Well my work week is done.

Yep my four days at the job that pays the bills is done with - that means tomorrow I can spend doing the things I want to do for the Lord.
I have a few things planned - want to drop some invitations around the area, see an accountant about the Church books, start getting stuck into the partitions to make the back area into a bit of a nursery, and talk to the shop about double glazing to make a 'cry room' area.
Somewhere amongst all that I have to finish off preparation for the messages this weekend.

When I was newly saved, I thought being a preacher would be fairly easy - after all you only work three hours a week! I didn't see the preparation that goes on behind the scenes.
And I didn't realise the things that people expect you to do!

I bought some automatic door closers for the toilet doors at church, and fitted one of them up, but ran out of time to fit the other. It sat for two weeks on the table in the kitchen where I left it, along with the drill and electric screwdriver nearby.
No-one else was capable of the difficult task of fitting!
So when I eventually found time, I fitted it up.

Now I don't mind doing things, and I know I am to be a servant, but when I used my Bible program to search, I couldn't find any mention in the duties of a Pastor that referred to fitting door closers, or to mowing lawns for that matter either.

In fact, as I searched I did find a reference to waiting tables.

Act 6:1-4
(1)  And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
(2)  Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
(3)  Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
(4)  But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

Now I really don't mind doing some of the work around - in fact it gives me a break from the continual 'mind work' and I often enjoy it.

But people seem to think that the Pastor's job is to do everything that needs to be done, and the people's job is to sit and suck it all in.

Plain fact is that I have a lot of things I want to do for the Lord, but lots of things that get in the way of that. 

I don't need the help to push the things I need to be doing aside - I can find all sorts of excuses not to do the things I need to, without anyone else encouraging me to put them aside.

It is just so easy to get wrapped up in doing the good, while leaving the best aside.

I feel like a hero stuck in some sort of trap, straining to break free "Must........break.........free........."

Rom 7:15

(15)  For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

Skellibert