Where's God's Plan in that Last Post?

I'm not quite sure I included it, but then, I inevitably did. I mean, God's plan exists in spite of me.

I know I have been called to ministry, but is that ministry of the more public sort, or is it the one that is more like a river. It's always there, but you don't really notice how it's affecting the landscape.

I think mine is more of the river type. I don't mean that I shall be there to make converts of everyone I meet, and I'm not anything near perfect, but, and I continually learn through parenting, that mine is the silent type of everyday style ministry. Minister through deeds rather than merely through words.

Of course, that doesn't mean I will never go on another missions trip or anything, but it just means that I'm here for the long haul. What does it have to do with my major?

Well, my major affects the kinds of people I come into contact with. I think God provides needs in our lives so that we can "hob nob" with the right people. These people will be those that minister to us and those that we minister to.

I think this calls into question what ministry is. Ministry is just offering to others something you have. It's service. That's it in a nutshell. The infrastructure built by some that folks call ministry is just a nice place for that "ministry" to "hang out." It can aid the ministry but it is not the ministry itself.

In fact, I think every Christian is called to this ministry, whether they are biological scientists, doctors, lawyers, chemists, teachers, bus drivers, etc.

Of course, I want to clarify that ministry type service is not like bussing tables or something. Ministry can have an income, but I think that diminishes the ministry, somewhat. Instead, pastors and such are ministered to by their church bodies. Okay, I'm getting into territory I didn't intend. I think that the pastor is necessary as the leader to the church which is a ministerial body.

It is God's will that we minister and that true ministry does not require belief by the individual being ministered to. The opportunity to share belief is part of Christian ministry, but if it expects it in return, it will be highly disappointing. We are to be instruments of God's work, not God, Himself. Only God can convert others.

Regi G