Mary, Mary, quite contrary
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells and cockle shells
And pretty maids all in a row.
For the past generation, one of the hottest topics among pastors and church leaders has been church growth. "Pastor, Pastor, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?" Theories abound and models for 'doing church' come and go like teenage fashion fads. But in the middle of all ...
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
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When our small staff (of two) met for a long-term planning and goals review, my colleague was visibly stressed. She said, "My whole life is church. I'm drained, rather than energized, by ministry. I want to be able to go home without thinking about work all the time."
Her story is scandalous, first word to last. And glorious.
At dawn, the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees tarried by a nameless woman's door, itching to drag her out of bed and into the temple, where Jesus was teaching. Moments later, half-dressed at best, the woman was forced to "stand before the group," like Hester Prynne wearing her scarlet letter, cheeks stained with shame.
Sometimes problems in ministry can stem from emotional burnout. To determine if you need a break for some emotional renewal, assess yourself according to the following statements below:
When you take an accurate, honest reading of your emotional gauge and find that it's reading low, you need to take time to recharge. Some people recharge by running, others by taking a bath, others by reading, and others ...
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