Nagging Doubts – Pastor To Pastor Interview
A few months ago I had the privilege of sitting down and doing an interview with a personal hero of mine – H.B. London at Focus on the Family.
H.B. produces a monthly audio ministry resource called “Pastor to Pastor” which is designed to strengthen and encourage those who serve in the church. Years ago when Lisa and I were just starting out in ministry we would buy every “Pastor to Pastor” tape they made and listen to them non-stop as we drove in our car on vacations. They were our lifeline during discouraging times. I can honestly say I’m still in ministry in part due to the strength I received from those tapes.
You can understand why it was an incredible honor to fly out to Colorado a few months ago, drive up to the campus of Focus on the Family, and meet H.B. London in person. The first thing I did was hand him a Philadelphia Phillies jersey (since Colorado doesn’t have a “real” baseball team). He got a kick out of that. It was a Jimmy Rollins jersey. The second thing I did was thank him for his ministry over the years and for the opportunity to give back to those who serve faithfully and sacrificially in the trenches of ministry.
Here’s the link to listen to the interview about “Nagging Doubts.” If you know of a pastor who might be encouraged by it please share the link with them.
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Brian,
Thanks for being so honest in this interview. I go through some of the same doubts. Thanks for sharing from your heart, it is truly an encouragement to many.
Bake
Question: Brian, you said in your “Spiritual Funk” sermon that you were in the darkness for six months. Did you just wake up one day and “Voila…everything is cool again?!” What were the final weeks of the tunnel like? Are you completely out of it now? Do you feel yourself leaning back into regularly?
Your interview may answer these questions so I look forward to listening to it when I workout this afternoon.
What does life look like when you get to the other side of this yuck? Is it really worth fighting through? What did you find to make the slugfest with discouragement worthwhile?
Finally, here is my fear. When I do finally get to the other side of the muck and mire, will I get the zeal I used to have back? Will I really do and obey or just keep talking about the Jesus thing? Am I going to merely “ought to” my life away?
I listened to the interview while working out and was ministered to by your honesty. It is the first time I started crying on the eliptical. I wonder what the folks around me were thinking!
My wife and I have decided that one of the hardest things about our “season of sludge” is that the cause seems so vague, indefineable. We went through a major crisis 10 years ago, but the feelings were understandable. There was a clear, distinct reason. But, not this time.
You mentioned the “visceration of the soul” in your “Spiritual Funk” sermon. That resonated with me.