“One Thing” Questions

For the new year, I’m asking myself four “one thing” questions. I’ll share one a day with you.

• What one thing do you desire from God?

When David found himself afraid and on the run, he begged God for one thing.

He wrote in Psalm 27:4, “One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.”

If you can name the one thing you desire God to do, it will bring laser focus to your prayers.

Maybe above all else, you desire a loved one to know Christ. Or you need to hear God’s voice. Or you need God’s healing in your marriage or body. Perhaps you crave the power of the Holy Spirit in your preaching. Or you need wisdom handling a rebellious child.

As you seek God in 2010, what is the number one thing you desire from God?

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Ministries From the Church

I’m so thankful many Christians are becoming more missionally minded. This week alone, I’ve had people ask me (or our church) to support:

• A group that hands out hotdogs to the homeless.
• A group building homes in Honduras.
• A local ministry that helps drug addicts get jobs.
• A few guys building long lasting pumps to help get drinking water to people without it.
• A girl ministering in an orphanage in Mexico.
• A Christian radio station.

Each ministry is led by passionate believers hoping to make a difference. I’m sincerely thankful for each one.

But sadly, none of these ministries were an extension of any church. In fact, when I asked each one what church they were involved with, several didn’t have a church home.

Instead of branching off to do a new and separate ministry, I love when ministries are supported by a church.

A ministry sent from a church has some built in advantages that include:

• Potentially better financial support.
• Accountability.
• Engagement of people from the church.

Maybe it’s just me, but I’d love to see the church more involved in creating, blessing, and sending great ministries than seeing them birthed outside of the church.

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The Final 10% of a Job

Last year, I had two different men doing a project at my house. One completed the work as agreed. Although he did what I asked him to do, he left a big pile of trash, he left without asking me to view his work, and he never followed up.

The other man cleaned up his mess daily. Not only did he clean up after himself, but he even helped me haul off the other guy’s trash.

When he was finished, he asked me to look at his work to see if I was satisfied. I expressed my satisfaction, but he saw some small flaws that bothered him. Even though I said they didn’t matter, he insisted on fixing them.

One month after his job was finished, he called to ask if I was still pleased with his work.

The second man gave the final 10%. I’ve referred several other people to him. I didn’t refer anyone to the first worker.

The final 10% might not seem worth it at the time. Over the long haul, I truly believe God blesses the final 10% more than the first 90%.

Someone said it well, “If a job is worth doing, it is worth doing right.”

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Sharing the Final 10%

In my own life, sharing the first 90% of my heart is the easiest. The first 90% rarely takes any risk.

When it comes to developing intimacy, it usually happens when I share the final 10%. (The final 10% often consists of some combination of my fears, insecurities, doubts, and weaknesses.)

Most likely, like you, I’ve been burned after sharing the final 10%. Because of my hurts, for too long I kept the final 10% to myself.

Looking back, it is amazing how much this barrier limited my relationships.

Now, I’m blessed to share the final 10% with many people.  It is in final 10% I find the most healing, intimacy, and trust.

How about you?

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Technology Boundaries

I believe one of the biggest distractions for today’s families is an overemphasis and reliance on tech toys.

If you can’t eat dinner with your family without checking your blackberry or twittering, you have a serious problem.

I’m convinced one of the most important things we can do is set boundaries from technology.

Some things you might try:

• No tech interruptions during family time.
• Take consistent blogging or twittering vacations. (Guest blogs work great.)
• Fast from email on vacations.
• No surfing the net in the evenings.

Please describe your struggles. More importantly, I’d like to know what boundaries you’re setting to become more healthy.

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The Sabbath

God told us to take a day off. Many pastors don’t.

• Those of you in smaller churches might think, “We simply can’t. Without any staff, there is always an emergency.”
• Those of you in larger churches might say, “We can’t because there are too many pressing issues in a large church.”
• Those who are staff members might say, “Our pastor might get a day off but we have to work.”

All those are poor excuses. If you don’t rest, you won’t last.

I’d love to hear from you about your struggles or victories in honoring the Sabbath.

What works for you? How do you communicate healthy boundaries on your day off? When do you make exceptions?

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Boundaries

Some people believe a pastor should be available 24 hours a day for every situation—no matter what.

I disagree.

When you study the life of Jesus, he often escaped from the crowds to spend time alone with God. His “life rhythms” model healthy boundaries.

If a pastor or staff member doesn’t set some boundaries, he won’t be in ministry for long:

• He will burn out.
• She will get resentful.
• He will lose his marriage.
• She will have an affair.

This week we’ll talk about boundaries for the pastor.

Let’s start with honest discussion. How successful are you at defining appropriate and healthy boundaries?

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Avoid Failing Fatally

Some failures are more costly than others.

• Many ministries can survive a Christmas pageant that flops, a poorly attended mission trip, or ugly youth room.
• Few ministries thrive during a moral failure or a financial scandal.

Most pastors don’t go into ministry thinking, “One day, I hope to have an affair…” or “This is a great way for me to take money…”

Yet it is not uncommon for good people to end up in really bad places.

A wise pastor sets up safeguards to keep from failing fatally.

Here are a few things we do:

• I never travel overnight alone.
• All my internet activity is monitored.
• We block television stations with bad shows.
• We have the highest governing standards for financial accountability.
• I am never alone with a woman.

It is not that I am afraid of failing big. It is just that I want to make certain I never even have the opportunity to fail fatally.

What safeguards do you have in place to keep from failing fatally?

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