1. Buy things for their usefulness rather than their status
2. Reject anything that is producing an addiction in you
3. Develop a habit of giving things away
4. Refuse to be propagandized by the custodians of modern gadgetry
5. Learn to enjoy things without owning them
6. Develop a deeper appreciation for the creation
7. Look with a healthy skepticism at all “buy now, pay later” schemes
8. Obey Jesus’ instructions about plain, honest speech
9. Reject anything that breeds the oppression of others
10. Shun anything that distracts you from seeking first the kingdom of God

God of liberty and justice, as we celebrate our nation’s Independence Day, we are grateful for our heritage and concerned for our future.

We are thankful for the privilege of living in “the land of the free and the home of the brave.” We are thankful for those who came before us paving the way for unrivaled liberties that allow us to freely make choices about our work, our worship, our convictions, and our lifestyle. We are indebted to past and present veterans who risked life and limb in the pursuit and protection of these freedoms.

From the “mountains to the prairies” we are inspired by some of the most majestic and diverse scenery on our planet. From “sea to shining sea” we are privileged to enjoy a treasure trove of natural resources. We have access to comfortable housing, above average healthcare, a diverse wardrobe, an expansive menu of our favorite foods, and personal digital devices that provide communication and entertainment. We are certainly blessed beyond our deserving.

During this season of celebration we are grateful, yet concerned….concerned about our nation, concerned about our world, and concerned about the future.

From our many different perspectives and ideologies we are concerned about things like the threats of terrorism, the brutalities of war, the abuse of political power, the divisiveness by misleading and untruthful political rhetoric from both major parties, a lack of civil discourse, a growing sense of moral ambivalence, and the ever present possibility of a natural disaster.

These concerns lead to heightened anxiety about the cost of our insurance, the stability of our economy, and the tenure of our employment. And we confess that these anxieties often distract us from our mission to “minister to the least of these,” and to “love mercy, act justly, and walk humbly” with you.

These concerns and anxieties also remind us of our need to confess our sins, personally and corporately. We confess that we have taken our freedom for granted too frequently and we have too often been negligent in living up to the responsibilities of our citizenship. We confess that at times we are too quick to judge and even quicker to criticize. We confess that we are slow to pray for our leaders, slow to intercede for our neighbors, and even slower to trust in your leadership.

We also confess that our self-interests have too often taken priority over the best interest you have in mind for our nation and for our world. We confess that we have been irresponsible in our stewardship of “our space and our stuff,” often consuming and storing compulsively without conscious regard for sharing with generosity. We confess that we have too often trusted in our own initiatives and ingenuity more than we have trusted in you.

You tell us in an ancient but relevant scripture that, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (II Chronicles 7:14)

As we celebrate this Independence Day, we ask you to forgive our sin and to heal our land. On this day, we pray for the leaders of our nation, our state, and our community that they will lead with wisdom, courage, and integrity.

We pray for the men and women who serve in our military that they will fulfill their mission effectively and return home safely and soon.

We pray for our enemies that their swords and ours will be “turned into plowshares,” even as we long for that day when the “lion will lie down alongside the lamb.”

We pray for the churches, cathedrals, and temples of our community and our world that they will be lighthouses of grace and peace, ever pressing toward the mark of your high calling.

Because you are the freedom-loving God, lead us to exercise our freedom responsibly and to pursue “liberty and justice for all” people, without discrimination.

We pray in the strong name of the One who came to make us free, indeed. Amen.

But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!  Amos 5:24 NIV

During our recent Vacation Bible School I observed our students standing attentively as they belted out , “I pledge allegiance to the flag…”. We often recite these words in classrooms and at civic gatherings. When we pronounce the pledge, is it merely an obligatory ritual or do we listen attentively to all of the words and take them seriously? The last words of the pledge are perhaps some of the most counter-cultural words of commitment we can speak: “…with liberty and justice for all.”

Our ancestors envisioned a nation wherein liberty and justice would be for all people. For some, however, “liberty” has been reduced to a license for self-centeredness and “justice” has been diminished to mere retaliatory or punitive action.

Although dictionaries routinely define liberty as “the state of being free,” liberty involves much more. The historical American concept of liberty is not that one is free to do as one pleases without accountability for the consequences of one’s actions. Rather, our heritage of liberty means that we are not owned or enslaved by another person or power. We enjoy individual and corporate freedom within the boundaries of ethical and moral responsibility. True liberty calls on us to express ourselves with civility, and to respect the rights of those who think differently to do the same.

Justice is commonly perceived as “the assignment of merited rewards or punishment.” But the Old Testament prophets, especially Amos, knew that justice is much more than being affirmed for right behavior or punished for bad behavior. Justice strives to create viable opportunities for all persons to succeed economically, vocationally, and socially. Real justice seeks to create opportunities for the disadvantaged. The Bible gives us many examples of the disadvantaged: the poor, widows, orphans, the sick, strangers, the hungry, the homeless, and those in prison.

In our Pledge of Allegiance we commit our lives to the pursuit of “liberty and justice for all.” The phrase “for all” is inclusive, not discriminatory. “For all” means we aim to provide and protect liberty and justice for all individuals regardless of gender, race, economic status, political ideology, or religious background. To preserve liberty and justice for the privileged few is indicative of a shallow theology and an uninformed patriotism.

While you and I are blessed to enjoy the privileges of freedom, many around our world still live under tyranny and can only dream of liberty and justice. Therefore, on the July 4th we celebrate our independence, even as we pledge ourselves to continue to work for liberty and justice for all persons in the future.

Liberty and justice are not just political ideals. They are social tenets which affirm intrinsic human worth, and spiritual values which reflect the image of our Creator, ultimately experienced through the liberty we find in Christ. John 8:32 declares, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free,” and Amos 5:24 urges, “Let justice roll on like a river.”

In order to truly “let freedom ring,” we must work together to “let justice roll!”

 

 

Earlier today the Barrancas National Cemetery at NAS Pensacola was extremely busy. When I visited this morning, one interment service was being completed as another procession awaited their turn, and yet another was turning in the gate. Thanks to the local Boy Scouts of America, a sea of small American flags dotted the landscape, one posted by each headstone, a reminder that it is Memorial Day weekend, a time for grateful remembrance.

Memorial Day invokes more of a sense of observance than of celebration. The last Monday in May does not usually generate as much holiday enthusiasm as Christmas, Easter, or Independence Day. However, we should be careful that the meaning of this holiday does not become lost in the busyness of our activities.

Memorial Day is not just another “day off” but a day to remember those who have lost their lives in the military service of our country. This is a day to remember those who, according to Henry Ward Beecher, “hover as a cloud of witnesses above this Nation.”

In a culture that is increasingly attention-deficient, remembering is a painful but necessary discipline. Revisiting stories from the battlefield may keep us consciously aware of the harsh realities of war. Exploring the historical narrative may enable us to learn from both the successes and the failures of our ancestors. When we remember the fallen we keep alive the individual and corporate legacies of valor and courage that inspire and challenge us to be responsible citizens of the free world.

To fail to remember is to develop a convenient amnesia that eventually robs succeeding generations of acquaintance with our national heritage. To fail to remember creates a contagious apathy that leads to a neglect of both our freedom and our citizenship.   To fail to remember can produce a false sense of security and an inaccurate perception that we are exempt from future warfare. If for no other reason, we should remember in order to guard against what George Washington called “the impostures of pretended patriotism.”

Perhaps our high tech world is at times too much of a fantasy world.  Reflecting on the sacrifices of previous generations may trigger in us a reality check and a gut check.  This kind of remembering is a painful but necessary discipline, a practice that forges vision from memory and distills wisdom from knowledge.

In The Roadmender Margaret Fairless Barber suggests that “To look backward for a while is to refresh the eye, to restore it, and to render it the more fit for its prime function of looking forward.”

This year, as you observe Memorial Day, take time to remember the men and women who served with distinction and made extraordinary sacrifices to establish and preserve our freedom. By remembering our heritage, may we be better equipped and motivated to engage the future with courage and hope.

(Barry Howard serves as senior minister at First Baptist Church of Pensacola.)

 

by Barry Howard

Self-care includes developing and maintaining good physical, spiritual and mental health, a uniquely challenging but crucial discipline for a pastor. While these three areas of wellness are intertwined and inseparable, in my own life and the experience of many of my colleagues, I recognize that more attention has been given to physical and spiritual health, and mental health is often neglected, causing a diminishment to all three.

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Every human being experiences highs and lows in mental health. Although some forms of mental illness are genetic, other expressions of mental illness may be related to circumstances or body chemistry, and may be preemptively avoided or proactively addressed by practicing good mental hygiene.

A common, but naïve misconception is that pastors, or persons with strong religious faith, are exempt from mental distress. The Apostle Paul is noted for his courageous ministry but he confessed, “Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches” (II Corinthians 11:28 NIV).

In his book, Surviving the Stained-Glass Jungle, veteran pastor Dr. Bill Self contends that, “Self-care is not destructive self-indulgence, but rather it is being a steward of some rather special gifts— the human body and soul, along with the capacity to bring joy to others as well as to experience it.”

Those in every vocation experience varying levels of stress, distress, and duress. However, because the pastoral task requires remarkable investment in the lives of others, a pastor who neglects mental hygiene can gradually slip into a state of melancholy or emotional chaos, and then compound the dilemma by ignoring the symptoms for fear of stigmatizing his or her ministry.

As a pastor I can identify at least five areas that commonly place stress on a pastor’s mental and emotional health:

• Unrealistic expectations- These expectations can be real or perceived, and they can be generated by vocal congregants or be self-imposed by a minister with a “messiah complex.” Most congregations have ambivalent expectations that fluctuate between market-driven goals (e.g., attendance, budgets, awards) and mission-driven goals (e.g., participation, stewardship, life transformation). The wider the gap between these two categories, the more intense the stress on the minister.
• Perpetual preparation– The task of perpetual preparation can be a mentally exhausting chore. Many professional public speakers have 4-5 niche speeches that they give over and over to different groups. Professors and teachers have lectures and lesson plans that are updated and revised from semester to semester but they usually follow a core curriculum. A preaching pastor is unique in that he or she is generally expected to prepare and deliver 40-50 different Sunday sermons per year to virtually the same group of people, in addition to devotionals, Bible studies, and speeches for community events.
• Diverse emotional encounters- A minister deals with grief, grace, and everything in between on a daily basis. Perhaps more than any other vocation, a pastor regularly moves in and out of situations with polarizing and intense emotions such as death and birth, divorce and marriage, perversion and conversion, and conflict and resolution. If a pastor is not careful, the residual emotions from these encounters will linger and intermingle creating either emotional apathy or spiritual neuropathy.
• Problem people- Not to be confused with people with problems, problem people are unusually high maintenance individuals who consume an exorbitant amount of a pastor’s time with an unnecessary complaint or unconstructive criticism. Marshall Shelley refers to these “well-intentioned dragons” as “sincere, well-meaning saints, but they leave ulcers, strained relationships, and hard feelings in their wake.”
• Confidentiality cache- Because the pastoral role is not only prophetic but also priestly, a pastor is entrusted with a lot of confidential information that is locked away into a pastor’s mental storage. The volume of this information can become a heavy emotional weight if it remains in a pastor’s mental inbox and is not appropriately archived.

In light of these and other areas of pastoral stress, to preserve good health and promote longevity in ministry, how can a pastor practice good mental and emotional hygiene?

Each pastor has to identify and adopt hygienic habits that fit his or her context and personality. Here are some practices I am finding to be helpful in my own pastoral routine:

• Establish and maintain a consistent prayer and devotional life.
• Maintain a friendship with a trustworthy conversation partner, perhaps even another pastor, outside of your church.
• Convene a small accountability group, establish a confidentiality covenant with them, and meet with them monthly.
• Read regularly in multiple genres including biography, history, and fiction.
• Pay attention to diet, especially limiting intake of sugar, caffeine, and other foods that can trigger emotional swings.
• Develop a regimen of moderate physical exercise.
• Follow a consistent routine for sleep and rest.
• Periodically disconnect from the work of the church, especially from mental labor (problem solving, conflict management), cellphone calls, and social media.
• Have an annual physical examination, as well as eye examination and dermatology screening.
• Participate in a peer network of pastors who convene with a covenant of confidentiality, and who vent and vision together.

Be alert to seasons when your mental distress leads to dysfunction, manifested by ongoing and overwhelming symptoms of depression, chronic anxiety, paranoia, and/or insomnia. Immediately enlist the care of a medical professional. To procrastinate getting care prolongs the process of recovery.

Life in the stained-glass jungle has unique rewards and challenges. Self-care is absolutely essential. Bill Self reminds us that, “It takes courage to take care of yourself. One of the hallmarks of a professional is the ability to keep healthy— physically, emotionally, and spiritually. You must take responsibility for yourself and not expect others to take the initiative to care for you.”

Practicing good self-care can empower a pastor to be mentally sharp, emotionally balanced, and spiritually perceptive in all seasons.

(Barry Howard serves as the Senior Minister at the First Baptist Church of Pensacola, Florida.)

Earlier this week the Pensacola area experienced extensive damage from flash flooding caused by record rainfall. Although our FBC Pensacola campus only experienced minor damage, many in our church family and community experienced extensive catastrophic damage.

Additionally, the explosion at the Escambia County Jail has placed additional responsibility on our local leaders, law enforcement officials, and first responders.

I am extremely grateful for the volunteers who jumped into action assisting with cleanup on our campus and around the community. Many have asked, “What can I do to help?”

The damage is severe in several locations.  I have personally surveyed the damage in the communities near Cordova Park, East Hill, Car City, and West Pensacola. I have not yet seen the damage in Gulf Breeze and Cantonment.

After conversations with community leaders and area pastors, we all recognize that the damage to homes is widespread, that most do not have flood insurance, and that our community is looking at several months of cleanup and repair work.

With all of us working together we can help each other through this disaster. As we assist with repair and rebuilding work, here are some ways you can help:

• Pray! Pray for all of the families who experienced damage or lost property.
• Give! Make a financial contribution to the Relief Work by sending your gift to FBCP Disaster Relief Fund (500 North Palafox, Pensacola, 32501). All funds will be used locally to aid those in the Pensacola area.
• Volunteer! Currently you may volunteer at Operation Blessing based on the campus of Brownsville Assembly or Influence Pensacola (in partnership with Florida Baptist Disaster Relief) at the Bristol Creek site. (Influence Pensacola is currently working to establish work sites in Gulf Breeze also.)
• Bring books! In addition to conducting worship services at the County Jail, one of the ministries of our church is to operate the book cart providing wholesome reading material for inmates at the jail. In light of the explosion and relocation of inmates, more books are needed. Please bring paperback books that are General Interest or Fiction. You may place them in the box in front of the library.

Disasters bring out the best and the worst in people. With only a few exceptions, the Deluge of 2014 is bringing out the best in folks in Pensacola.  This crisis is affording us a great opportunity to share the love of God in word and in deed.

Holy Week invites us to reflect on the deeper matters of faith by revisiting the story of Jesus, especially giving attention to the events that occurred between Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem and his resurrection.

The overarching message of God’s love and forgiveness is demonstrated through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. However, the passion narrative is actually a composite of mini-episodes contributing to the central plot which reaches its crescendo with the cross and the empty tomb.

This year, as reflected on the daily events that occurred during Jesus’ pivotal week in Jerusalem, I noted a few lessons about life and faith that I want to remember:  

#1 Every temple needs cleansing now and then, including those built of brick and mortar, and those composed of flesh and blood.

#2 Live prepared and make every day count. No one knows the day nor the hour when the Lord will come, not even those who speculate on the colors of the moon.

#3 Taking up the towel and basin is simultaneously an act of service and an expression of leadership.

#4 A mandate is different than a prerogative or a preference. It is a command to be obeyed, not an option to be considered.

#5 Breaking bread around the table with friends…Those are occasions to be remembered.

#6 Jesus prayed “Not my will, but your will be done” once. I must pray those words continually because my will is so blatantly persistent.

#7 Beware of those who kiss up to you. They either have an agenda of their own, or they are in cahoots with those plotting a coup.

#8 Be faithful to God and yourself. We will be tempted daily to betray our God, our values, and our character for much less than 30 pieces of silver.

#9 Going along with the crowd is always a risky venture. Crowds seldom make wise decisions.

#10 Only borrow something when you won’t be needing it very long, sort of like when Jesus borrowed a tomb.

Each of the daily stories that comprise the big story of Holy Week has something to teach us about human nature, about sin, and about transformative faith.  The lessons we learn from the life of Jesus encourage and equip us to be better followers of Jesus.

 (Barry Howard serves as senior minister at the First Baptist Church of Pensacola.)

Next week is Holy Week, perhaps the most meaning-filled observance of the year for Christians.  It’s called Holy Week, not because we are to “act” holy, but because it is an appropriate week for us to revisit and reflect upon the redemptive ministry of Jesus.

Around the globe, Christ-followers and inquirers alike will be reflecting on the events leading up to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  What is the significance of Holy Week for me and how can I probe its deeper meaning?

Our tradition of observing Holy Week seems to have originated in the East, emerging out of the practice of pilgrimages to Jerusalem.  Each day of Holy Week is significant.  For those of us whose faith was shaped in a Baptist tradition, at least four days call for guided reflection. Palm Sunday is a day to revisit the royal welcome extended to Jesus by the curious crowd as he entered Jerusalem. On Maundy Thursday believers recall the occasion when Jesus washed the feet of the disciples as he gave them a new mandate to love and serve.  On Maundy Thursday evening, many faith communities re-enact “the last supper” when Jesus broke bread and shared the cup with his disciples by receiving the elements of communion.  Good Friday is an occasion to feel the passion of Christ and to think on the enormity of his suffering. And Resurrection Sunday, or Easter, is a festive day to celebrate and proclaim that “Christ is risen; Christ is risen indeed!”

Because of the sequential significance of these events, Holy Week is best approached slowly, with an attitude of reverent exploration, a spiritual mood of sacred awe.  In Weldon Gaddy’s book, The Gift of Worship, he describes our opportunity to engage in a more meaningful experience of the passion of Christ: “Holy Week services bring into focus dimensions of discipleship that are missed completely by a simple leap from Palm Sunday to Easter. Worship services which take seriously the truths of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday please God because they challenge a greater commitment and a more effective ministry among the people of God.”

This year as you begin your spiritual journey through Holy Week, open your senses and your imagination to both the tragedy and the triumph of this pivotal week in history. Take time to listen to the voices of the crowd as Jesus enters the city.  Hear again the teachings of Jesus and contemplate his days in Jerusalem.  Feel the water touch your feet, taste the morsel of bread on your tongue and the sip of wine rolling over your lips. Sense the disgust of his betrayal by a friend. Smell the stench of the scourge and hear the mocking sarcasm of the trial. Grieve over the cruel injustice of his execution and experience the passion of his incomprehensible suffering.  And ultimately…consider the mysterious power of the resurrection and the hope generated by the notion that life invested in Christ cannot be extinguished, even by the reality of death.

The events of Holy Week invite and motivate us to follow Jesus, not out of religious obligation or fear of eternal damnation, but because we identify with his teaching, we resonate with his mission, and we discover a sense of belonging within his community of friends.  A slow and deliberate journey through Holy Week may re-energize your faith and inspire you to live and serve with purpose.

The word “holy” means “dedicated to God” or “set apart for a sacred purpose.” On second thought, maybe Holy Week is a week for us to “act” in a way that is holy.

(Barry Howard serves as senior pastor of the First Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida.)

by Barry Howard

Through the years I have utilized a lot of different resources for my daily devotional time.  Most of the time my devotional life has involved Bible reading plans or devotional books with daily readings that include scripture, inspirational stories and prayers.

During the past year, however, I have intentionally shifted toward a more paperless lifestyle. In the process, I have discovered several online devotional sites that I found helpful.

While I still have an affinity for systematic Bible reading plans and well-written devotional books, there are at least three advantages to online devotional sites.

First, they can be accessed on any computer or smart device where an Internet connection is available. Therefore, you don’t need to keep up with an extra book, which makes online sites especially helpful when traveling.

Second, most online devotional sites provide complimentary access, and the costs are covered through donations or advertising revenue.

A third and perhaps most important benefit, is that online devotional sites are environmentally friendly. Like any electronic communication, e-devotionals save trees by saving paper.

If you do an Internet search for “online devotional resources” you will discover hundreds of options. Some are published by denominational entities, others by churches, and still others are blogged by private individuals.

A few devotional sites invite you to register your email address and they will send a daily devotional directly to your inbox. Other sites have corresponding “apps” that you can download to your smart device, another way of making access easier.

All of these online sites can be bookmarked or added to your favorites list, so that the site is one click away.

Here are a few of the online devotional sites I have found helpful:

• D365.org is produced by Passport Camps and provides a daily devotional that is appropriate for students or adults.

• ExploreFaith.org offers a lectionary based devotional experience in the tradition of The Divine Hours (also known as, The Liturgy of the Hours)—a set of daily prayers that has been used in public and private settings for centuries.

• Devotional.upperroom.org is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and links to an online version of the popular “Upper Room” booklet, which provides a daily devotional with a theme scripture, a brief illustrative story, and closes with a sentence prayer.

• Northumbriacommunity.org, a site connected to The Northumbria Community in Ireland, provides a link to The Daily Office, a Celtic tradition of readings and prayers that are appropriate for groups or individuals. Similar to The Divine Hours, the Celtic daily prayer provides options for morning, midday and evening prayers.

• BibleGateway.com is one of many sites offering an assortment of online Bible reading plans for those wishing to read through the entire Bible in a specific period of time.

• Sacredspace.ie is a prayer site facilitated by Irish Jesuits and based in Dublin, Ireland. This site is available in multiple languages and helps a Christian practitioner to feel a part of both the ecumenical and international family of faith.

As e-resources continue to multiply, we can expect that online devotional options will continue to increase.

If you enjoy having a cup of coffee in one hand and a hard copy of your Bible or devotional book in the other, then an e-devotional may not be for you.

But if you find that there are advantages in going paperless, be assured that there are good online options that are Bible-based, encouraging and inspirational.

(Barry Howard serves as the senior minister at the First Baptist Church in Pensacola, Fla. He blogs at Barry’s Notes, and you can follow him on Twitter @BarrysNotes.)

By Barry Howard

For 34 years now, I have had the privilege of serving as a pastor. Even after all of these years I consider myself to be a student of ministry, not an expert. I have been privileged to serve remarkable congregations who have challenged me, frustrated me, and taught me more than I have taught them.

Although I have been blessed with wonderful mentors across my ministry, in recent years my perspectives on being a pastor have been heavily influenced by writers such as Eugene Peterson. One of Peterson’s latest books, The Pastor: A Memoir, is an inspiring autobiographical account of what it means to be called to pastoral ministry and to live out that vocation in a unique community.

While Peterson is known to many primarily for his popular Bible translation called The Message, for me his greatest contribution has been his writings about pastoral work. Years ago I read three of Peterson’s books about pastoral ministry: Five Smooth Stones of Pastoral Work, The Contemplative Pastor, and Under the Unpredictable Plant. In a church world that looks to the pastor to be the CEO, a chaplain-on-demand, or an ecclesial entrepreneur, Peterson reminds ministers and churches that a pastor is more like a spiritual director, a “soul friend” who walks alongside others pointing out what God is doing in their life.

In a fast paced world, where a competitive consumerist culture has invaded the church, pastors are often expected to be an idealistic combination of captivating motivational speaker, savvy executive/administrator, and extraordinary counselor. But the call to be a pastor is unique. There is no other vocation like it.

The call to be a pastor is unique because the nature and purpose of the church is unique. Veteran pastor Hardy Clemons reminds us that the church is to be “more family than corporation.” Clemons reminds pastors and churches of their peculiar mission:

“Our goal is to minister: it is not to show a profit, amass a larger financial corpus or grow bigger for our own security. The ultimate goals are to accept God’s grace, share the good news, invite and equip disciples, and foster liberty and justice for all.”

While serving as a pastor involves skills and responsibilities that are similar to other career paths, being a pastor is a vocation like no other. Although ministers and laity alike will be tempted to compare the role of the pastor to executive roles in the marketplace, the call to be a pastor is distinctive. Peterson stresses that a call to pastoral ministry is a call to spiritual discernment and caring within a particular local congregation and community. It is not a “one size fits all” occupation that functions uniformly in cookie cutter churches.

In his Memoir, Peterson summarizes his understanding of the biblical role of a pastor:

The pastor is “not someone who ‘gets things done’ but rather the person placed in the community to pay attention and call attention to ‘what is going on right now’ between men and women, with one another and with God—this kingdom of God that is primarily local, relentlessly personal, and prayerful ‘without ceasing.’

Each one of us is responsible to God for fulfilling our calling in life. Thirty-eight years ago I confirmed my calling to be a pastor, and I am still learning and growing and understanding more of what it means to provide spiritual direction to a congregation.

While the call to be a pastor is neither a superior calling nor an elite calling, it is an important calling. For me, being a pastor is more than what I do. It is who I am called to be. It is more than a job. Being a pastor is the life I am called to live, a life that connects with all kinds of people in all kinds of circumstances at the most crucial junctures between birth and death. And that is a calling unlike any other.

(Barry Howard serves as senior minister at the First Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida.)