Posted | Monday, August 11, 2003 | by Ron
One's Job

When to stay, when to leave.

Some rules of thumb for when to stick it out in job situation when the going got tough.

1. Have I promised to stay a certain amount of time?
2. Am I doing something that I'm growing from?
3. How does my professional world affect my private world?
4. Do the "other details as assigned by your boss" out weigh your calling?
5. Is it a calling?
6. Can you make a living?
7. Do people you respect ask you "how are you really doing"? ... is it evedent that you are struggling?
8. Are you on the same page as the community you serve?
9. Are you on the same page as those who "oversee" your work?

I've been asking myself these questions. They are good questions. One last one I asked myself this morning when I was crying my eyes out to God ...

10. Is this God's will?

So there you go ... stuff to look at.

Posted | Sunday, August 03, 2003 | by Ron
I asked a few of my friends the other day if I'm too up tight about stuff ... church stuff ... Like $40K for a blinking sign. "Praise the Lord!" ... "Louie Smith in concert next Sunday" (I guess it's not the money or even the idea of the flashing sign ... I guess the message ... the marketing ...) Make no mistake. The hearts of the people are good. No question. I can't escape my feelings. I would never want discourage someone who's trying to do the right thing ...

Here's the dialogue that followed ...

KM:
Well maybe God want's it to bother you ... maybe there's something you're suppose to be doing
"Flack, why not just have you're own chruch?" ...

Me:
I don't have the tools to pastor the kind of church that our culture has been trainned to expect.

KM
Exactly, that's why I'm asking. Maybe just do it the way you feel it need to happen.

DC
Ya, you could go to Ron's church barefoot.

Me
Absolutely! ... but I don't have any desire to baby sit a building all week to use it on sunday.

KM
Maybe you don't need a building ... I was on a hike the other day, I sat down in an open area on the side of a hill ... all I could see was God's work.

Me
Sweet! No building, that's cool. But, I just don't even know where to start ...

I've been thinking about her question this weekend ... why not ...

1. If it meant weddings and funerals and making sure I visit people when they expect it ... I rest my case. All the administration is out of my league.

2. I'm a dork

3. I like Letterman

4. I'm not cut out for "leadership" ... do what I say ... Here's God's will for you ...

5. I drive over the speed limit

6. I don't drive a buick

7. I'm afraid

8. I don't feel a need to "make a statement".

9. I'm not "religious"

10. I blow it every week ... I need God all the time. I don't have it figured out.

11. I'm most comfortable with people a least 10 years younger than myself (43)

12. It would become a "thing" ... I'd have to explain it to people. "So you have your own church now?" ... Unless God just changes me, that would make me postal.

13. I'd be up late at night, thinking about people who are hurting ... I wouldn't be able to seportate myself from the "role" ... I'm not sure that you should. And then I'd be cranky at work ... at my kids, and wife. I've been down that road.

14. Current Demoninational Status ... I'm not sure what to do with that. I'm not sure I'd want it to be a "church" from an organizational perspective.

15. My job ... I love what I do, design. It's in me. And, yes, I know the tent making deal ...

16. Theological Debates. Homosexuality, Eastern Religion, Political Intrests, Abortion, Smoking, Drinking, Spitting. I don' even want to be in the conversation ... I've been in Sunday school when I thought I was going to "blow a bleeder" in my forehead ... "they", "we know better", "help them understand", "don't want my kids around it" ... Make's me crazy ... Make's me mad. I have no desire to "win arugments".

17. Money ... don't wan'a spend any, don't wan'a ask for any, don't wan'a ...

18. Don't want to think of myself more highly than I should ... "not all of you should consider yourselves to be teachers ..." Especially you Flack! now tuck your shirt in, cut your hair, get a suit and tie. I just can't be that.

19. Can't spell

20. I don't enjoy "church growth" books or seminars

There are many more reason's why I shouldn't even consider it ... but there are a few, one especially, that I can't escape. I'm not sure I'll address that now.