Real Stories of Life with God

Ep 12 | A Discipleship Pastor Shares How Busyness Can Stifle Love for God

October 22, 2021 Episode 12
Real Stories of Life with God
Ep 12 | A Discipleship Pastor Shares How Busyness Can Stifle Love for God
Show Notes Transcript

You might need a pen and paper for this one! Wes is someone who has been in my life in a lot of different capacities, from officiating our wedding to being a coworker, all of which the Lord has used to make me more like Christ. He speaks honestly about things that stir his love for God like reflection, being outside and music, and about how busyness can sometimes stifle it. We talk God's goodness, daily reading the Psalms, and a little bit about the enneagram. Enjoy it, friends!

Speaker 1:

Hey friends, welcome to real stories of life with God, a podcast with our pretty explanatory title, because that's what we're here for a conversation with real people about their unique life with God. I'm your host, Chelsea UBank. And I'm so glad you're here. Let's jump into today's episode.

Speaker 2:

Okay. West, give us some context on you.

Speaker 3:

We are

Speaker 2:

Recording.

Speaker 3:

We've been recording all the time. How'd you do that? You just imagine some Jedi mind trick.

Speaker 2:

Let's get you laid back.

Speaker 3:

Uh, so where do we start? Like, um,

Speaker 2:

Family, family job.

Speaker 3:

Okay. So, um, I am married to Lynn. We have got three grown children. Two of whom are, um, once married had a COVID wedding is about to have eviction did coming up in January and then Ben and his fiance case you're getting married in November cares is nurse Lynn is an assistant principal in school that tells you what they do, but absolutely nothing about them. And, um, uh, I work here at coyote. Baptist has been here 30 plus years and, uh, enjoy it immensely most days. Um, I do a lot of different things here. Um, and if you were to take one away, that would be kind of weird. It's kinda like the three Stooges. They all got to have them all for it to be an enjoyable show. And so for me, like having all the things that I do kind of helps, um, I was trying to kind of think through, is there a unifying theme for that? And at one point I thought a unifying theme was it, I is connecting. I like to connect with people, whether it's through teaching or singing or writing or music or whatever. And then I think too, maybe, um, maybe along the lines of what, what you're doing here. Um, I, I, of, if something is meaningful to me or something, um, is encouraging or is it insightful or a great truth or something that I learned, I want to share it. And so, uh, whether it's through teaching or whether it's through music and this song really ministered to me, I want to, I want you guys to experience that same thing. Um, I really don't care about it. There's a, there's a song that's a really good song to sing it, just so that people can hear it. I want it to have, want to have a connection with it. I want it to be meaningful. Um, and so I think that's a, that's a theme maybe as well. So I enjoy that. I am an Enneagram type six, you know what that means? So I'm learning what that means and, uh, you know, listen to two people talk about that. Invariably, they'll say, I mean, I hope I'm not a six that's exactly what I was like. Oh shoot. Um, but, but it, it really kinda nailed me. And, um, uh, we could go into that. Maybe that's probably a whole nother, uh, long discussion, but, um, there are parts of that, that, that really, um, got me.

Speaker 2:

I am, I can definitely relate to that when I first it was probably three or four years ago. I think I first read the road back to you and kind of just for an informative kind of like, I just want to see what all this is about, but whenever I got to the two, I thought this book is reading my mail. Wow. Oh my God. I mean, it was, it was amazing. And then I heard someone, cause I thought I was between two different ones. And I remember hearing someone say it's not the most pleasant, but you're probably the one that the, um, the struggle is most you not the positive strength stuff. I'm like, okay. Then, then I definitely know. Oh yeah. When I got to the struggle sin part.

Speaker 3:

Yeah. Whatever.

Speaker 2:

Okay. That is definitely me. Um, something fun too. You're definitely a person in my life that I feel like I've had a lot of shades of relationship with like knew me as a child. And then we were married, John and I, when we got married and then we were in stronger together and then I worked here and now we're just kind of friends. Now I'm friends with your kids and your wife and it's pretty awesome. Yeah. That's pretty

Speaker 3:

Awesome.

Speaker 2:

Okay. I want to read the verses that kind of start to have these questions. If they come from Matthew 22, Jesus has asked which commandment of the law is the greatest. And he says, love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your bind and the second, love your neighbor as yourself. So our first question is what currently stirs your love for God.

Speaker 3:

That's a really good question. Thank you for asking that. And, um, at the risk of being not all the way thought through, on some of these things, I think, um, someone had said like with every strength that you have every, um, uh, maybe gifting or giftedness that you have, there's a shadow side that can just kind of be if taken the wrong way. It can, it can be, can be negative. So for me, um, one of the things that can stir my affection for God and my passion for him is a reflection, um, reflecting on the past, what he's done, reflecting on his work, reflecting on, uh, different aspects, just spending some time doing that. But the shadow side of reflection could be part of the thing that, that stifles that. And so instead of reflecting, it's kinda more like worrying or kind of being kind of, does that make any sense? So, um, I think, I think that that's a big one. Um, for me, where we live now being outdoors, I've never been kind of the outdoorsy type a little bit more indoorsy in my life, but I, I mean, I enjoy it and, and being outside, there's something restorative about that. There's something, um, grounding in some ways that sounds of doesn't it, but there there's something about that. That, that helps me kind of get outside my little bubble and come in. This is a, you know, as the hymn says, this is my father's world. This is, uh, incredible. And just to see, um, creation just to pause and pay attention to that can be, can be very, it can really Kindle that within me. So, and obviously there's a, there's a music, uh, you know, back to what I mentioned before there are, if a certain truth is set to music, it's sometimes just really speaks deeply within. And, um, we talked in the, in the choir the other night, uh, there was a, a quote from, um, Johann, Sebastian Bach, you know, that he said that the chief in the music is used to be for the glory of God and the restoration of the soul. I love that last part or excuse me now, the restoration, the refreshment of the soul. And there is something so refreshing sometimes I think sometimes it's, God's timing in music, a certain song and a certain way in a certain, uh, environment or, or, or, um, a place of worship service. Are you driving? He kind of least expected, uh, sometimes there's, go-to things from history, but, um, um, music can be just a really big piece of that, um, for me, and then kind of practically this has maybe been more of a discipline than, uh, then, uh, I don't know, passion or whatever, but it's kind of becoming that way is, is reading the songs daily, reading the Psalms. And, um, I don't know if, especially those that are super familiar, it's like, wow, you're just going to think it through those things.

Speaker 2:

Yeah. Um, I can definitely relate to a lot of those, um, especially the reflection and I never really would have put it that way, but maybe a part of it, you said two things that I can really relate to is the, when I learned something or curse by something, I want to share it, which is probably where a lot of my, like writing tendencies come from. But also the reflection piece writing really is a method. I feel like of me remembering, it's like a way to mark things the way to mark what I learned or what a process, something, um, I can relate to that a lot.

Speaker 3:

Did we talk about Venita Hampton? Right. Did we ever talk about her back in the day? You remember that I read a book of hers on spiritual writing and I can't remember anything about the, I mean, it was really good. She, I think was an editor and then ended up kind of writing down some thoughts. And this was a driving thought for me. And it really resonated with me. This is the place where I've mentioned my book that no one has read, but, uh, what, what she said, which I hadn't really thought, because she says your aim is not to impress people with your prose or your knowledge. Um, but it is to, to seduce them into paying attention to their lives. And I thought, man, that's really true. You know, your, your, your job is not to impress them with knowledge or does think, wow, what a beautiful phrase that was you get, they need to pay attention to their lives, you know, God is at work and is he, I thought anyway, so that resonated with me. And I think at some level I, I, I seek to do that.

Speaker 2:

Yeah. So we've talked about what stirs your love for God. Is there anything that currently stifles your love for God? When I

Speaker 3:

Was joking,

Speaker 2:

When I was talking with John about kind of brainstorming some of the questions, he was like, I think that's why he lead with stir. We cannot talk about something that's positive at stores. Cause we know we're also gonna talk about maybe something that's humbling or struggle or something.

Speaker 3:

Uh, I think, you know, there's part of that, um, busy-ness is a big one and, uh, you know, there there's part of me that goes, okay, we'll have this point, this appointment, this appointment, I can always fit the time of God. And around those other things, as opposed to saying, this is the appointment that I began with, this is the big rock this is. Uh, and so, um, it's probably a radical in some ways, but that that's honestly just getting, allowing, allowing other things to crowd in. You know, we've talked about, I don't think one could be, um, over committed, that's it, that's an oxymoron is impossible. You can be over-scheduled but you were under committed. If you're really committed, you don't schedule that many things. And I think at times a, um, a stifling aspect would be that I'm over-scheduled and probably less committed to my own walk with the Lord at times than I perhaps should be. Um, and, uh, back to the type six deal, uh, one of the aspects or one of the, um, qualities, if you will, that they say that a type six person to have is some people have like the, an inner critic you ever heard that, you know, they're just kind of integrated kind of questioning. Um, it may have been, uh, Ian Morgan Cron. I think he said that a type six has an inner committee and it's just like more than just one voice kind of yakking at what's. And that, that can stifle me. It came back and just really get caught in the weeds of, of some negative talk from a lot of different places and little concerns of, um, things that aren't are really, um, helpful. And then really just quite candidly, I think, um, when Jesus talked about in the parable of the soils, it's really true, the worries of this world and the deceitfulness of stuff can choke the word. Um, the simpleness of riches is really what he says. And, you know, as a minister, I meant I'm part of that. Get rich, slow scheme. It's not like this is a get rich place, but there's, there's that sense of, I don't know, man, when you, you know, the hymn says, turn your eyes a bunch of uses and the things that earth will grow strangely dim. And when you turn your eyes off him, they grow strangely appealing. And, um, that's a constant thing and it's not an eras, is it? That's the problem. So irritating things, oh man, that really I'm so busy, but like there's an appeal. There's just like, you know, the devil is the father of lies. Isn't this really cool. Did God really say, you know, all that kind of stuff like, man, that's kind of neat. All of a sudden you're down the road and you go, huh, shoot. It is kind of stifling and stifling in a way that's not painful initially anyway. Right,

Speaker 2:

Right. Yes. And Satan does have a lot of ammunition to work with. You know, you've got the media and advertise all the people that are making lots of money on telling you that you need these things are tough. You know, like even if you go from like an abstract thing, like, uh, you know, for, for me, I look on Instagram and I see a lot of Christian authors and speakers and leaders that I really love and admire. And it's easy for me to be like, I should be more like them, But is that what God is inviting me into? Maybe not, but I feel the tension of like, but isn't this what's going to be, make me more valuable or worthy as a person.

Speaker 3:

And so how much of, um, how many of these have you done?

Speaker 2:

I think you're number 10, number 10.

Speaker 3:

So out of nine of these interviews, you've edited right. To make them sound good. But do you ever realize when you listen to somebody else's deal, now that man that's edited, they took some stuff out. So when we look at we've listened to those people, like we're getting the ESPN highlights of their lives, right. We're not getting the misfield goals or the, you know, the getting up earlier, the wanting to quit difficult. We just, we just get the highlight film sometimes. And I think that could be,

Speaker 2:

I sometimes think about, um, you know, Dallas Willard has a, he doesn't, he has a phrase or a line God wants to change your wanter. Yeah. A lot of times we're led by our desires. And so I find myself more lately asking God for a greater desire than I do. Just help to say no. Cause hopefully that is a little bit more of a sustainable is,

Speaker 3:

Well, one of his definitions of maturity I think was, um, let's see how he said it. The things that no longer occur to you, I love that the things that no longer occur to you, I'm kind of growing in some ways. Um,

Speaker 2:

Um, okay. So I'm going to fill in the blank, the truth that God is blank means a lot to you because

Speaker 3:

Okay. Now, you know, I've kind of struggled with this one because when I take off the, uh, discipleship leader hat and, um, you know, it depends on the hat that you're wearing. Sometimes you fill in those blanks differently or the season of life that you're in or kind of what's, what's going on, maybe what the Lord is teaching you during those times. Um, and so the first thing that came to mind was the fact that God is good because we always write that down. If you wrote there, God is blank. People would either write God is great. God is love. God is good, but do we really do we really believe that? And, um, and so just the thought that God is good, that he's really good, that, that he is ultimately pure and right. And just in truth in good means that I can trust in him and I can rest in that. And, um, I mean, there's nothing super applicable there, but there is, there's just a lot of breathing out for me in there. Um, and then whatever we go through or I go, whatever is kind of pressing at the moment, whether it's a, uh, a good thing or a terrible thing or stressful thing or hard thing, whatever it is, um, the truth that God has seen all this before. Uh, and then it's not a surprise to him, um, that not only is he with me, he is before me. Uh, and th th that I don't have a great answer for therefore high, but just knowing that realizes that it's not, it's not ultimately up to my efforts, but that he's got it. Um, he's been doing this for awhile and, uh, has, has, is not weary from, and is not tired is, um, I mean, his mercies are new every morning, every new mercies for every morning for a really long time. That's, that's almost as hard for everybody. Yeah, yeah. Um, so anyway, I think I like that, that question, that's probably something that would be, um, good to consider often, especially just reading through certain aspects of scripture. Maybe there there's a truth that I hadn't really thought about because of this. Uh, God, it, but maybe the thing that I landed on is just that simple thing that because God is, is good. Um, and because he is he's trustworthy, then I can trust him with people in my life and trust him with situations I can trust him, uh, to, to do that. You know, I heard them, somebody say at one point that the first dispute of the four spiritual laws, you know, from campus crusade or whatever it grew back in the day, the first spiritual law, according to this person was God's love. God loves you, has given me a wonderful plan for your life. Uh, and so I laughed at that because I was like, oh man, I've kind of guilty without one. He loves you. And he does have a wonderful it's not anyway.

Speaker 2:

Okay. So our last question is what is something you are looking forward to?

Speaker 3:

Okay. Um, the first thing that came to mind, I'm looking forward to two weddings, um, for a lot of different reasons. I think obviously, obviously just that milestone in the life of our four boys, um, uh, there's something about a community of faith coming together to send off or to support or to, to say this union matters. I'm, I'm understanding at a different level now. So I'm looking forward to that and, you know, just kind of cool seeing the boys grow up. We're about to start Christmas music, um, here. And, uh, I, I listened to some of the other man looking forward to that. I don't know. There's something about that. That's really good. Um, and I'm looking forward to, um, our trip to Europe has been postponed for,

Speaker 2:

Well, I appreciate you doing this. Thank you. Thank you.

Speaker 3:

It's um, it's a blessing. So I think this is going to be a great ministry. It's a good thing for you,

Speaker 1:

Listening friends. It means a lot that you added us to your day today. Thank you so much wherever you find yourself on your journey with Jesus. I hope you finished this episode with your faith cheered, refreshed, or strengthened until next time.