Posts Tagged ‘burnout’

Feb
14
2011

Reboot Your Life

Sometimes you just need to reboot your computer and sometimes you need to reboot your life. Elijah realized this. In 1 Kings 19, we see the raw human side of this fiery prophet of God. His lessons are powerful lessons for today’s connected generation. I flesh that out in great detail in chapter five if iFaith. Here are some key excerpts:

I’m finding that rebooting is essential for the long-term viability of the soul.

I believe God allowed Elijah to suffer this discouragement for a purpose, because He wanted to correct a fatal flaw in his theology.

Elijah bought into a common spiritual myth. It plagues believers today. I call it the superhero mentality. Others have labeled it the missionary mind-set or the martyr complex.

It’s the mistaken idea that activity for God is a worthy substitute for intimacy with God. We take responsibility for outcomes and results, and convince ourselves that normal, human weaknesses shouldn’t apply to Christians.

To read a longer piece I wrote for In Touch Ministries on Elijah’s meltdown, click here

To order your copy of iFaith, click here:

Jun
18
2010

Friday Five Interview – Charles Stone


Several years ago, when I was working for a Christian organization and the editor of their monthly devotional magazine, I had the chance to meet Charles Stone, Senior Pastor of Ginger Creek Community Church. Actually I “met” him via email. We had the opportunity to print an excerpt from his then-new book, Daughters Gone Wild, Dad’s Gone Crazy. This was a great book that chronicled the  journey he took with his daughter who rebelled for a time but then came back to the faith.

Since then, we’ve become friends. Charles graciously endorsed Teen People of the Bible. We’ve also ran into each other at writer’s conferences, etc. I highly recommend his blog: charlesstone.net.

Well, now Charles is out with a brand-new book, 5 Ministry Killers and How to Defeat Them. It is a revealing look at pastoral burnout. I’m nearly finished with the book and I can say that it has challenged me and has educated me on the rigors of ministry. I highly recommend it for both pastors, board members, and lay people.

Read More

May
19
2010

Book Review – 5 Ministry Killers by Dr. Charles Stone


What if you could give a pastor truth serum and ask him what ministry is really like? Behind the plastered-on smile and steady handshake are often men of God who struggle with depression, burnout, disappointment, and sin.

And yet, God continues to call ordinary men to the most extraordinary position as shepherd of God’s people. As a young and learning pastor myself, I’m humbled by the opportunity to stand in God’s place and speak the Word to His people. What a holy, humble, and high calling.

One of my good friends in ministry, Dr. Charles Stone, has written a powerful new book, 5 Ministry Killers. Charles rips the mask off of the ministry and reveals the heart of what it is like to be a pastor, going in depth into five areas that rob the joy and steal the fruit of a pastor’s ministry.

Stone compiles research from respected evangelical polling centers such as Lifeway Research, Barna, and Christianity Today. He combs through the research and layers it with his own personal experience—20 plus years in the ministry.

Rarely have I read a pastor so willingly vulnerable, eager to share his struggles and how God has carried him through.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. At time the research arrested my attention. Other times I was forced to close the book and reflect and pray over my own flawed motivations. And the entire time I was challenged and strengthened by the book’s humble wisdom.

I highly recommend 5 Ministry Killers to any pastor, whether you’re like me and you’ve been in the pulpit only 2 years or you’re a grizzled veteran of church life. And you don’t have to be a pastor to benefit. I highly recommend church boards and key lay leadership read 5 Ministry Killers.

Kudos to my friend, Dr. Charles Stone, for a well-written, well-researched, and well-lived book.

Note: Click here to read a Friday Five interview with Dr. Stone that will officially post on June 18th.