Day 24

The various lectures I have listened to over the past two days produced some points to ponder.

Ruth Haley Barton, Director of the Transforming Center in Illinois (a retreat centre) makes the interesting point that Moses lived so much of his life towards a vision which he never experienced. That might be a reminder that we do not always see the fruit of our work. She also suggests that Moses encountered God in solitude and this is what shaped his leadership.

Brian Maclaren - described on his website as an “author, speaker, pastor, and networker among innovative Christian leaders, thinkers, and activists” - encourages us to ‘be a friend to ourselves’. He makes the point that at times we are much harder and less gracious towards ourselves than we are towards others. We should know what re-charges us(e.g. walking, running, sport, reading, drama, films, museums, places of interest) and he reminds ministers that ‘life bigger than our ministry’. That comment certainly applies not just to ministers.

Mark Labberton (senior pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Berkeley, California.) suggests that the central purpose of worship is to re-order reality in the light of what is true. He has a concern that worship must not simply turn us inwards but turn us outwards. He tells the story of a worship leader who got so caught up in leading worship that he was oblivious to the fact that as he walked up and down the platform he was treading on the toes of those who were sitting there. We cannot worship God and be oblivious to our neighbours.

Some thoughts from a few of the lecturers given at the National Pastors Conference, 2007.

Tomorrow it is back to the books.