Expectations are wonderful and dangerous things. They are wonderful because they point us in a certain direction and can give us sharp focus. If you are not expecting anything you are likely going to be unenthusiastic about whatever you are doing. Without expectations others don’t know where you are going and will not follow. Without expectations it is hard to know if you accomplished your goal, after all isn’t a goal something you are expecting?

So what are you expecting? What are you expecting from this day?

The dangerous part of expectations is they set you up for disappointment. Disappointment by definition, at least my definition, is failed expectations. So if what I am expecting does not happen then I will be disappointed. Understanding the connection between expectations and disappointment is critical for establishing productive expectations. Knowing that a failed expectation leads to disappointment can lead some to the conclusion that they should not set any expectations. Their logic is that if they don’t set any expectations then they won’t have any fall short on any expectations and therefore they won’t have any disappointments. There are major problems with that logic. First, without expectations you will just wander with no clear goal or motivation. Second, you may end up following the wrong plan as you get swept along by someone else’s expectations. Third, you will miss the joy of seeing fulfilled expectations.

Don’t avoid expectations, instead set expectations that will motivate you without being too unrealistic. Be willing to adjust expectations without compromising your vision or goals. Don’t get so caught up in “realistic” expectations that you leave no room for the power of the Holy Spirit and the beyond yourself moves of God.

What are you expecting from this day?

Dennis

A Love/Hate Relationship. What? A pastor can’t have a love/hate relationship with someone. It is not a “someone” it is a “something”. The something that I have a love/hate relationship with is Saturdays. It is not the fault of Saturday, it is just that Saturday happens to fall one day before Sunday and for a pastor Sunday is kind of a big deal. Since Sunday is such a big deal and such a critical day of week for what I do, it makes Saturday a very strange day.

I love Saturday because when it appears it means that there are not many hours before I get to Sunday. Sunday means worshiping with some great people, it means I get the awesome opportunity to preach from God’s Word, it means seeing many people give of themselves in service and ministry (it is not the only day in which it is true just the one where more of us are in one place at the same time serving) and it means seeing the faces of of many people who encourage me.

I hate Saturday because it means there are not many hours before I stand in front of a group of people who expect me to speak God’s Word into their lives in a relevant, interesting and applicable manner. While that is one of the aspects of being a pastor that I love it is always overwhelming. Saturday just reminds me that is won’t be long before that awesome opportunity/responsibility arrives.

I love Saturdays because there usually is not a lot on my “you’ve got to be there” schedule. You know those events right? Those events where you really better show up if you know what’s good for you or your position. While I enjoy nearly all of these events, really I do, they can create stress when combined with being just a few hours away from Sunday morning. So Saturdays are great in that there usually aren’t many of these for me, and I can move along in the day more on my pace than someone else’s.

I hate Saturdays because it is too easy to waste the day because there is not a lot of “have to things” scheduled on this day.

I love Saturdays because there are usually some good sporting events to watch. My wife would tell you that if it is called a sporting event then I consider it good to watch. That is simply not true. I do not consider synchronized ribbon twirling as a must watch sport. Now if they would combine that with having to dodge some type of objects being thrown while twirling the ribbons then we have something. But I love that I can often relax on Saturdays watching an entertaining sport.

I hate Saturdays because when I am really ready to preach a message I have to wait another day. There are times that a sermon is burning in my heart so much, and feels so completely ready, that I hate to have to wait another day.

I love Saturdays for the times when I have been struggling with a message all week and I still have one more day in which to settle what God wants me to know and share through the message. On those days I am over the top in love with Saturday. There may, or may not, be many Saturdays that fall into this category.

There you have it, I have a love/hate relationship with Saturdays. Oh, did I mention that I am writing this on a Saturday.

Dennis

“Here we go …” I love that phrase. I love it because it implies adventure and change. I am one of those people who usually loves hearing “we’ve never done it that way before” and my response is “great, let’s do it then”. That makes for some exciting adventures and it also creates some memorable moments that fall short of success. My tendencies in this area also make life very interesting when you consider that I am a pastor and churches often are less than thrilled with doing things in a new way.

Since I have been a pastor for quite a while, 31+ years in fact. Wow, 31 years I must have started when I was just a wee lad, either that or I just don’t think or feel my age. Either way it means I have a lot of examples of the highs and lows of a pastor’s view. I also have a newsletter that will be available soon. So let’s see where this takes us.

There will be times that my posts will just be some personal stuff that I find interesting, other times they will be a little more serious. No matter what I will enjoy the writing. If you enjoy the reading, come on back and invite others to join us. Well I need to get back to enjoying my day off, yes pastors really do take a day off and no we don’t take off 6 days a week. I will be back soon so I guess it is true … Here we go!

Dennis