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2011-04-27T02:42:00.001-07:00

2011-02-09T03:01:00.000-08:00

2010-06-11T08:35:00.000-07:00

Pastor and Tentmaker:Reserved for a few?

2007-07-30T10:28:00.001-07:00

Hi Brother Joel,

Quick question: Can you be a called pastor and be in business at the same time?

This comes from the thought of being in the FT vocation that you are either a King or a Priest but rarely can you be both i.e. there are few Paul’s, Priscilla and Aquila’s out there.

Long story short – I am gifted in business but called to the pastorate i.e. start seminary in Oct /07 but as much as I try to do business I seem to fail yet almost everything I do in ministry flourishes (lay lead). I know as an entrepreneur our greatest strength is our greatest weakness (chasing after the wind or things not intended by God because we can smell an opportunity a mile away)…

Yet, I think God’s one pruning for me is – it is one of my greatest temptations. It is not some much weaning as it is protecting me from a divided heart (conscious or subconsciously God knows my wrestle and is protective)…

Does God call someone to be a pastor wholly committed to serve God or can he do that at the same time he works in a normal job?

I know you are a tentmaker… a rarity (maybe)… I want to be a tentmaker, but part of me thinks God doesn’t want me to be one for those same reasons above…

I know you are only reading from me a grain of sand from a beach of thoughts of walking with God on this issue, but I hope God would reveal some revelations to you…

Thanks for hearing…
Love to hear your thoughts?

Blessings,

Gil

Acts 4:32-35

2006-04-22T17:32:00.000-07:00

32 And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them.
33 And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all.
34 For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales
35 and lay them at the apostles' feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need.

Note 58

2005-12-15T17:36:00.000-08:00

The spirituality prevalent in the Netherlands during the fifteenth century was the Devotio moderna, whose chief exponent was Gerard Groote (1340-1384), founder of the Brethren of the Common Life. Those who followed this spirituality called themselves "the devout." Here Thomas may be referring to quarrels that may have arisen between the members of his community and other religious houses.

Note 54

2005-12-15T16:55:00.000-08:00

The "someone" is Ovid and the verses are taken from his Remedia amoris, 91-92. The statement was proverbial during the Middle Ages, and Thomas could have found this saying in St. Bernard's letter to Josselin, Bishop of Soissons.

Note 46

2005-12-04T14:47:00.000-08:00

St. Bernard, in his Sermo XXVII #5, states: "One is acknowledged great among us, if he has persevered in the fervor that was his at the tme of his conversion."

Note 45

2005-12-04T14:45:00.000-08:00

In the Middle Ages "conversion to God" was synonymous with "entering a monastery." The conversi included monks, as well as those who lived and worked in the monasatery but were without monastic vows.

Note 14

2005-12-04T14:27:00.000-08:00

In his Third Sermon on Christmas Day, St. Bernard exhorts his monks: "Love to be unknown."