Comments on: 5 bad habits I gained from church planting

By: will hapeman

will hapeman — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 02:49:45 +0000

I am 53 and that feels old today. I am a bi-voc church planter for 41/2 years. Your list hits me at home.
I learned a lot the hard way about #5
You are a pastor not a buddie. I kept thinking the folks closest to me, my church, are my friends. that just is not the role god has called me to. I am their pastor. I am their friend, but they are not mine. I mean that in the nicest way. i can expect NOTHING, I can not confess to them, [much] it is a servant relationship. I feed them I serve them i love them, they owe me nada. I found other preacher types for friends. I love what god has given me. Let me know how you are doing, and thanks for the 5 points. nice Shalom

By: kyle

kyle — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 05:59:06 +0000

I think that would be helpful Don, but my time now has been cut incredibly short.

But I agree Randy, I need to make time for this.

Don: what time are you going to be there thursday?

By: don

don — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:45:37 +0000

good thoughts, kyle.. i can sure relate. a huge help for me has been getting much more connected with the other young pastors over here (its actually quite bizarre how many of us there are) It has been a big lift to me personally to connect with them. incidentally, i’ll be at your fave deli on thursday afternoon. you around?

By: Randy Hein

Randy Hein — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:40:27 +0000

That was a pretty damn insightful reflection, bro. See what a little time on the Island will do for you? I have found that #2 and #1 are actually related. Friendship IS a spiritual discipline (especially for men in our culture … unless your a monk). It requires a intentional openness and a deliberate creation of time and space for people to see your life.

Let’s pray for each other on this matter … shalom.

By: Kyle

Kyle — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 22:54:30 +0000

TRL,

Thanks a lot. You nailed it on the head. It’s quite amazing how unknown I feel with the exception being my wife.

By: The Renegade Librarian

The Renegade Librarian — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 20:50:24 +0000

A very thoughtful and interesting post. The thing about loneliness is that it’s little to do with the number of people around you, but the degree to which you are known by another/others, which you illustrated above. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!