What am I doing?

Then we can give our attention to prayer and to teaching the word."  (Acts 6:4 NIrV)

Church planting has been an exciting, action-filled time in my life.  Through the years, I've had the opportunity to knock out walls, move furnaces, repair roofs, dry-out carpets, share water bottles, install computer systems, and remodel a basement garage into a worship center.  Watching all my activity over the years may bring you to question what I'm doing as you watch and listen to the vision for the summer.  Walk around and talk to people?  What are you doing, Pete?

The answer is simple.  Focus.

The apostles recognized early in the growth of the church that while they have many talents (including fishing, business, and financial accounting to name a few), they really have one primary charge from their Lord: make disciples.

I'm starting to come to the same conclusion.  I know that sounds strange coming from a preacher/church planter, but it's really easy to get distracted by all the activity that comes along with starting a congregation from nothing.  To be sure, all of the things I have done were with a desire to serve you.  I'm simply recognizing that it is more important for me to serve in other ways.

So...what am I doing?  I'm focusing on teaching the word and prayer.  Each day, my habits have been slowly moving to match the following pattern:

Read - I have a personal reading schedule to "fill me up" before going out into my day.

Share - I am now blogging each day to share insights into His Word and His Design for our lives.

Pray - I pray for people my local church community each day, starting with my 3, 12, and 72.  I pray for their requests.  I also pray for Mission, Provision, Unity and Protection as Our Lord taught us to pray.

Care - Follow-up with people takes place after I've prayed for them.

Projects and other tasks for the day come after this pattern.  This way I know I am giving priority to prayer and ministry of the Word...and to serving people the way He has called me to serve.

Yes, I will be walking around our neighborhoods to meet new people and learn how to serve our community better, but not before serving you first in this way.  Maybe I'll still get to knock out a wall or two. ;)