Cave Writings

My years of ministry have been a huge learning experience. There are more things that are not taught than the things that are taught in the 4 years of college. About the time I think I have things figured out, something always brings me to the humble realization, I HAVE NOTHING FIGURED OUT!
One of the tools I have tried to use for learning is watching others. Watching others ha helped me learn what to do or what not to do. I take paper notes and metal notes on others failures and success. These are things to help me, because the Bible says, “there is nothing new under the sun,” and I know I wll expereince similar moments and I better know what to do and what not to do in specific moments.
Over the past 15 years, I have compiled a lot of data in my heart and mind, that if ever i get the chance to lead a church, I have a way I would like to do it. I came to these ideas by watching others. I have been like a starving man at a buffet, picking what I like and leaving what I don’t.
This week I had an amazing experience at the ARC (Association of Related Churches) roundtable. I met a pastor, Rick Bezet, Lead pastor at http://www.newlifechurch.tv. He described his experience and his journey on his philiosophy of ministry, and it was identical to mine. As I listened to this guy give out practical nuggets, one right after another, God begin to show me that He was preparing my heart, from the beginning, for a ministry beyond anything I could imagine.
A friend asked me what I thought of the roundtable. I said, “I feel like I have entered a cave and though I had a pretty good idea of my way around, I wasn’t completely sure. As I starting walking through the cave, I started seeing the cave drawings of those that had gone before me and they were the drawings I had drawn in my heart.” You see, I have been formulating a way of ministry in my heart but have not seen someone have all of the areas that I have been crafting. Oh, there are great men, who I look up to, that have some of the components but I had not found one that had all of the components, until this week. Rick, was the cave writings on the wall that confirmed in my heart. I have heard from God and He has been placing those drawings in my heart from the beginning, and it works.
If you ever get a chance to visit Little Rock, AK, you need to visit the church. You will be challeneged to take a look at how you do things.