Must Needs Go

Jesus was leaving Judea heading to Galilee and “He had to pass through Samaria.” It was the custom of Jews to avoid Samaria whenever possible “for Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.”  

I can only imagine the scene when Jesus and His disciples reached that fork in the road and without hesitation Jesus didn’t misstep but headed straight for the border of Samaria.  Yet His disciples stopped in their tracks almost repelled and repulsed at the idea of taking another step in that direction.  Apparently, they eventually followed for we learn later they “had gone away into the city to buy food.”  

Church revitalization and Reaching the Next Generation requires that we go to Judea, Samaria and Galilee.  It requires a “must needs go”passion in our hearts to reach that one, to love that one, to care for that one and to share our story with that one.  

We must decide whether we will meet that one to offer living water or continually go into the city to buy food to meet our own needs.  The church exists to go into the world not to have our holy huddles, not to maintain the status quo or even to conform to past traditions. The church exists for the one who has not heard.  The church is the most vital part of a community.  

·   When we are obedient there can be that joyous experience of hearing one say, “Sir give me this water, so I will not be thirsty….”  

·   When we are obedient we will have the experience of that one going out and inviting their friends saying, “Come see a man.” 

·   When we are obedient “many more” will believe “because of His Word.”

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Pray for a “must needs go”passion in your own heart.

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Train Wrecks and other Pastoral Mistakes

It was my first Christmas. I was 6 months old and Santa brought me a Lionel train.  The truth is Santa brought my dad a Lionel train.  My first memories of that train was a few years later as I watched dad play with it.  By the time I was able to enjoy “my gift” repairs were already necessary.  

I still have parts of that train.  They are vintage.  It doesn’t work at the present.  Some cars are broken including the engine.  It is all packed away in a box.  With some careful and tedious repairs, it may run again.  I may be able to repair it myself but will probably need help and will definitely have to spend money.

Part of the problem is wear and tear.  The major problem is the result of misuse.  

I don’t know if you have any experience with model trains.  They can be fun.  Depending on the scale they run at different speeds.  

The temptation I had as a kid was to see how fast mine would run and especially around the curves.  At floor level a wreck had minimal damage, but mine was on a waist high table (waist high to my dad’s waist) thus the damage to some of the parts.

It has been my experience in the ministry and in working with pastors and staff that sometimes we try to see how fast we can make things happen.  We attempt curves at speeds that result in wrecks.  When we do there are damages.  Immaturity and model trains can be in conflict.  In the same way immaturity and churches can be in conflict.

There was the experience that I would have operating the trains at the recommended speeds.  Those experiences were fun and enjoyable.  

Leadership comes in different speeds.  There are times to open it up and there are times to slow it down.  Wisdom and discernment as well as wise counsel help to know when and how.  It has been my experience that there are those who want to poke along and there are those who like breakneck speed.  The problem is that when those speeds don’t work the leader takes the blame.

I cannot say what the proper speed is to move a church or ministry.  However, when you continuously are running off the tracks and crashing to the floor that should be a sign that things are moving at the wrong speed.tai