Why is it you can share something personal on a blog…which anyone can see…but struggle to share it one on one….

This past week I have been invigorated as I have experienced the prophetic. A pastor called Mark Poree from South Africa has some prophetic words for me at the Mighty Mens Conference.
Talk about wanting to know God more…when you hear words that the prophet has no real way to know, apart from hearing from God, it really does blow your spiritual socks off.

He shared some very hard. strong and stirring words with me about an issue that I have been facing the past three days before, and which only I and one other person knew about it. And his words were spot on. I knew it was God reassuring but also challenging me.

It also reminded me of the place prophetic words have had at important times in my ministry life.
Thank you God. You are real, you have something to say to me…today.

This technology looks amazing.
Imagine how we could help people all over the world with this.

make sure you know where you are going.

Sit back. Enjoy.

Some brief thoughts.
Christians should be involved in politics, just like they should be plumbers, teachers and other parts of society. Like salt….

Moral issues are important in politics. Caring for the poor, the disadvantaged, the refugee, the stranger…these are all moral issues. It is a shame that the Christian lobby does not focus on these pressing moral issues more than the ones they are known for. Jesus is our example. What did he speak against? Greed, hypocrisy, lack of compassion.

I have many friends who are pastors. Some of them I have traveled with for many years. Others are new friends.

Some of the ones who started out as the best students at college, the brightest and most ambitious, have taken a different path. Some even left the faith.

Some have fallen in other ways, moral ways.

Some have grown tired of the politics, the fuss, the complaints, boards who think they are there to boss the pastor around, not empower him/her for ministry.

For some the strain on family was too much to bear. The sniping, the pay, the difficulties meant that another form of employment was preferable.

Some were just not meant to be in ministry in the first place. Grandiose or naive thoughts of what ministry was going to be were quickly brought to reality.

There are a myriad of reasons people leave the pastorate. Sometimes great reasons, sometimes perplexing.

Either way, you learn to appreciate those who have stuck it out and journeyed with you. You learn to care for and love those who at the moment find themselves out of ministry, but want to get back in. You understand those who have left and never want to come back.

Having been a pastor for the majority of my working life, and having no intention of leaving the ministry, you learn to appreciate the uniqueness of the role, and those who attempt to live it.