What is this... I guess it is me trying to work through some things about entering ministry

Though messaging a friend on FaceBook, I was challenged to really think about a job that I want. The following is basically my response to him.

I really do want this job. I know that God created me for full-time ministry. I feel as prepared and equipped (as best as I can as a rookie) to handle a challenge like this job would be. It has been on my mind a lot and I can't shake it. Am I still looking for other jobs, absolutely! Am I trying to figure out what my life in that town would look like, yes. I think my year long problem has been focusing on one church at a time too quickly.

Is God leading me to that church? (Thought Process of sorts)
1. God is not leading me away from it.

2. The size and demographics interest me. I feel that I would fit well in such a town.

3. I see that I will have a geographically close social (support) network, independent of the church consisting of close friends, former college classmates and the chance to see many others I know when they visit the area.

4. From the discussions that the senior pastor and I have had, he seems like the kind of leader that I would want to serve with and emulate someday. Student Ministries are a major priority for him and he would fight for the youth pastor when nessecessary. He wants to develop a person into an effective minister as that person develops an effective student ministry.

5. Unlike other times and locations, my parents are fully supportive of me relocating to that area. They agree that its my kind of town. They are okay with the distance from home. And they understand that something in my life needs to change for the positve (i.e. find the position that I want and live on my own.)

6. I am focused enough on this position to make this list.

Is God leading me that town? I feel so. Is God CALLING me to that church. Not sure at this point, but I can say it would make sense to me.

Ah, the key is "it would make sense to me," God knows more about the situation on both sides of the two parties, being myself and the church, trying to join. Green lights are going to shine. Caution signs will appear. Or Red Flags will be thrown if that is what God needs to do. Many times when humans think something makes sense, God does something completely different

I have a weird thought. I am not doubting prayer here, I am doubting action or inaction. Prayer is a good thing, but could there be a point where people are so focused on praying that they miss a point where they should have began the doing. I am not sure how that fits here. I guess I am affraid it could get to a point where people are using prayer as an excuse to put off decision making.

If this comes together and I start plotting my move to that region of the country and I am going to be excited? Yes, but scarred of the tasks and life changes that lay ahead of me. If this falls apart from my perspective am I going to be disappointed? Yes, for an undetermined period of time, forgive my human nature, I feel that I have invested quite a bit so far. HOWEVER, I WILL BE EXCITED as well. Maybe not right away, but I will be excited when I realize God's providence in this situation.

I have faced a fair share of rejection this year and if this is one more so be it. It will not diminish my calling. It will not strain my relationship with my Lord! Ministry is not supposed to be easy, I am just experiencing that a bit early with not having ease finding a job.

This year (or even two if need be ) is in no way harming what ministry I might have in time. In the year of searching I have had many experiences that will benefit ministry. Another plus I have had the chance to become a little more financially stable after coming out of a major financial-stress factor time (one of the many great things that come with going to college) .

Keep praying for me. Thank you for reading this rant of sorts and a special thanks to Kevin for reading it twice.

final note: when going out to eat with friends make sure you ask for separate checks, it makes things much easier at the end.

What is this... 3 1/2 months after my first post I am writing another blog

Well its now been a year in a time in life that I did not expect.  While in school I never thought that I would be between school and full time ministry for over a year.  This year has been frustrating, difficult and confusing.  I have been jealous, disappointed and hurt many times and for that I am thankful.  I know it will help me in my ministry, I truly believe that.

This week has been amazing because of some teachings that I have heard this week.  I saw Rob Bell with Pastor Heath on Monday.  I have to say listening to Rob Bell for and hour and a half is equivalent to 3 and half years of Bible College.  Rob Bell managed to take one of my favorite passages of the Bible, one of which I thought I knew quite bit about, and shed a knew light on it that I never saw before.  He really put the attempted sacrifice of Isaac into a whole new perspective, because I never looked at the full historical and cultural context.   The story has much less to do with the faith of Abraham and much much more to do with the love of God and his interest in humanity.  That part of the lecture, as well as the whole talk was mind blowing.

A few weeks ago Donald Miller spoke at Mars Hill, the church where Rob Bell pastors.  I started listening to different sermons and was excited to hear Miller speaking in one particular podcast (11.11.2007).  The talk was about our Life-Story, and how the climatic scene of the story that we write as we live as Christians is about hearing "Well done good and faithful servant... " has been written for us.  It is up to us to make up the rest, to make our story interesting and the become a good and successful protagonist in our own life.

As I was listening to the Miller lesson today, I felt like crap. (Which is in many times a good sign of an effective lesson.) I know my story is not that interesting at the moment.  I have been sitting back and waiting for others to fill the pages of my life.  I guess I have an outline of how I want my story to go, but I have not done much of the writing.  I have a passion to serve the Lord, but have lacked a strong drive to be proactive about it.  Now is the time to pick up my pen and write away.

So in a way this blog is symbolic.  As I try to begin writing briandalbowspeaks again, I am also starting to write the next chapter in my story that I have been longing for.  I pray, and ask for your prayer as well, for not so much guidance, but ambition and not so much for open doors, but for doors that I can break through.

Thanks for reading... Sorry about the hiatus.

final note: their is another great reason to like donald miller.  he is a volvo enthusiast.         

Two is Much Easier than Ten

A conversation at work the other day was about the Ten Commandments. Some guys were trying to figure out all ten of them. As I joined the group, I was excited because this was something that actually interested me. However, when it was my time to shine, as the Bible College graduate, by naming them, I failed. Five or six of them were my max. Yes, I could explain that four were about God, six about relating to others, that eight were stated in a negative sense and two were in the positive. But darn if I could put a full list together.

I guess the reason why I wasn’t able to name them all, was because my focus had been on a conversation Jesus had with an expert of the law. In Matthew 22:34-40 Jesus gives us just two simple commands, “Love God… and Love others…” Remembering and following that is much easier than comparing our lives to the big ten. As Christians, I believe that we need the Ten Commandments, but maybe they aren’t as important as we were taught as kids in Sunday school. (I know that I am not the first to make this argument.) We should use the Ten as guide to fill in what Jesus commanded, but more than that we need to add our own convictions to the list to make it easier follow Jesus’ Two. Jesus did come to abolish the law, but that doesn’t mean we can’t use what we have in the Old Testament as a good starting point for showing our love for God and others.

Now, as I reflect on the greatest two, I have to ask myself am I living up to them. Am I doing all that I can to show my love towards God? Do people realize that I love them… even if they are annoying? Jesus made it really simple, but why am I naïve sometimes and let my self fall in meeting these two…. Where do you stand?

Even though I am still single, I have been loved and seen love many times. Whether it is the love from my mom and dad or the love that Matt Groening has created between Homer and Marge, love has a special power. My mom and dad’s love has the power to make me feel good and inspires me to do great things. The love Marge has for Homer has a power that keeps them together, even though the not-so-great ideas of Homer. Beyond cartoon love and even beyond the love from my parents, is the love we find from God. God’s love is beyond any power and God’s power is beyond any love.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” The love we have for God is going to make us want to follow all of the commands. More so, the love from God is going to help us to follow and obey

Well that’s my first official blog. I wrote all of that to be able to say, don’t worry if you can’t name all of the Ten Commandments. Basically it’s all about love.

Check it out at Bible Gateway
Matthew 22:34-40
The Ten Commandments
2 Corinthians 5:16-18

Communicating the Gospel, an introductory blog

After having my first chance to preach in a long time, I was reminded about how much I love being responsible for sharing a message of biblical truth. Yes, I love the chance to stand in front and speak. (Sometimes, I think that it is the only time that I am truly heard.) However the much greater joy and excitement that I get, comes from the chance to study the scriptures and prepare words that connect to people's hearts. Until the time comes, when I can share the Word of God on a regular schdule, I need to write and post some sort of message on a consistant basis. So I can feel accountable with what God has blessed me with. I know thier are so many things out thier to be read, but I pray my future writings will be found by someone that needs it. If you continue to read my posts, please let me know what you think and hopefully good conversations could be fostered.

...I may not yet be a pastor, but atleast I am now a blogger.