The Blog of Todd Green

A few thoughts on a bleary, dreary Saturday...

I really think that people involved in ministry of any type have to often stop and re-evaluate their lives, priorities and purpose. Ministry is not about a desk, office hours, publications, paperwork or even events. That is the infrastructure that supports ministry. Not the purpose of ministry. Could we have ministry without those things? Probably. Ministry is also not about the move of the Holy Spirit on the earth (at least not in a non-specific way). It is one thing to have great church services, another thing entirely to have real ministry going on. Again, it is infrastructure. The Holy Spirit is needed, but just because you have it, doesn't mean there is real ministry happening.

The harsh truth is, ministry is about people. In all of their unglorious mess-ups, hang-ups and failures. With all of their faults, scars and yes, baggage. Real ministry happens when a time and effort investment is made by someone who cares. Someone who will not roll their eyes at the goof-ups of someone else. Someone who has a passion and a burden. Someone who can be an extension of the grace of God in someone else's life.

Ministry is not for someone who wants to keep their hands clean. When you deal with people, you will get dirty. Surgeons wash their hands before surgery. But the hands that are clean going in are usually bloody coming out. During surgery the surgeon with clean hands does not say,"I'm not putting my hands in that blood, they'll get dirty." Going into surgery, the surgeon knows his purpose and his duty. And it often makes him bloody.

Ministry is not for the faint of heart, for you will become a target. It is not for the impatient, because change never happens as fast as you would like. Ministry is not for the weak of mind, because people can make you nuts.

I am re-evaluating my agenda and my priorities. Am I better suited as an office manager or a minister of the Gospel? There are some that I know that are more comfortable behind a desk than dealing with people. So, I have to ask; What are my priorities saying? Do they say I am better suited for something else?

I am re-evaluating my calling and passions. What brings fulfillment to my life? Am I being faithful to the call of God on my life?

Most importantly; are my priorities matching my calling? For without people, there is no reason for the church.

posted by Todd @ 8:38 AM

A few items on my hits and misses list:
Hits (in no particular order):
--Starbucks
--Grape Jelly and Watermelon Jelly Bellys
--Wi-Fi technology (when it works)
--Sonograms of my unborn child
--The sound of my daughter's laugh
--The touch of my wife's hand

Misses (again, in no particular order):
--Diets
--Wi-Fi technology (when it doesn't work)
--Restaurants with bad service and/or bad food
--Busy schedules

More to come...

posted by Todd @ 4:13 PM