What Dishwashing Taught Me About Being a Christian

December 2010 Newsletter

I’ve worked a lot of part-time, entry level jobs in my day. Many of them, you won’t find on my resume simply because they don’t represent the type of employment we tend to lead off with when trying to get that next promotion. Nor do we consciously draw on them when preparing for a great task or intensive project. However, as I think about them, I’m reminded of all they taught me about life, success, and people. Here are just a few of them and their respective lessons on applying Colossians 3.17 (look it up!) to daily living.
 

 

 

Paperboy—My First Job

I got this job at age 12 because my dad “suggested” I do so. Two decades later, and I’ve never been without a job since that cold morning he and I got up to roll our first papers and hit the neighborhood delivering goodness in the form of local headlines. That job taught me:

· If you want to buy stuff, you gotta work. Nothing comes free.
· There’s just something about getting started early in the morning that makes you feel a sense of accomplishment.
 

 

Lawn care and Snow-shoveling

I used my paperboy notoriety to secure year-round employment by advertising my grass-cutting, leaf-raking, and snow-shoveling services (another one of Dad’s great ideas). Those years taught me:

· Earning a good reputation and then leveraging that reputation to your advantage is a priceless skill.
· If you do something well enough, people will tell their friends about you, and then their friends will want you to do it for them too.
 

 

Dishwasher at a Family Diner

I hated this job! But, it taught me good stuff:

· The small, menial jobs that nobody wants to do really do matter. Dishwashing isn’t fun, but restaurants can’t sell food—even good food—on dirty dishes. You can be excellent at the main thing, but cutting corners in the details will undo all your hard work.
· Some people have too much on their plate.

 

 

Waiter at a Steakhouse

I probably made more on-the-hour money doing this job than any other, but I also worked harder at this job than most all my other ones. Doing it taught me:

· Giving people what they need before they ask for it (or even before they realize they need it) makes a great impression.
· Some people, no matter how hard you try, are just never going to give you a tip.
· Everybody likes to be smiled at.


So, don’t forget where you came from! Learn from all of life’s experiences, and then throw your whole self (1 Tim 4.15) into building God’s Kingdom, one relationship at a time.
At Your Side,
-bill

1 Timothy 4

1 Timothy 4 is an extremely exciting chapter of this letter.  Paul has been building toward giving Timothy these words of encouragement and exhortation.  He warns the church about lurking, demon-controlled wolves, and he gives their pastor advice on how to train and prepare his people to not only overcome the wolves, but to shine in such a way as to bring many to Christ!

 

 

 

Scripture Used

1 Timothy 4 (NLT)
Acts 20: 28-30 (NLT)
1 Cor 9.24-27 (NLT)

Quotes and Statements

“Our differences, at most, are about the things in which the kingdom of God does not consist, that is about matters of private opinion or human invention.” –Thomas Campbell

I’m going to serve Him until I see Him.

“The opposite of the Gospel is idolatry.” –Mark Driscoll

Questions that Expose Idolatry[1] in your life:

· What do I worry about most?
· What, if I failed or lost it, would cause me to feel that I did not even want to live?
· What do I use to comfort myself when things go bad or get difficult?
· What do I do to cope? What are my release valves? What do I do to feel better?
· What preoccupies me? What do I daydream about?
· What makes me feel the most self-worth? Of what am I the proudest? For what do I want to be known?
· What do I lead with in conversations?
· Early on, what do I want to make sure people know about me?
· What prayer, unanswered, would make me seriously think about turning away from God?
· What is my hope for the future?
The limitations you are willing to accept establish the boundaries of your existence.

---

[1] (Patrick 2010)

References

Patrick, Darrin. Church Planter. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2010.
Wiersbe, W. W. Bible Exposition Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996.

John Wesley’s 12 Rules for a Preacher

John Wesley (1703-1791) was a key leader in “waking up” the lost spirituality of Britain during the late 18th Century.  He is also credited as the driving force in the establishment of the Methodist denomination. 

One of the requirements for a Methodist minister, still practiced today to some extent, was that he travel “on a circuit.”  To maintain credibility and to be as productive for the Gospel as possible, Wesley laid out these guidelines:

 

1. Be diligent. Never be unemployed. Never be triflingly employed. Never while away time, nor spend more time at any place than is strictly necessary.

2. Be serious. Let your motto be, ‘Holiness to the Lord.’ Avoid all lightness, jesting, and foolish talking.

3. Converse sparingly and cautiously with women, particularly with young women.

4. Take no step towards marriage without solemn prayer to God and consulting with your brethren.

5. Believe evil of no one unless fully proved; take heed how you credit it. Put the best construction you can on everything. You know the judge is always sup­posed to be on the prisoner’s side.

6. Speak evil of no one, else your word, especially, would eat as doth a canker; keep your thoughts within your own breast till you come to the person concerned.

7. Tell every one what you think wrong in him, lovingly and plainly, and as soon as may be, else it will fester in your own heart. Make all haste to cast the fire out of your bosom.

8. Do not affect the gentleman. A preacher of the Gospel is the servant of alL

9. Be ashamed of nothing but sin; no, not of clean­ing your own shoes when necessary.

10. Be punctual. Do everything exactly at the time. And do not mend our rules, but keep them, and that for conscience’ sake.

11. You have nothing to do but to save souls. There­fore spend and be spent in this work. And go always, not only to those who want you, but to those who want you most.

12. Act in all things, not according to your own will, but as a son in the Gospel, and in union with your brethren. As such, it is your part to employ your time as our rules direct: partly in preaching and visiting from i house to house, partly in reading, meditation, and prayer. Above all, if you labour with us in our Lord’s vineyard, it is needful you should do that part of the work which the Conference shall advise, at those times and places which they shall judge most for His glory.

5 Reasons why the Mesaeh Family is Committed to DCC

 

In my absence, I thought it’d be a good idea to write you all a brief reminder of my commitment to DCC and the ministry God has called us all to do.

Even though we are separated by many miles, I think of you often and long to return home and get back to building the Kingdom with you! 

Here are five reasons why:

 

1. We still have work to do

Habakkuk 1:5 (NLT)
⁵The Lord replied, “Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it.

I do not think we have even scratched the surface of what God has brought us here to do.

Small groups, a Bible institute, an organic and professional leadership training program, a permanent face as THE community-serving church in the area, and a Christian school preparing our children both academically and spiritually are just some of the many plans God has on the horizon for DCC.

 

2. Our friends are here

Philippians 1:3 (NLT)
³Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.

Over the past year and a half, Hannah and I and our boys have made some truly wonderful friendships. Hannah and I sincerely feel God caused our paths to cross with these friends for two very important reasons: (1) to build us up, encourage us, and hold us accountable in our walk with Christ, and (2) to serve as complementary partners in Kingdom work.

 

3. The people have untapped potential

Romans 12:6–8 (NLT)
⁶ In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. ⁷ If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. ⁸ If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

The more time I spend getting to know the people being drawn to DCC, the more I am amazed at all we can do together. The men, women, boys, and girls sitting in our pews all bring unique backgrounds, passions, and skillsets to Jesus’ church. I firmly believe the majority of those abilities are currently sitting dormant. As your pastor, I am committed to finding out what those are and helping you draw them out in service to the Kingdom.

 

4. Defiance needs more Jesus

Jeremiah 29:7 (NLT)
⁷ And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you... Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.”

Many people in Defiance do not know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. A quick survey of churches in the area reveals very few models able to withstand the constantly evolving world around us. DCC can be that church on the forefront of ministry—successfully adapting our methods to ensure the timeless Message is preached, from this very congregation, by our children and our children’s children until Jesus returns.

A relevant and modern church firmly committed to using contemporary methods, technologies and language to teach and model the timeless Gospel will thrive in Defiance. I have a vision for DCC to grow and expand so fruitfully that we would be able to take advantage of the new Hwy 24 as people as far as Ft. Wayne or Toledo come to Connect, Grow, and Glow with us.

 

5. We’re devoted

Galatians 6:9 (NLT)
⁹ So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

Coming to Defiance wasn’t a decision we entered into lightly. It was one I prayed over, sought much council over, and finally reached after a period of study and fasting. Many factors went into our decision, and I ultimately made that decision with the full conviction that it was completely within God’s will.

While frustrations in ministry come and go, to leave before we’re finished would be to say God made a mistake in bringing us here. He obviously didn’t. So, we’re here for the long haul. I plan to sweat, laugh, cry, rejoice, and worship with the fine people of DCC for years to come.

To God be the glory for the things he hath done,

-bill