• Home
  • About
  • Articles
  • DNA
  • Encouragement
  • Pastors
  • Resources

Small Church.com

A Big Place for small Churches

Feeds:
Posts
Comments
« Earn your chips
“Attractors” »

Stepping Out of the Box

March 1, 2014 by Jim Thomas

This week is one of the highlights of my year. A number of years ago a friend starting inviting my wife and I along with 2 other couples to southern Texas for a time of fellowship and encouragement. In the course of the last 5 years, this annual pilgrimage has had a tremendous impact on my ministry. I do not have any responsibilities for 5 days. My only job is to show up with a willing and teachable spirit to try new things. I have to be willing to step out of my comfortable box and routine. Each year we are exposed to unique opportunities that are outside of our comfort zones. We all participate together and no one is allowed to “opt out”. We even attend a Spanish / English-speaking church and sing familiar worship songs with words that are hard to pronounce. We eat different foods, and have plenty of unique and unusual experiences.

Over the years I have flown a plane, hunted wild hogs, run a quarter mile drag strip, sang Karaoke, judged a local car show, had a cooking lesson, fished in the gulf, and even gone to get a manicure and pedicure. While we each turned in our “man card” for the morning, everyone would sign up for the pedicure thing again in a heartbeat. Our host explained to us that we needed to experience the relaxation of a pedicure so that we would better be able to surprise our wives by giving them a certificate for a manicure or pedicure. We have made a number of new friends over the years and love the fellowship and excitement of being together. We spend hours in discussions and we have no special agenda. Our goal is to have some “real” conversation and I always come away refreshed, exhausted and challenged.

As I look back over the years, I see the benefit has been to get “uncomfortable”. I like my routine and I feel “safe” in my comfort zone. Often in ministry, we get too comfortable and start to get real nervous when we head into seasons of uncertainty. This annual event allows me to be more comfortable with being uncomfortable. I now see it as a necessary part of life. In order to really experience the joys, thrills, and fulfillment of life, you have to go through a process of being uncomfortable. I now embrace those times in ministry and realize they will produce a ministry that is full of unique and incredible experiences.

THOT – If you find yourself in a season of uncertainty, be careful of trying to escape that time as soon as possible. In the uncertainty, there are lessons to be learned and opportunities to stretch yourself. Are you “embracing” your season of uncertainty? Have you learned the art of being comfortable with being uncomfortable? I am reminded that our Lord set a great example of coming in flesh which Paul describes in Philippians 2 as the ultimate example of being uncomfortable.

Flight

Advertisement

Share this:

  • Email
  • Print
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Posted in Ministry | Tagged pastoral ministry |

  • Archives

    • April 2018 (2)
    • March 2017 (1)
    • May 2016 (1)
    • April 2016 (1)
    • March 2016 (1)
    • February 2016 (1)
    • January 2016 (1)
    • February 2015 (1)
    • November 2014 (1)
    • October 2014 (1)
    • September 2014 (1)
    • August 2014 (2)
    • July 2014 (2)
    • June 2014 (2)
    • May 2014 (1)
    • April 2014 (2)
    • March 2014 (2)
    • February 2014 (2)
    • January 2014 (2)
    • July 2011 (1)
    • April 2011 (3)
    • March 2011 (2)
    • February 2011 (3)
    • August 2010 (1)
    • July 2010 (1)
    • May 2010 (1)
    • March 2010 (1)
    • January 2010 (1)
    • October 2009 (1)
  • Categories

    • Hidden Gems (1)
    • Leadership (3)
    • Ministry (21)
    • Minitsry Philosophy (1)
    • Personal Growth (3)
    • Principles From My Mentors (1)
    • Random Thoughts (12)
    • Uncategorized (7)
    • Welcome (1)
  • Pages

    • About
    • Articles
      • A Thriving “little” church that doesn’t know any better (Drury)
      • Ability to see Potential (Klassen – 1996)
      • Big Ambitions, Small Church (Schirle – 1999)
      • Church at History’s Hinge (Anderson – 1994)
      • Dynamics of Small Church Ministry (Koessler – 1992)
      • Jubilee Year of The Rural Church Program (Farley – 2004)
      • Lessons from the small Church (Sanchez – 2004)
      • Nature and Characteristics of the Small Membership Church (Bob I. Johnson – 2004).
      • Parable of the Combines (Daman – 1999)
      • Place of the small Church in Today’s World (Gangel – 1984)
      • Retooling for Rural Ministry (Klassen – 1989)
      • The Outback Steak Church – (Drury)
      • Where are the Happiest Pastors? (Schaller – 1977)
    • DNA
      • Culture
      • Global thinking in a Grain Bin World
      • Growth & Money
      • Pastor’s Role
      • Relationships
      • Rethinking Numbers
      • Would Christ go to Mayberry?
    • Encouragement
      • Bird in the Cage
      • Greener Grass
      • Hermeneutics in Everyday Life
      • Hymn vs Praise Music
      • Road of Life
      • Why your New Idea Will not Work
    • Pastors
      • 2 Types of church “Dragons”
      • 6 Rules for a Fair Fight
      • Before you say yes – Questions to ask a new church
      • Budgets – A Narrative approach
      • Compensation
      • Crafting an Expirence (Rob Bell)
      • Funerals – Etiquette
      • Funerals – The Eulogy
      • Has ministry gotten harder over the years?
      • Recommended NT Commentaries
      • Recommended OT Commentaries
      • Should I leave?
      • Small Church Music – McIntyre
      • When Things Get Ugly
      • Writing your Resume
    • Resources
      • Books on Small Church Ministry
      • Small Church Conferences
      • Statistics
      • Websites

Blog at WordPress.com.

WPThemes.


Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • Small Church.com
    • Join 47 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Small Church.com
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Copy shortlink
    • Report this content
    • View post in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: