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So, I have been thinking a lot lately about what it means to be called to ministry. God doesn't call you on the phone and say, "Hey you, go serve me in ministry!" But I do believe he makes it abundantly clear if he is indeed calling you to serve. I know that I first started sensing a call to ministry about ten years ago when I was finishing up college (oh my, saying that makes me feel sooooooooo old ). And ever since then he has only made that call stronger and stronger. Not only do I sense the inward call to ministry but it has been outwardly affirmed by others as well. Theologically speaking, this is exactly how it is supposed to work.
Ministry, however, is a big word and it encompasses quite a bit. When I first came to seminary, I was unsure if God was calling me to pastoral ministry or something else like teaching, missions, or administration. But now I sense more and more that God is indeed calling me to be a minister of his Word to his people. God is indeed calling me to pastoral ministry. I must confess that this is quite humbling. I am glad that God qualifies his servants, because on my own I am far from qualified.
One way that this has been pressed home on my heart recently is in my preaching. Up until now I have always used a full manuscript when I preach. Recently however, both in class and at church, I have been challenged to move away from that practice and work on being more engaged with the congregation while I speak. At first I was like, 'whatever,' but God has been showing me over the last few months that this is the best thing for me. I know that even a year ago I would have heard such criticism and said, "See, that is why I am called to administration (or whatever) and not preaching." But now, I want to change. I want to be a better preacher. I pray earnestly for that. So as I work on a sermon for next weekend, I am praying diligently that God would help me to trust him as I preach and not my manuscript.
So what does it mean to be called to ministry? It means a lot of things. But right now, for me, it means to be 'malleable'. Not "easily influenced" as some dictionaries define malleable, but "capable of being shaped or bent". I definitely need as much malleability in my life as I can get.
Prodigal Jon over at Stuff Christians Like has asked what the new "Our God is an Awesome God" is in our churches today. He explains that this particular song ("Our God is an Awesome God") was well overplayed and oversung in the 90s and conjectures that he himself may have sung that chorus 19 million times. I know I have at least sang it a million times if not more.
So that got me thinking: What worship songs do I think that churches are running into the ground these days? Here are some that I can think of:
1. Holy is the Lord (Anything by Christ Tomlin, really)
2. Shout to the Lord
3. Sing to the King
4. Here I Am to Worship
5. Open the Eyes of My Heart
6. God of Wonders
I know there are probably more but that is all I can think of right now. If you have any others in mind post a comment and let me know.
It's a bird. It's a plane. No, it's a giant asteroid hurling toward earth to destroy sinful cities! According to a story on FoxNews, " a clay tablet that has baffled scientists for 150 years has been identified as a witness' account of the asteroid suspected of being behind the destruction of Sodom and Gomorah."
This is actually a pretty cool story. Whatever you make of it, it is a good reminder that the entire universe is at the command of the Lord!
This may come as a surprise to those of you who know me...I'm one of those weird extroverted introverts, but going to last night's community dinner was a bit of a stretch for me or at the very least out of my comfort zone. I enjoy meeting new people, but only a few at a time and even on the first meeting I'm a little quiet. I need to assess the group before I step out there and show my true colors. Of course, let me say that once I do get to know you, it is very hard to shut me up!! So for some, they would probably never really want to open the dam to my thoughts. The rush of water can be very overwhelming.
Last night's community dinner was a very good time. The ladies that were grouped with me had a hodge podge of backgrounds and were at different life stages. That is always fun. Not to mention that it was a group of about 8. Eight is a good number. Not too overwhelming... So in all, I got to know them a little bit better, and I think they got to know me. The dam was breeched, but not yet spewing forth. One of the neatest God things is that when I got the list of ladies attending I knew none of the names and once I got out our church's picture directory I didn't recognize anyone's face either (a couple weren't pictured). So needless to say...here I step out thinking 3 hours with a group of people I don't know at all. Oh, to stay home with my husband and cat and watch basketball. Then when I get there, the two other ladies already there I had previously met and one that I knew, but wasn't on the previous list.. Yea!!! God definitely knows what I can bare. It was a delicious meal and lots of fun. I will look forward to next quarter's mealtime.
~Megan
Even Gracie likes Newcastle!
So, it was an absolutely beautiful day here in Charlotte: sunny and in the high 70s. I got to enjoy a little bit of it but unfortunately that was while I was pacing around the back parking lot at RTS stuffing my brain with knowledge for my Hebrews-Revelation midterm. Man am I glad that is finally over with!
So, I have really strange study habits. For this particular exam, I had about 60 pages of notes (typed) covering the books of Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, and some of 2 Peter. What I did in the past couple of weeks was: 1) read those notes through 3 times; 2) Write out my own shorter outlines with key ideas based on those notes (~12 pages - writing helps the memory); 3) from those shorter outlines I then condense each section even more into short lists of key words; 4) then I pace around the RTS parking lot (or wherever) and memorize those short lists of key words. When it comes to the exam, I pretty much have everything memorized and can pull together those short lists into whatever the exam requires - short answers or long essays. I know some of my classmates must think I am crazy but that is how I study. My short term memory isn't as great as some (must be my old age) so this is the best system for me. What's even more fun is that I have a friend (yo, Matt!) who studies similar to me and we make up all kinds of silly phrases to help us remember those short lists of key words. For example while trying to remember the evidence against a known Pseudonymous work being accepted into the canon we memorize the phrase, "Ben Affleck Pees Sideways". What in the world is that, you ask? Each of the first letters stands for something: B=the book's own claim; A=authorship was a central concern to the early church; P=Paul himself cautioned against Pseudonymity (2 Thess 2.2); S=Serapion condemned the Gospel of Peter. Yeah, it doesn't work for everybody. I realize that...
So here I sit tonight, chillin' with the cat, drinking Newcastle, and watching basketball while Meg is at a women's community dinner. I am exhausted and look forward to sleeping in tomorrow. That will be a wonderful thing...
So, I have been thinking a lot lately about what it means to be called to ministry. God doesn't call you on the phone and say, "Hey you, go serve me in ministry!" But I do believe he makes it abundantly clear if he is indeed calling you to serve. I know that I first started sensing a call to ministry about ten years ago when I was finishing up college (oh my, saying that makes me feel sooooooooo old 
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