Here you go again.
Countdown to another weekend, another Sunday, that leads to another weekend and then another, which eventually leads to Easter and then Christmas... It never stops.
If you’re looking at today as just another step to so many tomorrows and other Sundays, and meetings, and grouchy people, and hurting people. If, today when you wake up, your body aches and your mind and your heart are dreading... If you show up to your church, breathe in deep and tell yourself “I can do this” ... then maybe you shouldn’t
Maybe it’s time for honesty.
Maybe it’s time for conversations.
First to yourself.
You are exhausted.
You’ve jumped on the bandwagon of modern day church
more programs = more people
more people = successful church
You’ve potentially lost your first love, the why you started this in the first place.
You’ve been duped, probably by yourself, but definitely magnified by a culture that doesn’t allow imperfection. A church world that communicates get your act together, don’t let them see you sweat.
But is this really what people want, this leader that’s faking it every day?
A leader that gives the perception that they’ve got their act together ... which, by virtue, tells the people listening that they sure are screwed up.
You know you’re faking it
...When you have to paste on the smile.
...When you find yourself with your hand clasped over your mouth cause you never know what might come out next.
...When you can’t see people for their hearts and their hurts and their stories and their God-craving.
When all of that is lost to you.
Stop.
Put down your phone.
Close your laptop and go.
You have to have a conversation with someone.
It has to be with someone who is safe. Someone who doesn’t care what you share. Doesn’t care what sin, or what mistake, or what failure (perceived or real). Someone who will love you and will correct you and will allow you your pain.
You need to talk to Jesus.
You need to get real with this God you serve, whether you're doubting or have even abandoned Him.
If your idea of prayer has become a perfectly phrased sentence or twenty on a Sunday morning, if your idea of time with God is your Bible app devotional, or time spent studying … get off that crazy train, now!
You’re ripping people off.
You are ripping yourself off
You're misrepresenting what was meant to be.
Talk to Him.
Today, this week.
This is your plan. This is all you can afford to do until the faking of the beautiful Christian life is replaced by a transparent leader. A transparent leader who has allowed him or herself to be screwed up. To be a hot mess, laid at the feet of Jesus. To be broken up so you can be put back together again.
The next conversation.
And this one you have to have at some point in order to not perpetuate this wheel of insanity that is every preacher’s temptation.
You need to tell your people.
Start with the ones who walk along side you in this thing you call church.
I know there’s a huge chance that there is no one you feel you can tell. That’s screwed up. That’s not how it was supposed to be. And either you risk that conversation with your leadership around you, or you don’t. If you don’t, just jump back on that merry-go-round of miserable. Pretending to be the one with all of your stuff together.
Keep on pretending if you want to implode
Keep on faking it if you don’t care about any one of those people who walk in those doors, if your calling wasn’t a calling. If it was all a lie.
So, Preacher.
Paste on the smile today, next week, and the next and the next.
Or stand up,
Risk humility.
Risk honesty.
Risk transparency.
With yourself, with Jesus, with your church.
And just watch what God will do with this mess you’ve gotten yourself in to.
Watch how the Spirit will start to break it all down around you.
Not a promise for a perfect Monday. In fact Monday might still suck. Your family will probably still be unstable and hurting, your bills will still have to be paid. Your marriage might still be an ice-storm waiting for spring, and your house could be falling apart.
But the pieces will be there.
The pieces of your will, your heart, your mind.
The pieces that are your family, your home, your friendships.
The Master Builder will, at last, have a chance to rebuild.
Then, step back and watch…
Countdown to another weekend, another Sunday, that leads to another weekend and then another, which eventually leads to Easter and then Christmas... It never stops.
If you’re looking at today as just another step to so many tomorrows and other Sundays, and meetings, and grouchy people, and hurting people. If, today when you wake up, your body aches and your mind and your heart are dreading... If you show up to your church, breathe in deep and tell yourself “I can do this” ... then maybe you shouldn’t
Maybe it’s time for honesty.
Maybe it’s time for conversations.
First to yourself.
You are exhausted.
You’ve jumped on the bandwagon of modern day church
more programs = more people
more people = successful church
You’ve potentially lost your first love, the why you started this in the first place.
You’ve been duped, probably by yourself, but definitely magnified by a culture that doesn’t allow imperfection. A church world that communicates get your act together, don’t let them see you sweat.
But is this really what people want, this leader that’s faking it every day?
A leader that gives the perception that they’ve got their act together ... which, by virtue, tells the people listening that they sure are screwed up.
You know you’re faking it
...When you have to paste on the smile.
...When you find yourself with your hand clasped over your mouth cause you never know what might come out next.
...When you can’t see people for their hearts and their hurts and their stories and their God-craving.
When all of that is lost to you.
Stop.
Put down your phone.
Close your laptop and go.
You have to have a conversation with someone.
It has to be with someone who is safe. Someone who doesn’t care what you share. Doesn’t care what sin, or what mistake, or what failure (perceived or real). Someone who will love you and will correct you and will allow you your pain.
You need to talk to Jesus.You need to get real with this God you serve, whether you're doubting or have even abandoned Him.
If your idea of prayer has become a perfectly phrased sentence or twenty on a Sunday morning, if your idea of time with God is your Bible app devotional, or time spent studying … get off that crazy train, now!
You’re ripping people off.
You are ripping yourself off
You're misrepresenting what was meant to be.
Talk to Him.
Today, this week.
This is your plan. This is all you can afford to do until the faking of the beautiful Christian life is replaced by a transparent leader. A transparent leader who has allowed him or herself to be screwed up. To be a hot mess, laid at the feet of Jesus. To be broken up so you can be put back together again.
The next conversation.
And this one you have to have at some point in order to not perpetuate this wheel of insanity that is every preacher’s temptation.
You need to tell your people.
Start with the ones who walk along side you in this thing you call church.
I know there’s a huge chance that there is no one you feel you can tell. That’s screwed up. That’s not how it was supposed to be. And either you risk that conversation with your leadership around you, or you don’t. If you don’t, just jump back on that merry-go-round of miserable. Pretending to be the one with all of your stuff together.
Keep on pretending if you want to implode
Keep on faking it if you don’t care about any one of those people who walk in those doors, if your calling wasn’t a calling. If it was all a lie.
So, Preacher.
Paste on the smile today, next week, and the next and the next.
Or stand up,
Risk humility.
Risk honesty.
Risk transparency.
With yourself, with Jesus, with your church.
And just watch what God will do with this mess you’ve gotten yourself in to.
Watch how the Spirit will start to break it all down around you.
Not a promise for a perfect Monday. In fact Monday might still suck. Your family will probably still be unstable and hurting, your bills will still have to be paid. Your marriage might still be an ice-storm waiting for spring, and your house could be falling apart.
But the pieces will be there.
The pieces of your will, your heart, your mind.
The pieces that are your family, your home, your friendships.
The Master Builder will, at last, have a chance to rebuild.
Then, step back and watch…
