A few months ago, one of the recipients of this message, a fellow United Methodist pastor, said to me something along the lines of: "I read your e-mail each week and love it. I do have a question, however: What is your purpose in sending out the e-mail?" It was a great question, and one that I have thought about each week in the course of preparing this message.
My answer to him was: "1. To remind them that I am thinking of them in the midst of their crazy week. 2. To give them some food for thought on a Christian/spiritual level. 3. To keep the church and its activities in their mind." Whenever I write to you, I do my best to hit on all three of these ideas at some point, either in the article (hopefully) or elsewhere in the e-mail.
There is a popular philosophy among some preachers to look at the preaching & writing aspects of pastoral ministry as speaking to them, with the people of the church being allowed to listen in on the conversation. This week is one of those times for me, for I hit the proverbial 'wall' about 4:00 this afternoon, looking at what all I have allowed to crawl onto my plate between now and Christmas. Instead of a lot of thought-provoking and soul-searching (hopefully) writing, I want to simply ask of you who are journeying with me towards the manger the following questions:
1. What are you doing today to get ready for Christmas?
2. How is that helping prepare you encounter the Christ child?
3. How has the activity that you are engaged in with respect to #1 helped nourish your soul?
4. How much of what you are engaged in with respect to #1 do you allow to dominate your life?
5. How much of the answer to #4 is really important to help you answer #2?
Just a few questions to help with your 'perspectivization'.
See you Sunday!
Lamar
My answer to him was: "1. To remind them that I am thinking of them in the midst of their crazy week. 2. To give them some food for thought on a Christian/spiritual level. 3. To keep the church and its activities in their mind." Whenever I write to you, I do my best to hit on all three of these ideas at some point, either in the article (hopefully) or elsewhere in the e-mail.
There is a popular philosophy among some preachers to look at the preaching & writing aspects of pastoral ministry as speaking to them, with the people of the church being allowed to listen in on the conversation. This week is one of those times for me, for I hit the proverbial 'wall' about 4:00 this afternoon, looking at what all I have allowed to crawl onto my plate between now and Christmas. Instead of a lot of thought-provoking and soul-searching (hopefully) writing, I want to simply ask of you who are journeying with me towards the manger the following questions:
1. What are you doing today to get ready for Christmas?
2. How is that helping prepare you encounter the Christ child?
3. How has the activity that you are engaged in with respect to #1 helped nourish your soul?
4. How much of what you are engaged in with respect to #1 do you allow to dominate your life?
5. How much of the answer to #4 is really important to help you answer #2?
Just a few questions to help with your 'perspectivization'.
See you Sunday!
Lamar
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