Day #5 of Transparency Week
Car work, finalization, frustration and possibly changing plans – Welcome to Thursday, Day #5 of Transparency Week!
As mentioned yesterday, I began the day getting some work done to the car in preparation for some upcoming travels. The work was easy and simple, but the time constraints of the ministry and upcoming personal events, made the decision to go to Gerald’s Tires much easier. As I sat, pondering the events of Wednesday, I began to wonder what a Thursday would bring and what opportunities God would allow me. Having only been in full-time ministry for twelve years, I have begun to realize how much in control God really is. Notice I said I have begun, I never said I understand it, because I do not and never will understand the thinking of God. His ways are greater than my ways and His thoughts high than my own.
Thursday brought simplicity and frustration. Simplicity came in the form and preparing lessons, only to receive a call to inform me that I will only speak once instead of twice. Frustration came in the form of not having simple things work the way the should.
Since I am only speaking once this weekend, I will have the opportunity to sit with my family for the first time in a long time. I know it may not sounds like much, after all, about each lesson I present is 30 minutes; but that is 30 minutes during a time of awe and respect of God, my family and I are separated. Many people think preachers are with their family on Sunday, but that is not entirely correct. We are with our family in the same building, but we are not necessarily together. We see our family on Sundays, but many times that is all it is, a quick look or a passing touch. Ministers need to be on top of their game on Sundays (as the stereotype goes). Most ministers have a plethora of things running through their minds on Sunday morning; everything from unlocking the building, greeting visitors, finding members to pass along information, to teaching or filling in for a Bible class, to be sure that his children are sitting with them in the pew.
Please understand, I am not griping or complaining, because I love the ministry, but not having to preach a lesson and being able to sit with your family is a blessing many take for granted. Sunday’s are my big days and my favorite day of the week. I am blessed in Mount Pleasant to worship with an awesome spiritual family who takes care of many of the “Sunday things” that other ministers have to worry about.
I will have a problem this Sunday so I will go ahead and confess. While I sit in the pew and listen to the lesson, my mind will race of sermon thoughts and topics based upon what I am hearing. The pages of my ESV Study Bible will fly open and the keys on my Palm Centro phone will type as I take notes for future lessons. My mind races as fast as the Nascar race on Sunday when i hear someone else speak. It does not race in a critical way, just a brainstorming way. Last week, during Sunday morning Bible class, I am sure members thought I was texting everyone in the world as fast as I was typing; instead, the teacher said one thing that threw my mind in a hundred directions and I was typing outlines on my computer based on the ideas bible class generated.
In light of not speaking on Sunday morning, I plan to combine some thoughts for Sunday afternoon based on our relationships as Christians to each other. I am going to share the chart image below and talk about our relationship with each other and how we all need to grow closer to God to strengthen that relationship.
The rest of yesterday was a frustration with a piece of technology. I bought the movie “Up” for the family as part of the trip we are planning and it came with a Digital File Copy which can be loaded on a cell phone and viewed whenever. Now the box says it is a Windows Media File. Well, I can view Windows Media Files on my Palm Centro, but not this one. After dealing with it myself, I called Disney DVD Customer Service, only to find out Mickey was at lunch, because the customer service was useless. I do not like saying that about companies, products or support, but it was useless. I have had dead AA batteries give me better support than they did. The agent read the sheet of paper stating the procedure just as I had it only to tell me it will not work. If I see Mickey soon, I will have a mousetrap for him!
The evening was planned to go with Emma to her presentation for PTA at school, but Alexis came down with a headache and a fever, so Alexis and I stayed home and did some around the house work. I should say, I did a little bit of the work and Alexis watch a movie. 
I spent the remaining part of the night making CDs of the audio books. I love to listen to audio books and I am looking forward to hearing the “Christmas Sweater” by Glenn Beck again.
As I closed my eyes around 1:30 am after reading, CD burning and praying, my eyes closed quickly and before I knew it I was up again.
Final Thoughts:
Thursday was a good day despite the frustration aspect of life. I get frustrated way too easily and lose patience; this is where I need the most work. Too many simple things drive me nuts. I will work on it ore this week as I spend time focusing on Thanksgiving and the life I life and how blessed I am.
Stay tuned for Friday’s it is a kicker all ready!
Thanks for stopping by,
Chris
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Thanks for sharing your journey Bro, shows others the we preachers are human to hu?
Trent,
Thank you very much for your kind words. We are humans living in a very physical world. I pray the spiritual is our focus and heaven is our goal.
Thanks again,
Chris