My little friends saying good bye to their pastor as he leaves for work.

I began this series to portray what life is like for a country pastor. So many people think that pastors only work one day a week or on the other end of the spectrum that we are on call 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Neither of those things is true (however much certain people would like them to be). Church work is work like any other job. There are days I think I work too much, but who doesn’t feel that way.

I get time off. I get vacation. I also work over time. I think the biggest difference between pastors and say accountants is that pastoring is not my job. It is my calling. I work at a church… but I am a pastor. Even if I worked at McDonalds I would be a pastor because that is what God called me to be. My job doesn’t define me. My calling does.

Anyway I am fortunate to be a pastor who (currently at least) works one job and that is at a church.

I think the last time I posted about my “quiet country life”, I was just finishing up worship rehearsal with our second worship team. That was Saturday morning. The ride has been wild and wonderful since then.

Saturday evening I was back at the church to meet with another prayer team to prepare for Sunday morning service. Some people think that prayer is just an endless repetition of requests. But prayer is so much more; It is a divine encounter with the living God. It is a vital soul filling and soul wearying thing. Prayer is work and it is perhaps the greatest work pastors can do!

After prayer I was home and off to bed for service Sunday morning.

I was back in church by 7:15 A.M. for sound check with team one and from there I was in service (we have two on Sunday mornings until 12).

After service I met with the leaders of our worship ministry to go over budgets and schedules for the next quarter.

After that I went home and slept and slept and slept. Monday is my Sabbath!

Today (Tuesday) I was in at 7 to get ready for a wonderful day of meetings.

We met for team prayer at 9 and then staff meeting at 10:15.

Tonight I am meeting with our fall Bible study teachers for training.

I love this life!