Rural Church pastoring

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A reemphasized and reenergized movement is happening.

Those in rural churches are seeking to have their approach to pastoring heard. 

At first you may think that all churches are alike.  They should all have people, they should all get along, and they should all want to talk about Jesus wherever they are. 

But each context has a different perspective.  For many rural church pastors, the advice we have received comes from larger churches or from urban churches. 

We do not have a large population draw – we have to work with a community that is right on our doorstep.  We do not have a lot of other pastors who can coffee with us at the drop of a hat – we have to set plans in motion to see someone.

We do have longevity of members and a community that remembers.  When a rural church obtains a favourable reputation, that abides for a while. 

There are many things a vital rural church has going for it. 

Today, I’ll meet with some other rural church pastors and we will compare notes – I expect I’ll add a few more notes!!

Pushing past comfortable

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I should know by now.

Life is never a stand still and wait type of situation.  We can adopt that stance, and find that the stream of life (that carries nurture and nutrition) passes us by.

We have bought a house.  We could just leave it stand as is.  But both of us are inclined to push past the current state into a “together” state. 

Together we are building a new home for ourselves.  Together we are working on new approaches to problem solving.  Together we are finding a path that we can travel over these next few years.

Past comfortable!  Not a bad path to take.

Sitting on the front steps

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It’s one of those activities that are unexpected – and not much activity to it!

I sat on the front steps of my brother-in-law’s place yesterday.  We both talked of life in the family.  And of the death of our wives.  Sunday had been three years since my first wife passed away.  His wife passed away last year.

We make an interesting pair.  We have been friends for around 20 years.  We have been in-laws for two years.  The cross-over has been smooth.  We just have a greater arena of discussion. 

The sun was shining.  The grass was growing.  Our discussion ranged from selling and upgrading houses to the new normals of life. 

Would I trade this friendship?  No. 

We have gone through family stressors, church transitions and philosophical debates.  All of them have made us both better men.  And we are both seeing the wisdom of passing on any wisdom we have gathered to other men.

Now, that is friendship.

On the third anniversary

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Each year is a new experience.  We celebrate birthdays, wedding anniversaries, even sobriety.

Today, I commemorate the third year since my first wife passed away.  If I were to talk of the last three years, transition would be the first word that comes to mind.  Lots and lots!

I remember back three years to that day I held Jill in my arms as she collapsed, certain that something had happened to her heart.  She was one of the best gauges of her own health I have ever seen. 

She knew. 

Within 24 hours, despite superb care in the Cardiac Care Unit, she was dead.

We sang over her in the last hours.  Friends and family gathered.  The memories are vivid.

And then she walked in her next moment without heart problems.  With her friend, confidante and rescuer – Jesus.  That picture, for me, is as vivid as those last hours of gasping breath and dying mercy.

These things stand out to me on this anniversary!