bits from bob....

Last year I wrote about learning curves ("Ministry and Learning Curves"), noticing that my life in ministry has been constantly filled with learning curves. Rural ministry turned into urban; ministry in the southern US turned into a decade and a half in the northern US. Small, medium, and larger churches are all different. University administration has its own unique requirements for reports, self-studies, and administrative skill sets. Later, educational administration taught me that undergraduate education has different requirements than graduate education. After overseeing campus planning and the construction of two dormitories joined by a commons area, I jokingly said that I know more than I ever wanted to know about building a structure in which people will sleep. Mission work has its own unique set of learning curves; cross-cultural ministry has another.

In the article I mentioned six specific ministry activities that present learning curves: Bible study, preaching and teaching, counseling, evangelism, missions, and leadership. While it is true that learning curves present great challenges, to turn my back on a new challenge because it has a learning curve attached is not consistent with my view of life. A quotation that I have used as a guide throughout my ministry is from Abraham Lincoln: "I will study and get ready, and perhaps my chance will come." I want to be among those who accept new challenges; I want to encourage others to accept new challenges. Mark Twain wrote, "Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great."

Recently, I read another quote that encouraged me to keep accepting new challenges. "Great ability develops and reveals itself increasingly with every new assignment" (Baltasar Gracián, 1601-1658). Time and others will render a verdict about ability or lack of it, but I know that every new assignment is a unique opportunity. God has been getting us ready for what lies ahead: how can we not but walk through the open doors when they come?