It Just Doesn't Add Up

God, I have been doing some figuring on my calculator and I have come to the conclusion that ministry just doesn't add up. I have been doing this for over a decade and I have to say, it seems that Your people are getting worse. I now know why you called them a "stiff necked people".
Why would someone want to give up a 9-5 Monday- Friday job to do ministry? No matter what the day is, you are really never "off". Don't get me wrong I love doing what you have called me to do, it's just that the numbers are starting to weigh heavily on the side of more negative than posivite. Let me show you what I mean...
Now, before You jump in here, let me show you my figures, cause as we all know, figures don't lie.

1. Everybody in the church thinks they are your boss
2. You have nere one "True friend" in your congregation (always having to keep a little distance, for job security)
3. You are disposable and replaceable at any time
4. Your family is uprooted and in constant state of never "settling down"
5. People wonder when you are getting a "real job"
6. Jealousy in your pastorial staff
7. Your wife starts to "hate" ministry because of all she has seen go on behind the scenes, from staff members
8. Ministering now is measured by the "Numbers Game" ("how many are you running now??")
9. Deaons meetings....need I say more?
10. People who have no idea what "Ministry" is are on the personel committee looking for pastors.

So as You can see Lord, it is getting pretty stacked up in there. I just don't no if it is worth it anymore. I wonder if the young ministers in seminary are told these things to look out for when they get into ministry? How many are getting taught to deal with a pushy deacons, members who think check books make them the king in the church, and parents who say you aren't spending enough time with their teenager? You see, it just doesn't add up.

Oh, Lord, I thought I would share this with you also. I got an IM the other day from one of my teenagers from a past youth ministry and we were talking about how they were doing. He says that he is still in Your Word and growing. In fact, he is inviting his friends to church. He wanted to thank me for all that I had taught him and for believing in him when no one else would....

As I think back on that conversation I start to wonder...

Maybe it does add up.

Thank You, Lord!

Pastor J