Go...Daily...Go...Wow, things were moving fast! Yet, I knew that even though very few things were making sense at this point, I was being awakened to a whole new world that would soon come into focus. I had to come to the realization that I didn't have to be on staff at some local church in a certain location to be in full time ministry. What a wake-up call. That's one of those things that I always knew...but I didn't know it! Know what I mean?
It was at this point in my life that I was reacquainted...reintroduced to my calling. That I was to go and do wherever the Holy Spirit directed...not to search out a certain position in a certain location. I had to go back to the beginning and take a long hard look at my spiritual inventory and the spiritual mile markers in my life.
Spiritual Gifts tests have always proven to me that I have two unique gifts: music/worship and evangelism. And not necessarily in that order. I have an indescribable passion for worship and to lead His people before His throne. Being a musician has always given me a vehicle for entering His presence at the highest level. My favorite place is to be in the 'zone' and imagine myself at His feet, with guitar in hand, singing my most intimate praise to Him. And to take others along with me for that ride is absolutely chilling. One day, I'll be able to stay in the 'zone'...
For my other gift, evangelism is not something I do...it's just me, it's a way of life. I'm the guy that slows up the checkout line at Wal-Mart because I'm telling the cashier just how great my Jesus is. Again, it's not something that I think about doing, or think I should be doing...I just do it...it just happens. So many people have this misconception that by inviting people to church is the same thing as witnessing...NO IT'S NOT. Witnessing is when you are so in love with Jesus Christ, that you can't help but tell others about Him and what He's done for you. The phrase that rings so true is "It's not about religion...it's about a relationship!" It's never been if you 'love' Jesus, it's are you 'in love' with Jesus. And fear has gripped the hearts and mouths of so many Christians that it's become difficult to share Christ with others.
Churches, in my experience, are notorious for putting so much pressure and demands on staff members, that it becomes difficult for them to actually 'minister'. Demands for office hours, 'job' requirements, attempting to please everyone (which by the way, can NOT be done), and so on, hinder many men from doing what God called them to do. And I'll be the first to admit that I've allowed it to happen to me to the point, that my focus has been more on churchy stuff, and not on God stuff. (This paragraph is a definite post in the making!) I found myself falling and falling deeper and deeper into a never-ending black hole...further and further away from my family, my calling and myself. Not only was I speeding in the wrong direction, I was asleep at the wheel...
Just like many a father over the years have taken their young sons outside to the woodshed for guidance and direction, so it was that my Heavenly Father had to grab me by the knapp of my neck and drag me out to His spiritual woodshed. And just like those other young men, I came away with a better...a much more clearer understanding of where I was and what I was supposed to be doing...I came out of it, a better, a much stronger man.
"You want me to what?"
"You heard Me."
"You want me to do what? You're sure? You know there is absolutely NO WAY I can do this myself."
"Now you're getting it. Remember what we've talked about...more of Me, less of you."
"More of me?"
"More...of...ME."
"More of You, less of me. All of You, none of me."
"Bingo!"
Imagine that. Through years and years of secular work, business travel, church politics and dysfunctunal churches, I've been allowed to do something that I always had dreamed of doing. Having the freedom to be...do...go...daily as He calls me. Being in a place where I can be myself, be with my family, love my friends, make countless new friends and induldge in my favorite pastime...coffee. Being able to put 'feet to my prayers', to show others what a Christ-filled life is like in the real world, not secluded or condemned to stay behind the four walls of a church. I'm actually able to be part of His church for the first time in my life. Having a place where people can come in and be themselves...to laugh...to cry...to pray. A place where the unloveable can find love...the hopeless can find hope...a place where Jesus is found at the intersection of church and the real world. A place where I can call home...a place my family can invite countless others to in a non-threatening environment...a place to serve....serve others through Him. A place that's easy to remember...a place you would want to be...a place that reflects me...Dad's Place...but we all know it's His Place.
To say the very least, I've learned a lot in the past two years. I've learned that the love my family has for each other is indescribable and incalculable...that God truly provides for you on a day-by-day basis if you let Him...that if you will just listen and watch, God will speak in a very direct way and He will open and close doors for you that only He can. I've learned who my friends really are, because there are many who just don't understand the fact that I still serve in full-time ministry, just in a much different method. I still get offers from churches to come back on staff, yet each time God very lovingly reminds me about why I do what I do. I've learned that the measure of a man is not determined by the amount of money he makes, the home he lives in, the car he drives, the church he serves in, or the people he tries to impress...he's measured by the God he serves, how he serves Him, how he leads his family and what effect he has on the Kingdom.
What does the future hold...I honestly don't have a clue. But for now, I'm enjoying the ride of a lifetime...the cruise control is set...my seat belt is buckled...my sun glasses are on...and the coffee is brewing...
13 comments:
Leave it to God to set you up with a vehicle that includes a coffee brewing option...what is it, a Winnebago?
Super conclusion, Jim! I love the "what does the future hold" ending with the driving-off-into-the-unknown feel to it...it IS kind of like a Back To The Future ending.
Your sentiments about the common expectations of churches are shared by me, though I am humbled by the ease with which you open up and evangelize in a natural, disarming way. For some of us (read Mark W.), that is SO hard and unnatural.
Jeff - Way to go after it! I am very uneasy about "submission" to authority myself. I have also spent a goodly amount of time being an unchurched Christian because of my bad experiences, but for that entire time I knew that I needed to have good Christian brothers around me to keep me accountable to myself, my family, etc. As my own little confrontation (last week) made mention, the church is meant to "edify" us through fellowship with other believers. Even though I am tempted at times to go be a hermit, I know that it would be unhealthy.
Bottom line - if drshaneknight really is trying to define "going it alone," that isn't healthy. It's also the reason why a lot of pastors crash and burn after a while...they see themselves as alone with no one-on-one accountability with peers.
I completely sympathize with Jim's feelings about churches, but I've also been wanting to hear for some time a full vision for how being unchurched is biblically defensible.
Perhaps that blog will be forthcoming. :)
I've been impressed with the way that you have changed venues of ministry. It's something that you don't see done successfully very often. I'm glad you didn't quit ministry, you simply started doing it. The best is yet to come for you, my friend, and I can't wait to hear about the roadside attractions along your journey.
As far as the churched/unchurched bunny trail (hey, I've been on one of those lately!) is concerned, having your name on a membership roll and being a regular attender of a corporate gathering that we call "the church" doesn't necessarily mean that you are connected with THE church. I personally can neither condone NOR condemn someone not belonging to a particular congregation as long as there is regular fellowship with the body. From what I've seen and from discussions we have had, there is no disconnect between you and the body of Christ. It's clear that there are men of God that you allow to speak into your life as a covering of accountability. Fellowship and studying the Word with other believers is not being neglected. The only thing I see in scripture that provides an example of going to a formal location to pray and worship is when we hear of the apostles going to the temple. So, in summary, I see no evidence of a disconnect from the body through fellowship, nor a lack of accountability to leadership in your life. The seeds you sow and the impact you make upon those who you see at Dad's Place who don't know Christ far exceed what you could do in a place with the word "church" over the door. Never forget - we are the church. We are the temple of the Holy Ghost. Jesus never told us to invite people to come to a place, He said for us to go to them.
Where are the people? They are looking for COFFEEEEEEEE!
What a wonderful testimony of what happens for people (and more importantly, the Kingdom) when we open our ears and hearts to God.
wow!
well, i'm about to walk out the door to attend our agency-wide retreat for the weekend, and i just got too backed up to get in on this discussion. i will say this for now... i can completely understand the lack of options in monticello for someone who wants to stay true to their southern baptist roots.
Two separate issues are being laid onto Jim here that are erroneously being grouped into one issue.
First issue:
I believe that not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together is essential. This speaks to the body getting together for fellowship, worship and edification. Is Jim forsaking this instruction? If we remember that the church is not a corporate entity with a name over the door - I would say an emphatic NO.
Second issue:
Submitting yourselves to one another vs submission directly to God. An important balance one must have. I must repeat, I know that Jim has men of God (pastors, evangelists, etc) he trusts and has willfully submitted himself to a relationship where they can speak healing and even correction into his life. As far as pastors being "submissive" to those in their congregation, I agree with "Jimmie way out in west texas" that it is a recipe for disaster. A pastor should have some who he feeds off of and can recieve correction OUTSIDE of his congregation. (This is the good thing about organizations like the SBC and the Assemblies of God - they provide a covering for their pastors, evangelists, etc.)
Back to the subject of the post - Wow, inspiring message, and I hate that comments got out of hand that took the glory from God for the testimony Jim shared.
Wow! Everyone makes great points. and... as always there are different ideas and interpretations of how life as a Christian should live.
My input on this goes to the individual at hand. I honestly believe that Jim's personal experience is right where he needs to be, just by knowing first hand at some of his experiences. I think that it is great that Jim can stay focused on the "common denominator" that we all should share in life, and that is "Jesus Christ".
In many cases I have seen many families get dumped on by individuals in different churches, (sometimes knowingly, sometimes not), let's face it, there are some evil people out there that really enjoy seeing others hurt at their expense. I've seen these families walk away from everything that remotely even reminds them of church. The sad thing is that includes "God, and Jesus Christ" on who they are walking away from. I know that we all should have the theory of "If someone throws lemons at you, make lemonaide" but that true fact is, words do hurt, just as much, or even more than sticks and stones.
To sum this up:
I think it is great that Jim has made lemonaide. I think I'll have a glass.
PS: Jim, the Jericho message this week was, "THE EMP HITS"
God Bless
Hey Kevin! Actually he has made COFFEE...which is so much better than lemonade!
In fact, I suggest we change that idiom enitrely..."when someone hands you burnt beans...make coffee!"
Off I go to brew some...
the people are looking for coffeeeee!
Wow...what a ride! Another journey begins in just a few days...
i'm back off retreat but still pressed for time unfortunately. i do want to bring up something that has been a concern of mine for years. i served as church staff for 12 years before approaching youth ministry from this new angle of houseparenting. one of the biggest challenges for me, and i also believe for the vast majority of ministers, is having somebody you can confide in and be accountable to (yes, i agree that we are ultimately accountable to God, but i also know that its imperative that we have Godly people in our lives as accountability partners, and quite frankly, just somebody to vent to). its nearly impossible for that to take place within one's own church. just about every minister i know, including myself, has had to go outside of their own church to find that kind of relationship, usually with a minister or member of another church. it is at great peril and risk to his ministerial future that a church staffer would dare to be totally transparent with a member of his own congregation. a very sad, but very true commentary on the state of relationships within our local church bodies.
having witnessed firsthand (and having been part of the collateral damage of) the events that led to jim's current ministry venue, i see nothing but positives in the current flow of things. even without the traditional trappings of what we've come to expect as part of a "church" setting, and what constitutes the "staff" of said church, i believe with all my heart that dad's place is as much a "church" as any facility in this town that you'd find listed under "places of worship" in the classified section of the paper, or under "churches" in the yellow pages of the local phone book. and i consider jim whaley to the the senior pastor of that highly caffeinated church.
i just finished reading the new barna book "revolution" and what he's finding more and more is that there are people of faith all over this world that yearn to do more, and they are going beyond the walls of the local church to impact their world for the Kingdom. in many ways, its a shame that its come to that, but the local church has nobody to blame for it but themslves.
Dean said: "it is at great peril and risk to his ministerial future that a church staffer would dare to be totally transparent with a member of his own congregation."
Sad, sad, sad!!! I would never stay at a (so-called) church where this was the case. That kind of crap is SO NOT what I'm looking for in my life...and I doubt that any sane people are. SAD, SAD, SAD!!!
Words fail me.
Jeff, on your 3rd post on this string of posts you misspelled the 9th word of your 10th paragraph; its "metaphor" not "metapor." Just figured I would be random!
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