The Beauty of Good Old Fashioned Work

I apologize that I am delayed in getting my blogs out there, but I have been working my second job setting up tents. I am tired, my hands are cut and bruised, and my sinuses are killing me, but oh I am so grateful. To wake up in the morning and have a purpose. My purpose being to earn money for my family, build relationships with my co-workers, and ultimately be an example for Christ. When I'm not doing that I get to passionately minister as a pastor. I am busy, but oh so blessed and enjoying it all.
There is something about being tired at the end of the day because you actually did something, and something that really mattered. When I talk to people and their days consist of internet surfing, video game playing, television watching, and other similar activities, I feel bad for them! All of those activities promote isolation and take away from those things which really matter.
My advice to you is get busy doing things that actually matter. I am not telling you to get busy and stressed out about things. I mean enjoy the opportunities that God gives you to do things that support your purpose on earth. How blessed we are to be busy with Kingdom work!

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Purpose

Sometimes we need to question whether or not we are focused on God's divine purpose for our lives. We can get distracted with careers, education, hobbies, family, etc. None of those things are bad if we figure out how to incorporate everything into our divine purpose. Sometimes people assume that discovering one's divine purpose is to figure out a certain career path. For instance, it may be easy for me to say that my purpose is to act as a pastor at BCC. This is not the case, I have narrowed too much. Rather, my divine purpose is to act as a pastor. I have a shepherd's heart and desire to nurture people to a place where they function at their highest potential. To limit my calling to BCC would be to neglect so many other opportunities I have. For instance, I flew out to Denver for a funeral. Not a single person in attendance will probably ever move to Indianapolis and become a part of BCC, but I still have a responsiblity to pastor anywhere and any time. Why? Because it is my natural calling. I am here to help regardless of whether or not someone is officially a member of BCC.
This helps me to grab those divine moments when I can be an instrument of God. I like the concept of a pastor, because it gives me the freedom to do whatever is necessary in particular situation. Sometimes I preach to help, or maybe teach, or just be a listener, or go eat with them, or any number of things. If I recognize my call to pastoring and fulfill it at all times not just during office hours, then I open the door for God to move in a mighty way regularly and in every facet of my life. What is your divine purpose?

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Impact

I have been to 3 different funeral-related services in the last 4 days. The first was a viewing. The second was a memorial service. The third was a graveside service. It was abundantly clear to me at each service that the man who passed was very much impactful for the Kingdom of God. He truly was a saint who took God's commission seriously. It is as if he lived life on purpose and fulfilled his purpose.
Invariably, these thoughts begin to reflect on my own life. Am I impacting people with the Kingdom of God effectively and on purpose? Or is my life filled with self-gratifying moments that only impact my level of comfort? Perhaps, those of us who have not been putting in the effort, should think about the way we are mourned at our funerals. Not a single person questioned where this man ended up in eternity. Again and again people said the same thing about the character and giftings he possessed. The tears that were shed were simply because he will be so very missed, but there is almost an awe of all that he accomplished in mild-mannered way. Live to love God and his creation, if there is too much self-loving then it's time to make some changes.

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