Las Demandas Exactas del Ministerio por Dr. Alfredo Nañez

En una iglesia de Londres, se encuentra un gran rótulo en que se suman las exactas demandas de un predicador, parecerán humorísticas, y sin embargo nos dan idea de lo que debe ser un pastor que llene los requisitos para su nombre tarea:

1. La fuera de un toro 2. La tenacidad de un bulldog 3. El arrojo de un león 4. La paciencia de un mono 5. La industría de una abeja 6. La versatilidad de un camaleón 7. La vision de tuna águila 8. La humildad de un cordero 9. La piel de un rinoceronte 10. La disposición de un angel 11. La lealtad de un apóstol 12. La resignación de un incurable 13. El heroísmo de un mártir 14. La fidelidad de un profeta 15. La devoción de una madre 16. El fervor de un evangelista

El 7 de noviembre 1935, en el Watchman-Examiner de Londres, apareció un artículo titulado: "El Ministerio que yo quisiera." Difícilmente se encontrará un humano que pueda reunir tantas cualidades, helas aquí: poder, parentezco piadoso, cuidado al escoger su compañera, un fuerte sensibilidad de sus obligaciones, doctrina sana, ansiedad por implantar el reino de Dios, planear su trabajo, mucho tacto, uso del idioma en su forma más correcta, valor al enunciar sus postulados, los mejores hábitos personales, un corazón tierno, el don de las gentes, industriosos y posesionado de una visión de carácter mundial.

La Iglesia espera de su ministro a un pastor, predicador, promotor, propagandista e iniciador de todo aquello que está dentro del reino de lo moral y de lo espiritual.

Empty Me of Me; Fill me with You!

A pastor has no better foundation on which to stand and preach than time spent in prayer with God. A prayer life that begins with the first thought for the next sermon or meeting; and endures throughout the preparation and delivery of sermon or report. And a prayer time with all who lead worship prior to the worship service is crucial and key. When I had several to lead worship with me, we'd start early with a 7 a.m. pre-worship meeting to pray and to make sure all the bases of that day's worship were covered. And then again, just prior to entering the sanctuary to worship, we'd form a circle and we'd each pray, with me being the last. Somewhere, somehow, the Spirit taught me to say, "Empty me of me, and fill me with You." That's still my prayer every morning as I adore, confess, thank, and share my supplications with God; key to each prayer is my knowing my role and place in the scheme of God's working in and through me: It's all about God.

Empty me of me; Fill me with You!

God, after all, is carrying us on His shoulders.

Amen!

Stick-To-It-Tiveness!

If you accept a challenge or a task, sticking to it will result in discovery. You may discover something about yourself you did not know; and those discoveries are usually great!

My wife, Nellie, accepted the challenge of posting a photo-a-day for the entirety of Lent (think more than 40 photos), and quite frankly, it is very challenging and difficult to find photos for the words given for each day. It allowed for some good discussions between us as to what would work and what wouldn't. But during these almost 50+ days, Nellie discovered she has an artistic talent. She had for some time now, drawn zentangles (Google it! I can't explain it!), and soon I saw her designing things with her finger in the air explaining what was coming next. She took on the challenge of drawing a rose and as Easter drew near, that of drawing Easter lilies. If you're on FaceBook, my current profile photo is that of her finest drawing to date, of Easter lilies.

As a leader, what challenge or task have you accepted? I know it becomes easy to want to quit or do less than what is truly expected of you, but stick-to-it-tiveness will bless you with things you didn't know you had in you!