Got Life? Get A life.
Mind if I share with you about my life as a pastor and church planter? Oh, wait, those aren’t my only roles. Maybe I should say my life as a husband, father, friend – and gardener.
A few months back I applied for the Master Gardener program with the Georgia Cooperative Extension office. I got accepted for one of the 88 slots in the Atlanta area for 2008. So last week, I started going to class twice a week, Monday and Wednesday mornings, to learn all about plant physiology, compost and soil composition.
Sounds fascinating, I know. But I really like this stuff. I grow jalepeno peppers and sunflowers and tomato plants (70 of em last year, that’s plants, not tomatoes) and make borders and build arbors and this spring my kids and I are setting up a farm stand to sell fresh produce. My wife last week ordered 25 baby chicks so we can have fresh eggs (and chicken manure for the garden, of course).
We home school our kids, take field trips to the art museum, pick blackberries (in season), take care of our pet bunny Benjamin, ride our bikes around the lake at Mulberry Park, make wooden swords on my table saw, play Lord of the Rings in the woods and have dinner with friends.
We play Risk and Candyland (not at the same time), watch chick flicks, make movies with Lego figures in the basement and have pillow fights.
In short, like you (I hope), we have a life.
Now that may not seem like a big deal, but there was a time I didn’t have a life. I just did ministry, answered the phone, administrated, and slowly lost my zeal. There was a time I had never taken communion with my family, never sat with my kids in church, had not been on a date with my wife in months, had no hobbies and few interests and was miserable.
If you’ve got Jesus, that’s no reason to rest on your laurels, or to be theologically correct, rest on His grace. We are to be doers of the Word, and not hearers only. But we are to do the Word as we do life. The most correct translation of Matthew 28:19, from what I understand, is not “Go ye into all the world and make disciples…” but “As you go into all the world, make disciples…” As you go to the park and Whole Foods and downtown and to the skating rink and the library, make disciples.
In fact, this is just what Jesus did. I mean, why does a guy who can control the ocean go fishing, if not just to remind us to get a life? He didn’t need to go fishing, or need the fish (couldn’t he just multiply any one fish in the village into thousands any time he wanted?) so I assume he just liked to fish, and got on the boat because he wanted to feel the wind and the waves and hang out with the guys. And if you think he never fished, I beg to differ. He sure knew a lot about it, spent a lot of time on boats, and hanging out with fishermen. And where did he get those fish he cooked for breakfast on the beach after his resurrection? Besides, (and you have to fish to get this), why wouldn’t he?
I don’t think God wants us not to have a life. But many Christians, especially some of those in ministry, don’t have one. They work and work and work some more, without ever enjoying or even seeing the evidence of the God they are working for. They preach on parenting but never spend time with their kids. They teach on marriage but don’t hang out with their wives. I was like that. I came to a point where I needed to get a life. I had eternal life, life to the full, life abundant, but I just didn’t have a, well, a life. I got so bad that my job was pastoring, and my hobby was planting churches.
My wife said: “Dude, get a life!”
(paraphrase mine, my wife does not really say “dude”)
So I am learning about gardening. And guess what? I am carpooling to my Master Gardener classes with three people who don’t know Christ. How cool is that? And guess what else? Ok, I’ll tell ya. When I get out of my classes, to be a Master Gardener, I have to volunteer 50 hours a year. What kind of volunteering? I will get to speak to gardening clubs, schools, and homeowners associations about gardening, answer questions in a booth at the Flower show or at special county events, and supervise the building of a children’s garden at our church preschool. In fact, I’ll meet way more people doing that, and get way more opportunities to share the gospel in those settings than I would going door to door. And I will have the credibility of context, and not just look like a guy knocking on doors.
So my getting a life just might help other people get Life. Get it?
Got it?
Good.
Roger,
It seems like you’ve been ministering a lot more now that you have a “life” – thanks for sharing.
:)
Congrats,
Lew
The Pursuit Online Store
I gotta get a life. :) Gardening, though, has never been my thing. I need to get back into photography… http://www.dpchallenge.com/portfolio.php?USER_ID=2490&collection_id=1
Dude,
When I read this the first time I thought you had to volunteer 50 hours a WEEK, not a year. I was about to write you and tell you you clearly didn’t have a life if you were having to do that, then I re-read.
I fly RC planes and coach kids sports teams. I used to ride v-twins. I want my “life” to be an opportunity, and motorcycling is still too solitary, not enough interaction.
And we homeschool. I would not trade that for anything. Maybe I need to post about it. Homeschooling has given our family the opportunity to be together THROUGH life. If my kids were in public school we would have an even-oriented relationship. Instead, we live life together.
Thanks, dude.
Hey, the first thing God did was to make a garden. Though not a Master Gardener, I’ve been to some of their classes, taught a little, and enjoy gardening, grafting fruit and pecan trees, antique roses, etc. You got me beat on tomatoes; the most plants I ever grew at once was about 50. Took me forever to pick all the cherry tomatoes.
As you say, it gives us the rest, relaxation, and diversion we need, and gives a great opportunity to be a witness to others.
Whether it’s hunting, fishing, football, or whatever makes you happy, you’re right, we all need to get a life. Vance Havner quoted the KJV verse of Jesus saying something like, come apart and rest awhile. Havner then said, “If we don’t come apart and rest, we will just come apart.”
“And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food.” -Genesis 2:9
Sincerely,
David R. Brumbelow
If you all truly want LIFE … to be involved in something that will truly bring everything together and make the world make complete sense, I have but one word for you.
Fishing. :)
Seriously, Roger. There is nothing quite like spending six to 8 hours in a boat with a friend. You end up doing a lot of “counseling’ and solving lots of the problems of your world. And when I go surf fishing (which is my all-time favorite thing to do in this life), I always keep an empty chair beside me on the beach. Lots of people stop by and chat. It gives me so many opportunities to talk, share, and because I am a pastor the issue of faith always comes up.
Indeed, there is so much real ministry that can be done in and through the things that we love to do. It doesn’t have to be “scheduled” on the church calendar.
Jesus, the Master Fisherman, said, “I have come that they might have life, and have it to the full.” Life to the utmost. That’s what God has given me. So I do the things that I enjoy with a great sense of joy, and God always places opportunity for ministry and relationship in my path.
Great post.
Geoff,
My dad was once catching speckled trout like crazy on the seawall in Corpus Christi, TX. Someone passing by stopped, watched a while, and then said, “You must be paying the preacher.” He replied, “I am the preacher.”
Sincerely,
David Brumbelow
Roger,
I thank you for this post. Like you, it took me a while to figure this out. Now I have acting as a hobby and ministry, play with my granchildren (two and one on the way), golf, NFL football, and watching movies with my wife.
Les
Geoff,
I agree with your comment, “there is so much real ministry that can be done through the things that we love to do.” Whenever I think about it, though, I always wonder about Peter after Jesus’ resurrection. He went back to what he had loved to do, fishing. However, after that day there is no record that he ever fished again.
I see alot of guys just get caught up in what they love to do, and they fail to do any real ministry. There really do seem to be far less who get so caught up in ministry that they fail to do anything that connects them with people, and that they loved to do.
There’s a guy in our church who’s the president of the Toledo Bend Christian Anglers. He’s fought them for two years because in order to be a member, you had to be a Christian. They finally changed the requirements. I think they need to change the name. He and I have talked about whether it would be better if he just joined one of the local bass clubs. His problem is that they always fish on Sunday, and they fish 12 times a year.
Hey folks,
Sorry I missed commenting on all your comments today. I was off having a life! Actually, I’m just kidding. I was working at our Baptist Association office. But you have shared some great comments.
Cyle, I know there are some guys who do much more playing than they do ministry, but that’s not the temptation for me. My inclination is to work all the time, and never make time for taking joy in simple thing or spending time with my kids or just alone with the Lord, enjoying him. I am sure there are those who need a rebuke to serve more, but the post today is really not aimed at them.
I really wanted just to remind those who “work as unto the Lord” all the time that the Lord was never frenetic, never hurried, never anxiously scrambling before a deadline. He had a pacing (and in fact, still does) that gave life a beauty and grace where ministry flowed into relationships which flowed into moments which flowed into joy. I am still seeking that, and trying to find the balance.
I think about Eric Liddell, the missionary to China, who was also an Olympic runner and his words to his sister. “Anna, God made me fast! And when I run, I run for his pleasure!” I want to do all things for his pleasure and acknowledge that I can garden or play with my kids, etc. for His pleasure. He does not just take pleasure in things that look like you are on the ministry clock. And neither should I.
David,
Great quote from Havner, but then aren’t they all? And I’m impressed – I’ve never grafted fruit trees. Maybe I’ll learn that next.
Geoff,
You are right, of course. Did I tell you I went out on a boat with two of my guys a couple months back and caught a 5-pound striper? That’s a big fish for me (and getting bigger every time I tell about it.) :)
Bernard,
Do it! And send us some pics.
Cyle,
Dude, homeschoolers rock! But then, you knew that.
Lew,
Isn’t God’s economy grand? He makes the most of every opportunity without me striving for it. And having a life means I’m more refreshed, so I can see what He’s doing!
Roger,
Start with pear trees. There’re easy to graft. Pecan trees are a little harder. Seems the Bible even has something to say about grafting.
And I’m impressed with your tomatoes and fruit stand.
Sincerely,
David R. Brumbelow
Roger,
This is a fine post…great to have a peek into your heart here! We homeschool as well…its neat to see three homeschooling families in one thread. Do you participate in schooling? I do math!
Les,
Congrats on the third grandbaby! Hope all goes well.
You can make that four homeschooling families…
David,
I didn’t say all the tomato plants produced tomatoes, and the farmstand has yet to be built! (I have to have it done by April)But it is fun to learn and see things grow.
I looked at my class schedule and we learn about fruit trees next week. I’m looking forward to it.
Tony,
I do NOT do math. I do literature and get this…next month we start botany!
Bernard,
We love homeschooling. Our kids went to a political rally today for part of their schooling. And they got up close with Chuck Norris!
Roger,
You said not all the tomato plants produced. Remember the real definition of a horticulturalist – someone who has killed at least 100 plants :-).
David R. Brumbelow
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