SHOULDER TO SHOULDER #117 ---- 4/10/00
Posted by: lifeunlimited <lifeunlimited@...>
As We fight The Good Fight
(A letter of Encouragement to People in
Vocational and Lay Ministry)
SHOULDER TO SHOULDER #117
TITLE: "When Ministry Becomes Muddy & Murky"
My Dear "Shoulder to Lean On":
Isn't it great to have another friend who you trust to go to when you
need some support or encouragement? Just think about it . . . . . not
everyone has such a luxury. But, boy, I've got a bunch ---- and you're
one of them! Thanks! You bless me so much that I can't even express
myself!
I hope you've had a good week past, and that this one will be even
better. It's a great time to be alive, and a great moment in history to
live and serve our Lord God. The needs are so great, . . . . the
opportunities are so many.
We just need more healthy and courageous soldiers!
VISION SERIES:
I must say that I feel almost like I'm lost, not knowing where to go ----
thirteen weeks on one subject has just about taken everything out of me.
Frankly, I've had difficulty locking in on something specific to share
with you today ---- until Sunday afternoon.
One blessing you deserve to share in, though, is a bit more of the
responses to the "vision" series ---- not so I can impress you, but so
you can join me in giving all praise, glory, and Credit to the Lord.
After all, nothing you and I ever share that touches a person's life is
our own; it all emanates from our Lord Jesus. Just because we receive
the insight and have the opportunity to pass it on is no reason for
gloating or personal grandiosement.
So ---- Praise You, Father! Thanks for letting us share it with each
other. You're too good!
Let me relate two examples:
1. A pastor (if I have the story straight ---- although it really
doesn't matter) began receiving the "Shoulders" letters midstream in the
"vision" series, apparently forwarded to him by a subscriber. He has
written to me several times. However, as his church began facing a major
challenge regarding relocating their facilities, some of the later issues
became pretty important to him. Here are excerpts from some recent
letters he wrote:
#1) "I praise the Lord for your ministry. The series on 'Vision' is
outstanding, and I know that you give all the glory to the Lord."
#2) "I read the final message on Vision yesterday - very helpful,
insightful, indeed. On the 16th of this month, our church body will be
voting whether or not to relocate. You can imagine how some of the older
ones feel about that. I
have committed the situation to the Lord. He will not fail us. May we not
fail Him."
(Further correspondence regarding the senior members in his congregation
prompted me to send a back issue from an earlier "If I Were To Start
Over" series I had done. Its theme was, "I'd Hang Around Old People
More". He responded with the following:
#3) "How very appropriate Shoulder to Shoulder #51 is in my present
situation. THANK YOU for sending it to me. I know the Lord will use it
in my life. We must never forget the contributions older members of the
fellowship can make ---- they must be loved and appreciated.
"Again, thank you for being so thoughtful. It means much to me that you
care in the way that you do, especially with everything else you have
going on.
"Let me encourage you in your Shoulder to Shoulder ministry. In
actuality, we need more of this kind of ministry than so much else that
is offered. Life seems to be so full and hectic. It is good to know of a
brother whom God is using to help us right where the need is! God richly
bless you with His grace."
My hearts desire is to bring encouragement and hope to as many people as
I possibly can, whether in vocational or lay ministry. You can help in
that endeavor, and I would invite you to do so ---- by simply telling
others about the letter, forwarding them to your friends, and encouraging
folks to subscribe. Right now it's going to unknown numbers in about 30
countries on six continents. I am awed by it all.
2. Perhaps you may be wondering about recent developments with the
brothers I referred to in last week's letter. I received the following
letters this past week, and am absolutely thrilled with the continued
progress.
And ---- I must say that the main reasons they are having a successful
process of resolution is because . . .
1) None of them is claiming ownership of the vision,
2) They are willing to humble themselves before each other for the
purpose of restoration and amiable resolution of the issue, and . . .
3) They all want God's glory to come down, God's honor to remain
intact, and God's purposes to be fulfilled at any cost necessary to them.
Just so you can understand a little of the situation, it involves a
church and a missionary they sent to another country. During the process
a number of elements surfaced, including differing perspectives on how
the vision was to be carried out in practical means. This ultimately led
to an awareness that it is very possible the vision has divided into two,
and changes must be made.
So ---- here's what I received from the missionary:
"I have greatly appreciated your "Vision" series and especially your
personal insight these last weeks regarding
[the church's and his] vision for us. As I'm still uncertain where
things will end up, I remain confident that God will indeed continue to
bring all of this to a conclusion in which He will be glorified."
Following that letter, word came that he will be returning to the home
church early in order to expedite the process to a successful conclusion
and to God's glory. He wrote the following to his pastoral team:
"Hey Brothers. (I like that!!! "Brothers!")
"I've come to the conclusion, and I think you will agree with me, that
it's almost futile for us to attempt to communicate about the issues we
continue to deal with via e-mail. With this in mind we've decided it's
best for us to return to the states early in order for us to meet face to
face. There IS light at the end of this tunnel!"
This same week, I also received the following from one of the church's
pastors:
"I believe you have helped us a great deal already. Of course we are
nowhere finished on our journey through this "muddy water" (by the way, I
was raised on the banks of the Missouri River, so your analogy hit me
where I live!) but I know when you leave the muddy water, you go to the
shower to get clean. It's there that the muddy residue is washed away
and all things appear as new again. I'm trusting that as [name] returns
home we'll be able to return to the showers, get cleaned up, and see
things in a new light.
"You are so right concerning diversity in unity. We find ourselves
saying 'Unity without uniformity' quite often. I don't feel that we have
ever lost respect for one another through our recent journey, but we
certainly have had to realize that our paths are "Y"ing away from one
another.
(I really love this brother's illustration here. It's so-o-o-o
incredibly descriptive!)
"Using your river analogy, I feel almost as if, instead of floating down
a peaceful river, we have been water skiing down the river ---- full of
passion, drive, purpose ---- holding onto two separate ropes, but still
behind the same boat.
"We started out holding onto the rope with one hand and holding hands
with one another with the other hand. And now, the force is so strong,
with each of us on opposite sides of the wake, that we are forced to
either let go of the rope (not an option!) or to let go of one another's
hands.
"But I've come to realize, that even if that must happen, we'll still be
behind the same boat, going down the same river, and divided by a wake
that was produced by the [very] boat we are following!
"Thanks for your help. If you have further insight, we're certainly open
to it."
Man, oh man!!! When I read that illustration of the boat pulling the two
water skiers, I wanted to climb one of these big trees outside my study
window and shout it for all to hear ---- "It's O.K. when there's a muddy
mess from your ministry!!!"
So ---- that's what I want to share with you today. It's not desired,
---- and it's not required, ---- but when a muddy mess shows up in your
ministry, don't panic, ---- and don't go a guilt trip!
And, most of all ---- don't get discouraged, my friend!!!
WHEN MINISTRY RESULTS IN A MUDDY MESS:
Three primary questions come to my mind when I contemplate the
development of murkiness and mud in the middle of ministry. Rather than
asking theological or philosophical questions, I'd like to ask some
really practical ones, such as . . . . . .
1. Why? Why is Ministry so frequently accompanied by muddy waters?
"Why?" is a common question all children ask ---- over and over again.
So, here this child goes ---- "Why does a muddy mess so frequently occur
when ministry is performed?
Well ---- just think about it for a moment. Use a little common sense.
Let me ask some related questions:
1) "Where does ministry take place?"
Well ---- here. On earth ---- in the world.
"In the what?"
Here ---- on earth ---- on "terra firma".
"Oh. ---- Well, if that's the case, then why should we be so surprised
when things get "muddy"? If ministry takes place on "terra firma"
(terrain, firmament), right here on "earth" (dirt) ---- why are we so
'cotton pickin'' shocked when things get muddy?!?"
Another question:
2) "With whom does ministry take place?"
With people ---- men and women.
"With whom?"
People! ---- You know . . . . . fallen man.
"Fallen what?"
Man! ---- the human race.
"Oh, . . . . I see. You mean like the descendants of the guy made 'from
the dust of the ground' whose name means 'red clay' or 'red earth'?"
Right!
Another question . . . . . .
3) "Just what is ministry, actually? I mean, using the picture our
brother used above of the river and the boat ---- and the muddiness
encountered ---- what caused the dirt to turn to muddy water?"
Well . . . . water.
"What is the water? Using my example from last week's letter about Lake
Itasca, all the rivers and streams, what would the water, then,
represent?"
Ministry?
"Right! Jesus said, "Now you are clean through the washing of the Word."
He went on to say that everyone who was "thirsty" could come to Him, and
out of the innermost being would flow "rivers of living water". Water
represents a number of things in the Bible (regeneration, birth,
cleansing, life, the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, etc), . . . . but they
all have one thing in common --------"
Ministry!
"So ----- when the proclamation of the Gospel flows through the courses
of opportunity to the dry and parched land filled with clods of clay,
it's going to produce four things ---- amazing fruitfulness, increased
channels, expanded delta's of opportunity ---- and . . . . . . Mud!"
Get used to it, my friend. If you're going to have ministry on this old
earth, you're gonna end up with murky waters and piles of mud from time
to time. But . . . . that's where things grow best.
So ---- what are you going to do?
I'd suggest ---- either take off your socks, put on some boots, or . . .
. go find something else to do. Murky waters and muddy shores are part
of the deal.
Here's another practical question:
2. How? How do ministry scenes so frequently become muddied?
My dear friend, Jim Hylton, spoke in a church I pastored in Wisconsin
about ten or twelve years ago. While he was there, God moved in
extraordinary and unusual ways. Some folks weren't to sure what to make
of it.
Frankly, I thought it was pretty neat.
His comments I felt were so appropriate ---- "When God moves in people's
lives, sometimes things get messy."
Right now, in the midst of joy in my heart, I also am sad ---- I am aware
of four specific churches that are going through terrible times right
now, simply because people haven't learned yet what causes muddy waters,
and how to respond to such conditions in a constructive and redemptive
way. They have a very long road ahead of them.
What causes the mud?
1) Running the boat too fast. On occasion, by going at things too
quickly, once clear water ends up having silt and other junk churned up
so much that things are no longer clear. Not only is that the case, but
also the "wake" of the speeding ministry can cause division among the
skiers ---- the ministers. As seen above, you don't want that Unless God
is preparing you to ski different routes and patterns in the future.
2) Getting into the shallows. Sometimes things become complicated
and muddied up because we try to do things in water that is too shallow.
Like Ezekiel's vision, some folks are satisfied with just ankle-deep
stuff. It's not smart to run a boat in that kind of situation.
3) The reality of ministry that confronts sinful man. Perhaps most
significantly is this fact ---- sinful man reacts when he is confronted
by Spirit-anointed ministry. When God touches a man's life, all kinds of
crud are residue will be stirred up.
Final question:
3. What should you do? When you find yourself in a ministry mess that
is destined for some type of "crisis", . . . .
1) Be reminded that such things are part of the package, are to be
expected at some point in time, and must not be ignored or shunned.
2) Keep the spray out of your eyes. You won't have clear vision
unless you do.
3) Check yourself to see if your handling of the "boat" is somehow
responsible for the stir up. If it is, slow down, take a more benevolent
course, or let someone else drive.
4) If you are responsible, make it right, no matter what the cost.
5) Keep the overall goal in mind ---- the vision you have for
ministry ---- and recognize that there may be more than one channel or
skiing style that will still lead you to the goal. Don't waver from the
goal, although you may need to change equipment, course, or speed.
6) Purpose in your heart that, even though you and your ski partner
may have to release your grasp on each other, you will do everything
possible to make sure he doesn't take a fall or be forced to cross over
the wake to your side ---- although you must be prepared to cross to his
side if that is the thing to do.
7) Keep your eyes open for sand bars, snags, and submerged logs ----
and an occasional alligator. All the while you are continuing in
ministry, you must forever be on the alert for hidden things that can
trip you up and cause you to fall before you've reached your final
destination.
8) Rejoice, and thank God for the murkiness and the mud, for it
proves you're on course in the midst of people. That is to whom you came
to minister, ---- isn't it?
9) Go take a shower from time to time ---- through the washing of the
Word (Jn 15:4) and washing one another's feet (John 13:14). Otherwise
the mud and crud become unbearable.
FINALLY:
Well ---- I may have strained at a point or two in this episode, but I
sure did like my friend's illustration. I know I didn't catch all the
symbolisms there are, and probably created some that aren't there.
Either way, it's time to quit for the night ---- Jo Ann's first question
to me as we returned from revival services where I'm preaching this week
was, "How long will you have to write tonight?" Sometimes it's very
late, even past Midnight ---- especially if it's during a week like we
just had where our schedule gave me no time to think about the letter,
much less write about it.
And, amazingly, I'm done ---- and it's not even 10:00 yet! I still have
time for a shower before watching the nightly news.
Happy skiing! ---- The Course is incredible!
And that last jump is a whopper! ---- you never come down!
Wow! I see the goal ---- and the prize!
Oh, yes ---- ---- in the meantime ---- if you happen to get in murky
waters . . . . ?
Make melody in the Mud!
In His Bond,
Bob
Bob Tolliver ---- (Rom 1:11-12)
Copyright April, 2000. All rights reserved.
We would love to hear from you ---- prayer requests, insights, etc. Feel
free to drop us a note at <[email protected]>.
If this letter has blessed you and you know of someone else who needs to
be encouraged, feel free to forward it in its entirety to all such people
you know.
If you would like a list of past issues which you could receive upon
request, just let us know. Write <[email protected]>.
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Hang in there! I'm with you!
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