This Sunday will be my 30th anniversary as pastor of FBC O’Fallon, IL. I was considered so young then. Funny how quickly things change. But I’ve learned some great lessons by serving this long at my church. Here are a few of them.
You can trust God with your future. Following God’s path is best. Romans 12:2 tells us that God’s will is “good, pleasing and perfect” and I know that to be true from experience. I’m so glad I trusted God with my future as a young man. As a not so young man, I see that God has always been trustworthy.
Relationships are a great part of the journey. Paul mentions his friends and co-workers with such warmth in his letters. I’ve walked with people through their joys and their sorrows over the past decades. These connections with people are what I remember and appreciate. I love that God has allowed imperfect me and imperfect others to connect on our pilgrimage to follow the perfect Savior.
Change is part of life and ministry. Many things have changed over the years, and that is inevitable and okay. While change can be hard, stagnation can be toxic. I’m so thankful that God is always changing our perspectives and styles. And I’m glad leisure suits are a thing of the past.
The greatest things never change. The gospel is still the same. Prioritizing it needs to always be the mission of the church. Loving God and loving others still matters most. Serving is still more important than being served. The truth of God’s word is still the message that needs to be preached.
No, I don’t get called “The Young Pastor” anymore. But I do still get the great privilege of being called “Pastor”. I’m looking forward to all God wants to do in me, with me and through me in the years ahead. And I’m so thankful for the past 30 years!
Posted in Church, pastor, Uncategorized
Tagged Baptist, bible, Christian, Christianity, church, faith, God, Jesus, pastor, Religion and Spirituality
(I am the President of the Illinois Baptist State Association and I wrote the following for the Illinois Baptist newsletter which will come out soon. But perhaps this need for connection applies to a wider audience as well.)
Let’s Get Connected
Do you remember playing with Legos as a child? They snap together to make all kinds of wonderful things. They are made for connections!
Christians are made for connections as well. We work best when we work together. All kinds of wonderful things happen when we connect.
I can’t help but notice that Christians and churches seem less connected than ever at a time when we need connections more than ever. Never have we needed each other more than in this age of moral and spiritual confusion. At the same time pastors, leaders and churches appear to be more isolated. We are made for connections.
Fellow members of IBSA and the SBC, here are three ways we can connect better in 2025.
Do we have a method for connecting missionally? Yes! The Cooperative Program is a means by which we impact our state convention locally and the work God has given us nationally and internationally. 2025 happens to be the 100-year anniversary of this incredible strategy of every church working together in fulfilling the Great Commission. Let’s connect by supporting the work God has for us by generous support of the Cooperative Program.
2. Let’s connect theologically. One of our firmest connections stems from the beliefs we share. What we believe about God’s word and God’s work bonds us together as Southern Baptists and Illinois Baptists. While we appreciate all others who follow Jesus, we are Baptists by conviction. We love the word of God and want to follow it closely. We share common beliefs.
Do we have a guideline for connecting theologically? Yes! The Baptist Faith and Message is an expression of our common beliefs. 2025 happens to be the 100-year anniversary of the 1925 BF&M and the 25-year anniversary of the BF&M 2000. Let’s connect by standing firm on our common beliefs.
3. Let’s connect relationally. One of our happiest connections stems from the relationships we enjoy. We benefit from the encouragement that comes from knowing each other and growing in our faith together. Christians need other Christians, pastors need other pastors and churches need other churches. We sharpen each other like iron sharpens iron.
Do we have a method for connecting relationally? Yes! Our local churches, local associations, state conventions and national conventions give us opportunities to meet, pray and learn together. Our active participation allows us to get to know each other and to gain the mutual benefit that comes with that relationship. Let’s connect by gathering in all these ways.
As Legos are made to connect, we are made to connect. We are stronger, better and more effective together. So let’s get connected!
Doug Munton
I’m 64 years old so I figure I’ve lived almost a third of my lifetime by now. Too optimistic about how long I’ll live? You’re probably right. But regardless of my optimism, I’m not anticipating that my life will last another 1,000 years. How about you?
If we can agree that our lifespan is shorter than the next millennium, why would we care about what happens that far in the future? Why think ahead like that? Why not just live for the moment? After all, that seems to be the way many live. Even many Christians seem to live with little thought to eternity.
God has a better plan. You can live with eternity in mind. You can live with the recognition that life is short and eternity is coming. We live in the here and now, of course. But wise are the people who live life now with their future in mind. If you know Jesus as your Savior, God has promised you eternal life and something greater beyond this lifetime. Live with that truth firmly planted in you, and your life here will be all the richer.
Here are some reasons to live with eternity in mind.
Living with eternity in mind changes your perspective. If we just live for the moment we are unprepared for the future. I knew some guys in my summertime construction jobs who spent their weekly paycheck on the first day. They spent it like there was no tomorrow. They needed to change their perspective about finances. They had to learn to discipline themselves, save ahead, make plans and think long term. Those who learned to plan for the full week and beyond were much more successful in their financial endeavors.
Many Christians live as though there is no tomorrow. They never consider that one day they will stand before the Lord to give an account of their use of his gifts, blessings and provisions. The perspective change of long range thinking helps us to make the most of the opportunities God places before us. We are less likely to squander our lives on silly things and more likely to find spiritual success. Having the right perspective goes a long way towards living an effective spiritual life.
Living with eternity in mind changes your priorities. Gold will just be pavement in heaven. A handful of gravel and asphalt isn’t worth much here, and a handful of gold isn’t worth much in eternity. When we lose sight of eternity we can find ourselves valuing the wrong things.
In eternity, what we did to honor the Lord and his work will still matter. In eternity, how we used the gifts and opportunities he provided us will still matter. In eternity, the way we loved God and loved others will still matter. Living with eternity in mind can help us value the things God values and prioritize the things God has prioritized.
Living with eternity in mind changes your purpose. Too many have wasted their lives. They have lived for self or pleasure or possessions. How sad to waste the one earthly life given by the Lord himself. How sad to never consider why God put us on this planet.
Living for eternity can remind us that we are made for a purpose and a plan. God made us to know Him as Savior and Lord. God saved us to live a life of impact and mission. When we stand before Jesus we will want to know that we have lived out the mission He gave to us. We will want to know that we have obeyed and followed him. We will rejoice that God has accomplished his purposes through us and used us to make a difference in eternity. What a special joy it will be to know that God used our witness, our testimony and our example to help others come to know Him. What a joy it will be to know God has used us in his eternal work.
Live in the present tense, but always keep one eye on eternity. Remember that God made you for something more than this lifetime. Be active and productive and focused in this present age; in this one lifetime that God gives you now. But never lose sight of the fact that God made and remade you for something more.
Be sure to live your life thinking about 1,000 years from now!
Posted in bible, Christianity, discipleship, Uncategorized
Tagged bible, Christian, Christianity, faith, God, Jesus, Religion and Spirituality
Playing sports was a big part of my adolescence and early adult years. It was a means of building friendships, gaining self discipline and learning teamwork. Over the years, I had many different coaches, each with their own set of strengths and weaknesses. Here is the story of a lesson I learned from one of my coaches and how it applies to life and ministry.
Coach Lynne Sweet was my High School baseball coach and English teacher in the small town of Macon, IL., population 1,177. Coach Sweet was something of a hippie (ask your parents) and among the most unique and unconventional teachers and coaches I’ve known. He was also incredibly successful in his short coaching career. Little Macon High School was second in the IHSA baseball playoffs in 1971, before separate classifications for schools, beating schools that were massively larger. In the mid to late 1970’s, our school won more than 50 consecutive conference baseball games. Many of my fellow athletes played college sports, and graduate Brian Snitker managed the 2021 World Champion Atlanta Braves.
The secret to the success of Coach Sweet was built on two things. He taught the fundamentals of the sport well and he made baseball fun. Learning the fundamentals is important in every sport and Coach Sweet taught the fundamentals well. He encouraged former players to come to our practices when they were in town and Brian Snitker (playing minor league baseball then) and others passed on what they had learned. Assistant coach Saunches played Minor League baseball just a few years earlier and knew the game well. The importance of playing the game the right way was an important part of the success. But it wasn’t the only part.
One thing that made Sweet different- and successful- was that he made baseball fun. We had fun in practices and games and learned that this sport was best played when it was most enjoyed. Coach Sweet knew that tension was detrimental to baseball performance. He knew that a relaxed, loose approach tended to be the most effective approach. We all wanted to win, but we found that enjoying baseball helped us towards that end. Baseball, we learned, was a game and games are to be enjoyed!
The Christian life is meant to be enjoyed. Did you know that? Joy is a big part of the God’s plan for believers. Paul certainly had plenty of difficulties and problems. But he also exuded joy in the middle of those difficulties. Do you remember Acts 16 where Paul and Silas are imprisoned for their faith, but singing in their prison cell? Joy in salvation is normal. Joy in ministry is to be the natural condition. But many live as though the Christian life is to be tolerated rather than enjoyed. Don’t let that be you.
I remind my fellow pastors and missionaries, teachers and deacons, to have fun in ministry. Even though you will face challenges and difficulties in our fallen world, remember the joy of the Lord. Never lose sight of the privilege of pointing others to Jesus and helping others grow in faith. Don’t forget the joy that is ours in Christ. We are forgiven, set free and given purpose. These are great things and should lead us to rejoice in God’s work. And, you will find that living a life of joy in Christ is not just fun, but more effective. The joyful Christian life is also a contagious life.
Once in a while, I see athletes who looks like they have forgotten how much fun sports can be. Maybe their coaches or parents never taught them to enjoy the game; making it tense instead of enjoyable. Too bad.
Once in a while, I see ministry leaders who looks like they have forgotten how awesome it is to serve King Jesus. Maybe they never had someone remind them of how amazing grace is or how much joy comes in living for others instead of yourself. Maybe they have been beaten down by circumstances and others and live in tension instead of joy. Too bad.
So let Coach Munton coach you up just a bit today. Enjoy Christ. Laugh a little. Count your blessings. Remember to rejoice. Serve the Lord with gladness. And, in honor of my old hippie baseball coach, I say to you– have some fun!
Posted in leadership, ministry, Uncategorized
Tagged baseball, Brian Snitker, Christian, Christianity, coach, coaches, community, faith, God, Jesus, mlb, Religion and Spirituality, softball, sports
Acts 10:14 records a shocking juxtaposition of words from the apostle Peter. “No, Lord!”
I wish Peter was the only to say no to the Lord. But I’m afraid I join a long list of followers of Jesus who have sometimes called him Lord, and told him no.
The christian life is all about saying yes to Jesus.We say yes to him in salvation by turning from sin and placing our faith in his death and resurrection. We say yet to him in discipleship by following where he leads and doing what he says.
Recently, I watched as dozens of missionaries were commissioned and sent out by the International Mission Board. They said yes to the Lord’s call on their lives and were going all over the world to tell others about Jesus. It was moving and encouraging and convicting.
Here are some suggestions about how you can stop saying “No, Lord” and start saying yes to Jesus.
Remember the damage of saying no. There are sometimes difficulties connected with saying yes to the Lord. He may call you to do hard things in hard places at hard times. Saying yes to him may lead to difficult climbs up steep, narrow paths. But don’t forget that there are also difficulties with saying no to the Lord. A no means you miss God’s best for your life. A no means you are following a lesser authority for your future. A no means you are disobeying the one who loves you, died for you and calls you. A no means you are living an inconsistent life and wasting the opportunities, giftedness and talents God has given you. Saying yes to God can lead to difficulties. Saying no to God can lead to disaster.
See the joy of a life of saying yes to Jesus. While saying yes to the Lord can result in difficulties, it also leads to blessings. Don’t make an easy life your goal. Make your goal an obedient, purposeful and significant life. Saying yes to the Lord is where you will find contentment and joy. It is where your life leaves an impact. I’ve seen so many committed followers of Christ who have faced adversity for the cause of Christ but tell us it was worth it; that pleasing the Lord is the better way to live. They found the joy of God’s will.
Answer yes before you know the question. Don’t wait to see what God wants before deciding to obey him. Decide to obey him and then see what he wants. Say yes to the Lord before you even know the question. Do this because you know God wants what is best. Do this because you know you can trust God. Do this because God’s way is better than yours. When we want to know what God wants before we decide, we are running our lives. When we say yes before we know what he wants, we are letting God run our lives.
Many have joined Peter in saying “No, Lord”. Many have lived as though Jesus is merely an advisor rather than Lord. But God had a better plan for Peter and he has a better plan for you. He calls you to follow, obey and trust.
Say yes!
Posted in discipleship, faith, Uncategorized
Tagged bible, Christian, Christianity, discipleship, faith, God, Jesus, Religion and Spirituality
I walked out of my office and into the church parking lot recently just as an older couple was pulling in to visit our church bookstore. As the husband rolled down the window, I recognized him as the son of an old pastor, long since departed to glory. That old pastor had been the pastor of my grandparents in their older years and, before his death, had told me some about my grandparents’ lives and faith.
My grandfather died when I was just three years old. My earliest childhood memory is of him sitting in a chair in his home. I don’t remember anything else about him; just seeing him, an old man sitting in a chair. I never had any meaningful conversations, don’t remember playing with him or giving him a hug or any of the other things grandpas do with their grandchildren. I’ve always wished I had known him.
So, I was delighted to hear this pastor’s son tell me about visiting with my grandfather. The man told me that my grandparents’ house was near his boyhood school. On good weather days, my grandfather-to-be would sit out on the porch and the two would talk. The man told me about my grandfather’s sense of humor and kind disposition. How I loved hearing these stories about this man I never knew.
My grandfather came to Christ as a middle aged man. His life was dramatically changed by the power of the gospel. A life of drink and profanity, of pain and loss, of frustration and anger was changed by the forgiveness and purpose found in his new life in Christ.
While I know many stories about my grandfather, I never knew him. My father told me about the dramatic changes in my grandfather. My mother told me about his kindness to her when she entered the family. Relatives have told me about his actions and antics. But I never knew him. And this makes me look forward to heaven all the more.
There are many things about heaven that I look forward to. I want to bow in worship before the Lord Jesus who died for me and to see his hands and head that were scarred as payment for my sins. I want to see that beautiful, bright and massive new Jerusalem described in Revelation 21. I want to meet all the heroes of faith described in the 11th chapter of Hebrews. And there are so many friends and family I want to see again; those who have gone before me.
But I also look forward to seeing a man I never knew. I want to spend time with the man who sits in that chair in my childhood memory. I want to talk to the man whose conversion changed the trajectory of my family.
However you picture heaven, it is greater than that, I’m sure. The wonders and responsibilities and discoveries that will be ours are beyond our ability to fully grasp yet. But I was reminded in the church parking lot of great things still to come. I want to urge you to give your life to Christ as your own Savior and Lord. I want to encourage you to be sure that you know Jesus personally and that you have experienced his mercy and grace. I want you to be sure that heaven will be your home one day.
And then, let’s plan to meet and talk a bit there in heaven. I’ll introduce you to my grandfather.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Christian, Christianity, faith, God, heaven, Jesus, Religion and Spirituality, salvation
“I’m not a procrastinator!” That is my new go to saying whenever my wife notes something I need to do. Instead of waiting (and then forgetting), I’m trying to be more helpful by getting right to the task at hand.
The reason for saying “I’m not a procrastinator” is because, well… for much of my life I’ve had a tendency to procrastinate. “I’ll get to it later– probably.” “Now isn’t a convenient time.” “Maybe the rapture will occur and I won’t even have to do this hard thing!”
There are, of course, some items that need to be pondered. We should be patient where patience is needed. But some things shouldn’t be put off. Some items need more immediate attention. Some things are better dealt with sooner than later.
Here are three things that ought not be waited on. Instead, these areas of life need our willingness to say “No more putting this off. I’m not a procrastinator!”
Don’t wait on things that are important. Instead of having that devotional time where you dig into God’s word and spend time in prayer, you can put it off until later. You think it might be more convenient at another time or that you just aren’t quite awake enough yet. But important things need to be done. Time in God’s word is too important to forget. Praying matters too much to be relegated to the vague hope of a better time. Important things need to be prioritized. Important things need to tended to.
What you do with your time gives you a pretty good clue about what is really important to you. Putting things off suggests that maybe those items aren’t as important to you as you think. Instead, make sure to prioritize those things that matter most. Prioritize your devotional life. Prioritize time with your family. Prioritize church attendance. Don’t wait on things that are important.
Don’t wait on things that are urgent. Some foods have a shelf life. You eat them within that time frame or they spoil. Some issues of life have a shelf life. An opportunity to share the gospel with a questioning friend may never come again. It is too urgent to put off. A chance to minister to a dying family member can’t be relegated to another day. It is too urgent to put off.
You can’t prepare for that Sunday morning Bible study on Sunday afternoon. And, if you want to give your best to the class, you will want to begin your preparation long before late Saturday night. Time is always moving forward and that provides an urgency to seize the opportunities that come today knowing that tomorrow is almost here.
Don’t wait on things that are difficult. One reason we procrastinate is because we know the task that needs to be done is hard. We often put off dealing with problems or having hard conversations or engaging in necessary confrontations because those things can be so challenging. But putting those things off doesn’t make them go away. Sometimes our unwillingness to deal with them in a timely fashion only makes those problems harder.
I’m trying to learn not to put things off just because they are hard. Instead, I generally find it better to do the hard things first before moving on to simpler tasks. God asks some hard things of us. Hard doesn’t mean wrong. Sharing the gospel with others isn’t always easy, but don’t put it off when the opportunity comes. Serving in a ministry isn’t always easy, but don’t wait when the Lord prompts you to volunteer.
Maybe you struggle with putting things off just like I do. Maybe you too find yourself hoping the Lord returns so that you don’t have to something you would rather not do. But, you know what? Even should the Lord return while you are doing that hard thing it will be great that he finds you being faithful to what you need to do.
After all, you aren’t a procrastinator!
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged bible, Christian, Christianity, church, faith, God, Jesus, procrastination, Religion and Spirituality
“Oh, what a tangled web we weave…” [Sir Walter Scott, Marmion, A Tale of Flodden Field] Growing up in the 60’s and 70’s, having very long and very straight hair was very much in vogue. I had never had anything other than a trim in those early years and so one of my most taxing […]
Doug Munton 