Life Of A Pastor!

It has been a while since my last post, and I have been doing alot of thinking lately. Some of the people that I admire the most happen to be Pastor's. Why you ask. Because I am one. I really love following certain men of God who truly have a heart for reaching those far from God, as well as being great leaders.

I also believe that pastors are some of the most criticized people on the planet and it usually comes from those that call themselves Christ followers and usually they are the ones that do the least. Now don't get me wrong, some pastors need to be criticzed. But, we cannot put them all into the same catagory. Remember God calls some to lead and others to follow.

Having said that, I have been reading a book lately from a pastor who has an incredible ministry. As I was reading I came across some statistics from pastor's that were to me mind blowing. So I thought I would share some of the things that the life of a Pastor has to deal with.

They were taken from a man by the name of H.B.London Jr. in his work, "Pastors at Greater Risk".

• 80 percent believe that pastorial ministry affects their families negatively.
• 75 percent report they've had significant stress-related crisis at least once in ministry.
• 50 percent feel unable to meet the needs of the job.
• 90 percent feel they're inadequately trained to cope with ministry demands.
• 25 percent of pastors' wives see their husband's work schedule as a source of conflict.
• The clergy has the second highest divorce rate among all professions.
• 80 percent of pastors say they have insufficient time with their spouse.
• 56 percent of pastors' wives say they have no close friends.
• 45.5 percent of pastors say that they've experienced depression to the extent that they needed to take a leave of absence from ministry.
• 70 percent do not have someone they consider a close friend.

Please don't get me wrong, I would not change what God has called me to do for one second! I have the greatest job in the world and I love being a Pastor at LifeBridge.

Unfortunitaly these are statistics that most people in the church do not get to see. So ask yourself, the next time you are ready to criticize a pastor, maybe I should stop and pray for him first!

Just some thoughts!

In Him, Pastor Bobby

Perseverance!

I have been thinking alot lately about alot of things. (hence the smoke) What God is showing me over these past few months really has to do with the not give up mentallity.

There are times in our walk with God where we can fall away from the Lord and become off center. I believe that often God allows situations in our lives that are, for lack of a better term, unexplainable.

Most of the time we don't necessarily see their purpose. I would imagine that there are a number of those from LifeBridge with these very thoughts. At times, the situations of life might even seem to contradict what we would see to be the best for our lives.

Philippians 1:6 says: Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Then it hit me. We are just clay in the potter's hands. I read once that a skillful potter realizes that what is applied at one time will reveal it's true finish later.

That is exactly what God has for every Christ follower. He knows that every situation that we face in life will produce awesome results later on in our lives. I believe that all He wants us to do is to be obedient to his voice and to persevere!

We need to be trusting God to perfect us as He desires. Our trouble will come when we attempt to resist.

How about you, are you in a persevering or quitting mode?

Just some thoughts!

In Him,
Pastor Bobby

Things I have Learned!

Just some thought of a few things I have learned in my short time in ministry.

• When you try to please everyone, you please no one. People are going to leave your ministry. We need to be willing to bless them, and let them go.
• Vision is what matters. A leader must always cast vision. People need to know where you are leading them.
• Expectations in the Church should be much higher than that of the rest of the world. Someone gave me a qoute one time that said...

"You always have to have bigger ideas than your life. If you want to be happy, lower your expectations; but the truth is, if you want to be great... raise them".

• Leaders spend way to much time pampering the complaining Christ follower, and less time reaching the unchurched.
• There is no other place on earth that I would rather serve at then lifeBridge!!!
• God shows me everyday how awesome He really is.
• Transition and change are positive things when you are totally relying on God.
• Relationships are what matter to God. For that is the only thing you can take to heaven with you.
• As a leader I need to surround myself with trustworthy, committed, passionate, and reliable men that have my back.

Well, these are just a few of many things that God has taught me over the last few years. There are many more and I will share them later.

Just some thoughts!

InHim,

Pastor Bobby

Disciplined!

I read a quote this week that simply said, "The first person you lead is you". WOW!

I think far to often than not, we as people, get so caught up in the rat race of life. That from the moment our alarm clock goes off until the last thing we remember is our head hitting the pillow. We are on the go. We are creatures of habit.

So as I read that qoute, I began to think. We as Christ followers get so obsessed with the things of life that we believe have to get done. That we truly miss out on what it actually is that should get done.

I have a friend, who has over the past several months kept reminding me that all God is asking is for us as His children is to "be still and know that He is God". A passage I believe is often quoted, but very rarely obeyed.

I have been asking myself what is it that God is trying to tell us there? Then it hit me. "shut up, slow down, and just listen". You know God wants to speak to us, the problem is that we are too busy to listen.

I don't know about you, but when I was a kid and didn't listen to my earthly father, there was some form of discipline. And what I have found out is that it was usually never very pleasant.

So my question is this, if we don't take the time to slow down and discipline ourselves to really find out what it is God is telling us to do, then how can we as Christ followers complain about some of the circumstances we have gotten ourselves in to?

Just some thoughts!

In Him,
Pastor Bobby