I went to LIT having heard of Pat Summit from her coaching of the girl’s UT Vols squad. 8 championships in 36 years is sort of hard to ignore. 🙂 I have already written how anxious I was to hear Pete Wilson (a previous post). The other two speakers- the host, Dr. Chris Stephens and Pastor Johnny Hunt- I had never heard of. Some are bound to ask: you have never heard of Johnny Hunt? Answer: No, I have never heard of him. I am not Southern Baptist and since I don’t run in “that crowd” he was an unknown. While I enjoyed his talk, I felt he would have been much more effective had he gotten with the program and stayed on topic. He had so many good things to say but missed out on the opportunity to drive them home due to some rambling. (I think he went close to 1/2 hour over time and never even came close to finishing his talk). That being said…what he did talk about what necessary to be said and actually is a topic close to my heart: PASSION. Here is some of my takeaway:
The call of God is staying power. If God has called me/you to pastor a particular church, leaving at the first sign of difficulty is not God’s way. I know many young pastors who do this. I know, I was one of them. We see conflict as a negative. Unfortunately, instead of working through that negative we run. It is not hard to be passionate about something in its infant stages. New church, new ministry, new outlook. But that can soon wear away when the ministry/church gets difficult and has some opposition.
Passion is always a follow-up to vision. At first I had a little trouble with this because I always thought I ought to do and go where my passion is. But I can see what he is saying. If God has given me a vision then passion will ensue to carry out that vision.
Where I wish he had given himself more time was in his discussion on the Aspects of Passion. I was able to fill in the blanks but that is about all. I give them to you for your thought:
- It is amazing what it takes to stop passion. Passion will plow through, jump over, or dig under its obstacles.
- Passion sees no unstoppable barriers. Man is so made that whenever anything fires his soul, impossibilities vanish!
- If you wanted to do a great work for God, where would you begin? Within your own self. The best part of this section came here when he said, “Church has been dumbed-down for the 20 and under group. There is no challenge!” I may write more about this at a later date.
- Passion should be directed in three areas: God. Others. Ministry.
- Passion is the fuel in your engine. Passion is the food for your soul.
- Passion is what gives extravagance to ministry. Passion will set you apart from others. I don’t believe he was referring to extravagance in the current religious connotation of the health/wealth garbage.
I would have really liked to have heard another part of his outline: How To Possess Passion but time was (way) gone. So…did any of these strike a chord with you? Let me know your thoughts.
Thank you for sharing this. A lot to consider. I am new to passion and am all about it these days. (that’s another story)However, I wonder if it is as steadfast and determined as he stated here. Just as a young pastor may run, I think I am just as fragile. If I take my eyes off of God for just a moment I have felt where passion can be shaken. God’s passion in me will win if I keep my focus on Him and not on rejection, conflict,fears and doubt. I will go over, under, around, and through on His strength and faith in Him…thanks Bill I obviously needed this today, ha!
Passion is a passion of mine. I desire to have passion in all I do because I know of the difference that it makes. I look at it this way – God was/is passionate about me so I need to be passionate about him and His purposes for me.
Good stuff!
Tom: You make a good point Tom. I think what we are passionate about turns our crank. It also gives us staying power in the long run. Even when we feel like cashing it in, we always return to the basics.
Jim: Passion is a big thing of mine also. Should “rule” our everyday walk.
5.Passion is the fuel in your engine. Passion is the food for your soul.
My passion is seeing people’s live changed. Seeing people radically transformed.
The more I read these posts the more I wish I had gotten to go 🙂
Michael: I know it is a long distance but sure wish you could have come. Would loved to have met you. 🙂 Love your passion.
Passion sees no unstoppable barriers. Man is so made that whenever anything fires his soul, impossibilities vanish!
This is the one that stands out to me because: When I was wotking at my last job, for 13 years, I had a TRUE passion for my work. I LOVED going to work everyday. I loved doing my work….for 12 years. Then for the last year my “supervisor” (or so she thought) made my life MISERABLE, to the point that I finally gave up and left. I just couldn’t take it any longer and despite loving the WORK, just couldn’t do it anymore.
Pinky: you are right about passion. Too bad there are people like your “supervisor” who seem to almost single-handedly kill the joy we have. Hope you have found it again for something else.