Ministry Grows When I Grow

My title may seem too simple, "Ministry Grows When I Grow," but nonetheless I find strong truth in its simplistic nature. Are growth models, endless brainstorming, reediting vision statements, and endless books on how to make ministry successful really what I need taking up the space in my brain? Why read a book on 200 ways to do outreach, at the expense of the Bible sitting on the shelf? No book or creative event can ever compensate for a heart that is cold and lacking the zeal of God for humanity lost. Put the rubbish alternatives away and continue reading this blog.

This entry is the first of three dealing with, "What are a few key concepts that I need to convey to the college students'." The second entry will focus upon an "Outreach Vision That Lasts," and the third will address what are in my mind two large competing theories of going about outreach, large versus small. The emphasis here is on my specific area of ministry for UW-Milwaukee, University of Marquette, MSOE, and MIAD, where I concentrate on outreach.

I've been in a foul mood as of late. I have always been bothered before by another start of a ministry school year with its accompanying high hopes, aspirations, and dreams, and this year holds true to form, I'm uneasy once again. I'm beside myself. Even more than that, I'm flat out agitated and irritated as I stand at the cusp my a new year.

Look at the situation. We just had a retreat where the student servantship team planned out the semester. That is 20 + students and 5 staff, 4 interns and the pastor all pooling resources and knowledge together to try to make this year happen. What is wonderful to see is the great passion and fire from these student leaders. It is great to see, it truly is. What bothers me, is that somehow we as overseers are to make sure we continue to help kindle and nature the fire already existing within these students. In this situation, I personally see my job is to help continue to make the dreams of the students come true. Many ideas, hopes, and various strategies get thrown out on the table on planning weekends such as these. I get upset with myself, because it would be a lack of leadership on my own behalf to waste the wonderful zeal of these students and to see them frustrated at the end of the school year with very little of their initial high hopes worked out and accomplished. So what message can I bring to these student leaders?

It is always a challenge is to help put practical flesh on passionate zeal, but where does the crux of this dilemma rest? What is the black hole that zaps energy and ends so many ministry years in utter disappoint? The worst thing to see is young passionate leaders become frustrated, fizzle, and burn out as the school year full of promises comes crashing down to the reality of another year of mediocrity.

Now, I think that the word, 'mediocrity,' will serve well to address the solution to how I see the current predicament. The reason I fail is because of misplaced and misguided attention. The reason for my agitation has nothing to do with the ministry or with others' spiritual lives. No, that is wrong, dead wrong. The issue and solution does not rest on others shoulders. The issue is internal. The problem is within one's own darkened soul. So, the reason for mediocrity can never be pointed to others, no matter how much I would like to deceive myself that others are the problem.

Mediocrity, is due to the unwarranted concentration on changing others, rather than intense inward focus on changing oneself. We are simply vessels which God chooses to use in His ministry. The truth is that if I spent half as much time trying to change others as I spent trying to change myself, I would be more developed and would be able to be used by God in more powerful ways.

So, a successful year, a year that has slain the beast of mediocrity comes down to getting after one's own mediocrity which we far too often allow to creep into our lives. Do we really expect God to deliver an amazing year, if our own lives continue sinking into the quicksand of mediocrity? I know the answer to that, and so do you. So, I commit myself to grow more, so that I may be able to be used more by God. In sum, the ministry grows, when we each take personal responsibility to grow. So, let us desire this year to get after ourselves in the practice of the spiritual disciplines and take a serious spiritual journey with God. If we do so it will be evident that we are not a mediocre people, who as a resultant do not produce a mediocre ministry.

I do not want my witness to the world be that I worship a mediocre God, of mediocre power, who has mediocre love, and who only slightly desires to let the world know that He loves them. I will not be satisfied with mediocrity in my soul. So let me repent.

Start of a new ministry year in prayer

I now work for Elmbrook Church in Brookfield Wisconsin in the college ministry.

So, how do I make this year more effective than my other years of ministry?

If there is one thing I want to do well this year, let it be to pray well. Because if I pray well, everything else can't be too far behind.

I know it is the case for me, and I suspect we all struggle at various times with the prayer issue as well. It's often a lot of talk about prayer, but then unfortunately little in the end. It all comes down to if we believe God hears, responds, and acts. I think so. I think the biblical characters believed so.

Does prayer mean anything? Does it impact anything? If God is going to be in this year of ministry, and anything worthwhile results from this year in ministry we all know that it is God who makes it happen. Reliance in God is everything, His hand in the ministry is everything. If God is not here, and our hearts aren't turned to Him, let's go home and not waste everybody's time.

But if God taught his people in Scripture that prayer is important, then let it be important for us as well. Our responsibility isn't to get bogged down in how the mystery of prayer works, it is simply to pray, and have faith that God's ear is still bent towards earth just as it was centuries ago. We can have faith that God acts as He is forever wise and always knows best. God loves to touch the human soul. God will still act, because God remains good. God loves college students too much, that if the people in ministry like myself allow a place for God in our lives, God will show up in the ministry.

In sum, I know that if I want to make something of this year, then nothing can ever replace a close heart to God through prayer.

Let us not attempt to put a straitjacket on God, and let us always continue to pray and live lives pleasing to our Lord.

Personal Discontentment

I believe personal discontentment when its winds are harnessed appropriately is one of the largest driving forces to positive change. As humans we have the uncanny tendency not to change until we are disgusted with who we see in the mirror. Until we see ugliness we are not inclined to change.

"If everyone was satisfied with himself, there would be no heroes." -Mark Twain

My lesson to learn today is not to be happy drifting through life, but strive to be faithful and devote with the gifts and talents God has given me.

Centuries Ago Speak Today Part 6

This is my last installment of my notes from the Imitation of Christ. I hope you benefited, grown closer to God, and have a renewed zeal for grappling with your sinful nature. May God's grace abound in you.

But blessed is that man who for Your sake, Lord, gives up all earthly things, and, forcibly overcoming his natural inclinations, which an ardent will crucifies fleshly desires, in order that with serene conscience my may offer pure prayer to You.

In these and many such ways the Lord's faithful servant is tested as to how far he can deny himself.

You know what is good for my spiritual progress, and how much suffering I need to wipe away the rust of sin from my soul.

For, as St. Francis said, a person is only worth as much as he is in Your eyes, no more, no less.

My child, you cannot always burn with zeal for virtue, nor remain constantly in a higher stage of spiritual contemplation; because of original sin you must sometimes descend to the less, and to bear with sorrow the burdens of this corruptible life, even if it is against your will. So long as you wear a mortal body, you will suffer weariness and heaviness of heart. While you are still in the flesh, you will often bemoan the burden of the flesh, which hinders you from continual spiritual exercises and divine contemplation.

Seek a secluded place; love to dwell alone with yourself. Avoid talking with others as much as possible; instead pour forth devout prayer to God that you may preserve a humble mind and a clean conscience.

O what great confidence he shall have at death, who is not attached to anything in this world! But a man sick in soul is not able to keep his heart free of worldly entanglements, nor does the natural man know the liberty of the spiritual man. Yet, when a man truly wishes to be spiritual, he must renounce friends as well as strangers, and must beware of himself most of all. If you completely conquer self, you will more easily master everything else. To triumph over self is the perfect victory. For he who holds himself in such subjection that his passions obey reason and his reason obeys Me in all matters, is truly his own master, and lord of the world.

He who desires to walk with Me in true freedom must mortify his irregular and undisciplined desires, and must not hold on, with selfish love or desire to anything created.

Nature is unwilling to be mortified, checked, overcome, obedient, or willingly subject. Grace, on the contrary, strives for self-mortification.

The more, therefore, that nature is controlled and overcome, the richer is the grace given, while man is daily renewed by fresh visitations after the likeness of God.

I know the way of perfection and clearly know what I should do, but being weighed down by my own corruption I do not rise to the more perfect.

My child, the more you leave yourself the more you will be able to enter into Me. And as the absence of craving for material things brings peace, so the forsaking of self interiorly unites you to God. I want to learn perfect renunciation to My will, without contradiction or complaint.

When have I ever fared well without You?

But who am I, Lord, that I should presume to approach You? Behold, heaven cannot contain You, and yet You say to me: "Come!"

(On preparing himself to partake in holy communion)
How, then, can I prepare myself in one short hour to receive with reverence the Maker of the world?

Centuries Ago Speak Today Part 5

More from the Imitation of Christ.

Of Complete Resignation of Self in Order to Gain Inner Freedom

My child, give up self and you will find Me.

I make no exception, but wish to find you stripped of everything. How else can you be all Mine, unless you be stripped of all self-will? The sooner you do this the better it will be for you; and the more completely and genuinely done, the more you will please Me, and the more you will profit. Some give up self, but with certain reservations; for they do not trust God completely, so they try to safeguard their future.

Would that I did not concern myself with the future, but rather unquestioningly gave myself over to pleasing You!

Self-denial is the true advance of man.

Unless I am assisted by You I grow faint and lukewarm.

You ought to be so dead to human affections as to wish as much as possible to be without the fellowship of men.

If you knew how to annihilate yourself completely and to empty yourself of all love of creatures, then I would flood you with My graces.

Learn to master yourself in all things for the sake of Your Creator, and then you will have knowledge of divine things.

Never study in order top appear more wise and learned; it is more profitable for you to root out your vices than to answer difficult questions.

But woe to those who inquire of men about many curious things, and care very little about the way they serve Me.

He profited more by renouncing everything than by studying subtleties.

Centuries Ago Speak Today Part 4

More from the Imitation of Christ.

I often lament and grieve over my unhappiness; for many evils befall me in this valley of miseries, often disturbing me, making me sad, often hindering and distracting me, alluring and entangling me so that I neither have free access to You nor can enjoy the sweet embraces which You have ever reading for blessed souls. Let my sighs and the desolation of earth move You, Lord.

Restrain my wandering thoughts and suppress the temptations which attack me so violently. Fight strongly for me, and conquer these evil beasts (the desires of the flesh) so that peace may come through Your power, so that the fullness of Your praise may resound in a holy place, that is, a pure conscience.

Everyone desires peace, but not everyone cares for the things that go to make true peace.

Do not think, therefore, that you have found true peace if you feel no depression, or that all is well because you suffer no opposition. Do not think that all is perfect if everything happens just as you wish.

The question is asked, on what does peace depend upon?... It consists in offering yourself with all your heart to the divine Will, not seeking your own way either in small or in great matters, either in temporal or eternal things, so that you will continue to give the same thanks to God whether in adversity or prosperity, by seeking all things in their proper light.

Lord, one who desires perfection must make it his first task to keep his mind at all times set on heavenly things.

Preserve me, too, from the many necessities of the body, lest I become ensnared by carnal pleasures.

Even eating, drinking, clothing, and the other necessities of the body are burdensome to the fervent soul. (here is one of many examples in the book that makes your ears perk up. I don't think the statements necessarily imply that Kempis is going so far to say that the material realm or the body is bad, but it certainly seems to suggest that the body is annoying, "burdensome," and gets in the way of spiritual pursuits. Maybe he takes it more extreme in other places, but here it seems to be more tame. Nonetheless, I must admit that I am curious about Christian mystic views of the material and other even more extreme positions that speak of the toil and labor in this realm and not so kind assessments of this physical state. Obviously no one wants to slip into the extreme of the good/spiritual/immaterial vs bad/physical/material distinction and be an out and out heretic. Oh, the heavens and earth the Lord created in the beginning were certainly good as Genesis 1 echoes again and again, but what are the fall effects of the fall? Certainly, even today many would agree experientially that daily physical hardships leaves the soul weary.)

My child, you should give all for all, and be as nothing to yourself. Know that self-love harms you more than anything else in the world.

It is no help, therefore, to multiply external possessions: far better to be indifferent to them and to eradicate the very desire for them from your heart.

Position in life contributes little if the spirit of fervor is missing.

And who is more free than one who desires nothing on earth?

And unless one is set free from all created things one cannot freely attend to divine things. That is why so few men of contemplation are to be found, because few know how to hide themselves from created things which perish eventually.

There is a vast difference between wisdom of a devout, enlightened man and the knowledge of a well-read man.

Many are eager for the contemplative life, but they do not try to practice what is necessary for it. One great obstacle is that they rely on feelings, and care little about denying self.

Hold fast to this brief, concise proverb: "Lose all and you will find all; stop seeking and you will find rest."

Child, trust not your feeling of the moment; it will quickly change into another. As long as you live you are subject to change even against your will, so that at one time you find yourself happy, at another said; at one time calm, at another disturbed; now devout, then lukewarm; now fervent, then lackadaisical; now serious, later light-headed. But the one learned of spirit is above these things, not caring about his feelings, or from where the wind of fickleness blows, but only that his entire purpose is directed to the right and wished-for goal.

Centuries Ago Speak Today Part 3

Here is more from the Imitation of Christ.

You have nothing of your own in which you can glory; rather, you have many things for which you should consider yourself vile; for you are much weaker than you realize.

For these are evils which you suffer rather than commit; and so long as you struggle against them, it is a matter of merit and not of loss.

They do not take into account their own weakness; they follow the emotions of the heart rather than the dictates of reason.

When you have a moment of fervor meditate how you will feel when the fervor leaves you.

I have given all things, I will that all things be returned to Me, and I shall require an exact account.

O gracious and joyful service of God, which makes a man truly free and holy!

That you conform your desires entirely to My good pleasure, and that you be not a lover of self but an earnest doer of My will. Desires often inflame you and drive you madly about, but consider whether you are acting for My honor or out of self-interest.

Sometimes you must use violence on yourself in order to resist your sensual appetite. Pay no attention to what the body likes or dislikes; rather, be sure it is subject to the spirit, even by force if necessary.

Therefore, son, “go not after your lusts, but turn away from you own will.” (Eccl. 18:30).

There is no more troublesome enemy of the soul than self, if it is not in harmony with the spirit. If you wish to overcome the flesh, you must have contempt for self. Because you still love yourself too inordinately, you are afraid to resign yourself wholly to the will of others.

Learn, O dust, to obey! Learn to humble yourself, O earth and clay! Learn to bow down under the feet of other men! Learn to break your own will, to submit to others! Fight self!

My child, let Me do whatever I please with you. I know what is best for you.

The better you dispose yourself to suffer, the more wisely you act and the greater is the reward promised you; you will suffer more easily if your mind and habits are diligently trained to it.

If you desire victory, then, prepare to fight. Without struggle you cannot obtain the crown of patience, and if you refuse to suffer, you refuse the crown. But if you desire the crown, fight manfully and bear up patiently. Without labor there is no rest, and without fighting, no victory.

The fact that I am prone to fall into sin and powerless to resist my passions often oppresses me and confounds me in Your sight. And although I do not give full consent, still the assaults of my passions are very troublesome; I am exceedingly weary of waging this continuous conflict. My infirmity is clear to me, for evil fancies rush in upon me much more easily than they leave.

Strengthen me with heavenly courage, lest an old and wicked enemy, the body, dominate me, a body which is not yet subjected to the spirit and against which I must fight as long as I breathe this miserable life.

How is it possible to love this life—a life soured with so many calamities and miseries? Indeed, how can it even be called life when it generates nothing but pestilence and death? And yet, many love this life and seek their entire happiness in it!

Some things cause us to love the world, other things make us despise it. The lust of the flesh, the desire of the eyes and the pride of life lead men to love it, while the pains and miseries, which are the just consequence of those things, cause hatred and weariness of the world.