It’s a good thing that my wife promised to marry me for better or worse. When it comes to being “Joe Handy-Man” I rank right up there with Tim-The-Tool-Man-Taylor. I’m not sure that I’ve met a household project that hasn’t at once caused me to break out in a cold sweat just observing the problem let alone contemplating how it should be addressed. To sweeten the pot a little, I can be assured that if I decided to go after the project, it will mean at least two if not three trips to the area hardware store. I never seem to have just the right tool or part or size or configuration or…you get the idea. For me, the old carpenters axiom of measuring twice and cutting once reads something like this: measure four, five times, write it down, measure two or three more times, write that down and then with beaded sweat breaking out on my brow proceed to cut. And still, it’s not correct. I stand in awe of guys who can eyeball a project, pick up just the right tool and be finished with it and sitting down watching TV with their favorite cold beverage in, say, 1.5 minutes. But it’s the tools that really fascinate me. You can do just about any project if you have the right tool. The emphasis in the previous sentence is upon you; it wouldn’t matter to me what tool I had available. In every profession, occupation or vocation, having the proper equipment and knowing what to do with it is critical. I was recently reminded again how essential this matter is in the ministry as well. Here’s what Paul says about the matter: And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ… Sometimes, in my myopic view of the ministry, I overlook the obvious if not the primary injunction of the previous passage. While I firmly believe that I am called to prayer and the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:4), I also need to remind myself that God has called me in the office as pastor to equip the saints. So how does that get done? At the minimum it includes clear instruction from God’s word (Ecclesiastes 12:9-11). And at the other end of the spectrum it means placing the right tools in your spiritual workbox that will enable you to handle life and glorify God. Please pray that I would seek to maintain a good balance as I see to accomplish this goal. Thanks!