It's not ideal - it's ministry

(Some sort of formatting glitch prevented my first attempt from being legible so here is a second try- God Bless)
The church is not, ideally, a group of people who gather together to be served.  The church is a group of servants who gather together to be encouraged and find opportunity to serve. The church is not, ideally, a group of students gathering together to learn. The church is a group of teachers who gather together to clarify the message and inspire one another to teach. The church is not, ideally, a gathering of victims seeking advocacy and aid, but a group of ransomed captives seeking to build each other up in the ways of freedom. The church is not, ideally, an accountability group, rather it is a group of people who acknowledging their accountability before God, encourage and help one another to stand before Him. The church is, ideally, not a (conventional) charity. Charities are groups who minister out of dependence on human aid. Churches should see themselves as stewards of abundant God-given resources.

Of course the church we attend is not ideal.  All people come to church in deep human need, which is why a gathering of servants is also a place of service. We should understand that we are indeed the means by which God intends to minister to the needs of those assembled. All people come to church ignorant in some way of the truth. Which is why a gathering of teachers, is also the primary place of education. We should aspire to be the means that God uses to help someone else see the truth more clearly. All people come to church wounded, and sinful. Which is why a gathering of the redeemed is also commanded by God to aid victims in their distress, and to advocate for them before the Father. All people come to church rightly ashamed of their sin. Which is why a gathering of people who know that they stand ultimately before a holy God, is the ordained place to graciously shine the light of God’s truth into sinful lives. All people come to church dependant on God, and yet each part of the body is uniquely equipped and provided by God to administer the Grace of God. So the gathering of God’s people is a celebration of God’s great provision.

And that is why in the development of ministry philosophy and the practice of ministry, we must prioritize, not serving, but servants; not teaching but teachers; not social justice, but lovers of justice; not recovery groups, but counselors, not benevolence programs, but philanthropists.

So that speaking the truth in love, we [may all] grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, [will make] the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

(Ephesians 4:15-16)

Snuggle please

I am right now trying to type this out on my phone while my son awkwardly holds down my arm. Why? because it is Saturday nap time and he loves nothing more than snuggling with his Daddy.

Parenting is always a good teacher. Working closely with children in general is a good teacher, so long as we are paying attention.

And right now I am reminded of the simple truth that we are Children of God by adoption in Christ, that we can beg and plead with God on the simple terms of a child.
And I consider that a reminder that my heart still needs to be refreshed and cleansed. Too much time in the world, and little cares, little burdens, and big problems and crushing loads will crowd a childlike dependence out of my heart.
Not that I become a pagan over night. But that child like faith can afford few distractions.

I would rather be with my daddy than anything this world affords today. That is the cry of the two year old heart, the three year old mind and the simple child of God.