(This Blog is backdated - but one that I wanted to post for my own benefit...)
We're off.
This Blog is being written from high above Canada. After tearful farewells and much kindness and love shown from our church and friends and family, the four Anderson's are on our way to Mongolia. There is some relief in the airplane doors being shut and knowing that there is absolutely nothing else that we can do to get ready. I suppose we are ready - although I am not so sure. Ready or not, we're on our way.
The purpose for this entry, however, is because I am a forgetful person. I managed to forget where I put our tickets and boarding passes twice while in Chicago. Jonathan said he wouldn't have done that because he is organized, and he is probably right. My brain has been a little incongruent over the past couple of days. Everything needs to be written down, and I need lists of lists so that I can keep up with my lists. All of that to say, as we were up to our necks in preparations, I made a running list of things that I know I must not ever forget. But the things on this list are more important than DVD's and PS2 games; more important than long underwear and a winter coat; even more important than tickets and a passport. There are things that I need to keep in front of me as my family transitions to live, labor and serve in another place. I need a list. I need the list in a place where I will remember to read it. I will put the list in a place where I it will not be misplaced: here on a Blog.
It's easy for any ministry, wherever it may be, to become a pragmatic, Americanized numbers game that fails magnifies the non-essential things and marginalizes the truly important. I don't know why (World? Flesh? Devil?), but the natural trajectory of ministry tends this way. I need a reminder. I need reminding. Here is the list of things I never, never want to forget. It's not a long list, as it turns out. But it's my most important.
1. Never marginalize prayer.
The marginalization of prayer is a common practice - especially in ministry. I hear consistent comments like this: "Well, we need to do something besides 'just pray'." When there is stress in ministry and conflicts arise, prayer seems to take a back seat to action. Do something. No question about the fact there are times when action should be taken. Drastic action. But "in everything by prayer" means something. Prayer is not the last resort or the action to which we tip our hats. That would be marginalizing one of the most vital ministry components. Don't do it.
2. Never Marginalize (or minimalize) the greatness of our all-sufficient God.
I am convinced that the issue in evangelicalism is really much more than marginalizing prayer. The heart issue goes much deeper. When prayer is marginalized, the effectively also marginalizes the sufficiency of God in Christ. My action and my problem-solving and my psychological mind-games will help me get through my problems and my issues. I believe that it is important to never, never forget that God is supremely, sovereignly, magnificently and absolutely sufficient. He is enough. That is what I believe. That is what I must not forget if I am operating in any kind of ministry environment. When things get 'stressful', I do not believe the issue is solved in listing 'stress-factors' (as helpful of an exercise that this may be). The issue will always come to knowing and seeing and trusting in the greatness of our God.
3. Never marginalize the power of truth through the Scriptures
Once again, I think one thing leads to another. When prayer, God and Scripture are seen as quaint spiritualities and not given near the weight as psychological counseling and conflict management and problem-solving skills, there is something off kilter. Truth is premium. This issue I know: I will seek in every situation to know the truth as revealed by God in the Scriptures. In knowing, I will believe what is true; and in believing what is true I will by God's good grace reject lies and all that is not true.
4. Never marginalize the cruciality of faith
Faith is what ultimately pleases God (see Hebrews 11:6). We go to the mission field believing that everything that God says in His Word is true; and that He is true; and that He is faithful. It is ours to believe that this is so. If I am experiencing overt anxiety, it is more than likely because of my unbelief and lack of quiet trust. Unbelief is the cause of much anxiety. Unbelief and anxiety are both sin that is to be repented of, not swept under the table with relaxation techniques.
5. Never marginalize the deadly power and deceitful control of sin
I guess I am picking on worry and anxiety. I was recently taught a technique of dealing with worry. It went something like this: rather than lay awake at night worrying about something, give yourself a scheduled 30 minute block of time to worry. Schedule your worrying for convenient times instead of allowing worry to cripple you and deprive you of sleep.
Again, I may be overly simplistic with this issue. I understand that there are people who are chronic worriers and there are people who find dealing with worry to be a very difficult thing. However, I can not get past the fact that the Scripture deals with worry as sin, in the same way that scripture deals with any other sin. Worry is a sin to be repented of, not given a time allotment in my day. I will go back to the Word, prayer, the sufficiency of Christ and the power of His word. I will not allow myself to give in to that temptation, by the power of Christ. I am not going to 'schedule worry' any sooner than I am going to 'schedule fornication', so I won't give in to temptation at inconvenient times. Sin is deadly and deceitful, and it is capable of destruction of ministry, family and soul. We must never think lightly of it.
6. Never marginalize crucial nature of daily cross-bearing
Jesus is clear. "If any one comes after me … let him take up his cross daily." The death of self and the power of the Spirit living in me is how I will overcome the temptations and stress and trials that we will face in ministry - and even those unique trials that accompany cross-cultural ministry.
Forgive me if you read this and feel preached to. Like every other sermon I've preached in my life, the message is aimed at me. I need this. I can not forget these things. My family can not forget these things. By God's grace we will not.