Dear Church Family –
I sure missed church yesterday! I’m sure you did as well. I’m sure that our record winter storm has made life difficult for some of you. I’m praying that we come through it stronger and blessed.
Church is an amazing thing God has created. Church brings together a lot of diverse people—people with different backgrounds, and different abilities, and personalities, and opinions and perspectives and needs. And somehow we come together to worship the same God, and study the same Bible, and advance the same gospel and the same values and hopes. Working together as a church family is a lot like becoming one in marriage—it requires a lot of grace on our part, a lot of surrender of our own desires, and a lot of submission to each other and to God’s leadership structure.
This morning I read some interesting reflections on being a church family. These were written by Thom Rainer who is considered the premier church consultant in America today. Today he looked back over 40 years of church ministry and listed the top things he’s learned. In reading his list, I realized that there is wisdom here for you and me. So, I’m passing them on for you to prayerfully consider. He writes from the perspective of a pastor, but much of what he says is applicable to life in general, not just ministry. Here’s what Thom Rainer wrote.
40 Things I’ve Learned in 40 Years of Ministry
1. God is always faithful. Always. Always. Always.
2. My family is my greatest gift beyond my salvation. I wish I had always realized it.
3. I spent too much time worrying about things that I can’t even remember today.
4. I took too many criticisms personally. Most critics weren’t mad at me.
5. I always grow stronger when I spend time in the Word and prayer.
6. My wife endured a lot in our ministry. I needed to minister to her more.
7. When I can laugh at myself, I am more effective in ministry.
8. I learned to be more compassionate through the deaths of my parents and grandson. I can now understand the pain many experience.
9. I am always hurt when I hold grudges.
10. I need to ask for forgiveness more quickly.
11. I need friends to share both the joys and the challenges of ministry.
12. I wish my sons had not seen my frustrations when I was a pastor or a dad or a husband.
13. Life is short. Live it totally for Him every moment.
14. I should stand stronger for injustice.
15. Some of my most miserable days came when I grew jealous of others in ministry.
16. Some other miserable days came when I lived to please people rather than God.
17. When I don’t take care of myself physically, ministry seems more of a burden than a joy.
18. Children are young but for a season. Some of my greatest joys have been with my three sons.
19. One of the greatest blessings of life is to have adult children who are my best friends.
20. I’m not nearly as smart as I sometimes think I am.
21. I’ve never seen an argument won on social media.
22. The local church is the best imperfect place on earth.
23. I am always wiser when I listen to the wisdom of others.
24. Too often, I list my problems rather than count my blessings.
25. The devil is always looking for a way to trap me (1 Timothy 3:7).
26. The internet never forgives or forgets.
27. My success is not measured by the size of my church or the prestige of my organization.
28. I’ve had a lot of grace shown to me. I need to pass that gift forward more.
29. Many people who disagree with me have proved right.
30. I am ashamed of how many times I have not shared the gospel.
31. The older I get, the more I anticipate heaven with excitement. I wish I had always had that perspective.
32. I’ve needed to demonstrate kindness more intentionally and more frequently.
33. Every church has some really mean people. God has called me to love and serve them, too.
34. I fight pride more often than I’d like to admit.
35. Some of my worst moments in ministry were when I lost my temper.
36. I’ve learned who my true friends are when I have little to offer them.
37. I need to practice the discipline of repentance more frequently.
38. Encouragement works better than harsh words.
39. I need to read more.
40. My grandchildren are almost perfect.
Wednesday night at 6:30 is our annual “test” of relating to each other, of bringing our personal diversity into a ministry unity. It’s our Annual Church Meeting where leaders are elected and decisions made. I hope you’ll come to contribute your grace and joy and thought to our church decision-making process. Please come with prayer and grace and love and joy. We look forward to being the church together in 2025.
Because of Christ Who is the Chief-Shepherd of the church – Pastor Tim
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