Lee Bezotte

Hey friends!  Remember the Messenger Bag Giveaway I did last month?  (Check it out.)  Well I’m giving away another one!!

I’ve been selling these bags for years to raise money for Irish missions.  From time to time I like to give one away.  Why?  I’m really hoping that the person who uses it will be reminded to pray for God to move in Ireland.

Why Ireland?  Check this post out and don’t forget to watch the videos.  They’re great!  Also, check out my Ireland Missions page.

So what do you have to do?  The rules are the same as last time.  Just post a comment on this post and tell me what you’d use it for.  School?  Work?  Books?  Your laptop?  The other thing you’ll have to do is click that little retweet button on the left and tell your friends.  That’s it!  At the end of the week, my son will randomly pick a winner from the comments section and I will reveal the name of that person in a blog post with instructions on how to claim your new bag.  If you’re worried that you’re going to miss the post that reveals the winner, there’s a subscription link at the bottom of this post. (Or click the RSS button at the top of the page.)

If you don’t win (and even if you do) consider buying a bag from my eBay store.  All profits go to support Irish church planters.  Thanks!

Here’s a picture of that awesome bag.  Don’t forget to pray for Ireland!

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I want more!

I want more than surface, more than artsy, and more than self promotion wrapped in “ministry”.

I want more than book deals, recording contracts, Dove Awards, the CBA, and Jesus used to push a product.

I want more than Christian culture, trite blog posts, music recommendations, and to stop being told whats “relevant” because it’s not!

I want more than an impotent, powerless American church that measures success by numbers and name recognition.

I want more than cloning dressed up like discipleship and concerts dressed up like worship.

I want more than rock stars, more than celebri-preachers and all of those who want to be like them.

I want more than green rooms, name dropping, and reserved seating.

I want more than a slick communicator in hundred dollar jeans telling me how to live a balanced life because I don’t want to live a balanced life!

I want to be totally sold out and spent for Jesus.

I want to live in humility and servanthood.

I want to see God’s power healing the sick, saving the lost, and delivering the oppressed.

I want to see a generation on their faces, worshiping a holy God, even when there is no music, no lights, and no stage.

I want the church to be a lighthouse where the lost, abused, broken, and bound can find mercy, freedom, and forgiveness.

I want to swim in the deep end.  I want to be provoked to give more, pray more, discover more, and experience beautiful intimacy with our Savior.

I want to see our resources poured into things that will have eternal significance, to be Roaring Lambs, salt and light, and agents of change.

I want something real.

I want more!

I started in full time ministry 15 years ago.  It was a really exciting time for me.  I remember setting up my first office.  The church I worked in was very small and couldn’t afford a decent desk for me so I refinished an old oak army desk a friend gave me.  I loved the fact that I got paid to do what I love but I wasn’t prepared to face some of the difficulties that come along with the occupation.  In fact, six people left the church in my first month there because they didn’t like me.  Here are a few things I wish I would have been told.  Maybe they’ll help you if your in the beginning phases of your ministry.

You’re going to fail.  Not every idea you have is going to be a success.  You’re going to fall on your butt.  Get used to it.

Not everyone is going to like you.  It’s true, you’re going to rub some people the wrong way.  Some people won’t be able to stand looking at you.  You’re working with people now and not every personality meshes well with every other personality.

You’re going to struggle with pride.  I’m not sure what it is, but it only takes a little bit of momentum before many ministers are drinking their own cool aid and taking on a rock star attitude.  Pride will be one of your worst enemies.

You’re going to make some big sacrifices.  As hard as you try to protect your family, there will be seasons when you miss having dinner with them.  If you have dreams of owning a big house and a boat, don’t count on it.  You might as well get used to feeling lonely a lot too.  Believe me, there will be times when you YEARN for a “normal life”.

However…

Your ministry will have a profound impact on people.  Testimonies are going to come out of the times you allowed God to pour you out and lives are going to change.

You’re going to develop some incredible relationships.  As you work to develop your leadership team, you’ll become like family as you pray, plan, work, and bleed together.

You’ll experience God’s mercy as He humbles you time after time.  You will learn that, without God’s help, your ministry is useless and it will draw you into a beautiful relationship with Him.

You will love what you do.  Seriously, you’re going to have the time of your life!  You’ll find that it charges you.  Your passion will grow as you see lives changed.  The fruit produced from your labor will be worth it!

What are some things you wish you would have been told when starting in ministry?

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