Four Ps

People, preaching, publications, and pencils.  Those four Ps could serve as categories into which I could organize my vocation as a pastor - another P.

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• I teach, lead, build relationships with, and encourage people.  
  
• I preach each week, speaking "as one who speaks the very words of God" as Peter instructs.  
• I read publications in the form of books (biblical commentaries, classical literature, devotionals, novels, and, most importantly, the Bible), as well as online articles and faith-related magazines and quarterlies day after day.  
• I write nearly everything with my Pentel pencil, my tool of choice.  
  

The first P defines my focus of ministry.  God called me to pastor people.  Without people, pastoring makes little sense.
 
The second P defines my primary gifting and vocational purpose.  God called me to preach - to preach and teach the Word to equip God's people.  

The third and fourth P identify my tools.  I trust the Holy Spirit to speak through the Bible primarily as well as through the other sources of learning and instruction as I read.  I, too, trust Him to guide my pencil as I write what I pray are and will be words of strength, encouragement, challenge, education, all with equipping power.

Those four words serve me as I pause to reflect on my vocational priorities.  What four words could you use?  Take some time to think about your vocation.  

If you're a physician, might I suggest . . .
     patients, practicing, publications, and pipettes.  
If you're a teacher, maybe . . .
     pupils, presentations, projectors, and pens (need red?).
If you're a server, you could use . . .
     patrons, personality, pasta, and plates.
If you're a contractor, these come to mind . . .
     purchasers, projects, plans, and power tools.

This might sound like a fun exercise to you or you might want to pass.  Whichever you choose, I invite you to first take a look at the first P in each list.  Here they are again - People, Patients, Pupils, and Purchasers.  In each case (and every case, for that matter), the tools and disciplines come after the people.  People first.  When it comes to Ps, people always count most.

#ordinarylives