4:30 AM

Another splendid morning spent at Hardee's with 3 great guys, which means another morning getting up at 4:30 am. All in all its worth it. Even though we were missing one from our group this morning, we had an interesting conversation. Around hot cheesy egg biscuits and refreshing orange juice, we discussed the ideas of "full-time" ministry or as some refer to it as "professional" ministry. What that boils down to is the idea of people being paid by the church to perform certain tasks such as preaching, teaching, organizing, planning, and engaging the other "lay" people in the church. Since all of us around the table have been involved in some type of ministry experience whether internship or missionary work, it would be safe to assume that we all hoped to enter into a full-time ministry in the coming years. But that assumption would not be so clear. As the four of us talked about church and working with a church, it seemed like we were identifying with each other's ideology. Questions and convictions arose from our discussion which was helpful at times but more confusing at others. How would we live out our convictions? Would we compromise? Would we dare to risk being conventional? Are we being fearful and not relying on God's power? Will we go where God guides us? Or ignore the need? Do we run away from what we know, only to establish something born from our prayers and hearts? Or do we run towards the problem? I'm sure this is really confusing because I'm still trying to make sense of it all myself. But it is comforting to know I'm not alone in my questions and struggles. So I guess once in a blue moon, something good happens at 4:30 in the morning.