My Brother: Mike

I had recently went back to Canada. It has been 11 years since I last was there. This time was due to my brother, Mike. I have very few family left: My brothers and I (And their families). A lot of people love my family. They can be an unusual lot (The same can be said of me). This trip was quick. A visit with my friends the Mills. (whose grandson passed away while we were there - we think it was the Lord's timing we can encourage them). Then, we visited my brother, who had a stroke a few years ago, and had a brain injury accident and has been in the hospital for some time and looking for more permanent home and the next steps (As of this writing - they were looking to transfer back to Hamilton and maybe placed in facility in Dunnville) It has been a good visit with Darryl, Lori, Dwayne (Andrew) and others and a visit to my home church. There have been two things that have spoken volumes for us:

1. Family support and talking to one another is needed. Valerie and I plan on going back soon with the kids. We miss them and the feeling seems to be mutual.

2. Prayers are needed and not to be underestimated. I have a great home church, and current ministry that God has always been faithful. Keep praying. Pray for my family, Mike's health, Lori's health (his wife), and the rest of my family. Thanks.

The Secret to Staying in Ministry.

I had once had a 99 year old lady tell me the secret to long life: Faith in God, positive attitude, and have a great sense of humor.

The secret to staying in ministry is simple: Don't quit too soon.

Preachers quit for many reasons. Sometimes it's for health reasons, other times for financial reasons, occasional for moral reasons, but often it's simply the result of discouragement. I've had a few short youth ministries and just now entering my longest preaching ministry in Central Virginia. What worked for me may not work necessarily for you. Every preacher is different and every congregation is different.

Two observations:

1. I didn't ever intend to be a preacher in Central Virginia. Turns out right place, in right timing, that God placed me here after serving a sister congregation years prior as a youth minister.

2. I do not think I would be the same preacher if starting today and the demands. It has been some of the lessons I've learned along the way that helped shape me where I am.

There seems to be several important factors of one still being in ministry even after 22 years and here are some:

The Minister's Attitude, Work Ethic, Preaching, Relationship to Leadership, and Personal Life.

I. The Minister's Attitude. (Remember the positive attitude?) Ask yourself is it your life or livelihood? career or calling? employee of elders or man of God? do you serve the church or does the church serve you? Is there any task beneath you? (willing to move chairs and tables?) Don't be overbearing, prideful or domineering. What is your attitude toward the church? Criticize them?Encourage them? Know how to apologize? face up to your mistakes, laugh at yourself? Attitude toward the Unchurches? See the lost? Can you love the unlovely?

II. The Minister's Work Ethic. No room for laziness in ministry. be a shepherd, not a commander. lead the people. If you don't love your work, your workers will never love you. Seek to generate zeal in others. Work for unity in the church family. Preachers are often responsible for "splits" in the church. Don't do it. Heal wounds. "Blessed are the peacemakers"

III. The Minister's Preaching.
Stay in the main stream. Keep the main thing - the main thing. Don't ride hobby horses or major on minors. Preach the Word. Work for variety and freshness in your preaching (That's why I try to Waypoint's Annual Preaching Summit seminar). A visiting preacher can get away with a set of few sermons but staying at the same church - try to improve your preaching and its style. Strive for excellence in your sermons. Listen to others. Get your facts straight (With the internet - check the sources snopes.com) Don't insult your audience.

IV. The Minister's Relationship to the Leadership.
Know your role. Where do you fit in? Get to know your leaders, work along side of them. Maintain your level of excitement and generate that in others. Be flexible. Don't think because you have education from Bible College, seminary you are the final authority or your way is the only way. Don't assume its you versus Them. Let the leaders share responsibility.

V. The Minister's Personal Life.
Family. Take care of them. They are your first ministry. Love your wife. Love the children. Be their father first. Finances. - work on them. Don't live beyond your means. Faith - develop your spiritual life. If there is something I wished I did more was pray more, worry less, and give of myself ....

Anything you would add?

A quote about Jesus.

In those one thousand days He calmed the sea, turned water into wine, made the lame walk, caused the blind to see, cleared the temple, raised the dead, fed 5000 with 5 loaves of bread and two fish, healed ten men with leprosy, walked on water, and (if that weren't enough), He had one more job to do. He offered himself to be crucified on a Roman style cross as a living sacrifice on our behalf - Mike Rehnberg.

A Prayer from last Sunday

(I used this prayer I came across for illustration in my sermon on Sunday)

In this church, and may your will be done here as it is in heaven! For this we pray.

Feed us today, O Lord, as
you have done every day of our lives. We thank-you for our daily food. We have so much and we enjoy it and praise you for it, knowing that it comes from you. Let this be our Prayer:
Heavenly Father, you are holy, righteous, pure and perfect, and we worship you through Jesus Christ your Son, our Savior, Lord and King.

May your kingdom rule be here
Forgive us, O Lord, as we forgive those who sin against us. Help us to walk in your forgiveness and grace.
Please do not lead us into temptation, Father, for we are weak. But deliver us from the evil one.
Grant wisdom, courage, and strength to our elders who shepherd this flock that you have put under their care. Thank-you for each one of them. May they lead us, discipline us, and encourage us and be an example for us in your ways and will according to your holy Word. Please help me to preach and teach and practice your holy word as the minister of the gospel in this congregation, O Lord, and that I may call every member here into the glorious goodness of your will, and proclaim the whole counsel of your Word.

Bless our deacons who serve this church with faithful service. And we thank-you for them and the good works that they do in service to this congregation. Bless the wives and families of all the leaders of this congregation. We thank-you so much for faithful Christian wives who serve with their husbands in this church.
Bless the teachers who serve this church by preparing and presenting your word and will in our Bible classes and bless those that work to organize this work of ministry.

Bless our elderly members on whose shoulders we stand who have labored and sacrificed and given their time and energy to planting and building this church. We pray for them that your presence and strength will overshadow them and that we will honor them as we should.

Bless all our faithful husbands and wives with homes that are filled with love and truth according to your will. Bless our children with faith and strength. May they grow to be fruitful servants in your kingdom and enjoy the blessings of your nearness and love all the days of their lives.

Oh, holy Father, let us be a disciplined church. Let us walk in the way of your will according to your word. Let us receive your discipline with open hearts and minds. Let us be transformed into your likeness. Let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer.

In Jesus Name. Amen.

Choose Your Battles.

Someone once told me: "choose your battles wisely." Currently there is fights over monuments, name changes and racism plays a part. I've read many articles that have articulated my opinion but one thing I haven't seen yet or rather yet to see (perhaps I've missed it) is to love our enemies. Pray for those that persecute you. I live in the RVA area ..not far from Charlottesville.


I'm reminded of the words of Jesus in Mark 12 when asked what the greatest commandment was? "Jesus responded: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. And love your neighbor as yourself." Perhaps we need people to love themselves, love others .... and love all people - from every nation, tribe, and colour. What the world needs more of isn't more words, or denouncing of evil acts ...what the world needs more of is Christians to act well Christian. Being Jesus' hands and feet to a dark world that needs Him. It all starts with a one person. Whose with me?

The Preacher's Library. What It Should Contain.

Introduction:

"You sure do have a lot of books." That's usually the statement I get when one glances at my office. One might ask why does the preacher have a library, does he need one? The answer is because of the nature of our work.

The importance of reading/studying for the work of a minister can hardly be overemphasized. Great preachers are great students. Jay Adams said "In the daily work of the pastorate, it is easy for one to dry up, unless he works at keeping the mind green." There is definitely a need for continual education and professional self-development. Everything we know for ministry is not learned in the four years of Bible college or the years after in Seminary.

Although we cannot have all the material for ongoing education in our libraries, it is helpful to have some of it in our possession.

Here are some general principles in building a library:

1. Start small and build. Some of my material and books came from retiring preachers who were giving their books away. (Not everyone's library will look alike)
2. Don't overbuy. There is this thing called the internet and the local library. Selection of books is good. As Solomon reminds us: "Of the making of books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh."
3. Buy by author, recommendation and need. What is it you are trying to learn about?
4. Buy both old books and new. Learn from the "old" as well as new ways.
5. Cover a wide range of topics and books.
6. Allow your library to grow with you through the years. (Currently I'm in more leadership books and less youth ministry material as I once was)

Some suggestions is to ask others in ministry what resources, books they use. With the internet there are many online resources, websites, and online books one can get as well. (I'm seeing less physical books in some preachers' offices and more online, tablet materials being used and mobile offices and libraries.)

Some random comments about one's library:

1. Keep your books in some kind of order. Even the digital ones.
2. Develop a policy for lending.
3. See what there is locally to use as well ...colleges, universities etc. I went to a local college and used some of their resources, but also found a local seminary that revised their library to be for the seminary students only. (SAD policy)
4. See what webinars are available.
5. Have Fun.
6. Purge every now and then. Got a book that's just sitting there and collecting dust? Donate or see if you can get some $$ for it.
I had recently had given some of my old youth ministry books to some youthworkers who would get more use out of them than me.

Any other suggestions or recommendations in building a ministers' library and resources?

Books I'm currently Reading.

What are you reading?

Two Kinds of Christians

There are two kinds of Christians.

A post and a tree. The post is placed in the ground and just sets and rots. A tree is planted, in the same ground, stretches its roots down deep for nourishment, and grows and produces fruit. Many Christians feel that they’re not going anywhere, their faith is not increasing, their attitudes are the same. They are not going anywhere. It is all how you look at life. Then there is those who are like trees:

Many Christians are discovering that the Bible is an open, exciting Book, whose truths, like valuable gems, enrich their lives. Solomon urged us to search the Word of God as hidden treasure, as we would seek for silver the treasures of wisdom, knowledge and understanding. (Proverbs 2:1-5). Be like a tree – grow in God’s Word don’t sit still like a post.
Why study the Word? 1. Know Him Better. 2. Wisdom 3. Shows how to live. 4. Love for God (Read Ps.119)