Balancing Ministry N' Work

2014 was challenging and rewarding. Medically - 4 hospitals, 11 doctors, and Zero answers. Work - My work family had more than our share of people pass on. Family - Have seen my kids continue to grow and excel at whatever they put their minds to. Church - We have seen our small church grow. While 2014 was not horrible, I am glad it is behind me and am looking forward to what 2015 brings. I don't know if I will get any answers from the doctors or if I will be able to get back on my road bike. Not sure what new challenges or blessings will come, but I do know that I am not alone. My wonderful wife will be by my side every step of the way, and our Lord Jesus Christ will be with us! As I was thinking about 2015 here are some of the things I will be remembering and focusing on. “’For I know the plans I have for you’ this is the Lord’s declaration ‘plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’” - Jeremiah 29:11 I do not kno...

If you have been here before, or even if you haven't, you will find a new section on the right called 'New Life Chapel Links'. Here you will find the New Life Chapel Blog and Website. Each week I post the type up of my sermons and hope to add audio in the coming weeks. You can also find a lot of information about New Life Chapel and see what is going on. Feel free to check out the new links and if you are ever in the Jackson area, check us out at 11:00 am every Sunday morning as we worship our Lord. Blessings, Robert

This week has been an interesting week. Two weeks ago I was contacted by New Life Chapel in response to them looking for a Bivo Pastor position. I have felt God moving in me like I have not felt in several years. It has really been exciting! That excitement has been tempered by the knowledge I have about the church and the week of work. Dealing with layoffs, performance issues, and the planning for a new year have been exhausting. Thankfully the homework demands for my last MBA course have been minimal. That will change in a couple of weeks, but I am thankful for the timing right now. The message I am preparing for this weekend is 'Imitation or Imitator' based on Ephesians 5:1-8. Verses 1 and 2 just jumped out at me and it has grown from there. I feel this is the message that God is giving me for New Life. Whether I preach there for one time of if this turns into something more I am praying that God uses me to bless the congregation. While there are concerns about the expectati...

As I continue to pray and think on the opportunity before me, I have conflicting feelings. On one hand I see a small church needing some help that I feel I can contribute to. On the other hand, I see a group of people who want a pastor to do everything for them. The second is not a healthy situation. New Life is a small country church where God has worked in the lives of a small group of people. The old pastor felt called to plant this church and has done a lot, including a building, etc... Sadly from my recent conversations with him, he has done pretty much everything. Here is a man who works 3rd shift, prepares for a weekly Sunday sermon, ministers to the flock, but is also the facility maintenance person, the Sunday school teacher, and the only mid week Bible study leader. Their are 3 meetings each week and he writes and delivers the messages at each one. No wonder he has burned out and feels he has let the church down. He cannot do everything. From where I sit right now, I will be ...

Have you ever felt confident that God is moving you in a direction and then He seems to be moving you in another direction? If you have been following this new blog, you will see that two weeks ago I applied for a pastorate. Last week I was notified that I was their first choice to interview for the position. I am scheduled to preach/interview on the 17th. That is when things started changing. First off I was excited and humbled by the opportunity to preach and that I am being considered for the pastorate. I am praising God! I have exchanged several email with the leader of the pastoral search committee and was trying to get a feel about the church. I finally asked him why they were looking for a new senior pastor (SP). He told me that the church has been struggling to grow for a while and that he believe the church needs some new blood. This has led him to resign as the SP and help the church find its next pastor. He is hoping to stay on as he does NOT feel that God is calling him awa...