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A Simple Rural Pastor

I've had more than a few people ask how different life is living in a rural village, and pastoring a small church in a small town. Well, frankly it's not a lot of different than pastoring in general. Pastoring is not an art...it's simply acting in love to God and his people. What is different is the pace of life, and the ability to have time for more relational things and less administrative things. That I like enormously.
I just finished speaking at the International Conference for Retrouvaille in Madison this last weekend. I spoke on "Personal Soul Care" and it has become a passion personally that I want so much for us as God's children to become intentional about.
I've been re-reading "Practicing the Presence of God" by Brother Lawrence. It's a humbling book to read because of its simplicity coupled with its challenge. Yet, its the simplicity that I embrace.
Here's the beginning: "A Pilgrim's Prayer"

"Lord of all pots and pans and things...
Make me a saint by getting meals
And washing up the plates!

That's it, simple...do all things, however small and insignificant they may seem with nothing more than God in mind.

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