Take bigger risks
That seems strange coming from a church planter, former small business owner, entrepreneur, and in light of the risk some believe I’m taking now.
Looking back, however, over business ventures and the last two plants, which were both phenomenally successful, there were a few things I wish I’d done differently. I wish I’d acted sooner when I sensed God leading. I wish I had waited longer when I didn’t necessarily sense God leading. It would have required acting contrary to popular opinion more than I did, but as I’ll continue to believe and teach,
God’s way isn’t always easiest, but it’s always best.
Satisfy fewer
I’m actually pretty good at this. It’s one of the signatures of my ministry and people continually say it’s what attracts them to my leadership. I am who I am. I don’t usually try to pretend otherwise. People typically say I’m “real.”
It’s not that I don’t want to be liked. I feel the pressure to please everyone that all pastors feel. Ultimately, I want to honor Christ and keep the respect of my family. Beyond that, it’s okay if I’m not popular as long as I’m being obedient. When I try to “satisfy” people, I only make less of the will of God and more of the will of man. That seems counterproductive to my calling.
Rest better
Perhaps my biggest weakness is that I’m always doing something. I do protect my Sabbath, but I don’t always take time during the week or for periodic seasons to simply rest.
I’m a doer. I want to be productive. I’m usually busy from early morning until late at night. I will probably never rest by doing nothing. The sound of that drives me crazy, but I do want to take more time to do what I want to do to rest. Read a book. Take a long walk. Maybe even play a round of golf. (Oh no, let’s not get crazy. 🙂 )
I realize I could have changed all of these without changing churches, but I’m simply being obedient today…and it affords me a unique opportunity. I can change some things about who I am and how I lead.
Let’s do it!
If you could do things differently in your ministry, what is one thing you would improve upon?
Perhaps you can do that now…with or without a change of position.
