we haven’t been all in the same room for over 11 years now, and that was before many people existed and many relationships even existed. Well, this was our Christmas picture when we all got together this past Christmas. I can’t believe it took me this long to get it up here.
My how the times have changed, and so have the numbers of this gang. It’s hard to believe really.
Today was Sunday and I was up and ready for activity early in the morning. I got dressed and started to head over into the brisk temperatures.
Honestly, I was a little bit surprised at just how beautiful the weather was this morning. So I took a walk down to the cemetery and through the backyard area where we are working the ground to get it ready for winter.
And as I do, while I walk, I pray.
Couldn’t get over the fact that there was no snow yet and this is past mid November. Nor was it in the minus temperatures this morning. Some November mornings can be in the -20s and -30s Celsius. So there was no complaints coming from my lips today.
The sun was coming up and it was looking glorious, burning off the frost and the fog off the ground. So I dawdled and took my time.
I would have to say that this year my understanding of God and my time with him has certainly been growing. Even at this ripe old age of 61, #eyeroll it feels like I’m just starting to understand some of God‘s love for me, and for us as his children. My encounters with Jesus have been enjoyable and I would say more like fun than anything else. There is a growing familiarity there that allows me to relax into his presence. Yet still, there is a sense that when it’s time to work, we get to work.
I am loving our times together and our conversations. It’s worth every moment I get to spend with him.
Anyway, my time was done and I had to go inside where the kids were already practicing some songs for the upcoming advent season. I guess that’s next up on the calendar.
The most crucial advice I can offer to any pastor, whether they're seasoned, just starting out, or even considering ministry, is profoundly simple yet immensely powerful. It's a truth that has resonated in my heart for years, and I've finally found the words to express it.
In the book of Acts, there's a remarkable passage where the Pharisees are astounded by the disciples' wisdom and eloquence, despite their lack of formal education. The secret to their profound knowledge? They had been with Jesus.
This, dear friends, is the cornerstone of effective pastoral ministry. The single most important thing you can do as a pastor is to consistently spend time with Jesus. This practice will unlock wisdom, deepen your understanding, and provide divine insight. It will equip you with Christ's words and empower you to teach God's truth with heavenly wisdom, guided by the Holy Spirit.
I firmly believe that if you commit to these practices daily - spending time in the Word and in prayer - you will become an effective pastor. Combine this with a genuine love for people, and I can almost guarantee your success in ministry. This is more vital than any seminary education or formal training.
Looking back on my years in ministry, I can clearly see that my most fruitful seasons were those when I prioritized being with Jesus. So, to all aspiring pastors, I implore you to take this to heart. Make spending time with Jesus your top priority. It's the secret to pastoral success, the insider information that will set you apart.
Amen.
This morning I was drinking my coffee, staring out the window. It had been a cool night. The days are hot and the nights are cool. And while I was staring out, all of a sudden I had an inner heart reaction to the time of year and I thought to myself I should be getting ready for college right now.
I went to school up at Peace River Bible Institute up in northern Alberta and I was there for four years. And each autumn of those four years felt just like it felt this morning. Getting ready for school, getting ready to be away from home, getting ready for seeing old friends and making some new ones, and getting ready to study the Bible again and learn and grow in my relationship with God.
Those were amazing years for me. And as I drank my coffee staring out the window, I found myself saying, if I could go back there this year, I would. I would go back and register to be a student and to take a class or two or five and to focus again on the ordered discipline of study and prayer and the word of God.
Those years meant a lot to me and they shaped me into the man I have become and the pastor I have become. And so I'm grateful for those years and those good memories. And I think if it was up to me here today, I would do it all again.
One more year at school please. Thank you very much.
