Serving God can be boring. There I said it. This is something that all who are involved in ministry know, but rarely articulate. The boring reality of ministry seems to betray the high hopes with which we accepted our callings. After all, we began our work for God with visions of entering the work of the Spirit, of growing the church, and transforming the world. And yet as time goes on, we find that much of our walk with God is uninteresting. Ministry involves ordinary events like mowing the lawn, baking a cake, or attending yet another budget-related meeting.
Community
Ministry and Midwifery
What was God up to before you stepped onto the scene? How did God’s hand impact your life before you were even aware of it? More importantly, who were the people whom God used to bring you to where you are today?
Divine Discomfort
Ever year, on the Thursday before Easter, the church gathers to hear the account of the Last Supper, and to re-enact the washing of the disciples’ feet. As priest of the parish, I kneel with a towel in my lap. One by one, people come forward for me to wash their feet. It’s a dramatic moment, spiritually rich, and packed with meaning. But let’s be honest, it’s also uncomfortable.
Tests and Testimonies
When we talk about tests, we often think about tests in school, or maybe a road-test. Tests are designed for us to prove ourselves, to show our knowledge, our skill, or our worth, and by doing so, earn the grade, the position, or the license we desire. Importantly, testing is rooted in binary in nature. Regardless of demerit points or a range of letter grades, testing boils down to passing or failing. You either make the grade, or you miss out. Does God test in the same manner?
Thank you for not showing up
Faithful ministry isn’t defined by the success we receive or by how many people attend our programs. Instead, the call of ministry, indeed the call for all spiritual life, is to walk the path set before us, no matter what it looks like in the moment. We follow the way of Jesus.
Calling for the Gospel
Church meetings can feel like car accidents; Everything goes smoothly until it doesn’t. An accident of procedure or wording grinds everything to a halt. Discussions, schedules, and tasks pile upon each other until eventually all forward progression stops. And like just an accident on the freeway, the longer you sit in its effects the more … Continue reading Calling for the Gospel
When I Reach my Capacity for Closeness
Have you ever had enough of people? Have you ever wanted to distance yourself, not from anyone in specific, but people in general? It’s as if, suddenly, we reach our limit of social interaction. It happens to me about once per year.
Asking Questions: A spiritual practice for Discouragement and beyond. (A guest post by Kandi Zeller)
In our culture of certainty, questions can seem threatening and unnatural. By contrast, Jesus spent much of his ministry asking questions and challenging assumptions. The sheer volume of these questioning instances in the Gospels should encourage us: if we are to be formed in the image of Christ (Romans 8:29), might we sometimes be formed by asking questions?
Misreading Jesus
There is a scene in Luke’s gospel where Peter denies Jesus three times. Immediately following his denials, Peter sees Jesus turn and “looked straight at him” (Luke 22:61). I have often seen this scene through the lens of rebuke. I have pictured Jesus giving Peter a stare of disappointment. Perhaps the faint whisper of “Oh Behave!” can be heard coming from Christ’s lips. When we view Jesus’ gaze this way, it becomes easy to assume that this is how Jesus looks at us.
Reverend Kyle Norman 