1 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:08,520 Welcome to today's broadcast of Lead to Serve, a leadership 2 00:00:08,520 --> 00:00:13,160 podcast with Ed Taylor. Welcome again to another episode 3 00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:16,079 here in season five of. The lead to serve? 4 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:18,000 Podcast My name is Ed. Taylor. 5 00:00:18,360 --> 00:00:21,520 I'm the pastor of Calvary Church in Aurora, Co. 6 00:00:21,520 --> 00:00:23,920 I'm your. Host lead to serve the podcast. 7 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:27,560 Started in my heart like I wanted to invite people into a 8 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:30,920 conversation about ministry. I have a passion about 9 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:35,520 developing servants and leaders, pouring into pastors and elders 10 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:38,840 and just anybody, really. A discipleship is a. 11 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:42,280 Privilege that God has given to me, that I I really like doing 12 00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:45,280 in a variety of different ways. Leadership development in. 13 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:48,720 Particular so thank you. Guys for tuning in for sharing 14 00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:52,280 the the podcast. For your feedback, for your 15 00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:56,360 ideas actually today. Is an episode where we're using 16 00:00:56,360 --> 00:01:00,560 an idea that was sent in to us in particular, and we're going 17 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:02,640 to read through some of the questions. 18 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:04,760 That this brother gave to us so we can talk. 19 00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:06,760 Through them, you know our goal, our goal. 20 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:08,840 Is to help you. Grow in your servant leadership. 21 00:01:09,560 --> 00:01:11,720 So that you will. Glorify God in everything that 22 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:13,920 you do, and you know the. Tag it says. 23 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:15,880 The better serving you are, the better. 24 00:01:15,880 --> 00:01:18,480 Leader you'll. Become, and the better leader 25 00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:21,320 you'll become will broaden and deepen. 26 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:25,000 Your ability to serve the Lord. And others You know so much 27 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:25,640 better, right? You. 28 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:27,520 Love the Lord God. With all your heart, soul and 29 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:29,840 mind, and you love your neighbor as. 30 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:31,360 Yourself. So we. 31 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:33,600 Designed these times. Like as if you were. 32 00:01:33,760 --> 00:01:35,320 Well, we. Literally are sitting across the 33 00:01:35,320 --> 00:01:38,840 table with two microphones in front of us, talking like you 34 00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:41,880 would if you were in my office or at our staff meeting or at a 35 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:47,400 pastor's meeting, talking ministry, drawing from the word 36 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:50,280 of God, giving practical principles. 37 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:51,880 And that's. Where we are today. 38 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:55,040 For season 5, one of the big. Pieces of feedback. 39 00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:57,320 We had is to have someone in studio with me. 40 00:01:57,520 --> 00:01:58,680 And so the whole. Season. 41 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:02,360 Up into this episode. We have Pastor Bob Clay camp 42 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:03,560 with us. Welcome again, Bob. 43 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:05,360 Great. It's a privilege to be here. 44 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:07,960 Appreciate you being here every week to have. 45 00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:11,560 These topics discussed. And prayerfully considered and 46 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:14,080 let's just jump right into. Today's episode. 47 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:18,440 To spend some time on it, I got a text from a friend of mine not 48 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:21,960 too long ago. Just wanting hey I got an idea 49 00:02:21,960 --> 00:02:25,400 for your podcast and I go send it my way and so let me. 50 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:29,000 Read what he said. In an edited form, he said. 51 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:31,640 The common question is. What would you tell your 52 00:02:31,640 --> 00:02:34,560 younger? Self, which is, you know, I'm. 53 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:36,960 I'm a little bit older now, so I would tell my younger self a few 54 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:40,040 things. It seems it's often intended to 55 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:41,840 help the younger. Pastor who's just. 56 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:45,200 Starting off or early in his ministry and I can see that. 57 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:48,280 Perspective for sure. How about the same question? 58 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:50,960 Asked to a pastor. Who's been doing it for 30 or 59 00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:53,040 40? Years with the pastor. 60 00:02:53,040 --> 00:02:55,040 Who's near about that 20 year mark? 61 00:02:56,520 --> 00:02:59,760 The one who's slowing down and grinding a bit. 62 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:03,120 Without. All the standard answers of 63 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:06,040 endurance and perseverance. Although we will give. 64 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:07,880 Those answers. How do you keep? 65 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:12,800 Leading with passion, vision and keep being an example in spirit. 66 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:17,040 Keeping the flame burning bright since it's been burning so long. 67 00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:19,160 Not using delegation to hide the. 68 00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:22,560 Fact that you that the. Leader may just not feel like 69 00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:25,560 doing things anymore. Like, wow. 70 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:31,360 There's quite a bit. In in this question, Bob talking 71 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:33,120 to your younger. Self but the. 72 00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:36,640 Perspectives a little different. Not trying to help a young guy. 73 00:03:37,080 --> 00:03:40,400 Get ready for what's up ahead but for a guy. 74 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:42,480 Like this, like my friend describes here. 75 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:48,160 That's slowing down grinding a bit without any clarification, 76 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:49,560 right? Because I didn't clarify what 77 00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:52,560 grinding means and not using delegation. 78 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:54,400 To hide the fact. That he doesn't want to. 79 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:56,800 He may not feel like doing things anymore. 80 00:03:57,400 --> 00:04:00,120 So you got a guy. Here you are, you and I've been 81 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:01,440 doing it for. A few years. 82 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:04,040 You've definitely been doing it for 30 to 40 years. 83 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:07,880 I haven't, so my perspective would be 25 years, but. 84 00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:10,840 What do you talk? What do you tell a guy? 85 00:04:12,440 --> 00:04:13,840 What do you tell your younger self? 86 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:16,560 What do you tell the younger pastor that's 20 years into it 87 00:04:16,959 --> 00:04:20,360 that is slowing down and grinding a bit? 88 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:24,640 Well, first of all, I would, I would affirm the fact that as we 89 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:29,160 get older, we don't have the necessary energy or strength 90 00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:33,560 that we had when we were in our 30s or so. 91 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:37,120 And that's how does the Lord see that? 92 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:40,320 Does he understand our frame? The Bible says he does 93 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:42,680 understand our frame. He knows our frame. 94 00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:51,040 He knows we're just dust. And going over the initial call 95 00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:57,520 and asking questions, what was, what was it that was so exciting 96 00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:01,480 about when you first started? What were the expectations? 97 00:05:01,480 --> 00:05:04,960 What were the dreams? What were the things that just 98 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:08,560 seem to stir you and and your wife in the midst of it? 99 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:15,320 And so now here you are 2025 years later and you look back 100 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:22,640 and when did you notice things felt like they were slowing 101 00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:27,160 down? And so just questions because 102 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:31,880 I'm walking into a story that I don't know and because the 103 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:34,600 surface story is not necessarily the real story. 104 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:38,840 So you're through the questions. And Jesus used questions all the 105 00:05:38,840 --> 00:05:41,680 time as he was ministering to disciples and others. 106 00:05:43,840 --> 00:05:46,840 And I've learned this from you being here these 4 1/2 years as 107 00:05:46,840 --> 00:05:49,000 well. Because you're a good one to ask 108 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:50,480 questions. Yeah. 109 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:56,160 Forcing answers. But then just to say where, 110 00:05:56,440 --> 00:06:01,120 where did things change and. And many times because of the 111 00:06:02,720 --> 00:06:07,960 pain, because of the hurt, because of the shock or 112 00:06:07,960 --> 00:06:14,600 disappointment, all the sudden a new, a new layer of guardedness 113 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:21,120 came in and thinking like, you know, I'm not sure how long I 114 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:24,400 can keep doing this. And those kind of thoughts start 115 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:26,600 rolling around. And if you don't deal with them 116 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:28,320 right there, you just leave them alone. 117 00:06:28,320 --> 00:06:32,920 They take root and then they lead to the bigger things. 118 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:40,720 And so although in our family of churches taking time off is not 119 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:46,120 something that's really encouraged because we had such a 120 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:51,360 strong leader in Pastor Chuck who had such a work ethic and 121 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:58,080 such a in an an intense focus. He did take you know a time off, 122 00:06:58,080 --> 00:07:01,160 but it was a lot of it was ministry related time off which 123 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:04,520 really isn't time off. It's not quite the same thing as 124 00:07:04,520 --> 00:07:09,120 my wife continually reminds. Me, my wife also reminds me it's 125 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:10,320 not the same. I mean, really. 126 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:15,160 Isn't but in thinking how Paul dealt with Timothy in his last 127 00:07:15,160 --> 00:07:18,080 letter. Timothy had been in Ephesus for 128 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:23,480 quite some time and Paul's the thing that stands out, he says, 129 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:28,880 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in 130 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:32,400 you through the laying on of hands of my hands. 131 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:35,960 And the question is, what's that look like? 132 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:40,600 What does it? What does he mean, stir up the 133 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:44,560 gift of God which is in you? What does that mean? 134 00:07:45,840 --> 00:07:49,160 Is there? Is there a need to take some 135 00:07:49,160 --> 00:07:54,600 time away to stir up the gift of God which really when you look 136 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:59,760 at Jesus first letter to the seven churches of Asia they had 137 00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:04,400 all the work down but they left their first love and it's out of 138 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:12,120 that love passion that work flows and and when that becomes 139 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:16,760 secondary or like a a side issues like like peas in your 140 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:21,080 main entree you know then then you're headed for trouble. 141 00:08:21,640 --> 00:08:22,960 If you don't like peas, I'm sorry. 142 00:08:24,120 --> 00:08:25,640 I know you don't like to mix your food. 143 00:08:26,280 --> 00:08:27,880 I've eaten. I've eaten dinner with you. 144 00:08:27,880 --> 00:08:30,640 I know you like it all separate. On your body. 145 00:08:32,840 --> 00:08:37,440 But time away is something that's essential for the long 146 00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:42,840 game, yes. And if you don't take that time 147 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:48,720 away, I mean, I know the arguments and I know the 148 00:08:48,720 --> 00:08:50,600 mindsets. I've been there. 149 00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:56,120 I've lived it and and there's could be some bell and reason 150 00:08:56,120 --> 00:08:57,800 why I've got nobody to take my church. 151 00:08:57,800 --> 00:09:01,240 And but you know you've been there 2025 years and you still 152 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:05,080 have 50 people. And so I know it's tough but 153 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:11,320 find someone that can fill in because you for the long game, 154 00:09:11,320 --> 00:09:13,720 you're in it. For the long game you need to 155 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:15,400 get away. Just you and the Lord. 156 00:09:15,400 --> 00:09:19,760 Or maybe you, you and your wife and the Lord, and just reconnect 157 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:24,040 with those basics. I'm not talking so much about 158 00:09:24,040 --> 00:09:28,160 perseverance and endurance and all that, but I'm talking about 159 00:09:28,440 --> 00:09:32,400 revitalizing your relationship with the Lord because it's a 160 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:35,840 living relationship like it is with any person. 161 00:09:36,280 --> 00:09:40,000 It's a it's a personal relationship with the Lord, not 162 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:43,560 a vocation. Or your high school counselor 163 00:09:43,560 --> 00:09:46,840 said you'd be good at this. No, it's a it's a relationship 164 00:09:46,840 --> 00:09:49,880 with the person of Jesus Christ and God the Father. 165 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:58,440 And if that doesn't, if that's not kindling the flame, stir up 166 00:09:58,440 --> 00:10:00,200 the gift of God, which is in you. 167 00:10:00,640 --> 00:10:03,600 By the laying out of my hands that that's the Holy Spirit 168 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:06,440 coming upon you and just lighting the fire. 169 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:09,560 It'll look different as you get older. 170 00:10:09,560 --> 00:10:11,520 I mean, you need to work smarter, not harder. 171 00:10:11,840 --> 00:10:14,240 As you get older, because you're not, your physical strength 172 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:16,480 isn't going to be there. It's a great question. 173 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:18,680 I thought about it since it was sent to me. 174 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:21,360 You know if I'm I'm 25 years into it, what would? 175 00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:24,000 I tell a guy. At the 20 year mark, you know 176 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:26,800 where he's at right now. A couple of things. 177 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:30,160 I think #1 this, what you're feeling right now is normal. 178 00:10:31,080 --> 00:10:33,800 This is a normal. Result of. 179 00:10:34,360 --> 00:10:38,720 Grinding away, faithfully, enduring, persevering in 180 00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:40,920 ministry. Already, so where you have 181 00:10:40,920 --> 00:10:43,960 arrived? Is not necessarily a place of 182 00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:45,320 weakness. It's not. 183 00:10:45,320 --> 00:10:49,440 Necessarily a place of failure. It's not necessarily a any 184 00:10:49,440 --> 00:10:52,840 reflection upon the quality of your ministry. 185 00:10:53,040 --> 00:10:55,600 It's a season and these seasons come and go. 186 00:10:55,920 --> 00:10:58,520 I was telling you that the same pastor day one. 187 00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:00,280 The very. First time the. 188 00:11:00,280 --> 00:11:01,480 Day. He's excited. 189 00:11:01,480 --> 00:11:05,040 The days he's putting out the signs, the days that, hey, I'll 190 00:11:05,040 --> 00:11:07,400 put the chairs up and then I'll go do the sound board and then 191 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:09,800 I'll go do the sound check and I'll teach and I'll play the 192 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:11,720 drums and and all that, whatever, I'll. 193 00:11:11,720 --> 00:11:14,240 Do. It's like, just pace yourself. 194 00:11:14,760 --> 00:11:17,800 Because not every Sunday's going to feel like this, not every 195 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:19,360 month is going to feel like this. 196 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:22,560 Not every year is going to. Feel like this so? 197 00:11:22,560 --> 00:11:24,400 Learn how to. Pace yourself, whether that. 198 00:11:24,400 --> 00:11:28,200 Means you take regular breaks along the way, whether that 199 00:11:28,200 --> 00:11:31,720 means you. Get that you you get to the 200 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:34,240 place. Where you not only take regular 201 00:11:34,240 --> 00:11:35,560 breaks. But you have specific. 202 00:11:35,560 --> 00:11:38,480 Vacation times or whatever. REST is a big part of it. 203 00:11:38,480 --> 00:11:39,880 Pacing is a big. Part of it. 204 00:11:40,080 --> 00:11:44,920 But also, this is normal feeling like you don't want to do it 205 00:11:44,920 --> 00:11:46,240 anymore. Totally normal. 206 00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:51,040 You know, I think sometimes when I'm giving advice, the response 207 00:11:51,040 --> 00:11:53,120 will be, well, you have a big church and you have a big staff 208 00:11:53,120 --> 00:11:56,520 and you have and and. There's a lack. 209 00:11:56,520 --> 00:11:59,080 Of understanding that. A larger church. 210 00:11:59,080 --> 00:12:01,000 Or even a team that's coming along. 211 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:04,080 It just means more, not less. So if I was. 212 00:12:04,080 --> 00:12:07,720 Tired when we were 100 people then I'm going to be really 213 00:12:07,720 --> 00:12:11,520 tired when I have X amount of people because now it's more, 214 00:12:11,520 --> 00:12:14,360 not less. So more help means more work, 215 00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:17,560 more discipleship, more accountability, more. 216 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:19,640 That's how. Every pastor's. 217 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:23,320 Dream is more, more, more and maybe God's will is more. 218 00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:27,000 But the reality is. More means more. 219 00:12:27,120 --> 00:12:30,040 More of everything. More problems, more 220 00:12:30,040 --> 00:12:33,720 difficulties, more discipleship, more people quitting, more 221 00:12:33,720 --> 00:12:36,960 people leaving. It's and so when you're 222 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:39,560 listening to. This as a pastor or a leader, I. 223 00:12:39,560 --> 00:12:42,080 Just want you to remember this is proportionate. 224 00:12:42,640 --> 00:12:45,280 So is your smaller church or medium sized church? 225 00:12:45,280 --> 00:12:47,120 Compared to a large church, whatever that looks like. 226 00:12:47,800 --> 00:12:50,440 Remember the problems? We all feel the same exact 227 00:12:50,440 --> 00:12:51,840 problems. They're just. 228 00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:55,000 Proportionate and some guys you might look at him go well that 229 00:12:55,000 --> 00:12:56,640 guy, you know he has a different. 230 00:12:56,640 --> 00:12:58,920 I never hear anything. Well, he's just not sharing it. 231 00:12:59,080 --> 00:13:00,360 It doesn't mean he doesn't feel it. 232 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:02,480 He's just not sharing it. You know, I've. 233 00:13:02,640 --> 00:13:04,280 I know so and so he's just feel like it. 234 00:13:04,280 --> 00:13:05,320 A grind. No. 235 00:13:05,320 --> 00:13:08,520 Well, you know, he's just not telling you, but I'm sure that 236 00:13:08,520 --> 00:13:12,280 he feels the same way and I appreciate this, you know, don't 237 00:13:12,280 --> 00:13:14,760 give the standard answers answers of endurance and 238 00:13:14,760 --> 00:13:18,040 perseverance and maybe again this is like, you know, when I 239 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:19,400 do the live. Radio here. 240 00:13:19,560 --> 00:13:22,080 And I have a live call in show. Sometimes people will text 241 00:13:22,080 --> 00:13:24,080 questions in and I'll say, you know what? 242 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:25,760 That's a better question to talk about. 243 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:27,520 Because. I don't know where you want me 244 00:13:27,520 --> 00:13:29,720 to go with it. Like specifically, and I think 245 00:13:29,720 --> 00:13:32,080 this is one of those questions where I don't know where you 246 00:13:32,080 --> 00:13:35,560 want me to go with it because endurance and perseverance. 247 00:13:35,560 --> 00:13:39,480 Do you mean that you got advice? Once they just put your head 248 00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:41,240 down, it's no big deal. We all get tired. 249 00:13:41,240 --> 00:13:44,320 Well, well, that's not true. Endurance and perseverance. 250 00:13:44,320 --> 00:13:47,520 Actually, because true Biblical. Endurance and perseverance would 251 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:50,360 be an empowering of the. Lord, like we spoke. 252 00:13:50,360 --> 00:13:53,240 About in an earlier. Episode God both works to. 253 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:57,400 Will and to do and that there I think it was Warren I I know it 254 00:13:57,400 --> 00:14:01,200 was Warren Worsby but I can't remember the exact title but he 255 00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:05,400 talked about ministry and he used the word plotting sometimes 256 00:14:05,400 --> 00:14:06,640 minutes. Plotters is the. 257 00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:07,520 Book. What is it? 258 00:14:08,080 --> 00:14:11,000 In praise of Plotters and Warren Weirsby. 259 00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:14,440 And that that is ministry sometimes and plotting is a man. 260 00:14:14,440 --> 00:14:18,480 I don't want to do this. This is too hard it it's 261 00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:22,240 challenging and how can I get? Over it. 262 00:14:22,440 --> 00:14:25,280 Sometimes you don't get over it. You get through it. 263 00:14:25,640 --> 00:14:29,680 And when I spoke on, I taught at a conference once on on 264 00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:32,000 difficulties in ministry I. Used this. 265 00:14:32,920 --> 00:14:36,480 Illustration of seasons because in Colorado we have 4 distinct 266 00:14:36,480 --> 00:14:37,960 seasons. They see them and they're all 267 00:14:37,960 --> 00:14:39,960 distinct. So you got winter and then you 268 00:14:39,960 --> 00:14:43,720 got spring and then you have a summer and then you have fall 269 00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:46,600 and winter comes up again and each one of them leads into the 270 00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:49,040 next and. What is described here? 271 00:14:49,040 --> 00:14:52,080 For my brother right now sounds like a winter season. 272 00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:55,880 A challenging season. Probably not completely like I'm 273 00:14:55,880 --> 00:14:58,760 done and I'm giving up, but it's one of those challenging seasons 274 00:14:59,080 --> 00:15:02,080 and winters you really do need to learn how to endure, 275 00:15:02,360 --> 00:15:03,720 especially when you don't like them. 276 00:15:04,760 --> 00:15:05,400 Like you. Just like. 277 00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:07,200 OK. Is it winter like I was Even so 278 00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:08,440 hopeful? Because we got this. 279 00:15:08,440 --> 00:15:10,200 Heavy snow recently that's like. The. 280 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:13,840 The snow you usually get at the end of the season and like, oh, 281 00:15:13,840 --> 00:15:16,800 maybe it's going to end early. And there he was no, no. 282 00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:18,720 And so you just like. OK. 283 00:15:18,960 --> 00:15:23,560 Going to shovel some more, put gas in my snow blower and freeze 284 00:15:23,560 --> 00:15:27,120 and and hopefully I don't slip on ice and then I just know one 285 00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:28,400 day it's not going to snow anymore. 286 00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:32,480 Like yes. And springtime comes right after 287 00:15:32,480 --> 00:15:35,200 a winter time. You're It doesn't even have to 288 00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:37,280 be enduring as much as it is waiting. 289 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:40,320 You know spring's coming, and you're looking for the trees. 290 00:15:40,320 --> 00:15:43,320 You're looking from the sprout. You you're looking for a green 291 00:15:43,320 --> 00:15:45,800 in your grass. Because you know, once the first 292 00:15:45,800 --> 00:15:48,600 color comes, it's just going to. Explode the color. 293 00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:50,840 Is going to be colorful again and you get to enjoy the 294 00:15:50,840 --> 00:15:54,760 springtime. Spring is a fun time and 295 00:15:54,760 --> 00:15:56,520 Ministry has fun time. That's when. 296 00:15:56,680 --> 00:16:00,120 People get saved. Again and baptized and churches 297 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:03,200 grow in their springtime and then springtime winds down. 298 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:07,440 I mean actually accelerates up into summertime, which is kind 299 00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:09,360 of euphemistic for the best of the best. 300 00:16:09,360 --> 00:16:12,680 Summertime is beautiful and then summertimes wind down into the 301 00:16:12,680 --> 00:16:14,960 fall. Everything starts to die again. 302 00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:16,360 The leaves. Fall off the tree. 303 00:16:16,480 --> 00:16:19,280 And another winter. And so if I was telling someone 304 00:16:19,520 --> 00:16:23,320 that's earlier on in ministry, the number one thing is this is 305 00:16:23,320 --> 00:16:28,040 normal and it's going to pass. I and I would say if it doesn't 306 00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:32,240 pass, then you really have to consider whether this is what 307 00:16:32,240 --> 00:16:35,920 God wants you to do and and it doesn't mean necessarily that. 308 00:16:36,320 --> 00:16:38,000 You have to stop. Pastoring. 309 00:16:38,280 --> 00:16:41,560 But if you're a senior pastor, maybe the Lord's showing you 310 00:16:41,560 --> 00:16:43,120 that senior. Pastor. 311 00:16:43,120 --> 00:16:44,200 Lead pastor? Isn't for you. 312 00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:46,760 Maybe you'd do better as an assistant and a support. 313 00:16:46,760 --> 00:16:48,680 Or maybe you'd do better what you're doing right now, 314 00:16:48,920 --> 00:16:52,800 Travelling, encouraging other churches, providing maybe. 315 00:16:52,880 --> 00:16:55,920 I've seen some of my friends go back into the business world and 316 00:16:55,920 --> 00:16:57,840 then they go. Back to their career. 317 00:16:58,160 --> 00:17:00,280 And and that's not necessarily quitting. 318 00:17:00,720 --> 00:17:02,600 Like because we associate. Everything. 319 00:17:02,720 --> 00:17:04,680 You got the call. And you're going to do this. 320 00:17:04,800 --> 00:17:06,920 And if you do anything other than this, you're a quitter. 321 00:17:06,920 --> 00:17:09,000 No, you're following the leading of the. 322 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:11,720 Lord, it's a sidestep, not a backstep. 323 00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:13,680 Yeah, not necessarily. I mean. 324 00:17:13,680 --> 00:17:16,240 Right. It it depends on the situation, 325 00:17:16,359 --> 00:17:21,200 but I mean, for some people when the leaves fall off the trees, 326 00:17:21,520 --> 00:17:25,480 it's like disaster, you know, my ministry's done well. 327 00:17:25,640 --> 00:17:29,800 Winter time. OK, there's no proof of life but 328 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:31,480 the but the roots are going deeper. 329 00:17:31,520 --> 00:17:32,720 Right. It's all underground. 330 00:17:32,920 --> 00:17:35,720 Yeah. And so you have to ask the 331 00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:40,560 question for somebody 20-30 years pastoring what season are 332 00:17:40,560 --> 00:17:43,520 you in? What what, what do you see? 333 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:48,320 Is it winter, is it fall? And and just those questions so 334 00:17:48,320 --> 00:17:51,880 important because you're in it for the long haul. 335 00:17:52,160 --> 00:17:57,440 You're you're in it for not what you can get out of it, but what 336 00:17:57,440 --> 00:18:00,720 has the Lord directly called you to do? 337 00:18:01,800 --> 00:18:06,040 And feed my lambs, Tend my sheep. 338 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:10,280 Feed my sheep. And so yeah, but they're 339 00:18:10,280 --> 00:18:14,040 leaving. Well, feed my lambs, Tend my 340 00:18:14,040 --> 00:18:15,880 sheep. Feed my sheep. 341 00:18:16,440 --> 00:18:18,880 Because it's all about faithfulness to the one. 342 00:18:20,400 --> 00:18:24,160 And stop comparing yourself to the business models of the world 343 00:18:24,920 --> 00:18:28,720 or or to your colleagues who how come their church just got like 344 00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:31,760 it explodes. And I've been at this for 20 345 00:18:31,760 --> 00:18:35,640 years and I'm still back to, you know, 100, less than 100 people 346 00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:37,800 And is that just a sign I should quit. 347 00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:41,520 And by the way, I have heard it said at conferences and if your 348 00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:44,720 church is 50 or less, don't call yourself a church. 349 00:18:44,720 --> 00:18:50,000 You're just a home Bible study and so dumb, I mean and and the 350 00:18:50,360 --> 00:18:55,360 the reverberation, the shock upon some of those with with 351 00:18:56,720 --> 00:18:59,120 smaller churches that were there just to try to get some 352 00:18:59,120 --> 00:19:01,320 encouragement. It was. 353 00:19:01,760 --> 00:19:04,360 It was not good. I like what you said here, the. 354 00:19:04,760 --> 00:19:08,560 If if we're going to assess seasons, we lose perspective. 355 00:19:10,080 --> 00:19:11,400 I mean, I've been doing this for 20. 356 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:15,200 Five years at. Least once a year the ministry 357 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:17,520 at at this. Particular church that I serve 358 00:19:17,920 --> 00:19:20,040 it's so. Challenging that I don't want to 359 00:19:20,040 --> 00:19:23,080 do it anymore. It's a it's a regular emotion. 360 00:19:23,600 --> 00:19:27,400 It's something that can be. Verbalized or processed in 361 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:30,160 prayer or. A conversation with my wife 362 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:35,760 where it it it isn't a statement of quitting and I I have a 363 00:19:35,760 --> 00:19:38,400 feeling that's what this is in my friend's text. 364 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:41,400 It's not a statement of quitting, it's just a statement 365 00:19:41,400 --> 00:19:44,960 of the present reality. And maybe it is a winter season. 366 00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:46,320 I just don't want to do this anymore. 367 00:19:46,320 --> 00:19:49,600 It's you know as I was reading through not using delegation to 368 00:19:49,600 --> 00:19:53,000 hide the fact, well, I I would never use delegation to hide 369 00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:55,000 anything. Delegation is a different tool. 370 00:19:55,480 --> 00:19:58,120 You know. Delegation is, is not to hide 371 00:19:58,120 --> 00:20:01,600 something when I delegate, it's it's meant to multiply. 372 00:20:01,880 --> 00:20:04,280 It's not meant to subtract. It's meant to multiply. 373 00:20:04,280 --> 00:20:07,920 It's it's meant to share the burden that if I'm carrying a 374 00:20:07,920 --> 00:20:12,400 burden and I share it with you, I'm it's 50% less if you got 375 00:20:12,400 --> 00:20:15,320 half of it and I got half of it and then we have a third person 376 00:20:15,320 --> 00:20:18,840 and a fourth person, the delegation in the discipleship. 377 00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:21,920 Is designed to help, but even then, sometimes. 378 00:20:22,200 --> 00:20:23,960 Guys will get frustrated because they're like I. 379 00:20:23,960 --> 00:20:27,560 Just can't find faithful men. I can't find faithful men. 380 00:20:27,560 --> 00:20:31,480 And and that in one respect that's true, but in another 381 00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:33,640 respect we might have different expectations. 382 00:20:33,920 --> 00:20:36,080 You remember when? Jesus he talked about. 383 00:20:38,080 --> 00:20:40,840 The numbers and I want to I want to hope I get their numbers. 384 00:20:40,840 --> 00:20:46,240 It was at 3060 and a hundredfold 3060 and 101 of the one. 385 00:20:46,240 --> 00:20:49,360 Sometimes what a what a leader is describing is. 386 00:20:49,360 --> 00:20:52,960 I can't find any hundreds. There's a lot of. 30s and a lot 387 00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:57,360 of 60s, but what I need is hundreds and we all desire 388 00:20:57,360 --> 00:20:59,840 hundreds because a senior. Pastor or lead pastor? 389 00:20:59,840 --> 00:21:05,240 Is going to be a high 100 type of faithful man, but we have to 390 00:21:05,240 --> 00:21:08,200 remember that. A30A60. 391 00:21:08,200 --> 00:21:09,800 And 100. Are all. 392 00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:15,840 Equal and they're equal not in their capacity, but in their 393 00:21:15,840 --> 00:21:17,760 faithfulness. So a. 394 00:21:17,760 --> 00:21:21,720 Thirty person that comes and produces. 30 should be treated 395 00:21:21,720 --> 00:21:23,680 just as. Well, as a hundred person that's 396 00:21:23,680 --> 00:21:26,760 producing 101 thing I've learned over the years and I had to 397 00:21:26,760 --> 00:21:28,440 learn the hard way because I I understand. 398 00:21:28,960 --> 00:21:32,120 The perspective here is. Sometimes you need 30. 399 00:21:32,160 --> 00:21:35,280 You need. Three 30s, three people that 400 00:21:35,280 --> 00:21:38,440 are. 30 full producers and faithful to match. 401 00:21:38,520 --> 00:21:40,600 And that doesn't even quite match the 100. 402 00:21:41,080 --> 00:21:43,560 But you're not going to get 100. But you can get three 30s or you 403 00:21:43,560 --> 00:21:46,280 can get a 60 and a third. Like there are a mixture of 404 00:21:46,280 --> 00:21:50,120 people as a pastor, and I like what pastor? 405 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:54,400 Skip Heitzig taught us, he said that a pastor's role. 406 00:21:54,400 --> 00:21:59,080 Is sometimes best compared to a divine talent scout where we're 407 00:21:59,080 --> 00:22:00,800 looking. For those to help. 408 00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:02,760 And then putting him in the right place like. 409 00:22:02,760 --> 00:22:05,160 If they're a right fielder. They shouldn't be a catcher. 410 00:22:05,440 --> 00:22:07,960 We should keep him in right field and put the catchers in 411 00:22:07,960 --> 00:22:09,720 the catchers. That way everybody can be who 412 00:22:09,720 --> 00:22:12,360 the God made them to be and we get to be used. 413 00:22:12,360 --> 00:22:16,600 And so sometimes where this frustration because again, every 414 00:22:16,600 --> 00:22:18,360 church is going through this. It doesn't matter what. 415 00:22:18,360 --> 00:22:19,960 They post what they. Look like on face. 416 00:22:20,200 --> 00:22:21,760 Instagram, whatever. Every. 417 00:22:21,760 --> 00:22:24,320 Church goes through this where there is. 418 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:27,040 Endurance. There is perseverance, but how 419 00:22:27,040 --> 00:22:27,640 do I? Lead with. 420 00:22:27,640 --> 00:22:31,040 Passion and vision, I really come back to that. 421 00:22:31,040 --> 00:22:34,560 Place where I first started. And that's what Elijah had to do 422 00:22:35,760 --> 00:22:44,410 when he lost his vision. You never heard the servant 423 00:22:44,410 --> 00:22:45,890 again. I mean, what kind of testimony 424 00:22:45,890 --> 00:22:47,690 is that? It's amazing. 425 00:22:48,010 --> 00:22:51,450 And he ends up over in Mount Sinai, you know, I'm going, you 426 00:22:51,450 --> 00:22:54,770 know, and moaning and moaning and and what happened is the 427 00:22:54,770 --> 00:23:00,610 Lord gave him fresh vision, kind of dealt with him, gave him 428 00:23:00,610 --> 00:23:02,530 fresh vision, sent him on his way. 429 00:23:02,890 --> 00:23:07,680 And he was effective, but he had to get that fresh vision, but he 430 00:23:07,680 --> 00:23:12,040 had to get away in the middle of what he was doing to get the 431 00:23:12,040 --> 00:23:15,560 fresh vision. And so that's my take on. 432 00:23:16,600 --> 00:23:20,320 I mean, even even the land was told to rest after 7 after six 433 00:23:20,320 --> 00:23:22,040 years, they were to rest the seven years. 434 00:23:22,040 --> 00:23:24,760 So. So God understands that whole 435 00:23:24,880 --> 00:23:26,920 because it's longevity that he's into. 436 00:23:27,760 --> 00:23:33,680 And so there are resources that you can draw upon to be able to 437 00:23:33,680 --> 00:23:38,240 take a break for the purpose of getting your vision reviewed. 438 00:23:38,400 --> 00:23:42,120 Yeah, you've mentioned that a couple times and rest is and not 439 00:23:42,120 --> 00:23:43,720 just ministry. Rest but. 440 00:23:43,960 --> 00:23:47,320 True unplugged. That's a commitment that we've 441 00:23:47,320 --> 00:23:49,280 made, Marie and I, just for our marriage. 442 00:23:49,520 --> 00:23:52,560 I didn't even actually do it when I first started getting 443 00:23:52,560 --> 00:23:55,440 away, Just Marie and I with the church in mind at all. 444 00:23:55,640 --> 00:23:58,600 My marriage needed it. We wanted to celebrate an 445 00:23:58,600 --> 00:24:02,240 anniversary and I am one of those guys that just plotted and 446 00:24:02,240 --> 00:24:05,400 plowed and didn't take a lot of time off and I did take time 447 00:24:05,400 --> 00:24:08,000 off. It was ministry related I and 448 00:24:08,120 --> 00:24:12,160 and then our our our anniversary came up and I'm like we we need 449 00:24:12,160 --> 00:24:13,600 to unplug. We need to be apart from the 450 00:24:13,600 --> 00:24:15,400 kids. We need to be apart from my 451 00:24:15,400 --> 00:24:19,240 responsibilities and it's just me and her and it's been very 452 00:24:19,240 --> 00:24:22,720 beneficial and extremely. Fruitful over the years, we've 453 00:24:22,720 --> 00:24:25,440 tried to. Do it every year since and it's 454 00:24:25,440 --> 00:24:28,680 benefits the church and I always like to come back and tell. 455 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:32,480 The church A happy pastor. With a strong marriage is a very 456 00:24:32,480 --> 00:24:33,960 big benefit. To the church. 457 00:24:34,480 --> 00:24:38,200 And you know, one of the things I lean into too, just kind of 458 00:24:38,200 --> 00:24:42,440 finishing up on this is there I I lean into my strengths and 459 00:24:42,440 --> 00:24:46,800 during these times, not my weaknesses and so one of my 460 00:24:46,800 --> 00:24:47,880 strengths. Is leadership. 461 00:24:47,880 --> 00:24:50,920 So I I pray for a fresh approach to leadership. 462 00:24:50,920 --> 00:24:53,200 I pray for a fresh word. I pray. 463 00:24:53,600 --> 00:24:55,400 I pray. And God usually gives it to me 464 00:24:55,400 --> 00:24:57,960 in the beginning of the year. I don't like have a scripture 465 00:24:57,960 --> 00:24:59,320 verse. I've never been where I have a 466 00:24:59,320 --> 00:25:01,440 verse. For the year, but typically God 467 00:25:01,440 --> 00:25:03,720 will. Give us a song that kind of 468 00:25:03,720 --> 00:25:05,680 becomes our anthem for. That year or two? 469 00:25:05,920 --> 00:25:10,280 And A and a direction in the word that first ministers to me 470 00:25:10,280 --> 00:25:12,400 and then I share with the Church, and then it gets. 471 00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:14,760 Stirred up where it starts, like a catalyst. 472 00:25:15,000 --> 00:25:19,400 Once you start the ball rolling it start, it continues and and 473 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:21,240 so that's been helpful. How do I lead? 474 00:25:21,240 --> 00:25:23,400 With passion and vision, Sometimes I don't lead. 475 00:25:23,400 --> 00:25:25,200 With passion and vision, I just lead. 476 00:25:26,120 --> 00:25:29,000 Or after my son passed away, I didn't lead at all. 477 00:25:29,520 --> 00:25:32,240 I didn't have any. I could barely show up for a 478 00:25:32,240 --> 00:25:33,560 couple years. I could barely. 479 00:25:33,560 --> 00:25:36,760 Show up and teach and the team around me. 480 00:25:37,360 --> 00:25:40,080 They they carried a lot of the. Weight but they're not gifted 481 00:25:40,080 --> 00:25:44,080 like me. So it they got tired and it was 482 00:25:44,080 --> 00:25:46,880 hard and people left and and it was challenging. 483 00:25:47,160 --> 00:25:51,000 And then over time and God's perfect timing he awakened that 484 00:25:51,000 --> 00:25:53,520 gift again. I and it helped but I'm not the. 485 00:25:53,520 --> 00:25:57,920 Leader I was before. I'm a different man, and that's 486 00:25:57,920 --> 00:26:01,080 not necessarily bad. I'm just learning to embrace the 487 00:26:01,080 --> 00:26:04,080 new person that God is. But sometimes I don't lead with 488 00:26:04,080 --> 00:26:05,560 passion or vision. I just lead. 489 00:26:05,720 --> 00:26:07,960 And sometimes I don't lead with passion or vision or lead at 490 00:26:07,960 --> 00:26:09,400 all. I just keep taking. 491 00:26:09,400 --> 00:26:13,000 One step forward, I just take the next step, next step, and I 492 00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:15,080 fall back on the things that I know God blesses. 493 00:26:15,400 --> 00:26:18,640 So if I can't lead or I can't correct or I can't even on a 494 00:26:18,640 --> 00:26:20,920 smaller scale, you know, I just can't deal with that tonight, 495 00:26:21,400 --> 00:26:24,160 then I won't deal with it, but I will lean into the things I 496 00:26:24,160 --> 00:26:25,000 know. He blesses. 497 00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:27,840 He blesses prayer. He blesses the. 498 00:26:27,840 --> 00:26:30,120 Teaching of his word. He blesses taking. 499 00:26:30,120 --> 00:26:32,760 Care of the flock, caring for them more than myself. 500 00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:35,960 And even if I don't see immediate benefits, it gets me 501 00:26:35,960 --> 00:26:38,520 through these seasons where right now I'm not in one of 502 00:26:38,520 --> 00:26:39,640 those seasons. And I'm grateful. 503 00:26:39,640 --> 00:26:42,280 For it but it. Hasn't been too long where I'm 504 00:26:42,280 --> 00:26:43,400 just. I don't know if I want to do 505 00:26:43,400 --> 00:26:46,160 this anymore and it's not a statement of quitting. 506 00:26:47,320 --> 00:26:50,240 I'm not interested in quitting, but I think I have to really 507 00:26:50,240 --> 00:26:52,200 answer that question. Well, Ed, what are you dealing 508 00:26:52,200 --> 00:26:53,160 with? What? 509 00:26:53,160 --> 00:26:55,360 What is it like? Are you just exhausted? 510 00:26:55,360 --> 00:26:57,560 Are you? You know, like what? 511 00:26:57,560 --> 00:27:00,000 Whatever it may be, there's a variety of different things, 512 00:27:00,000 --> 00:27:02,400 but. I hope this helps. 513 00:27:03,120 --> 00:27:06,040 Just talking it out and sometimes talking it out like 514 00:27:06,040 --> 00:27:08,400 this just helps, like. You're just like oh. 515 00:27:08,720 --> 00:27:10,600 OK, OK. I'm not, you know, I'm not 516 00:27:10,600 --> 00:27:12,560 Strange, you know. We're all feeling it. 517 00:27:13,520 --> 00:27:15,040 And and there's a lot of peer pressure. 518 00:27:15,520 --> 00:27:21,200 There's a lot of peer pressure over the years. 519 00:27:21,200 --> 00:27:24,920 I've I've felt it. I have yielded to it. 520 00:27:24,960 --> 00:27:27,240 I have not. All that does is bring. 521 00:27:28,920 --> 00:27:31,440 It kicks the can down the road and creates interest. 522 00:27:31,440 --> 00:27:36,360 It comes back with interest and I think moving, moving out of 523 00:27:36,360 --> 00:27:40,560 the country to England was super healthy for me, giving me a much 524 00:27:40,560 --> 00:27:43,800 broader perspective of the body of Christ bigger than me. 525 00:27:44,600 --> 00:27:47,520 Appreciate you guys giving us. Your request. 526 00:27:47,520 --> 00:27:50,960 I hope it helps. It's a great question and it was 527 00:27:50,960 --> 00:27:53,160 worthy of a lot more time, but we've come to the end of. 528 00:27:53,160 --> 00:27:57,760 The episode today. I know one more thing that I've 529 00:27:57,760 --> 00:28:01,120 been doing this year that I've never done before and I shared 530 00:28:01,120 --> 00:28:07,120 this with the church last night that I I've been last year I was 531 00:28:07,120 --> 00:28:12,160 teaching and I felt I kept hearing the Ephesians post a 532 00:28:12,160 --> 00:28:14,680 note from Jesus, you know, remember from where you have 533 00:28:14,680 --> 00:28:17,040 fallen, repent and repeat. I kept sharing that with the 534 00:28:17,040 --> 00:28:19,440 church, sharing with the church. And you share that and you're 535 00:28:19,440 --> 00:28:21,760 like looking in the mirror. Like, is that for you, Ed? 536 00:28:22,040 --> 00:28:24,360 And I sense, like the Holy Spirit was saying, that is for 537 00:28:24,360 --> 00:28:27,800 you, but not like I. Not because I'm in sin or 538 00:28:27,800 --> 00:28:32,040 anything, but I I needed refreshment and I didn't know 539 00:28:32,040 --> 00:28:33,240 it. I didn't know I needed 540 00:28:33,240 --> 00:28:34,920 refreshment. So I took that. 541 00:28:34,920 --> 00:28:36,960 Scripture to and applied. It very literally. 542 00:28:37,240 --> 00:28:42,680 I and I went back to where when I was a new believer and I I I 543 00:28:43,160 --> 00:28:46,360 had a friend of mine, and he and I together we compiled a 544 00:28:46,360 --> 00:28:49,040 playlist of the music that formed me as a new. 545 00:28:49,040 --> 00:28:51,440 Believer taking? Me back to the 90s. 546 00:28:51,440 --> 00:28:54,200 The music that I listened to, that my kids heard on the radio, 547 00:28:54,480 --> 00:29:00,040 that really was formative in my life and what, what, what the 548 00:29:00,040 --> 00:29:02,520 other thing was formative back then as I listened to the radio 549 00:29:02,520 --> 00:29:05,080 a lot. So I picked the five pastors 550 00:29:05,080 --> 00:29:07,360 that I. Listened to the most which most 551 00:29:07,360 --> 00:29:08,520 of them I still. Do, but that's. 552 00:29:08,640 --> 00:29:12,080 All I've been listening to and I've committed myself to listen 553 00:29:12,080 --> 00:29:14,720 to those studies. All year here, all year. 554 00:29:14,840 --> 00:29:16,480 So it's Pastor Jeff. Johnson. 555 00:29:16,800 --> 00:29:19,200 Pastor Raw, Rees, Pastor Skip Heitzig, Pastor Chuck. 556 00:29:19,200 --> 00:29:22,240 Smith and Pastor Ray Bentley because I had these long 557 00:29:22,240 --> 00:29:26,320 commutes in California for many, many years and radio was my 558 00:29:26,320 --> 00:29:29,560 discipleship. And so I've taken that and 559 00:29:29,560 --> 00:29:32,920 applied it in my life, a kind of what my brother here is talking 560 00:29:32,920 --> 00:29:36,280 about, where I want to stir up passion, some old songs that. 561 00:29:36,280 --> 00:29:38,760 Popped up that. Really speak to my heart. 562 00:29:38,760 --> 00:29:41,080 Like, I haven't heard them in forever because you don't hear 563 00:29:41,080 --> 00:29:42,160 them. We're not singing them. 564 00:29:42,160 --> 00:29:45,640 They're not on the radio. And we've kind of moved on to 565 00:29:45,640 --> 00:29:48,200 more contemporary music, which? Is great, but these? 566 00:29:48,200 --> 00:29:51,280 Songs formed me, so I'm not thinking we need to sing them. 567 00:29:51,440 --> 00:29:53,920 I need to sing them. Like I don't think our church 568 00:29:53,920 --> 00:29:55,800 needs to sing them. I need to sing them. 569 00:29:55,800 --> 00:29:58,800 And so I'm like, whoa, and I'm listening to this song that was 570 00:29:58,800 --> 00:30:01,280 written into my home church. And I'm starting to cry because 571 00:30:01,640 --> 00:30:06,320 I remember. Like those those days like those 572 00:30:06,320 --> 00:30:08,640 days I. I always tell Maria I said, man 573 00:30:08,640 --> 00:30:11,040 those were simpler days. And she goes, no they weren't 574 00:30:11,160 --> 00:30:13,400 like she just no, they weren't. They were just hard in a 575 00:30:13,400 --> 00:30:15,760 different way. I'm like, I know honey, but in 576 00:30:15,760 --> 00:30:18,800 ministry they were simpler days. Those were the days I. 577 00:30:18,800 --> 00:30:21,880 Longed for what I I'm tired of today. 578 00:30:22,080 --> 00:30:23,480 Sure. And I'm like. 579 00:30:23,480 --> 00:30:26,600 What is Lord? You know, I, I, I want to get 580 00:30:26,600 --> 00:30:28,400 back to longing for more ministry. 581 00:30:28,680 --> 00:30:31,520 I want to get back. I didn't know church was so. 582 00:30:31,520 --> 00:30:32,880 I didn't know Ministry was so hard. 583 00:30:33,080 --> 00:30:36,120 I wanted it so badly. Now that I got it, I don't want 584 00:30:36,120 --> 00:30:39,680 it so badly anymore. But man, what God's stirring up 585 00:30:39,680 --> 00:30:41,640 is no, I do want it, but it's not. 586 00:30:42,200 --> 00:30:45,280 It's not a church and it's not size, and it's not planning a 587 00:30:45,280 --> 00:30:48,320 church or having a name for myself or being a Calvary chant. 588 00:30:48,320 --> 00:30:51,800 None of the things that I thought I wanted do I want. 589 00:30:51,800 --> 00:30:53,440 I just want to please the Lord. I want to. 590 00:30:53,440 --> 00:30:55,240 Serve this precious group of people. 591 00:30:55,640 --> 00:30:57,680 That he's entrusted to me. I want to do well. 592 00:30:57,680 --> 00:31:01,440 I want to serve the staff and the team and the lay leaders and 593 00:31:01,440 --> 00:31:05,320 I can only do what I can do. But going back like that. 594 00:31:05,440 --> 00:31:07,600 What he told the. Like I didn't know. 595 00:31:07,800 --> 00:31:09,440 I don't really think I left my first. 596 00:31:09,440 --> 00:31:11,480 Love, but I sure did leave a lot of. 597 00:31:11,480 --> 00:31:13,400 Elements of my first. Love that. 598 00:31:13,920 --> 00:31:16,680 That God's adding back. And I'm like, yeah, there was a 599 00:31:16,680 --> 00:31:20,960 day when I was desperate for the things of the Lord, and now I'm 600 00:31:20,960 --> 00:31:24,800 tired and the things of the Lord, and it's normal, but I 601 00:31:24,800 --> 00:31:27,920 want the desperate back. Yeah, and that's part of getting 602 00:31:27,920 --> 00:31:31,840 back to basics in your life, Keeping it simple. 603 00:31:31,840 --> 00:31:35,560 But going deeper, keeping it simple doesn't mean you're weak 604 00:31:35,560 --> 00:31:41,760 or immature. I think it better word is to 605 00:31:41,760 --> 00:31:44,040 become more uncomplicated. I agree. 606 00:31:44,320 --> 00:31:45,680 Well, thanks again for joining us. 607 00:31:45,680 --> 00:31:48,360 This episode maybe? You have some ideas on these 608 00:31:48,360 --> 00:31:49,600 topics? Send them our way. 609 00:31:49,880 --> 00:31:51,760 Maybe you have a? Topic you'd like us to talk 610 00:31:51,760 --> 00:31:54,680 about or. Anything that that will you 611 00:31:54,680 --> 00:31:57,040 think would make this more helpful and more fruitful, we'd 612 00:31:57,040 --> 00:31:59,200 love to hear from you. This is the lead to serve. 613 00:31:59,200 --> 00:32:01,800 Podcast. It's recorded live from the. 614 00:32:01,800 --> 00:32:04,680 Studios here at Grace. FM at Calvary Church in Aurora, 615 00:32:04,680 --> 00:32:09,400 Co in Studio for this season has been Pastor Bob Clay Camp. 616 00:32:09,400 --> 00:32:11,240 My name is Ed. Taylor love to hear. 617 00:32:11,240 --> 00:32:18,480 From you text me 7206. 08. 0012 or e-mail me. 618 00:32:18,480 --> 00:32:21,160 AT at Ed Taylor. Dot org, you can get Bob at Bob 619 00:32:21,160 --> 00:32:23,440 Clay camp. Bob at Bob. 620 00:32:23,440 --> 00:32:27,160 Claycamp.com again, I know we're speaking fast, you can always 621 00:32:27,160 --> 00:32:29,280 rewind it, but just connect with us. 622 00:32:29,440 --> 00:32:31,880 We'll connect back. With you, we would love to serve 623 00:32:31,880 --> 00:32:33,760 you. Encourage you and let me just 624 00:32:33,760 --> 00:32:37,520 say talking about these things together has been encouraging 625 00:32:37,520 --> 00:32:41,440 for us, been ministering to us. It's been helpful to us and. 626 00:32:41,440 --> 00:32:45,200 Our Church here will. Benefit from these discussions 627 00:32:45,320 --> 00:32:47,240 because God will make us better men and better. 628 00:32:47,240 --> 00:32:49,360 Leaders as we talk. These things out. 629 00:32:49,360 --> 00:32:52,640 So thank you guys very much. For your collaborative effort. 630 00:32:52,880 --> 00:32:54,120 In being a part. Of the lead to. 631 00:32:54,120 --> 00:32:56,920 Serve Calvary Church Family. God bless you guys. 632 00:32:56,920 --> 00:33:00,280 Until next time, thank you for joining us for this episode of 633 00:33:00,280 --> 00:33:03,800 Lead to Serve with Pastor Ed Taylor, a leadership podcast 634 00:33:03,800 --> 00:33:05,960 from Calvary Church in Aurora, Co. 635 00:33:06,240 --> 00:33:08,320 If you have a leadership question you want to hear 636 00:33:08,320 --> 00:33:11,680 answered on a future Lead to Serve Podcast, please e-mail it 637 00:33:11,680 --> 00:33:14,280 to Pastor Ed at Calvary Co dot Church. 638 00:33:14,560 --> 00:33:17,640 And if you like our podcast, please subscribe, rate, or 639 00:33:17,640 --> 00:33:20,640 review us on iTunes and share us with your friends on social 640 00:33:20,640 --> 00:33:22,960 media. Thanks again for joining us and 641 00:33:22,960 --> 00:33:25,680 we'll see you next time right here on the Lead to Serve 642 00:33:25,680 --> 00:33:26,440 Podcast.