Not much time around here to write blog posts. Maybe I’ll gain a vision — or more precisely, carve out some time — to write before Summer arrives. In the meantime, these words from the wise Ray Ortlund, Jr. struck me, particularly as a young pastor simply desiring to be faithful, and especially as father, my first area of shepherding. Parenting and pastoring have a weight of responsibility that makes it all the more necessary to build long-term perspective, and to keep on keeping on, slogging ahead.

Ray Jr. writes about his father’s years and years of faithful service and leading a church, and the influence and depth of relationship they shared. It’s evident Junior as a man has been shaped deeply by Senior the man.

“I am not impressed by young pastors who seem too eager to publish books and speak at big events and get noticed. They are doing the work of the Lord, and that’s good. But what impresses me is my dad’s daily slogging, year after year, in the power of the Spirit, with no big-deal-ness as the payoff.

This is the pastoral ministry that brings Jesus into the world today. ”
—Ray Ortlund, Jr., “Daily Slogging in the Power of the Spirit“

People often ask how church planting is going. It’s going. Slowly, but steadily and surely, I see RENEW becoming a family of missionary servants, and I see the Gospel of the Kingdom, Grace and the Cross overwhelming their hearts. No one is going to ask me to write a book about our experiences (too soon and too small), yet that’s not what matters in this.

Here’s what matters: Jesus our Senior Pastor is saving and leading His people, and there are many in the city who do not yet know Him. Let them one day tell others there were families in their cities who left the comforts of reputation and ease to form new relationships, recognizing their own brokenness while bringing the good news of Jesus to broken lives. He has made them whole, Jesus has renewed them forever!

Slog on.