[I posted this recently on my facebook page and thought I would go ahead and share it here.]

These are certainly days of transition for me. Money is low, so I am beginning to do some job hunting. During this time I began to realize that I am a person that is driven by personal vision and calling. In fact it is that very principle that keeps me from taking a “job” to do ministry. Though I am not squeamish about making a legitimate income, I still need to have enough income to buy my peanut butter and other earthly habits. But I still have this gnawing within me that wants to do ministry based upon the leading of the Lord and an actual call. Some have asked; “Don why don’t you just take a pastorate somewhere,” or they suggest “Don, what you need to do is (fill in the blank).” I appreciate all the advice and concern I can get – don’t get me wrong – but my principles have become my enemy! Why can’t I go sell widgets or something? Or why can’t I go and do meetings in churches and turn on the prophetic gift and prophecy bringing home healthy offerings? Why can’t go and sell my talents to the highest bidder?

Unfortunately what I am called to do is provoke one another to do good works by taking the gospel to where it has never been preached. And folks, that is not very popular! What pastor wants to invite me to come to their church in order to convince the congregation to rearrange their priorities, give their income to strategic missions, and take their eyes off themselves (and their local church’s budget) and look unto the fields that are white unto harvest and shift their allegiance to scattering seed and making disciples somewhere “out there.” They may lose some church members to the mission field! They would ask; “How in the world will our churches be able to pay their mortgages and salaries if we invite someone like Don to come and provoke our congregation to go and be scattered all around the world? We need to control that kind of thing!” Consider the problem God had with Babel! The leaders of the then known world decided to build a facility that would not only make a name for themselves, but to keep the people from being scattered all over the earth! (see Genesis 11:1-4)

Another problem is that I am also called to provoke one another to do church more simply. You know, that’s not very popular either. If we make it too simple, then what’s going to happen to all the professionals? They may ask; “If we structure our churches so that the average guy (or gal) does the ministry, then why do we need all these staff members and paid clergy? And if they are doing ministry outside of the church facility and scattering and sowing seed and making disciples in their homes and out in the marketplace, then how can we justify our building programs? How can we control them? How can we control the growth of the church?” Can we engineer the growth and expansion of God’s Kingdom? We merely need to go and scatter the seed where it has never been scattered!

This reminds me of a parable that Jesus taught regarding His Kingdom; 6 He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.(Mark 4:26-29).

Think about that! The farmer scatters the seed but no matter what he does the seed sprouts and grows and he has no clue as to how it happened! In fact Jesus says that it grew all by itself! Then all the farmer has to do is reap the harvest. It really is that simple. But how much of our efforts are spent and engineering the growth time. It’s really that simple!

But that brings me back to my dilemma – if it’s that simple, then what do you need me for? So, back to the drawing board looking for a job that does not violate my principles! Unless you want me to help you scatter some seed!