Pastoring: the happiest of jobs, the most painful of jobs

Within the same hour yesterday I came across two different articles that speak about the job of being a pastor: 

• One from Forbes: The Ten Happiest Jobs 
• And one from a daily devotional that a friend from church forwarded to me: What Our Pastors Wish We Knew.

Though seemingly in contradiction of one another, both are accurate. 

To be honest though, I hope more people read the second one.

 

Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you." 1 Thessalonians 5:1

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Stop comparing grass colors

Stop looking at other yards!!!

If yours needs weeding, then take care of it!

If yours needs mowing, then take care of it!

If yours needs watering, then take care of it! 

But the energy you spend comparing grass colors is a waste. There's as many weeds and dog piles and beetles in the other place as where you're standing now. You just can't see them from afar. 

Your marriage. Your friendships. Your church. 

Stop comparing yards! Take ownership of where you're at and make it amazing!

Take off your socks and shoes and squish your toes in the grass under your feet.

Stop checking out the neighbor's yard and dance where you're at.

Did you fall for yesterday's Back to the Future scam?

Oh Back To The Future.

You are up there with Ferris, the Breakfast Club and Ghostbusters as movies that inspired my generation's mindset (probably explains a lot about my weirdness). You also inspired us to skateboard more than Tony Hawk ever could and to play guitar before we ever heard of Guitar Hero. And though hardly any of us had ever seen or heard of a DeLorean before you (just admit it), nothing can take your place in our minds when that word is by chance uttered.

So yesterday was a big day.

It started slow but then grew like wildfire on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Yesterday was the day that Doc set the time machine to in Back to the Future II:

Obviously anyone who grew up with these movies would get instantly excited and then share the big news. I did. It was like an instant reaction: BOOM! RETWEET! RESHARE! REPIN!

Thing is...it was a scam.

How to give comfort to soldiers

Over the weekend Jeannette and I were able to take the kids to the Magic House in St Louis. It's one of the best children's museums that we've been to with tons of different environments for the kids to be creative and play make-believe.

"Once Upon a Time" was an exhibit of walking through various storybooks. One of the stories took place in a civil war setting, so there were tents, prairie items, soldier gear and the such. 

Amongst everything our kids definitely liked the drummer boy's tent:

But one thing I thought rather interesting was in the "medical tent." It was completely decked out with bandages and stretchers so that soldier patients could be attended to. On the back wall of the tent hung this sign:

A needed reminder for when life is turbulent

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 

Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, 

though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam, 

though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah 

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, 

the holy habitation of the Most High. 

God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; 

God will help her when morning dawns. 

The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; 

he utters his voice, the earth melts. 

The LORD of hosts is with us; 

the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah 

Come, behold the works of the LORD, 

how he has brought desolations on the earth. 

He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; 

he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; 

he burns the chariots with fire. 

“Be still, and know that I am God. 

I will be exalted among the nations, 

I will be exalted in the earth!” 

The LORD of hosts is with us; 

the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Psalm 46

I woke up needing to read that this morning.

Maybe you did too.

He is strong. He is present.

Be still.