Is it worth all the work?
 
How much difference does it make?
 
What do I do when I want to quit?

Sometimes I don't feel like being a pastor. 
There are some Sunday mornings at 6:00AM when I don't want to preach. 
Sometimes I dread walking into a meeting.
Sometimes I walk into a crisis situation already emotionally exhausted.   
Sometimes everyone is looking at me for direction and I don't feel like talking.

Serving Christ can be agonizing.  Jesus said it himself, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake . . ." (Matt. 5:10).  

Especially for those working in called ministry positions, there is a weight.  A burden.  A cloud of pressure derived from spiritual forces under responsibility which has eternal consequences. 

You've asked, "How much difference am I making?  Should I go on?  Should I give up? "

Here is some help from 19th century English preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon.  The following is from his Lectures to My Students. 

I was watching 60 Minutes on Sunday night.  (Yes, I'm an old man.)  There was a segment on an upcoming documentary about Pope Francis.  60 Minutes interviewed the unique choice for this project, German “art house” director Wim Wenders. 

Wenders is a lapsed Catholic. He’s known for his eclectic body of work which includes U2 music videos and “Buena Vista Social Club,” a documentary about a group of aging Cuban musicians.  I was interested in Wenders' perception of the Pope, for he would not be enamored like a devout Catholic.  Nor did he seem to bear the stinging criticism of an anti-religious secularist.  He made two observations of Pope Francis that struck me. 

We are confronted daily with failed leadership.  It seems that every morning, there’s a revelation of another powerful man who abused his influence and authority.  (See my post on this here.)  We’ve been let down by politicians and producers, presidents and prime ministers, pastors and priests. 

What examples of genuine leadership do we have?  Rather than stating “what I’m against,” I’m determined to focus on “what I’m for.”  I look to mentors who demonstrate leadership in the positive, not the negative. 

Here are my top leadership quotes.  They give me focus in an era of floundering leadership.  I’ll share five this week, and five next week. 
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One year ago I was nearing the end of writing a book.  I had invested 500 hours into it, and I was about to scrap the whole thing.

I took out a loan for $12,000 to self-publish.  I was afraid of the debt. 
I was weary after months of writing in the dark hours of the early morning.  
I suffered from self-doubt.  "It isn't really that good.  No one will read it."  
I felt naked with the choice to be transparent in my story-telling.  
I had writer's block near the end.  I couldn't find an effective conclusion.  

It was like standing at the end of a dock on a lake.  Should I jump in?  The water is so cold.  I was about to hit "delete" on the whole project.  But first, I went for a walk.  And the words on this note card came to me.  
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With these words, I was possessed.  I had to keep going.  This line became my prayer for the remainder of the process:  "Lord, I'll just keep writing and trust that you will give the words."  

So I jumped.  Writing became an exercise of faith.  To leap without knowing where I'd land.  To walk without being certain of the path.  
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Today, I'm approaching 5,000 copies distributed.  For a little self-published book, all expectations have been exceeded.  

Every week, I hear from strangers around the country.  Loved & Sent is being used in small groups and book clubs.   For leadership development, new member classes, and sermon series.  See a list of churches and organizations here. 

The book has been used to raise thousands of dollars for causes.  An immigrant and refugee agency.  An urban after-school ministry.  Christian Camps.

 A pastor in Wisconsin wrote me,   “I gave gave the book to a truck driver that kept coming to me with questions.  I encouraged him to read it.  After the chapter on grace, he asked me about baptism.  He was baptized last Saturday night.”  

What's your dock?  Is it time to leap?  Why aren't you jumping?    

"Progress always involves risk; you can't steal second base and keep your foot on first."

"Any simpleton can follow the narrow path in the light; faith's rare wisdom enables us to march on in the dark with infallible accuracy, since she places her hand in that of her great Guide."                                    - Charles Haddon Spurgeon.


Major props to these people for their love and encouragement.

"How are you?" they ask.  "Busy," I reply.  

You say it too.   "My schedule is crazy!"  "I'm super busy."  "I've got too much to do."

In his book, The Contemplative Pastor, Eugene Peterson gives two reasons why pastors become busy.  I believe they apply to all people.  I reread Peterson's book annually, and these two statements continue to convict me.  They are my yearly "check-up," and help me to refocus my time and energy.

​I've been on numerous boards and committees that have engaged in the strategic planning process.  I have enjoyed the analysis and assessment, collaboration and discussion.  Personally and professionally, planning is a good thing.  

But I have found one problem:  

The best things in my life have been unplanned.

The woman I married.
The city I reside in.
The job I have.
The house I live in.

​Is it worth all the work?
How much difference does it make?

He's discouraged as his church continues to decline.
She's frustrated by the people she helped; they returned her generosity with resentment.  
He poured his heart out for a friend in need and it seemed to make no difference.

What do you do when you want to quit?  
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