As I muse at year’s end, I reflect on my life goals.  No set of life goals is complete without targeting some form of joy.  Bringing joy to others is pure and noble.  Unselfish concern for the well-being of others brings joy.  I find that imparting joy to others brings real joy.  Although it costs me thinking time, emotional outlay, and action garbed in physical and monetary clothes, it returns much more in joy.

Suffering is the opposite of joy.  If joy brings a bubbly spirit and a smile, suffering wrinkles the face and makes the spirit cry.  Note, however, suffering is a part of life for without it there is no growth.  Suffering is a great teacher.  Someone said that we can tell if we are on the right path if it is upgrade; as long as we keep moving upgrade we know that suffering is keeping us on track.  Life has plenty of suffering.

That you not get suffering overload, think of Christ who, suffering in your behalf, gives you the joy of His strength in time of suffering.  Feel His presence in the food of His feast and in the fellowship of His flock.  Act on Christ’s grace and joy in you as you give these gifts to others.  Happy New Year!

Today I finished a 20 slide Power Point Presentation with Notes on Christian Vocation.   Junior and Senior high schoolers and college aged persons are the intended target audiences.  If you could use this resource for the church you serve, the youth group, college student ministry, or other event, please contact me.  I will gladly share it with you.

I also have a  Bible Study on Christian Vocation that is available free.

In talking to a fellow pastor about service in the church today, he said something that sticks with me about the main troubles in the field.  He said they are 1. isolationism and 2. spiritual life.  What do you think?

Pastors and parishes will benefit from the shift noted by Rev. Larry Harvala from preparing students to “forming servants” in theological education.  His article is in For the Life of the World, CTS, Fort Wayne, December 2009, “Forming Servant Pastors.”