I know you have heard of BO and BBQ, but what the heck is BBO?  It's called Blog Burn Out.  I'm not sure it's a term that has ever been used before, but I can tell you that I have experienced it.  You probably have figured that out since it's been a while since I've written.  Life has just been busy, but honestly I just haven't wanted to write about anything.  I don't know maybe I am experiencing a little BO.  I know you thought that meant body order, but it means burn-out.  I think all of us get frustrated with life sometimes.  It's just the natural cycle of things.  I mean sometimes this ministry thing just gets to be to much.  Or maybe your thing is something else...the bottom line is it gets all twisted and mangled and we just don't want to deal with it anymore. I know that life is to complicated, and our priorities are whacked up sometimes.  Hey, but here is the good news, I am back.  So how do we end up here... I mean in this burn out place.  How do we end up with BO or BBO?  I think it's because we forget that Christ is life and the rest are details.  We forget the main thing.  I love God.  I love how He always brings us back to the right place.  I don't know maybe it takes a while, but He does it and more importantly we eventually follow.  Jesus had building the Kingdom of God locked squarely in His sights.  When we lose that, when our focus shifts to our kingdom and not His we go BO.  I love him and I love His kingdom.  It's really that simple.  We have a sender who has given us a message to give to a people.  That's really what it's all about.  Take a walk with the amazing one today. For right now I am BOB.  That is Back on Board, Back on Blog, or Back off Bro...

I cannot think of anything more fulfilling than being a Pastor.  Nothing blesses my heart more than seeing individuals lives changed.  Transformation is an amazing thing to watch even in my own life. While living life as a pastor certainly has its rewards it can also be filled with high expectations not only from myself but others.  As I continue thinking about some of the misconceptions that people can have I realize one of the greatest is the role of the Pastor's wife. I guess it depends on what the expectations were in the church you were raised in.  For many she was the piano player, the organist, the prayer group leader, the ladies bible study leader, etc..., I have to say for me she is my wife and the mother of my children.  I'm not sure where the scriptural foundation is that substantiates that ministry is two for the price of one.  What I mean by that is that many church leaders tend to think that when you hire the pastor you hire his wife as well.  I find no place in the New Testament to support that the pastors wife is responsible for the church.  Don't misunderstand me I believe ministry involves the family.  My family has made many sacrifices for me to fulfill the call of God.  And I certainly believe that the bible is clear regarding the ministers family, especially when it comes to the qualifications for effective ministry.  No one genuinely loves and cares for people more than my wife, however her number one priority is her family.  When it comes to her role as a wife and mother she is above the bar.  If the truth be told she makes me a better pastor.  I am thankful for a Godly wife who loves her husband, family, and church.  OK maybe she is not around at every event, (There is not many things she misses) but she is around for the main event.  I am not writing on this subject because there have been any issues or discussions.  I just know that many pastors wives live under the microscope of boards and church members and for them ministry becomes a burden.  I am thankful for Lifepoint Church and the genuine love and acceptance you show my wife.  I trust that as Christ followers we can rid ourselves of some of the misconceptions where Pastors and their families are concerned. 

I was visiting with a minister the other day and we were discussing the common misconceptions that people have regarding Pastors.  I'm not talking about non-church individuals, but church members.  I decided I would write about some of these over the next few weeks.  Now I realize that I may shoot some sacred cows, but... oh well I'm diving off into the deep.  A common misconception is the pastor should always be there for me.  If you just stop and think about that you will begin to realize the impossibility of that actually happening.  Can you imagine one person being available to everyone 24/7?  When I read the scripture I find only one who has such capability.  Any guesses as to who that might be?  I believe that a Pastor is called primarily to take the oversight of God's people. He is sent to be a guide, to be a voice, to lead, to equip, and to encourage.  Paul said, it well in Ephesians 4:11-13. Pastors are called to equip God's people to do the work of the ministry.  It is a common misconception in Christian's minds that the Pastor is called to take care of everything and do everything.  The tragedy in the church is that God's people who are called to carry the responsibility, care and encouraging of each other have put all of the load on the Pastor.  The bible is clear to point out when one hurts we all hurt, and when one rejoices we all rejoice.  We should all be so vitally connected with each other that we take notice of others.  Let me just say it this way the Pastor is called to Shepherd the flock of God.  A shepherd does not eat for the sheep, he provides the pasture.  A shepherd does not drink for the sheep, he provides the water.  Sheep must walk for themselves, they must follow the example set before them.  I love the video game Wii (pronounced we).  I think the problem in the church today is we have failed to move from a me (the Pastor) to a Wii (the people) mentality.  We are all a part of Christ body and we must all be doing our part, verses getting bent out of shape because the Pastor is not doing everything.  What God wants is that we learn to play Wii in the church.