The first step, when someone feels calls to ministry, meets with their pastor. The pastor hears there call, and also directs them to meet with their district superintendent. For us in Orlando, Dr. Wayne Wiatt (best D.S. ever) helps to start the process of candidacy. The candidacy process is formatted to help someone better understand their call through reflection and conversation with others. For my process, I meet with a candidacy mentor (Randy Strickland – Conway UMC) for about a year to discern and understand the details of calling and ordained ministry. This process involves reading, writing, psychological and personality tests, and even a session with a licensed counselor. All of this is designed to help the individual feel confident in their call.

After meeting with my mentor for about a year, I applied to the District Committee on Ordained Ministry. This group is tasked with confirming the call of the individual. It is made up of local lay and clergy reps. I was blessed to have some great people on my DCOM, like Emily Ann Zimmerman. She is the wife of Gene Zimmerman, a retired clergy member from Florida, and former pastor (and current member) of First UMC Orlando. Emily Ann serves a lay member of the board. I think it is great that we have members of our local churches helping to make new pastors for our church. I became a certified candidate through his committee. This stage recognizes that God is calling me to ordained ministry. They DCOM gives “contingencies” to candidates as ways for growth. These can include reading, meeting in a directed study, counseling, retreats, etc. One of my contingencies was a semester as a Chaplain, working in the hospital.

Seminary is only one part, though a big part, of the overall process. As I came to the end of seminary, I had to write my “paperwork” to present to the DCOM. This involves expanding on topics such as leadership, theology, personal growth, and proclamation/preaching.  My paperwork came to about 100 pages. It is like a Master’s thesis. From this paperwork, I interviewed with the DCOM. They are looking to see if I am reading to apply to the state level conference for ordination. They want to see I can articulate my call, and my understanding of God, and that these fit within the UM theology and practice. At my DCOM meeting in September, I was recommend to apply to the Board of Ordained Ministry, or BOOM, for short.

The BOOM is made up of clergy and lay people from across the conference. Ages range from young adult to retirees, and demographics vary as a way to allow the diversity of the conference to be represented.  My senior pastor, Tom McCloskey serves on the board. Though, he cannot sit in during my interview, to ensure there is no bias. A key part of this group’s responsibility is interviewing candidates (like myself) who are pursuing ordained ministry.

The BOOM reads all the same paperwork, and then has the choice to set up an interview. This brings us back to today. I meet with a small group, about 8-10 people, who ask follow up questions to the paperwork submitted. This lasted about an hour. Then, the full BOOM, about 50 members, meets and has a chance to ask me questions. They can ask about theology, personal growth, preaching, and leadership. I leave the room, and the group discusses and takes a vote. The best way I have heard it described, is the BOOM is looking for ways to pass the candidate. They want to see the church grow, not keep people out. The BOOM has the option of three responses; a recommend which is what I received, a continuation which says everything is in order but more experience is needed, or a discontinue, which means they person may not be called to the UMC. They recommended that the conference make me a Provisional Elder, which receives a final vote at the upcoming annual conference this summer.

Over the next three years, I will continue to grow in my gifts and talents in ministry. I will then have a chance to apply to the BOOM again to become a Full Elder. I explain it to people like this. Professors are hired at schools, but on a probationary basis (Provisional Elder). After several years, and demonstration of the long-terms gifts, receive tenure (Full Elder).

I found the process, over the past few years to be quite long and often challenging. There were times when I thought it would be easier to find a different denomination to do ministry in. But, I sensed God was calling me to the UMC. This call was constantly re-affirmed in my meetings with my mentor, the district committee, and finally, the BOOM. The process we have in place is challenging. I literally gave blood, sweat, and tears. We have to do a health physical, so there was a blood test. But, this ensures that the churches of the UMC, and especially the Florida Conference, are sent the well trained, called, and thoroughly prepared ministers who know they are in the place God would have them be.

I hope this helps to explain how pastors come to be in the UMC. I am grateful to God for his presence with me through it. I am thankful to the family, friends, and countless church members who committed to praying for me today. I felt God’s peace and presence with me during the interview, and I could ask for no more than that.

Resources:

• ExploreCalling.org A site for calling in the UMC
• Who are some of the people on the FL Board of Ordained Ministry? Link

“Advent” is a Latin word, made popular in 490 AD. It means, “coming,” as in the coming birth of Jesus. Each time this year we hear the stories from Matthew and Luke about the birth of baby Jesus. They make us feel warm and fuzzy about this innocent child being born into the world. But Advent is more; it is actually 3 distinct “comings.”

The first is the Jesus’ birth, the usual celebration this time of year. Now that is a big deal all by itself. The fact that God came into the world as a baby is important. But, if we stop there, we miss the bigger picture of Advent. The second coming is Jesus’ presence in the world. This gives us a sense joy. We can see that world will finally begin to be set right. No longer is God far off, like we feel in the Old Testament, but right here with us. Advent reminds us that Jesus comes into the day to day to commune, to live life, with us. The final part of Advent is that Jesus is coming back one day. It is what we call the second coming. This is about hope. We are reminded that the world and our lives will not spin deeper and deeper in to brokenness and sin and ultimately destroy itself. We are reminded that Jesus will come again and will rescue those who have put their faith in Him. The hope, is that the world and our lives will be made right again.

 So, when you think about Advent, remember it is about the coming of Jesus; past, present, and future.

I heard it said that finding happiness is about grasping what will last, and letting go of what is fleeting. That reminds me of the star that the Wise Men see in the East [see Matthew 2:1-6]. They were used to traveling by following the stars, because they did not move. There were not accurate maps. The maps they had would change and shift based on discoveries. The stars, however, were consistent. As we think about our lives, we see that the “stars” that have taught, guided, and led us over the years. What or who has been your guide over your lifetime?

Young adulthood is about striking out on your own. In many ways, you are like the wise men who leave behind their kingdoms in search of God. So what are the stars you are following now? Does it have to do with a vision for a career, family pressure, or a relationship? Where do you see that star leading you? Is it fleeting, or does it seem lasting?

When we look at the night sky, we are overwhelmed by how many stars are present. It can be hard to find the one “right one.” The fear is that if we get the wrong star, we might end up outside God’s will. Or, like Joseph in the above video, get “unfriended.” More and more, I have come to see that God gives us choices. If the next step was always obvious, we would have no need for God. So, in the midst of the big decisions we have as young adults, we can find peace. The peace comes knowing that God has called us to follow Him. As we journey, we pray, seek the advice of others, and listen. If we end up on the wrong path, God will correct it. Advent reminds us that God has been present in our lives, that He will watch over the future, and especially that Jesus is with us today.

Let Advent be a time for you to follow the stars in your life. Let them lead you to Jesus, to the plans and opportunities He has for you. And relax, He is guiding you, even if it does not always feel like it.

Feel free to use the comment section to post any comments, thoughts, or disagreements you have.

So why is the KJV still so widely used? The language, with all of the thee and thou sounds holy. It sounds like we might expect God to sound. We like God sounding very formal, high brow, and refined. God sounds good as an British Gentleman.  The language of the KJV gives the impression that the words of the Bible are not like the words we use on a daily basis. Our daily English is common. It is used for everything from used car commercials, advertising, and dialogue with others. It feels like we are doing scripture a injustice by allowing it to be so common sounding.

Here is a sample selection of the KJV from John 1:15 “John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.”

Yet, common language is exactly what God is going for. We like words like “incarnation” in church. It feels good to use those big words. But, we can miss the meaning. Incarnation is just a fancy way of saying that God became human in Jesus in order to build a deep and lasting relationship with us. This is why it is OK that the Bible uses the same language we use on a daily basis. Sticking with the KJV reinforces the idea that God is distant, far-off, and out of touch with our reality. The truth, is that God comes to every nation, person , and situation on earth. God speaks your native, common language. Thee and thou was great when everyone else used it daily. The glory of God is shown not only in that He makes the first move to speak to us, but that He chooses to do so in our common everyday language. This is so we can see and experience God’s Word in our common and everyday lives.

What version do you use, and why?

I was challenged at a clergy retreat to preach less (…and the church rejoices…). I noticed my sermons are creeping to the 22-25 minute mark (admittedly too long). The challenge was to aim for 12-15 minutes! Not for the sake of getting to lunch quicker, but to present a clear and focused idea that give people energy to act, rather be worn out from listening. What do you think?

Thirty-three reply comments and countless “likes” on a variety of views brought up several issues. Here are the summaries, each of which are points that deserve a blog posts themselves:

• Consumerism: Many expressed concern that shorting a sermon felt like we were worshiping the clock. In a world which prizes instant gratification, the church needs to present a different, healthier, response. Kristen really wrapped this up well.
• Precision: A 25 minute sermon that just rambles could be brought into 12 minutes with more focus. Precision in preaching allows us to do the most good. Here is where things like toastmasters and public speaking can help a preacher. Joey gave a great image. “Scenario #1: A fighter can punch his opponent for 10 rounds, kick the crap out of him, win the fight, and people will know he won… Scenario#2: A fighter can knock his opponent out in the first round, win the fight, and people will be talking about that knockout for days.” Remember, this is an image, no one is advocating beating people up in preaching.
• Biblical Examples: I was grateful for the variety of biblical examples. Daniel reminded us of the Apostle Paul’s night long sermon, and Paul (the campus minister, not the apostle, though he is a fantastic leader) reminded us of Jesus’ 6 minute sermon. It’s hard to make a clear determination on length, as each preaching setting is unique.
• Creating Holy Spirit space: I enjoyed Chris’ comments here. Looking at the worship service as a whole, rather than in parts, can create lots of different opportunities. Worship is a “thin space” where the presence of God is closer (or at least more discernable) than other times.

One issue stood out to me above all else. In each response, and in my questions, I found myself asking “What is the purpose of preaching?” Again, several great answers were given. Preaching was described as (“giving meat”), provoking thought, spirit-led, education, and motivation. All these are right.

Upon personal reflection, I settled on preaching as illumination. Sometimes, I look at a list of lectionary scriptures, other times I am motivated by an issue or topic. Either way, scripture is my starting point, and thus, some form of education must happen. Attention needs to be given to the setting, situation, and context of the verse or verses. Christian education happens in small groups and Bible studies, but it also happen in the pulpit. Jesus’ repeated use of Old Testament scripture in His preaching speaks to the need for continued education. But, I don’t want to stop there. Application is the process where what we have learned in God’s presence, is applied to our lives by the leading of the Holy Spirit. So the scriptures have light shed on them, and in turn, God shines light onto our lives and journeys. When I finish preaching, my hope is that God will have spoken through me. That listeners will have heard the Lord speak into their life. Perhaps this is why it can be hard to define preaching. The ways God works in and through our lives is not always crystal clear. There is a certain mystery when we worship God.

I really appreciated all the feedback, as it helped to bring a variety of observations into perspective.

I copied the reply comments from Facebook:

Kristen Only in America…

Matthew I’m going for 12 minutes this week!

Brian Johnson Say more Kristen, I think I know what you mean, but I’m interested.

Andy Sermon-ettes create Christian-ettes

Chris I think if you can say it in 25 minutes you can say it in 15 minutes …

Kristen Hmmm…my first thoughts…we want instant everything…what is easy…what doesn’t require too much out of me…etc. Second, I think by shortening a sermon to 12-15 minutes it creates a need to dumb-down (can I say that?) the material and therefore looses depth and challenge. I also think that shortening the sermon means we are shortening the amount of time we are allowing for the Word of God to be spoken/proclaimed. It sounds like it is more about pleasing a crowd than preaching the Word of God. Now, I know this is America, and it is not the rest of the world, but if you look at other cultures you will see most services going for hours at a time (and no one would complain)…we cannot even fathom giving that much time out of our lives. Ok, I’m done because now I am just rambling. Just my two cents.

Brad How much of our time is God really worth? We seem to be more concerned about the length of the sermon than we are about the hurting people in this world.

Paul I read somewhere recently (a blog maybe? can’t remember) that the longest recorded sermon in Acts, when you read it aloud, was 6 minutes….seemed pretty effective for them, lol…

Ryan I preach for 25 minutes and I’m having to cut a great deal out of the sermon to make it fit. I find 25 isnt enough time to tackle a passage faithfully. Giving the flock meat takes time.

Barbara I believe God will work in 12 minutes and 25 minutes…let Him speak through you. Sermon moments are great but it’s everyday when He speaks the loudest to those who witness your life.

Brad If you think you are being to repetitive or just filling space (Not likely) then fine shorten your sermon. Just don’t shorten your sermon because of complaints from the congregation. If it’s something God has put on your heart, take the heat and deliver what He has given you.

Karrie Some things can be said in 12 minutes, others take 25 or more. Say what you need to say to be effective. We don’t mind how long you speak…unless of course there’s a Packer game on…. ha-ha, just kidding! Maybe those who think it needs to be shorter are not truly hearing the message?!

Mark If they are truly challenging the organization of the message, this could be a helpful strategy for a short-term practice of making better use of your speech. However if this is a challenge to manage worship time, I find it discouraging. As a beginner student pastor, my messages were originally fairly short. With more experience, the message laid upon my heart dictated length. With that in mind, I usually strove for 20 minutes (plus/minus 5). Without knowing the context of the “retreat,” it is difficult to know the intent.

Robert I would hope there were actually challenging you to preach better, not less. Usually less rambling means better organization and presentation which can be translated into less “preaching”.

Joshua Brian, I actually apply this to prayer life as well. I was spending a good hour a day in the Word and prayer. In order to be more efficient I cut it down to 30 min. of more focused prayer. Eventually if I get really good I may be able to condense it to 15 min. or Lord willing 5 min.

Pete Sechler Ha! We should talk. I do a lot of public speaking, lecturing and presenting and this has always been my challenge. Its tough – I have always said that a well written 500 word essay is much tougher that a 1500 word paper. Jesus was a master at direct, concise and impactful messages that hit people right where they lived.

Joey Scenario #1: A fighter can punch his opponent for 10 rounds, kick the crap out of him, win the fight, and people will know he won… Scenario#2: A fighter can knock his opponent out in the first round, win the fight, and people will be talking about that knockout for days. Hell, it might even be on ESPN’s Top Ten.

Heather I”m not convinced that shorter, more concise sermons are the issue. Perhaps it may be the listeners? Particularly in the West… jmo.

Katie I think 12-15 minutes is probably long enough to give a clear, focused idea, but I don’t think it is enough time to develop that idea. How will people know how to apply what you’ve told them? How will you have time to dig into the text and build background? But maybe I’m prejudiced because I enjoy Beth Moore’s hour long teachings so much . . .

Ashley I’m all for the 12-15 minute sermons. Jason has picked a great Methodist church for us but if I had done the picking we’d be Episcopalian and enjoying 13 minute sermons. (but I do love our church!)

Charles my goal was usually 20 minutes, but time should trump message. Sometimes the presentation and the voicing can keep the time reasonable.

Laura really? Our sermons are always 40 minutes and are never rambling or repetitive…just meaty, thought-provoking, & Spirit-led. I don’t think I would want a shorter message… And I hope Joshua above was kidding?

Brian Johnson To clarify; the goal was more effective preaching by being more concise and creating a way for people to leave wanting more. Keep discussing, this is really helpful

Mark I think it may be a good exercise to develop better precision in proclamation. However, I still cringe at putting time restraints on listening to what God has for us. You need to be direct without sacrificing the fulfillment of what God has for us.

Josh All elements of a worship service are important but I think you can make a strong argument from Scripture that the “main event” (for lack of a better term) is the opening, reading, explanation, and application of God’s Word. It makes sense then that the most important thing gets the most amount of time devoted to it. In my experience, 12-15 minutes just isn’t enough time. I’m all for clarity and try to be as clear and concise as possible but some texts just can’t be adequately covered in that short of time. One thing that has helped with clarity is to type out manuscripts of my sermons (which I admittedly still don’t always do). As Thabiti Anyabwile said, this will help you to “squeeze your thoughts through your fingers.”

Chris Why make a rule? Spend time with your team (musicians, artists, other creative types …) and think of the service as a whole story; use what the scripture demands, no less, but no MORE either …

Jason Ye without sin cast the first stone. Pretty powerful and spoken in seconds!

Drew An interesting discussion. Chris Logan – personally I think you have it right. At FUMCO we are blessed with having adult sunday school classes which I feel is an appropriate place for my educational learning. Not everyone is that fortunate. As a congregant I feel the real question is do I need to be educated in worship or motivated?

Daniel Deliver the Word, no matter how long or short. Deliver the Word! And for the comment above, the longest sermon I know of in the Bible was the one Paul preached all night until the son came up where the kid fell out of the window, and they prayed for his healing. I sure wish I could have been there to hear Paul.

Clint ‎Brian Russell always said exegete your audience. If you have an audience that can only handle a fifteen minute sermon then you have to limit your depth and be as efficient as you can.

Brian Remember it is also about the skill of the speaker. Most who preach shouldn’t speak more than 5 minutes… Remember short message does not mean watered down or lacking substance. Longer sermon does not guarantee quality either.

Cindy  I truly believe that the Holy Spirit is the one Who should be talking through our pastors. For this to be done, a lot of prayer and guidance should be the goal for giving sermons. Let the Spirit flow! Your preparation should be made and then prayerfully given to congregation. You are intstruments of the Lord, His voice. If you are truly allowing the Spirit to use you, His timing will be right. That is my two cents.

Joey I wanna see you on ESPN’s top ten!

They just launched ”Perfect” the Fall reader. The focus is on Jesus’ sermon on the Mount in Matthew, which concludes with the instruction, “Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt. 5:48). That is kinda a tough verse to live.  So check out the reader, and especially audio resource linked below.

The Resource: Each week they are posting brief audio clips of a conversation with Dr. David Bauer teaching on the Sermon on the Mount. Dr. Bauer was my professor for Inductive Bible Study, and taught the course on the Gospel of Matthew. His class was one of the most helpful in how I read scripture.  He has taught this particular book for over 25 years now and allowed it to live into his own life. That’s what we desire when we read the Bible, is to allow its story to inform and shape our story/stories.

Get the Resource:

• Mobile device: Go to http://mobilereader.asburyseminary.edu/#listen This link takes you right to the audio pieces, formatted for your phone.  On an iPhone, it will give you instructions to make it an app on your home page screen. …pretty cool.
• Computer: Go to http://www.asburyreader.com

But why try a lectionary pattern? Here are several reasons:

1. Sunday Preview: In a church that uses the lectionary, you will have a chance to read and think about the scriptures before hearing them in the service. This will allow you to do your own reflection and prayer around the scriptures.
2. Connecting Various Scriptures: Each week the lectionary presents an Old Testament book, a psalm/proverb, the gospels, and from the New Testament letters. 4 readings from across God’s revelation over time. I enjoying seeing how these unconnected passages might shed light or speak to the others. It gives you a picture of the story of God over time.
3. Christian Calendar: I found this graphic (above) of a liturgical calendar from blogger Internet Monk. The church calendar presents another view of our lives. It is not the linear calendars we are used to that tell us what we are doing. Instead, the church calendar tells us who we are in God’s story.  It’s the difference between what we do, and who we are. We move through the year, through times of celebration in advent to solemn times of Christ’s death and burial. We encounter the risen Christ and move into Ordinary time or Kingdom-tide. This is the current season we are in, Kingdom-tide. It is a time to focus on the ministry and teaching of Jesus on the kingdom of heaven, and the gospels call on our lives.

How to do it: You can use your own method, and if you have one that works, please share it in the comments section. For me, I found it works to read one of the four passages each day during the week. Then, at the end of the week  (Friday and/or Saturday) to look at how all four are connected. The focus in each reading is to see what God’s action is in the scripture. What is He doing, where is He working in the lives of His people? Then, look also to find how your story, your life, is connecting with the story in scripture. As with all scripture reading, prayer is the way we understand the scripture and discern how God is speaking to us.

Do you use the Lectionary in your own faith and devotion? If so, how? If not, why not? Leave a comment below please.

Related Blog Posts:

• “To Do” or “To Be” List
• Book Review: “The Liturgical Year” by Joan Chittister

Many other faith traditions would not even touch the lectionary. I confess, at times, I really struggle with its use too. When I am only presented with 4 scripture passages to preach from, there can be a sense that I have limited the leading of the Holy Spirit. This is one reason why UM pastors are free to work outside of the lectionary. But, one of my preaching professors in seminary advised that preaching from the lectionary was the best discipline for a young preacher. I am starting to agree.

The lectionary forces me to preach from passages, stories, and books of the Bible I might otherwise not land on in my sermon study. My tendency is to move toward familiar passages in scripture that I have heard a good sermon on, or are my favorite. This past week I preached from Genesis 32, where Jacob wrestles with God. Two weeks ago, I came to the parable of the wheat and the weeds in Matthew 13. Both are great stories, but neither were on my radar during preparation. But here lies the spiritual discipline part. The purpose of spiritual disciplines is to form us into Jesus-likeness in our actions and our relationship with Him.  The lectionary discipline challenges and stretches me. In the cases of my first two sermons at First Church, I began the week looking at a scripture and wondering if it was the “right” one for the congregation. Did this scripture contain the specific message God wanted to communicate? In both cases, by Friday, I looked at the finished sermon and was amazed. God had worked through the lectionary text and lead me to form a sermon that I felt really connected the congregation’s story to God’s story. Now, don’t hear me wrong. I am not in the category of saying it is the only way to preach, but for me, this discipline is teaching me.

There is a stream who says the lectionary limits God’s work in the church. I am seeing just the opposite. Its use does not limit God, but really opens all of God’s Word to us over the span of time. Plus, difficult and challenging passages which typically would be avoided are brought out and served to the congregation, precisely because they happened to “come up” on the lectionary calendar. In my ministry, the use of the Lectionary is forming me through scriptures that I may not have otherwise considered.

The next post, part 2, will look beyond preaching the lectionary, to its uses in our devotional lives. Stay tuned!

(Image taken from the “Lectionary” iPhone app…which is FREE!)

So, what does a thermostat do? It not only measures the temperature in the environment, but it also controls the environment. If the space is to hot, it can introduce cool air to bring it down to a more pleasing temperature, and then keep it there. Thermometers are passive, simply reacting to the surrounding environment. Thermostats are active agents of change in an environment.

After witnessing the abuse of one of his fellow Hebrews by their Egyptian slave-owner, Moses kills the Egyptian and buries him the sand. When he is confronted the next day about the crime, he decides to flee from the coming wrath of Pharaoh. The environment around Moses was heating up, and was about to come to a boiling point. You remember those cartoons where the red thermometer mercury keeps rising until it finally bursts out the top? Moses was about to burst. So he got out of Dodge…Egypt. His environment forced him to a breaking point.

But God keeps working with Moses. God meets him in the desert in Chapters 3 and 4. Moses is called to go back to Egypt, except this time he will be a thermostat. Things were going to get hot because God was preparing to pull His people out of their slavery. Each time Pharaoh refuses to let the Hebrews leave, Moses responds by setting the expectation. Pharaoh increases the work load of the people, and Moses demonstrates the power of God. No longer was Moses changing with the whim of the environment.

This analogy has been coming close to home for me this week. As I begin my new job as a pastor, and as I join the journey that my church is on, I pray that we will be a thermostat. The city may expect us to react to what the think is important. People might think we should keep to ourselves, and not meddle in their lives. Our culture may think our values are silly. God has called us to influence our environment. So I am praying about how God desires to us my gifts, in conjunction with the church, to blow cool air on the sweltering parts of our city. I am proud to be pastoring a church that eagerly desires to see God’s environment come not only downtown, but also in central Florida, and all over the world.

God wants earth to look like heaven. He uses reluctant people like Moses, a man who ran from trouble, feared human rulers, and apparently was not an eloquent speaker. Ordinary thermometers are transformed into thermostats as we encounter the living God. People like you, and me.

How has God made you into a thermostat in your environment?

One of my favorite authors is Eugene Peterson. I was given his new book for graduation, The Pastor: A Memoir Eugene, when he served as a pastor, would look for a book in the bible that connected the story of his church to the story of scripture. For example, when his church was first started, and meeting in his basement, they read Acts. The beginning of the first church. Then, as they began to design and build their first church space, they looked to Exodus. Exodus narrates the Israelite’s construction of the tabernacle, their mobile worship center.

At First Church Orlando, we are preparing to move into a new rebuilt ministry center. The long and trying construction will be complete in the next few months. So I turned to Exodus. The book covers the journey out of Egypt, the desert wandering, and the construction of the tabernacle. Exodus comes from the Greek word exodus (see, Greek isn’t hard!). It can be defined as “departure” or “exit.” Our church will depart from the current space to enter a new one. Like Israel, we are doing so under the leading of God, He is the only way we can make it.

I am reading Exodus to let scripture give light to my experience of transition. Likewise, the church’s exodus will help me to better understand some of the feelings of the Israelite’s. I invite any of our members to join with me. Let me know if you will, I want to stay in conversation as we read.

How is God’s story informing your story?

I presented a case study from my hospital ministry this past week to my supervisor and fellow chaplain interns. By my estimation, I had made significant progress since first starting in March, and I was anxious to demonstrate my growth to the group. While they affirmed what I was doing well, they found a big issue that I missed in my conversation with the patient. It was under the surface, and thus, not evident to the patient, but it came through in our conversation. My group helped me to see that I missed a key issue. I was really frustrated and had to fight back defensiveness so I could hear them out. I wondered, was I really making progress?

Abram’s journey provided a frame for my own journey with Christ. Abram did not do it perfectly, we can read Genesis further and see where he got some things right, and others wrong. There are times in our Christian walk, usually with the best of intentions, we wander of the trail, say the wrong thing, or mess something up. We look back in hindsight and get frustrated and angry. But adults learn by doing and experience, and we can trust that God knows this about us. He is proud when we put what we are learning into practice in order to grow. The point of discipleship is building a relationship with Jesus, not about being perfect always. Abraham makes it into the “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews 11 because he kept following God by faith, not because he followed perfectly.

So let’s keep going on the journey with God. He has called you and me, and knows our strengths and weaknesses. Adults learn by putting concepts into experience first, and then by processing afterward. So we will likely get frustrated when things don’t go just right. They key is that we are on a journey to know God more and more.

What experiences have taught you the most in hindsight?