter. High pitched and exited she screamed, "I love snuggling! I'm so excited!"

We spent the next several hours; playing with flashlights, reading 7 books (normally it's only 2!), eating a candlelit dinner, visiting with one another, and finally snuggling up on the couch to drift to sleep. To put it like our 2-year old we were "just hangin out!" As annoyed as I was at first, it turned out to be the best night we've had in a long time! We really enjoyed each other.

I was also reminded of the need to spend time with our church families. Right after the church was established in the book of Acts, we see them continually spending time together. Not only that, every time Luke mentions their togetherness he says and God was adding to their numbers (acts 2:42ff). There is a huge need for the family of God to be together, share meals together, encourage, and enjoy each other.

Though technology connects us to much of the world, it can disconnect us from the people in the same house or church building as us! I am the worst about this. I know this post alone will be used by some to hold me accountable in these matters. No matter how connected we are, through social media, to people in our families and our churches,nothing compares to physically spending (unplugged) time together!

Set aside some time to go unplugged and get together with people you love. Turn off the TV, put down your phone and snuggle with your family! In our churches, let's purposefully plan some time just to be together this year!

What keeps me in Ministry!

There was a survey making the rounds not long ago asking questions about leaving ministry. A large number of ministers leave ministry every year. I am a relatively young minister with few years experience. I understand my credibility lacks compared to many. However, I would like to share with you the motivation I've used to make it through the downs of ministry.

Many factors affect remaining in ministry, for me it comes down to motivation. What drives you? Where does your motivation come from in ministry? In my opinion, if it's money, it won't be enough. If it's comfort, not likely. Popularity? someone is always going to dislike you. So what should motivate us? Well, obviously wanting to please God should motivate us, but you can be pleasing to God in any field you want (well maybe not every field). I found it has to be something else.

I learned this motivation from a rather interesting place...my three year-old daughter. At three, she was in that extremely annoying "why" stage. She asked "why" about everything. So, learning from Jesus, I decided to counter her questions with questions of my own. I too began asking "why" to everything she said. In asking this question, I learned a very important lesson. She'd say something like, "I want you to lay by me dada." I would respond, "Why Rylee?" to which she said, "because I love you Dada." Or she wanted me to sit by her and after asking "why" her response was, "because I love you Dada." One time she even said she wanted to go eat pizza and answered that question with, "because I love pizza Dada." In all of those answers I see that Rylee is motivated by Something ...LOVE!

I have learned over the last 8 years in ministry that success in my ministry comes when my number one motivation is Love for people. When I first began full-time ministry I rated my success based on numbers and invitations to speak at workshops and lectureships, or how well I could fix the "problems" of the church. Had that remained my motivation, I doubt I would have made it through some of the difficulties.

Paul says in 1 Cor. 13, without Love all we do is meaningless! You can preach at the largest congregation in the brotherhood, and get invited to all the biggest workshops but if you do not have love it means nothing. You can have many degrees and get straight A's all through school, but if you do not have love it is meaningless. However the opposite is also true. You can preach at little bitty church in Timbuktu middle of nowhere, and if you have love you will be successful in ministry! You don't even have to be in formal ministry. You could be a sacker at a grocery store and if you have a love for people you can have a successful ministry!

One of my favorite moments in the earthly ministry of Jesus is right before the feeding of the 5000. Jesus' disciples had just come back from preaching to spend alone time with him. Also, John the Baptist had just died. Jesus needed some time to get away from the crowds and be refreshed. Mark says as they were going the crowds saw them and RAN around the lake. Picture 5000+ people running around the lake to meet Jesus! Had it been me in the boat, I would have said, "turn around, we can outrun them!" Not Jesus! It says seeing them He felt COMPASSION for them!!! Jesus was driven by Love, are you?