January 31 – “Melancholy Monday”

Great day at church yesterday morning.  The praise team did a remarkable job.  They are getting more and more confidence in themselves even without Lanny being there for them.  I had many compliments on them after worship.  I even talked to a new guy who is interested in joining up with them.  Sounds like he has been in a choir before.  Great way to respond to ministry opportunity.   Speaking of ministry opportunities, in the last two days I have heard four different ideas people have had for serving others.  The first one was in the playground after Jachin's basketball game Saturday.  A group called Galveston Urban Ministries has recruited a bunch of Texas A&M Galveston students to come to that playground every Saturday.  Maybe we could supply them with some refreshments every so often.  Or better yet, maybe some of our kids and adults could go out there and join them in a mini-mission experience.  The second one involved a guy who is interested in doing some kind of ministry to nursing homes and assisted living facilities.  His first step is going to be talking to the directors to see what would really help them specifically.  That one might fit in nicely with a third one Chris heard this morning.  Something about a quilting ministry, but I'm not sure what that would look like.  The fourth one involved trying to get permission to do block parties in apartment complexes.  He had a vision of using the Galveston Baptist Association's new block party trailer.  Then maybe develop ongoing Bible studies.  Oh, and someone even said they felt called to work on a marketing team for Seaside Christian Academy.  I even got a call from a lady in Tyler who wanted a Galveston phone book so she could send a tract to everybody in Galveston.  Looks like some folks are getting outside of themselves and looking outward.  Bring on the ministry.  Be creative.  God is an awful big God.   Honestly, in spite of the excitement about ministry, today began as one of those Melancholy Mondays that are so common in the life of a pastor.  We (pastors) pour everything we have into preparing for Sunday and then carrying out the teaching, along with any meetings we are expected to attend.  Our entire life and that of our family is wrapped up in the church and how we can get the people equipped for ministry.  All our energy is focused intently on touching people for God in what for some might be the last or only moment they will ever have to hear the Gospel.  That part is exhilarating, yet often exhausting.  Add to it the roles we have to play in people's lives.  Father, husband, son, friend, counselor, host, sounding board, moral conscience, and the list goes on.  Then add on the extra expectations people have of us.  We should be perfect in every way.  So should our children.  We should be available to do whatever it is that no one else wants to do.  We should do all the confronting.  We should be the CEO of the church organization.  We should have our hands in every tiny aspect of the church organizational life.  For me the most tiring thing is being the "spin doctor," listening patiently and in love to each of the farthest apart factions on issues facing the group, and then coming up with a middle ground that includes points of satisfaction for each group yet still glorifies God in its end result.  Sometimes that comes easy.  Sometimes it takes a long time to really hear people through the passions and emotions they operate from, and even longer to work through a solution.  They are all convinced that they are in God's will, therefore anyone who disagrees must be under the influence of Satan.  In the meantime impatience abounds all around.  Makes for a very stressful situation.  But the pastor can't lose it.  He must be the calming factor.  He must model the life of Jesus.  Humility.  Patience.  Peace.  Unity.   Love.  Hey, all you pastors out there.  I understand.  Hang in there.  Joy comes in the morning.  Just not always Monday morning.   Psalms 25:8-9 says, "Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.  He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way."   Father, I know joy comes in the morning.  On Mondays could you please wake up the rooster sooner?  Amen.