February 5th, 2009
So I’m most of the way through my first week on the new job (or maybe we should call it lack of a job?) and it’s been a really good week. It’s also been one with a lot of adjusting.
I’ve really enjoyed focusing and pouring my energy into getting everything setup for the studio. Website is coming, tax stuff is figured out and started pre production work with a new client.
I’ve been practicing piano again. One of my big goals is to start playing a lot again. Before I entered ministry playing was a substantial part of my job (both time and income) and I really want to get back to that. I’ve been doing between an hour or two each day. Not as much as I used to but I’m just getting back into it. It’s been great. I love sitting and working on new material and refining my technique. The only problem is I’ve probably done more serious practice this week than I have in the past three years total. Again it’s been great but man am I rusty. I’m working really hard on being patient and getting back into playing properly and not just quickly. I’m going to try to get to Toronto in the next week or two for a lesson to have someone double check what I’m doing.
I’ve loved having the opportunity to just hang out with the kids more, especially in the middle of the day. My schedule has cleared up a lot for the time being so I’ve been able to enjoy the kids more and be available to help out around the house a bit. My son and I spent around a half hour this afternoon just wrestling with no interruptions. It was awesome. All the laughing and giggling. Both kids have had a great week. Great behavior and a lot happier than they have been the last while. I think more dad time has definitely helped in that area.
The hard parts have been getting some sort of a routine and boundaries setup. I’m in the house all the time right now and we’re trying to sort out when I’m working and when I’m not and making that clear for everyone. It’s real easy to get a glass of water and then spend an extra 10 or 15 minutes just hanging out. Then it’s tough for the kids to know that they can’t just come get me because I’ll actually be working for a while. This hasn’t been bad. It’s just going to take a while to get a little clearer.
The other hard part will be me getting out of the house a bit. This afternoon I went to the library for an hour and it was the first time I had been out of the house since Sunday afternoon. I haven’t been getting cabin fever which is good but I need to make sure I’m getting out.
So that’s what’s been cooking around here.
On a spiritual note I’ve really been wrestling with prayer and how I (and we) should be interacting with God. Some of the reading I’m doing right now has been interesting. It’s stretched me in some good ways but also made me a little uncomfortable in others. To be honest it has made prayer a little difficult. I’ll hopefully expand on that tomorrow. Today’s post has stretched on long enough.
Ciao
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February 2nd, 2009
Happy Monday
Well it’s early afternoon and I need a coffee. So while I wait for that to be ready I thought I’d do a quick post about my first day out of (paid) ministry.
So a funny thing. After all the talk in yesterdays post about being free to be myself in church (particularly in the matter of clothing) we didn’t even make it out to church. Just to follow up of the clothing issue, I have no problem with people dressing up for church. If that’s how someone is most comfortable they should be free to do that. The whole point I was trying to make was that people should be free to come to worship how they are most comfortable. I am glad that I now have that freedom.
Now today. I am feeling energized. I was up early, spent some quiet time with God and even did a little exercise (just a little). Besides the usual teaching, this week is dedicated to marketing and organization stuff. Going well. It has to. I was hoping to have most of this done before the end of ’08 but it’s coming along.
Since I’ll be teaching until well after the kids are in bed I took an extra half hour of this morning to just play and hang with them. That’s a great way to break up the day.
I spent sometime last night developing the upcoming plans for the blog and hoping to share a bunch of that with you by the end of the week.
Wherever you are today, my prayer is that you feel alive and in rhythm with the living God.
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February 1st, 2009
Good morning everyone.
So it’s Sunday morning and I’m not busy rushing out the door or getting things ready for this morning. (Still up early but I can’t really help that). I’m really looking forward to going to church with my family this morning. Helping the kids get settled in Sunday school, then picking them up from Sunday school and getting to sit with my wife for an entire service are what I’m most looking forward to. (The hour drive to the church we’re going to visit today isn’t going to be a highlight but we’ll make do)
Around the house the last few days I’ve also been joking about having the freedom to wear what I choose to when I go to church this morning. At our previous church as staff we had a bit of a dress code. Nothing too strict. Basically no jeans or shorts and to wear a nice shirt. We were never required but would often hear comments from some church members as well as some church leadership and senior staff that wearing a suit is a nice touch. It was always done in a joking manner. You know those jokes where they say you don’t have to, but at some point you’d really should.
So I’ve been joking wondering if I should wear jeans today (since I can) or even dress up (since I don’t have to).
Then this morning I’m reading some scripture, Matthew 15 to be exact. It’s the passage where Jesus is talking about how it’s not what a man puts into his body that defiles him but what comes out. Jesus also accuses them of breaking the commands of God for their own traditions. So what I wear to church isn’t making me evil.
I am not saying my old church put their traditions ahead of the will of God! Not at all. What I am saying is that sometimes as ministry leaders what is expected of us (both real and perceived expectations) in our roles can keep us from having the freedom to come comfortably to church on a Sunday morning. In order to fulfill the expectations of what the church is suppose to be for a group of people we are unable to be ourselves.
There were many times that I felt unable to be myself leading worship either because of the songs that I was leading, the expectations of others in my interactions with them and even feeling uncomfortable in my own skin because of what I was wearing. Was I right in feeling that way. I don’t know but that doesn’t change the fact that I did feel I couldn’t totally be myself. I am looking forward to going to church this morning with the freedom of no expectations from anyone but my family.
My prayer this morning is for all of you leading a ministry, (and it doesn’t matter if it’s worship, preaching or ushering) is that you will have the freedom to be yourself as you meet with God.
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