Sigh!!!

I'm always glad when Thursday gets here because I love my weekends. I take Fridays off and have the weekend with my family. It is great to be with family. On Fridays we don't have any trains to catch and we can just enjoy being with each other. Though we have some things to do on Saturdays, it is still a relaxing day for the most part. When you're in ministry, having some days to not think about ministry is essential. My life and my family's life revolves around the church. Because of that there needs to be some Sabbath rest from church life so we can keep our energy in ministry and prevent burnout.

It is hard to believe that I've been in ministry for 8 years this month not including any internships. I've learned so much in 8 years and discovered that I have so much more to figure out than what I've already learned. Ministry is a life long learning process.

Some of the things I've learned in ministry:

1. Organization is a good thing. My strength has never been organization. It is not in my personality, but I've learned to organize when I need to. It will never be my strength, but I believe that people can learn how to effectively do things they are not good at. I still have a ways to go, but I'm getting there.

2. God is so in control- There have been times when things didn't go as planned and God steps in and does incredible things. An example of this was at a youth camp that I've been a part of for 15 years, Palmetto Bible Camp (PBC). We had planned a "Spirit Jam" which was pretty much a concert of great Christian music. We brought in instruments and was well planned and rehearsed. That evening before we were to perform a huge storm came and knocked out the power as we were assembled in the "ark." (Our big pavilion that we have our assemblies) We lit candles and sang over the rain pouring down on the aluminum ceiling. To this day, youth will tell you that it is the most incredible worship experience they have ever experienced. When God steps in, there is no doubt it is Him, and He generally works when it can only be a God thing.

3. Churches have problems wherever you go- I learned early on that you don't escape church problems. Every church has its quirks. I will never move because I think I've found a church with little to no problems. Actually if there were such thing as a perfect church they wouldn't want me anyways. I'd mess it up for them.

4. You can't give what you don't have- There have been to many times in my life where I've tried to give spiritually when I wasn't filling myself spiritually. I was giving dry heaves. I've learned that a big part of my ministry, especially in worship ministry, is keeping spiritually filled. I have to be intentional about that or I end up empty.

Ok, I've learned much more than that, but those are some of the first things that come to mind. I pray that I am daily feeding so I am daily able to give.

Be praying for a friend of mine that hasn't been to church in years. He is frustrated with Christians and what they profess and then what they do. I'll be talking more about him later.

My God's blessings be on you all.

Bret