Well last week was a long week. I got the fire pit done in the back yard at the expense of my back which I messed up. Then the in-laws came and so I did a lot of driving and yard work on a bad back. Lo and behold, monday morning I sneezed and caused my rebellious back to finally start an insurrection! Chiropractor on Wednesday, no work for almost the whole week, and more yard work once I healed a bit on Saturday - I gotta love it!
The cool thing is that even in the midst of trials of this world, God is always with us (as some one in the congregation reminded me on Sunday). And the young adult ministry is growing well, even without much of a work week!
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for being you, and working with me being me!
A blog following the Ross Family's journey, ministering to college students and young adults in Pierce County, WA
Monday, May 21, 2012
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
A Confession
I have a secret to confess. I'm jealous. In fact, I've been jealous for a long time. You might be thinking I'm jealous of all those Sounders FC season ticket holders, as the Sounders face the Galaxy tonight. Perhaps I'm jealous of a new macbook, iphone, ipad or other technological wonder. Even might I be jealous by the neighbors newer car, bigger house, or shinier lawn mower? You'd be wrong.
I'm secretly jealous of my senior pastor. And this isn't the first time. I've been jealous of other senior pastors, in other churches across this great nation. And that's not the end of it. I've been jealous of single, lonely, wasting away, old, black widows, living beneath the poverty line. I've been jealous of retired teachers, housewives, youth pastors, and even people on their death beds.
What am I jealous of, you ask? I'm jealous of the time, experience, and relationship that allows someone to talk to God like a long time friend. I've heard my senior pastor pray many times, and like one of my old teacher colleagues, and another pastor in Florida, I noticed a similarity in how they pray. They pray as to an old, well-known, and beloved friend. That best friend that you've done everything with for decades. The one who will listen to you when you're going off without judging you; the one that will pick you up when you're as low as can be. The one that wipes away your tears late at night and cheers you on from the sidelines.
I want that. I want to pray like that. I want to live like that. And it begins today, everyday. One choice, to spend time with God, with Jesus, is all it takes to have that kind of relationship. I'm not there yet, but check back in forty years. I'll let you know.
I'm secretly jealous of my senior pastor. And this isn't the first time. I've been jealous of other senior pastors, in other churches across this great nation. And that's not the end of it. I've been jealous of single, lonely, wasting away, old, black widows, living beneath the poverty line. I've been jealous of retired teachers, housewives, youth pastors, and even people on their death beds.
What am I jealous of, you ask? I'm jealous of the time, experience, and relationship that allows someone to talk to God like a long time friend. I've heard my senior pastor pray many times, and like one of my old teacher colleagues, and another pastor in Florida, I noticed a similarity in how they pray. They pray as to an old, well-known, and beloved friend. That best friend that you've done everything with for decades. The one who will listen to you when you're going off without judging you; the one that will pick you up when you're as low as can be. The one that wipes away your tears late at night and cheers you on from the sidelines.
I want that. I want to pray like that. I want to live like that. And it begins today, everyday. One choice, to spend time with God, with Jesus, is all it takes to have that kind of relationship. I'm not there yet, but check back in forty years. I'll let you know.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Jesus
I am a Christian. And I am a complete failure. I'm not good like Christians should be. I'm not the nicest person I've ever met. I am completely unable to follow the Bible's rules for life. I don't read my bible and pray as often as I should. I'm not the best dad or husband. I am a man. And I am a sinner.
I'm not good enough for Jesus. Let me say that again - I'm not good enough to be a Christian, a leader, a pastor. The pressure can weigh down on you in ministry to do good, save souls, work hard, make church goers happy. I fail, and fail often. I fall flat on my face.
And Jesus. Who I'm not good enough for. Jesus, died for me - for me. He died for the not good, not nice, sinner of a man that I am. And no matter if I'm good, or great, I can never be good enough to earn his praise or love.
But I don't have to. I am a sinner in need of a Savior. And Jesus died so that I might be free of the weight of my life, my regrets, my faults. Free at last, I stand redeemed by Jesus, called not to be nice, but to love Jesus. And even though I can't do everything on my own, I can do that.
I'm not good enough for Jesus. Let me say that again - I'm not good enough to be a Christian, a leader, a pastor. The pressure can weigh down on you in ministry to do good, save souls, work hard, make church goers happy. I fail, and fail often. I fall flat on my face.
And Jesus. Who I'm not good enough for. Jesus, died for me - for me. He died for the not good, not nice, sinner of a man that I am. And no matter if I'm good, or great, I can never be good enough to earn his praise or love.
But I don't have to. I am a sinner in need of a Savior. And Jesus died so that I might be free of the weight of my life, my regrets, my faults. Free at last, I stand redeemed by Jesus, called not to be nice, but to love Jesus. And even though I can't do everything on my own, I can do that.
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