Proposed Solution

I really had nothing for this post, until I was getting ready for church last night. It was at that moment, that I recalled not having replied to a comment made on social media regarding one of the political "hot topics" being discussed the past few days.

The reply that some await is my answer to the question, "what is my constructive alternative?"

Many issues are complex; a variety of factors coming together with numerous challenges and multiple layers of difficulty in need of sorting and filtering. There is no "simple" answer and of course, people are proposing blanket solutions, which rarely go over well and are ineffective to address specific nuances.

I know what the individual is looking for a helpful solution not yet proposed. My hesitancy to answer lies in that one, my opinion doesn't matter, as I'm not "in the room" of decision makers who will consider this a viable solution (even though I've heard it brought up by two others, since the time I thought of it). Furthermore, incredibly complex issues like this, usually require some deconstruction, with solutions offered specific to those issues rather than the "blanket covers all" approach.

All of that of course, sets up this #deaconThursday. Ministry can be amazingly difficult at times, and the complexities and intricacies overlap to the point that blanket decisions as useless as they are in politics. So the ideas that one might term "constructive alternative" will probably require some deconstruction of the issue or issues and working towards specific and viable solutions for very specific problems.

Among the many character traits of a leader, the short list includes that of a problem solver. Anyone can create a problem. Most everyone can spot a problem; the best among us can do so before everyone else. Figuring how to solve problems, though... if the leadership team is inept or ineffective in this process, then a ministry will forever be in trouble and a constant state of struggle.

On this #deaconThursday, pray for church leadership. May they people who can not only observe a problem but can also work through the process of discussing, analyzing and navigating the process towards solutions. Pray for wisdom, insight and creativity as they work towards this end. May ministry efforts not be hindered because of a lack of focus or ability to fix problems. Pray for discernment; that the church would not be a place for people to purposefully cause or create problems. Pray that God would divinely place the right people to be "in the room" for such a time as this, to bring and take the church to the place and level that would bring glory to God and advance the Gospel to the local community and the global society.

That the church would be a place of healing
Despite being made off broken people.
May we not continue breaking on purpose
But correct and repair life and commmunity
As we are transformed By the Spirit of God
For the cause of Jesus Christ.

- PNC

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