Gotta Get in Shape

I feel terrible. I'm not sick, just out of shape. I need to lose 100 pounds. There, I said it, out loud, publicly. Even if I get down to the same weight as when I graduated high school, I'll still be 15 pounds too heavy, according to the charts. But I'd be happy to just get started in that direction.

I'm going to Russia in 6 weeks. I've been warned that the most used mode of transportation will be my feet and legs. So I started walking in the early morning hours. But then it rained for about a week straight - or at least the area where I walk became a pond for several days - and I used that as an excuse to stop. Now I can't start again. And all the while, Russia is getting closer.

It's a terrible time to try to eat right and exercise. Have you tried Tuti's Crock Pot Candy? If not, you are missing one of the finer things in life. If so, you know what I mean. Now Deana is making it and one of the ladies at church is making it. I can't get away from it. Not that I try very hard.

That's the real problem. It don't try very hard. I preach that what you say really doesn't matter until you act upon what you say you believe. OUCH!

Here's the revised exercise plan. I'll take my walking clothes to the office (which is next door to the house) and take time during the day to walk. I'll also ride the stationary bike when weather is wet. I can't use cold as an excuse because the place in Russia I'm going to hasn't seen 20 degrees in weeks. It will be worse when I get there.

I don't think I can lose 100 pounds in six weeks but I did lose about 40 pounds in 8 weeks one time. Watch the carbs, cut the calories, drink lots of water, eat lean meats and vegetables, and exercise at least 4 times a week for 30 minutes per event.

I should feel better soon. I should fit into my clothes better soon. I should be able to walk around Russia without dying.

Pray for me!

Life's Not Easy

She's sixteen. She's the star of a Nickelodeon program. She's the younger sister of a pop music icon. She's pregnant.

This girl had every opportunity ahead of her but she gets sexually involved with a guy from church. A guy from church!

Let me chase this rabbit for a minute. Guys at church are not always the best guys. And the girls there aren't always the best, either. But don't we expect church to be the safest place to meet guys and girls? It's been my experience that meeting your future spouse at church is far better than meeting her anywhere else.

But she had choices, and making decisions is one of the hardest things anyone ever has to do. Another hard thing is living with your choices. Another is correcting bad choices.

Life's hard but making better choices...at any age...would make life easier.

Golf & Bowling...I'm lousy at both

I watched a lot of ABC's The Wide World of Sports when I was growing up.  Every Saturday morning I would watch a few cartoons then settle in for Cowboy Bill Watts, Skandar Akbar, Mr. X and others on wrestling on Channel 4.  That would be followed by the Major League Baseball Game of the Week with Joe Garigiola and Tony Kubek.  Please excuse my spelling of any of these names!

I watched the Summer and Winter Olympics every four years.  The first Olympic heroes I remember are Mark Spitz and Franz Klammer.  I remember Dr. J and his exciting dunks.  The undefeated Miami Dolphins.  I was at the 1976 Cotton Bowl with Arkansas v. Georgia.

I'm one of those guys who can watch, listen, or participate in sports constantly.  Trouble is...I'm no good at any of them.  For example, my average in golf is about the same as my average in bowling.  That's not good for either sport.

I thought I could pick up snow skiing pretty easily - afterall I idolized Franz Klammer - but I broke my leg on the bunny slopes.  That's not good.

I like playing softball but when I'm in the outfield there better be two cutoff men in order to get the ball back to the infield.  That's not good.

I was the deep snapper in high school football.  I was the guy who snapped the ball to the punter.  My record is 35 yards in the air...over the punter's head.  That's not good.

I've decided that most sporting events require too much preparation and skill and fitness.  I'd rather watch on TV or listen on the radio or sit in the stands.

You know what?  I'm OK with not being any good at all that.  But I won't be satisfied if I'm no good when it comes to serving the Lord.  I'm willing to put in the preparation, develop the skills, and get spiritually fit.  How 'bout you?

Things I Missed with Jim & Caleb

For me, the worst part of divorce is that my relationship with my boys has been forever changed.  The best way – God’s plan – is that divorce never happens and children always live with their parents.  Over the last fifteen years I’ve done a sometimes good and sometimes bad job of keeping a good relationship with them.  I suspect I could have done better.  I’m proud of them and love them but feel I could have been more influential in their lives.

And the non-custodial parent – that’s what the court calls me – gets four days a month to be with the kids.  At least that’s how it was in my case since their mother moved 120+ miles away.  I missed a lot of games and plays and concerts and just everyday living that you can’t really experience through a phone call.  I missed the Tooth Fairy, PTA, lunch at school…  They could probably create a longer list than I can.

Now I have two grown men and I still want to influence their lives.  I want them to be godly men.  In order to influence them in this way I have to be a good example.  I can’t miss these opportunities.

Rain

It seems like we’ve had rain almost every day for a  couple of weeks.  Most days the rain has been heavy.  But I’m told that we are still short on the year-to-date totals.  Once you get behind it’s hard to catch up!

I’ve learned that this principle works in our walk with God.  Christians refer to the spiritual life as a daily walk – with the emphasis on daily.  How often do we forget or neglect to spend time with God?  It doesn’t take long and it seems we are so out of touch with him…that he is so far away.

A church a few miles from here posted a message on their sign that reminds me of a truth that hits home far too often: When it feels like you are not as close to God as you once were, God is not the one who moved!

It will take a lot more rain for catch up with the YTD average.  Fortunately, it only takes a prayer to return to a close walk with God.

Fireworks

Baseball, hotdogs, apple pie, & Chevrolet.  What is more American than that?

Last night I had three of the four plus fireworks.  Although the Arkansas Travelers are not very good, I love baseball and had a great time.  We had a rare partial double header!

Last week the Travelers played the Frisco Rough Riders in Frisco.  The game was delayed three times by rain until it was finally halted in the middle of the tenth inning with the score tied at zero.  Since the Travelers won’t play again in Frisco this year and since Frisco is in Little Rock this week, the natural decision was to complete the game prior to the game Wednesday.

The teams took to the field.  Bottom of the 10^th.   Score 0 – 0.  Two pitches later the Frisco catcher pounds the ball over the left field wall for a walk off home run.  Game over.  It didn’t take long for the July 4^th fireworks to start!  It took even less time for them to fizzle out!  We had to wait 57 minutes for the start of the regularly scheduled game – the second game of the double header.

The second game was great baseball – for the Rough Riders.  Their pitcher went the distance pitching a 1-hit shutout.  Frisco swept the double header 1-0 and 3-0.

Since the game was moving along quickly (1-hitters usually do) there was plenty of time between the end of the game and the start of the city’s fireworks display on the Arkansas River.  So the kids got to run the bases!  Riley loves that.

Then the fireworks display!  I enjoyed baseball, ate a hotdog, drove home in my Chevrolet, and watched fireworks.  I need a piece of apple pie.

Day Camp

I am currently serving in my first fully supported church pastorate. Up to this point I've served bivocationally - I worked another job to support my family. Because of this, I've not been able to do a lot of things with the church that I would like to do. For example, the Pulaski Baptist Association conducts a Day Camp for 1st-6th graders each summer. I've not been able to participate previously but this year I accompanied 12 children and one other adult from our church.

I had a blast! It's pretty cool to see the kids have such a good time playing in safe environments. It was my first opportunity to spend quality time with many of them and I'm thankful for the chance to be with them. We also had Bible study each day and a missionary report - from a real missionary! The kids loved it.

If Christianity is all about relationships then this is a great Day Camp. Hopefully, these kids will remember the fun we had this week and turn to me for help as they grow older. This week was the foundation for that kind of relationship.

Parade

As she told me about it all I could see in my mind was the Chinese New Year parades with the paper dragons bouncing from side to side and up and down.

Last Sunday Dianna was preparing for the worst.  All the doctors said she had cancer and that it was spreading quickly.  Her mother wanted to me to talk with her about her salvation because there was a good chance she would not live much longer.

Monday morning Dianna went to surgery.  Monday afternoon her mother called to tell me there was no cancer.  They had been parading down the halls of UAMS.

Tuesday morning I went to see Dianna again.  She looked much better than she had on Sunday night.  Physically, she was tired from the surgery.  Emotionally, she was on cloud nine.  Spiritually, she was thankful and praising God.

Dianna told me that as soon as she woke up she began to ask those tending to her how bad the cancer was.  There was no cancer!  She began to wave her arms and shout (almost like a cheerleader) “No Cancer!  No Cancer!”  When it was time for the family to see her they all joined the cheer.  As Dianna was moved back to her room she and her entourage paraded down the halls of the hospital, “No Cancer! No Cancer!”

People along the route joined in.  Nurses station after nurses station.  It was a parade…orchestrated by God.

Remembering the Courageous

Billy Graham said, “Courage is contagious.  When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened.”  Those men and women who died in military service for the United States lead all of us to greater courage.  And so we remember them and honor them this weekend.

 

The US Army website offers this statement about courage:

Personal courage has long been associated with our Army.  With physical courage, it is a matter of enduring physical duress and at times risking personal safety.  Facing moral fear or adversity may be a long, slow process of continuing forward on the right path, especially if taking those actions is not popular with others.  You can build your personal courage daily by standing up for and acting upon the things that you know are  honorable.  (http://www.goarmy.com/life/living_the_army_values.jsp#courage)

 

Many who gave their lives defending freedom did so with great courage standing up for what is right.  Others showed the same courage and returned home to family and friends.  To each person who has courageously defending our freedom we say,

 

“Thank you and God bless you.”

 

As a Christian, we have someone to help us stand up for and act upon those things which we believe.  Jesus Christ is the perfect example and the Holy Spirit is our source of courage.  And when one of us takes a courageous stand, the rest of us gain the courage to do the same.

 

Memorial Day is reserved for remembering the courageous who died defending our freedom.  Praise God for them!  Now, let us remember to be courageous as we follow Christ.

 

 

Unbelievable Experience

Every pastor enjoys baptizing new believers. I guess we should. I can’t imagine not enjoying it.

Today was kicked up a notch more. My youngest son, Riley, accepted Christ as Savior last Sunday night – my birthday. Today – Mothers Day – I baptized him.

I have baptized three couples. I have baptized older men whose wives had been praying for them for years. I’ve baptized children, teenagers, and young and old adults. I’ve enjoyed them all. It’s a special feeling to stand waist deep in water (sometimes warm, sometimes not!) with someone you’ve recently helped in the journey to Christ and share that moment.

For me, baptism has always been about celebration because someone has accepted Christ and is starting out on this fantastic journey. Today’s celebration was extra special.

Saved!

As a pastor, I am cautious when a child comes forward to accept Christ as Savior and Lord. My experience tells me that certainly a child can be truly saved. I was 8 years old when I was saved. I knew very little about God, Jesus, and salvation at that time. I only knew that I was a sinner and that sin was a problem between God and me. I knew that Jesus was God’s son and that he died on the cross for me. There’s a lot I still don’t understand!

But I also know people who walked the aisle at a young age, were baptized, and thought they were saved. Salvation is an act of the will to agree with God about your sinfulness and to accept his resolution for that problem: Jesus’ death on the cross. Upon confessing Christ as your Savior and committing your life to him, you are saved. It can only be accomplished by grace through faith. Grace is where you don’t deserve what you get. Mercy is where you don’t get what you deserve. Many folks think grace and mercy are the same but there is a subtle yet significant difference! I not only want mercy (not getting what I deserve – punishment and hell) but I also want grace (not deserving what I get – forgiveness and Heaven)! Faith is believing that God is exactly who he says he is and that he will do exactly what he says he will do. Salvation is by grace through faith.

What an awful thing to do to a child to allow him to run through the motions of walking the aisle and being baptized without ever having a true salvation experience! Many adults think they are saved because they walked the aisle, repeated a prayer, and were baptized when a child. They believe they have their ticket to Heaven punched and don’t really care about how they live or living for Christ. That false sense of security that churches place on them can be an eternal disaster.

I don’t want that to happen to any child. So when my son Riley started asking questions about salvation, being a Christian, being baptized, and taking the Lord’s Supper, I was cautious. This has been going on for several months but I just didn’t think he understood the basics: what sin is, that he is a sinner, that Jesus died on the cross as punishment for his sins, that being a Christian is about more than baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

Last night I sat on the edge of the bed with him as we said our bedtime prayers. After I said mine he asked me what sin is. He pronounced it with a “d” on the end of it (“send”) so I answered based on that. He corrected me. I wanted to see if he really understood; his correction let me know he had a good idea of what sin is. We talked for a while and also talked with Deana (my wife, his mother). We finally felt comfortable with him praying to receive Christ as Savior.

I think it’s real. And I’m real happy. There is nothing like helping your child be birthed into God’s family. I’ve been privileged to be present when all my sons were born into my family and born into God’s family.

Helping Others

I just spent 4 days in the Gentilly area of New Orleans. The levees along the canals off Lake Ponchartrain failed in the hours after Katrina’s landfall flooding, among other areas, Gentilly.

I am compelled to be a Southern Baptist Christian because of my beliefs regarding the security of the believer, believer’s baptism, the priesthood of the believer, and other theological doctrines.

I am pleased to be a Southern Baptist Christian because of the Cooperative Program, the outstanding seminaries within the convention, the swift response to natural disasters worldwide, and other practical applications of scriptural truths.

Arkansas Baptists were waiting “at the water’s edge” to enter New Orleans after Katrina hit. Feeding units staged at Kenner First Baptist Church made use of hundreds of volunteers preparing thousands of meals each day. Remember all the meals served by the Red Cross? They were prepared by Arkansas Baptists. Chainsaw crews comprised of Arkansas Baptists helped clear the mess from the streets and yards of New Orleans. A member of Cross Road Baptist Church who drives a school bus drove to New Orleans to pick up a load of evacuees and transported them to Camp Paron in Arkansas. Churches across the state (and other states, too) collected, packaged, and sent personal hygiene products, bottled water, and snacks to the people who had lost everything.

The North American Mission Board’s Operation NOAH is a city-wide disaster relief effort aimed at helping homeowners and churches rebuild. Arkansas is assigned the Gentilly area. A team of 6 from Cross Road Baptist Church spent last week working on this project.

Jerry Queen’s home sat under water in the early days of September 2005. Last week, we completed hanging new sheetrock in her home. She was so happy because she now actually could see the rooms again. She has a long way to go before moving in but she’s well on her way. That’s one reason I love being a Southern Baptist Christian.

Odell did most of the work on his home himself. His employer has allowed him all the time off from work he needs to complete his house with the promise that his job awaits him when he is ready to return. He lacked only setting the plumbing fixtures and having Entergy connect the electricity. We completed the plumbing fixtures. When we flushed the toilet to test the connections, Odell came running (and smiling) from the other end of the house saying, “Is that water I hear? My wife will be so happy!” That’s one reason I love being a Southern Baptist Christian.

We completed the sheetrock installation in another home but did not meet the homeowner. Another worker (hired, I suppose) was in the house mudding the sheetrock. He heard us singing while we worked and told us as we left that he liked our singing. That’s one reason I love being a Southern Baptist Christian.

Mable Taylor is an octogenarian. Her daughter drove by the house to make sure the house and building material were safe when she saw us working…to her surprise and joy. The daughter brought Mrs. Taylor later in the afternoon. As we were working to install insulation in the exterior walls and sheetrock to the ceilings and walls, Mrs. Taylor bounced into the room with her hands waving in the air, singing, “I’m Mable Taylor and I’m glad to meet you.” Her excitement was more fresh than the bowl of fruit she brought us. That’s one reason I love being a Southern Baptist Christian.

Jerry Queen said she would see us again in Heaven, if not before. Odell gave good answers to our questions about his salvation but I will still pray for his personal relationship with Jesus. Mable Taylor affirmed her salvation with words, as if her attitude weren’t enough. That’s one reason I love being a Southern Baptist Christian.

God uses all of us without regard to denomination or church affiliation. I’m not so narrow minded that I believe Southern Baptists are the only ones who have salvation figured out or are useful instruments in the Master’s hands. But I sure do love being a Southern Baptist Christian.

Sufficient Grace

My sister and brother-in-law set out during Spring Break to travel Route 66.  They, along with their two daughters and a dog, left with very little on the agenda: no specific places to go and no hotel reservations.  The plan was to simply go and do until they had spent all but what was necessary to get home – in other words, until they were broke!

After five or six days on the road my youngest niece called her grandmother and said, “We’re headed home; we’re broke!”

Have you ever been broke?  Initially, we think of being broke as a financial situation.  I’ve been there.  Those were hard times when valuable lessons were learned.  Those were times when I was burdened with the weight of not being able to provide for my family like I wanted.  Those were times when I felt very inadequate.

“Broke” can also describe your relationships.  Maybe a high school sweetheart broke your heart or an adult relationship fell apart.  Times like these often spin a person into despair.  If it happened to you, did you feel hopeless?  This is often the case.

The loss of a job breaks our hearts.  The loss of a dear friend or loved one hurts.  An arrest or conviction or jail time (your own or a loved one’s) leaves you broken.  The doctor’s words bring so much pain yet have a numbing affect at the same time.

For me, I rarely experience one “breaking” thing at a time; it seems like they come in pairs or even in waves.

The apostle Paul might calls these things “a thorn in my flesh.”  This great man of God experienced it, too.  The burden is so heavy it seems unbearable.  When Paul pled with the Lord to remove the burden, Jesus simply replied, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

It is often said that grace is not getting what you deserve.  Let me clarify the point.  MERCY is not getting what you deserve.  GRACE is getting better than you deserve.

God’s grace is sufficient – enough – best – OK – just what I need.

Sufficient grace is this: when you think you’ve spent all you have and your are broke…you still have enough to get home.

Imus

Many years ago a local radio station carried Imus in the Morning.  I listened some.  I’m not sure why.  Kinda like a fly drawn to cow manure, I guess.  Don Imus is very insightful regarding economics and politics.  His roster of guests was impressive.  He’s a Jew (I think) that is willing to embrace “the baby Jesus,” as he says.  But the good content was not the basis for the show.  His sharp, degrading humor seemed to be the canvas upon which he chose to create.  The local station dropped his program due to content issues.  I haven’t kept up with him much since then except to notice the huge amounts of money he raises for medical research.

Hard NOT to keep up with him these days.  But now that both MSNBC and CBS have fired him, unless he goes to satellite radio like Howard Stern, he’ll fade away again.  I’m OK with that but not because of what he said about the Rutgers women’s basketball team.  That was just representative of things he has said over the years.

I don’t think the problem is that his comments were sexist or racist – which they were.  The problem is that they were mean.  God’s principles teach us to respect all people because we are all made in his image.  What Imus said contradicted that principle.  By simply focusing on the sexist or racist aspect of the comments is to fail to see the real problem.  It’s not just Imus’ problem though – our culture in America no longer cares about God.

The two leading the charge against Don Imus can’t focus on the real issue – lack of respect for God and his creation – because they would then have to treat Don Imus differently.  By focusing on the sexist and racist aspect of the comments, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson can also disregard God and his creation.  God’s authority in how people treat one another is not considered by the main players in this saga.

I wonder what God thinks about all this.  Is it possible that God is concerned not about female people or black people but just simply people?  If that is the case, then Imus, Sharpton, Jackson, et al should think before they speak.

So who wins in the firing of Don Imus?  American culture that disregards God wins because another issue has been settled without considering the real issue: God’s authority over all people and all things.

And America loses.

One Week In

The baseball season is very young.  No team has completed two cycles through their starting pitching rotations.  Cincinnati is atop the National League Central standings in a tie with Pittsburgh at 4-3.  Surely one team will create separation; but for the moment, the six teams in the NL Central are packed in between records of 4-3 & 3-5.  If the Reds hope to reach the post-season they need to have a good start.  Typically, they start fast they taper off through the summer.  They are on pace to win 92 games which might be good enough.  The problem with the NL Central is that only one team goes to the playoffs – rarely is the NL wildcard from this division.

Most gurus expect St. Louis and Chicago to have good seasons.  Both teams have started slowly.  But the season is just a week old.

I love baseball.

Amazing

God is so good.

1.       My family is wonderful.

2.       My church is plugged in.

3.       My job is satisfying.

4.       My health is improving.

5.       My finances are in good shape.

6.       My heart aches for lost people.

7.       My God is good.

Hard Drive

My new computer is here and in fine working order. I'm so glad. The only drawback is that the hard drive on my old computer died. I can't get any information off it. I use my computer for everything! And I never back up the data. Bad mistake.

Hard drives are wonderful things. The documents I use in my work (pastorate) are on there. The documents from the last three churches I've served are on there. Like most of what I save, electronic or otherwise, is of little value but some of it is very helpful. One documents is my preaching calendar. I keep a record of sermons I've preached as well as those I plan to preach. Now I'm scrambling trying to recreate the next few weeks. But my hard drive FORGOT!

God never forgets. Anything. He remembers me. He remembers my needs. He remembers to look out for me. He remembers that I accepted Christ as my Savior and Lord when I was eight years old. He remembers!

In Jeremiah 31:34, God says, "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."

What? God forgets something?

I believe the Bible. All of it. So when the Bible teaches that God knows all things (it does teach that), I believe it. So when I read something that seems to contradict something else in scripture, it must be that I just don't completely understand something. The Bible really cannot contradict itself. My confusion is just proof that I don't know all the Bible holds.

So how can God be omniscient yet not remember sins? I'm sure that God knows I'm a sinner - he knows everything.

The key to understanding this "contradiction" is in the Hebrew word translated "remember" in this verse. It's primary meaning is "to remember." It also has a meaning of "to recall." To me, it seems that recalling is a bit more active than remembering. It's not that God forgets my sin but that he chooses not to recall them. When I accepted his salvation God choose to forgive my sins and not recall them anymore.

I wish my hard drive would choose to recall my data.

"Hi, Bob"

My computer died. It may or may not have been that sick but I am tired of living on the edge not knowing whether it will boot or not. At the moment it will NOT boot. Hopefully, Phillip can get my data off the hard drive.

I have a new HP notebook ordered. Maybe it will be here tomorrow. It's been over a week since my old one worked right. I'm having awful withdrawal symptoms. I guess you could say I'm a junkie.

OK. OK.

Hello. My name is Bob. I'm addicted to my computer.

"Hi, Bob."

Addictions are controlling features, really. Something has control of you and you can't do much about it. Drug addicts often have to experience an "intervention" to break free. Alcoholics slip into addiction without realizing it: they started drinking as a teenager because everyone else did and it turned into an addiction that often costs them their families and jobs.

If there is anything a person should be so connected with that everything they think or do revolves around this, it would be Jesus. I'm so thankful for my relationship with him; it radically affects every part of my life. Like my computer, he died. But he lives again!

Hello. My name is Bob. I'm addicted to Jesus.

"Hi, Bob."

Dog, Deer, and Dears

Dog
Sandy is growing. She has almost doubled in weight since we got her on January 13. She now weighs close to 40 pounds and is about 6 1/2 months old. According to the humane society, she was only supposed to get up to 40-45 pounds. I'm thinking she'll blow past that before long.

She ain't nothing but a hound dog. Actually, probably a little something else, too. It's hard to tell. We went to Memphis a couple of weekends ago and showed Riley some of the Elvis stuff in town. He was impressed that this was the guy who sang "Hound Dog."

We've been talking about taking her to the training sessions at PetSmart but haven't done it, yet. We really, really need to do that. She has some bad habits: jumping up on you, running close to the road and not coming back when you call her, running to the edge of the woods and not coming back when you call her, standing on the other side of the room and not coming back when you call her. School would probably be worth the tuition.

Deer
About a week ago Deana was taking Sandy for her 8:00pm potty trot. Deana starts yelling at Sandy (who doesn't come when you call her) to get her back in the garage - evening sleeping quarters. There was something in the bushes across the yard. Deana said whatever it was was bigger than both of them put together. Rumor has it that there are bear(s) in these woods.

I went out and didn't see or hear anything.

The next night I'm taking Sandy for her 8:00pm potty trot. I hear something in the bushes across the yard. Of course, it is dark and the light at the garage is not shining bright enough or in the right direction. I get my flashlight and shine it in that direction.

Four sets of eyes were staring back at me. I couldn't see anything except the light reflecting in the eyes of four deer. I suppose they were deer; I hope they weren't bear(s).

Tonight was Deana's turn again for the 8:00pm potty trot. She saw a deer standing in the tall grass next to the tree line. With Daylight Savings Time kicking in, it was a bit lighter than usual. Light enough to see an outline anyway. By the time she called for Riley and me, the deer had disappeared.

Dears
Deana and Riley are pretty special people. Can't live without them.

Plenty of Work

I've talked with people in the construction trades recently and get mixed signals: some say there is plenty of work while others have experienced more idle time than they would like. That's sorta the nature of the business. We felt the same trends or cycles when we owned a floor covering store. The cash flow associated with seasonal or cyclical business trends is partially the reason for the poor results we experienced.

I'm 4 months into my first full-time pastorate. Having left a salaried position and a part-time church to move here, I really wasn't sure how my daily and weekly schedule would evolve. I am learning that ministry is cyclical, too. Each week I have the task of preparing for the scheduled services. I preach twice on Sundays and teach a Bible Study on Wednesdays. I read, study, and pray every day in preparation for these. Then I have my personal quite time and time spent praying for the church and our needs.

Still there is ample time to sit at the piano for a few minutes each week. I would probably go crazy without some piano time!

The past two weeks have had a few extras added in that aren't part of every week. Hospital visits and funerals are the cyclical parts of ministry. "Crises" - which includes these and other similar situations - round out the calendar.

A deacon called me a few days after I started and asked if the phone was ringing off the wall. I told him he was the first to call in several days.

It's almost 4 months later and I can't say that anymore. Pastoral ministry is applying the truth of scripture to a person's point of need. So these things are certainly NOT interruptions; they are the reason I am here.