They Will Joyfully Sing
Israel’s songwriter, David, offers an apt description of those who know how to worship well. He says that they will “joyfully sing” of Jehovah God’s righteousness (Psalm 145:7). Which, of course, provokes me to ask myself if I joyfully sing unto the Most High. Do I worship Him joyfully or begrudgingly? Do I celebrate or merely tolerate? Of course, these are things you should ask yourself too.
It Hasn’t Sunk In
People told me that when I walked across the stage it would sink in.
It hasn’t.
Perhaps I’m just too focused upon ministry’s labor to allow myself to enter into it well enough. Maybe I’m just too tired. Regardless, graduating this past Saturday with my Doctor of Ministry, having completed eight years of doctoral work, is something for which I and my wonderful family are exceedingly grateful.
I’m often asked why it was I pursued it. It certainly was not motivated by the advice given me years ago in Oklahoma by a neighboring pastor. He suggested that I should do whatever it took to ensure a wide open career track. In fact, he indicated that if I really wanted to be a successful pastor I should get a Ph.D. instead of a D.Min. (evidently Ph.D.’s are more credible in the eyes of the public) and that I should get it from a reputable school that was strikingly different than the one from which I received my master degree. “The variety would look better on your resume,” he indicated.
Uggh!
The reason I pursued the D.Min. was simply to enjoy more time with trusted, godly saints like Howard Hendricks, Elmer Towns, John Reed and the like. I could not care less about a career path or a resume. What I do care about is being sharpened by those who know how to shape a young guy like me. Not only has it been profoundly hard, especially in light of what is an oft-difficult though joyful pastoral ministry, but it has been a great privilege. Being with the faculty and my fellow students has made it so worthwhile.
People also want to know what in the world I did in the program. To put it simply I took time to examine the utter disasters which for seasons in time became a couple of flagship Bible churches. How could such great churches implode as they did, especially in light of the godly men and women that made up their leadership? In short, I determined that despite all of the trappings of success, and all of their well-meaning people, these churches, and perhaps hordes of others like them, simply forgot what church was all about. Thus, a biblical and theological examination of “church,” designed especially for church leaders, seemed important. In a nutshell, my entire dissertation relates to this issue. It also, and this is one of the beauties of the doctoral program at Dallas Seminary, now shapes the leadership culture at Scofield Memorial Church (which, by the way, was one of the two churches capturing my concern).
A lot of folk have been steadfast in their encouragement to me these many years. The boards of elders at both Heaston Community Church in El Reno, Oklahoma, and, of course here at Scofield Memorial Church, have been very kind and generous. A select number of individuals have especially proven helpful to me (they are referenced in the acknowledgements section of my dissertation). Of course, my beautiful family has been most significant, every step of the way cheering me on. I told dear Christa this past Saturday morning that when I walked across that stage to receive my hood I would not forget that she has been an equal partner in this whole process.
And, of course, God our Blessed Master has shown me time and again that He is far more interested in the well-being of my soul than He is my doctoral work, though I suspect He cares about it too. I am profoundly thankful. Indeed, having written all of this, perhaps now it is sinking in.