20 Lessons from 20 Years in Steamboat Rock

1.       People come and go.  People come and go from church and from life.  It can happen gradually, but it is always happening.  I pulled out the 2004 pictorial directory.  Of the 110 households included, 25 of them no longer attend here. Many moved away physically, some just moved away emotionally or spiritually.  28 more households are now deceased.  12 are couples where death or divorce separated a portion of the household.  That is the sad news.  The happy news is that 116 households that were not in that directory now enrich our congregation, including the families of all our pastoral staff.

2.       Everyone grows old, but only some grow spiritually.  It is sad to see young people who have grown up in the church walk away from the faith or to see people who stay in the church but never seem to become kinder, gentler, or wiser.  On the other hand, some people with quite a few years of worldliness under their belt have taken a turn toward Jesus and you see God actively involved in their life.  Some kids who you wonder if they will make it to adulthood with their attitude or lack of judgment, grow up to be spiritual leaders.   Finally, some people you see slowly transformed into solid saints through life’s dailiness. 

3.       Good things can take a lot of time and effort to develop. People mature slowly, and so do plans and visions. 

4.       Conflicts come without seeking them, but reconciliation and unity require pursuit.  Unfortunately, people get hurt in church.  People have different ideas about what the church should believe, what the church should do, or how the church should do it.  People hurt one another intentionally and unintentionally.  Working through differences and healing hurts is difficult.  Sometimes reconciliation is not even possible, but it sure is wonderful when relationships are truly restored.

5.       No risks no returns.  Anything worth doing will entail risk.  A congregation that is not willing to risk is embracing the certainty of a fruitless existence until their untimely death.  I am grateful for the risks this congregation has been willing to take.

6.       Not every risk brings a return.  They call it risk for a reason.  I am grateful for the times this congregation has endured loss on a risk that didn’t pan out and those occasions when they have asked good questions about a venture that was not thought out.

7.       Solid people have a persistent faith in God.  Wow! There are some great examples in our congregation.  They are not necessarily platform people, more like the hidden joists that firmly hold up the floor beneath you, because they are fixed to the foundation. 

8.       Wise people live out God’s Word.  Some people test it out for a while; some people put on a show, but wise people lean into God’s Word for a lifetime.  They don’t have a deep need to argue their doctrinal distinctions; they live with unanswered questions, but they hunger to hear God from His Word and strive to obey what they know God has said.

9.       Pastors who are too busy to meet with other pastors won’t be pastoring long.

10.   Pastors who are too busy to meet with people from their congregation won’t be pastoring long.

11.   Pastors who are too busy to spend time with their family can pastor too long.

12.   Prayer, though simple and important, is easy not to do--its workings hard to comprehend.

13.   Generous people are refreshing.

14.   Some people will drain you dry if you let them.

15.   You can never have too much encouragement.  (Gary Vander Wilt is certainly a gifted encourager, but there are many more in this congregation with that gift.)

16.   You can never give too much encouragement.

17.   Brutal honesty is only that.  Some may excuse it or confuse it with the honesty shared as the faithful and true wounds of a friend, but there is a difference.

18.   It is a blessing to serve a supportive congregation.  We learned this at our installation with the fun pantry shower gifts.  It has been reinforced with a new bathroom for the parsonage, windows, a couple of washing machines, dishwasher, refrigerator, carpeting, a sabbatical, pay raises, vacations, support for Air National Guard role and now a kitchen remodel.

19.   It is a blessing to support a serving congregation and staff.  How encouraging to see and cheer on the good work others of you have done to advance the kingdom.

20.   If you are wondering whether to cancel a Christmas Eve service…DON’T!