Sitting in our hotel room, four stories above the bustling city of Indianapolis, I am enjoying the quiet, peaceful solitude of being alone for a little while.

Jim has gone to work and will have a busy day  ~  coming ‘home’ this evening weary and tired.  And while I worry for him a bit, I know that he is truly doing what he enjoys and thus the tiredness is not necessarily a bad thing.  I also know that God will use him in some unexpected way to touch a heart that most needs it.

Meanwhile, for me, I am enjoying resting, catching up on some correspondence with friends and family, and writing.  You see, my goal in life at this point, is to become a “writer of influence”.

Now some of you may find that simple; or even silly.  But after many, many years in ministry and at work, in the fast paced society we live in, I am learning to glean from my years of living and to somehow attempt to put some few things down in writing that might be here long after I am gone.

Over the years, various individuals have inquired of me, “How do you and Jim live by faith like you do?”  Meaning I suppose, how do we live not knowing where the next paycheck may come from, and perhaps even, where the next job or home may be.

The only answer I have to give to that question is simply this.  It is our life.  When God called us into ministry (and yes, I do believe God literally calls some into ministry) some forty years ago now, He didn’t ask if we wanted to have a life of security, of guaranteed income, a life of living in one community for our entire lives, nor even if we wanted to work in one particular ministry area.

You see, I believe that when He calls us into ministry, He simply CALLS us.  Whatever He brings our way; that is what we are to put our hand to.  Over these many years, we have served the kingdom of God in numerous ways; music ministry is where we started, then we were youth ministers for a while, we have pastored churches, planted churches (whereby we had only a handful of people to serve with), we have served in a huge church as pastoral and administrative staff, at a Christian college in the wilds of North Dakota, and in some of the smallest and some of the biggest cities in the world.  We have served as leaders, speakers, trainers, teachers, and as janitors; or even simply as prayer warriors.

I remember when we made the decision to leave Mount Paran Church back in the early 90’s, we had many people asking us why we had decided to “leave the ministry.”  We would glance at each other and smile.

We’ve never left the ministry, in fact I am not sure that if you have a true calling that you ever CAN leave the ministry.  Does it follow us wherever we go?  Or does it simply guide us there?  I am not really sure.  All I do know is that wherever we have been, or will ever go, there will be ministry work happening.

In our work at our business/ministry (Institute for Organizational Leadership, Inc.) these past twenty years, we have seen God touch lives in some of the largest corporations and ministries in the world.  I’ve known Jim to lead business owners to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  I’ve had the opportunity to pray with the wives and staff people of many of these individuals/companies and to see them healed emotionally, spiritually and physically.

Honestly, I believe that if God is at work in our lives, we cannot NOT do ministry.  Whoever we are, wherever we are, we are going to find God there and if we are willing, He will use us.

And so, as I sat this morning softly singing the following words, I was reminded that on the Jericho Road, there is room for no more and no less, just Jesus and me.

On the Jericho Road (1928 by Don and Marguerete McCrossman)

As we travel along (as we travel along)
On the Jericho Road (on the Jerico Road)
Does the world seem all wrong (Does the world seem all wrong)
And heavy your load (and heavy your load)
Just bring it to Christ (just bring it to Christ)
Your sins all confess (your sins all confess)
On the Jericho Road (on the Jericho Road)
Your heart will be blessed (your heart will be blessed.)

On the Jericho Road (on the Jericho Road)
There’s room for just two (there’s room for just two)
(No more and no less) no more or no less)
Just Jesus and you (ust Jesus and you)
Each burden He’ll bear, (ach burden He’ll bear)
Each sorrow He’ll share (ach sorrow He’ll share)
There’s never a care (here’s never a care)
For Jesus is there (or Jesus is there)

Oh brother to you (oh brother to you)
This message I bring (this message I bring)
Though hope may be gone (though hope may be gone)
He’ll cause you to sing (He’ll cause you to sing)
At Jesus command (at Jesus command)
Sin’s shackles must fall (sin’s shackles must fall)
On the Jericho Road (on the Jericho Road)
Will you answer His call (will you answer His call.?)

On the Jericho Road (on the Jericho Road)
There’s room for just two (there’s room for just two)
(No more and no less) (no more or no less)
Just Jesus and you (just Jesus and you)