Okay…here it goes:
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I post pictures of bugs on my FaceBook page.
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I’ve memorized every word in Tom Cruise’s movie, “The Last Samurai”
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I take a sleeping pill at around 9:00pm most nights (yes, it is over-the-counter)
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I work at really weird hours sometimes.
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I tend to procrastinate and be unorganized.
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I can skin a muskrat.
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I sometimes go to Wal-mart in sweat pants, flip-flops, and unshaven (and always see someone I know even when trying to avoid it!)
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I like to kayak.
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I love Long John Silver’s fish.
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I once took a 4ft lighted Santa to a pastor friend’s house on Christmas morning at 5am and left it on his porch (just to kind of freak him out).
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I read books other than the Bible, “My Utmost For His Highest,” and Grudem’s “Systematic Theology.”
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I once mowed the lawn in my underwear.
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I like Bluegrass music, and the Newsboys, and “Crown Him With Many Crowns.”
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I think Cream of Wheat may be one of the best foods in the world.
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I like squirrel gravy.
Oh also,
I invited 8 people to church in the last two days, I’ve given out a dozen Gospel tracts this week, my latest book purchase was, “Ancient Greek Papyri, Volume II”, I’ve spent about 6 hours so far this week studying the Bible for the upcoming Sunday message, I wept over the shootings last Friday, I talk to my accountability partner every day, I prayed over everyone in our congregation this week, I love to talk about the Bible, my wife says my mind never turns off about “pastoring” and church stuff, I drive around our neighborhoods praying for people and dreaming about the best ways to reach them for Jesus.
Here’s the deal. Most pastors are normal people (well, if you can call those things listed above normal). The majority are not Chuck Swindoll, John MacArthur, Max Lucado, or Bill Hybels – and neither am I. And by the way, those guys would all say they are pretty normal also.
We have families, quirks, bad habits, temptations, experience joy and sadness, hobbies, etc. Most of us are as normal as Folgers coffee. We want to be good examples, exemplary pastors, students of the Word too; but we’re pretty much just normal people that God called to preach, teach, and lead in the local church.
So I’m normal; however, I have a huge passion to live for Jesus, reach other people for Him, see them grow in Christ, and see them eventually learn to repeat the same thing. I bleed for those things. I pray for those things. I love to see people encounter Jesus and learn new things about following him.
I want the world to get saved! I live everyday believing that someone I (or you) encounter could and might come to faith through a personal witness for Christ. Yes, I believe you or I could walk across the street, share Jesus with someone, and they could get saved over a cup of coffee – now.
I dream about those conversations and love the work God has called me to. I love pastoring. I love reading and studying the Bible. But then, I also like to go crappie fishing once-in-awhile, attend a HS wrestling match, and eat a bowl of homemade ice cream.
I would love to talk with you about Deutero Isaiah, the issues around open theism, and the documentary hypothesis; but I would really rather discuss how to reach your neighbor for the Lord. After those discussions, I would also love to hear from you the best place to find morel mushrooms (I would REALLY like to talk to you about that!).
I want any church I pastor to know that I’m a normal person. I’m approachable. I’ll give them good counsel from the Word and I’ll pray for them and I’ll get them plugged into ministry. But I’ll also eat a grilled hamburger, throw a Frisbee, or laugh at the movie “Elf” with you.
So what’s the point? God uses normal people like me, you, and pretty much everyone else for Kingdom work. He wants to use you. He wants to use me. Let’s not wait until we think we’ve got it all figured out. Walk across the street and have that cup of coffee today.
Oh yeah, and that “mowing the lawn in my underwear deal” – there’s a good explanation for that. Really.