Staff Evaluation time

My annual staff review/evaluation is coming up on Tuesday.

In past years, I've answered a questionnaire about how well I was doing according to my ministry (job) description.

Things are different this year.  Since we're in a transition as a church, our interim lead pastor has asked us to answer questions like, "What's your primary ministry passion?" and "what's your vision for HMC?"  

There's even a question that asks how long we're committed to continue on staff at the church.

That tells me, our interim leader is looking to build a strong, committed team.  And he is open to new possibilities. 

So, anyone what to guess what I'm going to say to this one, "If you could rework your job description, what would you change?"

my family the church

I wonder what would happen if I treated my family like a congregation?

1.  We'd align our couch and chairs in rows whenever we watched T.V.

2.  If my kids wanted to talk to me, they'd have to make an appointment.

3.  I'd make special 'visits' to my wife.  She'd make tea and we would sit and talk about gardening and the neighbours.  Our time would conclude with me reading a Psalm.

4.  We'd have tailor-made family envelopes printed.  'The Mills family inc.' would receive money from individual family members.  The cash would be used to pay bills, my salary, and maybe a child in Spain.

5.  We'd buy another house.  A bigger house.  Just so we could run programs. 

6.  I'd have separate meal times for each of my 2 children.  I'd feed my daughter exactly what she wanted.  Then she'd go back to her room.  We'd have 25 minutes to get my son's favorite meal ready.  He'd eat, then wander back to his room. 

7.  When my kids were ready to leave home, and start their own families, I'd say 'no.'  Then I'd send them to their rooms.

I don't know about you but I'm ready for change.

Reflections on being busy

Currently, I've got a couple of Eugene Peterson books on my reading list. 

The other day, while reading, The Contemplative Pastor: Returning to the art of spiritual direction, I was convicted.

He writes:

"But the word busy is the symptom not of commitment but of betrayal.  It is not devotion but defection.  The adjective busy set as a modifier to pastor should be to our ears like adulterous to characterize a wife or embezzling to describe a banker.  It is an outrageous scandal, a blasphemous affront." The Contemplative Pastor, 27.

Being busy makes me feel important.  It can also be a smokescreen for a commitment I don't want to make.

Sadly, I'd rather say "I'm too busy," than tell the truth.

For me, being busy means:

1.  I haven't managed my time well, or

2.  I haven't said "no" to life's non-essentials. 

I need to make some changes.

Miracles

I got a phone call at the church on Wednesday.  

An unfamiliar woman was looking for our congregational care pastor and was accidently redirected to my extension.

She had an urgent prayer request for her daughter who was on her way to the hospital.  She needed a miracle.

The woman called me back at home that evening.  It turns out her daughter got that miracle.  We both rejoiced.  God is good. 

It inspired me to keep praying like I have the power to change God's mind.

I'm Obsessed

Okay. I admit it. I'm obsessed with Dallas Willard.

I read this tonight in his book, The Spirit of the Disciplines.

"The secret of the easy yoke, then, is to learn from Christ how to live our total lives, how to invest all our time and our energies of mind and body as he did. We must learn how to follow his preparations, the disciplines for life in God's rule that enabled him to receive his Father's constant and effective support while doing his will. We have to discover how to enter into his disciplines from where we stand today--and no doubt, how to extend and amplify them to suit our needy cases." p. 9.

I don't spend enough time preparing for life like Jesus did. It's no wonder I don't respond like him.

Empowerment vs. Delegation

I want to empower people.

Not delegate my unwanted tasks to them.

In other news, click here for a great article on what the term 'missional' means

  

Coffeehouse tonight

I'm getting ready for our coffeehouse gathering in Walkerton tonight.

One of the discussion items is this clip from MLK.  We're going to be linking it back to Deuteronomy 34.  It's amazing what one courageous person can do when standing against injustice and inequality.

Maybe I'll see you at 7pm.