In fact, it’s my guess that you’re healthier than most.

You probably exercise regularly. You watch what you eat. You keep up-to-date on the latest health concerns. You don’t binge on sugar.

And you never – ever – eat fast food.  Well, almost never.

But you do have a few unhealthy skeletons in your closet -ones that you probably aren’t even aware of.

The following 5 Stupid Things are frequently committed by health conscious people. Once you break these bad habits, you’ll find that achieving your weight loss goals just became a whole lot easier.

1. You’re Dehydrated

• It has been said that 75 percent of the population is chronically dehydrated. Would you disagree? When was the last time that you actually drank 8 glasses of water in a day?
• Dehydration occurs when more fluid leaves your body than is taken in. Symptoms include: fatigue, irritability, headaches, nausea, rapid heart rate, and, in extreme cases, even death.
• Dehydration also slows your metabolism, which hinders weight loss.

You shouldn’t wait until the feeling of thirst or dry mouth hits you, at that point damage has already been done. Instead, constantly rehydrate throughout your day to avoid dehydration.

The best way to do this is to incorporate water into your daily schedule. Have a water bottle at your desk and train yourself to sip on it often, and get into the habit of drinking a full glass of water with each meal and snack.

2. You Eat Out Too Often

• Research suggests that most people eat out one out of every 4 meals and snacks. That’s an average of once a day.
• Restaurant food is designed to do one thing: to taste good. In order to increase eating pleasure, each item is loaded with fat, salt and sugar. This causes you to eat way more calories than you actually need.
• Even when you order ‘healthy’ items, you’re still taking in more calories and fat grams than you would if you had prepared the item at home. Imagine the last salad you ordered out. Didn’t it come with cream dressing, croutons, cheese sprinkles and a piece of butter laden bread on the side?

The main reason people eat out is for convenience, so with a little organization you’ll find that preparing your own meals takes less time than you thought it would. On the weekend sit down and plan out your meals for the week. Then go to the grocery store and stock up on everything you’ll need for those meals.

Pack your lunch and snacks each night before bed, then grab it on your way out the door in the morning. When you prepare dinner at home, make enough for at least the next day as well. Your efforts will pay off both in terms of weight loss and in money saved.

3. You’re Sleep Deprived

• In Gallup Poll surveys, 56% of the adult population reported that drowsiness is a problem in the daytime. That’s more than half of us that clearly don’t get enough sleep.
• Healthy adults require 7-8 hours of sleep each night. When you fail to meet this need your body goes into sleep debt, which continues to accumulate indefinitely until you catch up.
• A lack of sleep negatively affects your immune system, your nervous system, and interferes with healthy hormone release and cellular repairs.

The best way to combat sleep deprivation is to set a scheduled bedtime. Your body will benefit from a consistent sleeping and waking routine, and you’re sure to get all the rest you need.

If you have trouble falling asleep once you’re in bed, then try these two tips. First, make sure that you don’t drink any caffeinated beverages after lunchtime. Second, don’t eat for three hours before you go to bed. This helps eliminate sleeplessness due to indigestion, and will also turbo-charge your weight loss.

4. You’re Stressed Out

• I don’t have to tell you that we are living in a fast-paced world and that most of us have stress levels that are through the roof. But what you might not realize is that your stress levels are making you fat.
• Stress creates an increase in the hormone cortisol, and chronic stress creates a chronic increase in cortisol. This is a problem because is slows your metabolism, leads to cravings and is linked to greater levels of abdominal fat storage.
• The vicious cycle of stress and weight gain goes around and around. Stress causes you to eat emotionally, and your raised cortisol levels cause that food to be stored as fat.

One of the most effective ways to instantly eliminate stress is to sit down and write out a list of all the things that are bothering you. This should include things that you need to get done, issues that weigh on your mind and anything you believe contributes to your stress level.

Once it’s all down on paper, organize it like a to-do list and start resolving each item. Doing so will get the stress off of your mind and will put your body into the motion of resolving each issue.

5. You’re on Exercise Autopilot

• You do the same thing each and every time you exercise. Same machines, same pace, same duration. While your routine sure feels comfortable, your results have long since halted.
• A plateau occurs when your body adapts to your routine and weight loss stops. It is incredibly frustrating, and totally avoidable.
• You don’t have to increase the amount of time that you spend exercising in order to see quicker, faster results. It’s all about challenging your body.

There are two simple ways to instantly increase the effectiveness of your exercise routine. First, increase your pace. Secondly, increase your intensity. Constantly vary your speed and intensity in order to keep your muscles guessing and adapting.

Another way to break through the exercise plateau is to do something totally new. If you regularly use weight machines then start using free weights. If you normally jog on the treadmill then start using the bike.

Are you ready to break the plateau as you take your routine to the next level?

Would you like to know without a shadow of a doubt that you are going to lose weight in the coming months?

It’s my goal to see you achieve greatness. I believe that you’ve got what it takes.

It’s so simple. Call or email today to get started on a program that will improve your health and well being, and will get you amazing results.

Spread the word. Forward this newsletter to your friends, family and coworkers by using the ‘refer a friend’ link below. They’ll thank you for it.

Email me to learn more about my fitness and fat loss programs that will quickly change your life.

Gourmet Open-Faced Salmon Sandwich

Open-faced sandwiches are great for cutting out extra calories while trying to lose weight. This recipe calls for sprouted grain bread, which is flourless bread that is densely packed with nutrients. Store your sprouted grain bread in the freezer, since it is made without preservatives or chemicals to promote shelf life.

Yield: 2 servings

Here’s what you need…

1 sprouted grain bun
2 Tablespoons hummus
1/2 cup arugula
Half of an avocado, peeled, pitted and sliced
6 oz smoked salmon
2 thin slices of onion
4 slices of heirloom tomato
Salt and pepper to taste
Spread each piece of the bun with 1 Tablespoon of hummus. Top each with half the arugula, avocado, salmon, onions, and tomato.
Season with freshly ground sea salt and pepper.

Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 267 calories, 9g fat, 25g carbohydrate, 6g fiber, and 22g protein.

Fitness Tip of the Week

Instant Accountability – Do you have a weight loss goal that you’re working toward? Post it on Facebook, and get instant accountability from friends and family. Be specific with your post. Include the exact amount that you aim to lose and the date that you’ll lose it by. You may be surprised how encouraging and supportive your friends will be – it may be exactly the motivating boost that you need to achieve your goal.

It was a debilitating epiphany.

Kelly was my girlfriend in 5th grade. I remember thinking how beautiful she was (still is). She had hair that looked like curly fries (still does). We had even gotten in trouble for kissing on the playground. Even though I didn’t grow hair in certain areas until I was in High School, I was still an aggressive 10-year-old. We dated in High School. Married in college. Now eight years and three kids later we stood across from each other confused, unable to communicate and pretty much depleted.

How did this happen?

Hardly a day goes by that someone doesn’t tell us what a great couple we are or how cute our family is.

I felt an incredible numbness. I couldn’t move. I didn’t want to. I didn’t want to pursue her. I spend 50 plus hours a week pursuing people. That’s my job! When I come home I want to rest. I want a break. I just want to watch TV.

Does she not know that? Have I not shared with her all the affirmation I have been receiving from the people I’ve been pursuing? Does she not know all the good I’m doing? Does she not know that people need me?

How did this happen to me?

My dad owns a commercial tile construction company. During the summers of my High School days, I would work for him. I hated it. But tonight the thought of laying tile, even though it is hard, laborious work, seemed so restful. Maybe if I were a tile-setter I would want to be the “spiritual leader” of my family, because I don’t now. I don’t have the capacity.

Earlier that same day I was preparing a lesson on the feeding of the 5,000. Before Jesus performed this miracle, he asked Philip, one of his disciples, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” The author then tell us that Jesus already knew that he was going to solve the problem miraculously.

So why did Jesus ask?

When confronted with an overwhelming need or a debilitating epiphany, what’s our response?

Philip’s response was “It would take almost a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

Looking at my 5th grade girlfriend, grown-up and heartbroken, my response was “I can’t fix this and I don’t have the energy to try. At least not right now. I have a few things I have to get done at work first. Right now all I want to do is watch TV.” And that’s what I did.

Standing in the kitchen I knew what my response should be. I still know what my response should be. It’s part of my job to know the right response. But even as I write these thoughts down, evoking pretty s*!tty feelings about myself (please don’t go back and read my previous post…you will all turn on me), I still don’t really want to turn to Jesus with my overwhelming need.

Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there).

Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

So glad it’s all about grace.

Zach

“If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” 2 Corinthians 11:30 (ESV)

This is the fifth in a series of blog posts called, “My Top Ten Mistakes in Ministry (That I Can Share Publicly.)” After many years of ministry experience as a church planter, pastor and seminary professor, I think I’ve finally learned that one of the best kept secrets to surviving well in the ministry is to stop making the same old mistakes that others (like me) have been making for decades. Instead, let’s all start making some brand new, bold, innovative and creative mistakes!

We began this series with an introduction called, “Ladies First” in which veteran church planter wife, Shari Thomas, addressed the tough topic, What I Wish I Had Known About Church Planting from the perspective of the church planter’s/pastor’s spouse. We then took a look at:

• Mistake #1 (these are in no intentional order) called, “Failing to Understand the Importance of How I Define Ministry Success.”
• Mistake #2 called, Managing My Time and Not Managing My Life
• Mistake #3: Not Understanding the Difference Between my Goals and Desires.

This time we’ll take a brief look at another common mistake church leaders make that I wish someone had told me about before I went into the ministry.

Mistake #4: Not Understanding the Difference Between Pursing the Grace of God and the God of Grace.

John Piper’s words still seem to be ringing in my ears after all these years: “Is God a means of grace in your life and ministry or is grace a means to God?” No one had ever asked me that kind of question before. In fact, it took me a while to even figure out what the question meant.

But when I finally understood it, I found myself wishing someone had dared to ask me that kind of penetrating, potentially life-changing question many years ago. Let me try to expound on this idea briefly.

The Ultimate Quest of Your Life & Ministry
In John 17:3 Jesus said, “And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent.” Here we are meant to learn that God’s goal for our lives is not merely to serve him in faithful ministry but primarily to know him, to love him, to glorify him and enjoy him.

Think of this question again: “Is God made a means to grace in your ministry or is grace made a means to God?” To put the question differently, “Does the quest of your life and the passion of your ministry terminate on God? Knowing Him? Enjoying Him? Glorifying Him?

Or is God brought in beside all your planning, techniques and ministry strategies in hope that he might somehow be the means of a great outpouring of grace on your ministry and in your life? The big idea here is that it makes a tremendous difference whether the ultimate quest of your life and ministry is the grace of God or the God of grace.

Using God to Solve Your Problems or Using Your Problems to Find God?

One of the most fundamental questions is whether you will place God or yourself at the center of your ministry. The practical benefits of a God-centered focus in life and ministry are far-reaching. Author Larry Crabb makes the point that a leader with this perspective stops trying to “use God to solve his problems”. Instead such a leader learns how to “use his problems to find God”.

A very common problem among church planters, missionaries, and pastors, is that we begin to see ourselves primarily as servants of God or soldiers of God. Unknowingly, over time, our view of God becomes primarily that of a Master or a Commander-in-Chief. And those pictures of God are biblical and true, but there is so much more to a truly biblical view of God.

In John 15 Jesus said, “You are my friends.” There is a sense in which that’s richer than merely being a slave or a soldier. Then in 1John 3:1 we read these astonishing words, “See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God.”

Stop and think about this: more than being a “friend” of Christ, because you are now “in Christ” you are also considered by God to be His child—one who is now loved with the highest of all loves, a love previously reserved by the eternal Father for His one and only Son! There is no stronger love in all the cosmos (Eph 3:14-20).

In Ephesians 5 we see another graphic picture of a bride and a bridegroom—the picture of intimate lovers. As a church leader never allow the imagery of what has been called the “John 3:16 of the Old Testament” to leave your mind and heart: “The LORD your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy. He will be quiet in His love. He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy” (Zeph 3:17). Here we have the Commander-in-Chief (the Victorious Warrior) rejoicing over you as His child with shouts of joy.

The Lord is our Commander-in-Chief, and we are called to be “good soldiers of Jesus Christ”, putting on and utilizing all the spiritual armor (Eph. 6) that is now ours in Christ. He is also our Master and we are called to be His “servants” availing ourselves of all of His means of grace so we might be called “faithful” at the end of this race. But we must never forget He is also our Friend, our Father and our Lover (and so much more).

The reason having a proper view of God is so critically important in your life and ministry is because it is so easy to be unknowingly:
• Pursuing the Kingdom and not the King
• Pursuing the Truth of God and not the God of Truth
• Using God to solve your problems rather than using your problems to find God.
In other words, if you are not consciously fighting against it, you are at risk of falling prey to pursing the grace of God and not the God of grace.

Just before his death, Dr. Bill Bright, the founder of Campus Crusade spoke at Reformed Seminary in Orlando, Florida, where I’m on faculty (along with Steve Brown). He had a terminal respiratory disease. Many of us were told he might not live long enough to speak in chapel on the date he had been scheduled. So I’ll never forget watching this man of God being helped into the seminary chapel in a wheel chair with a oxygen tubes hooked under his nose. Here was without question one of the greatest visionary leaders of our generation. And he had come to preach to us as “a dying man to dying men”.

I found fascinating that the focus of his final message that morning was not on the importance of capturing a vision for reaching the world for Christ. That’s what I was expecting. But it was, to my surprise, a powerful message on the importance of capturing a vision for God in the fullness of all His attributes.

I’ll never forget Dr. Bright’s final challenge to us that day—to see God not merely as useful but instead to learn to see God primarily as beautiful. It was just another way of saying, “Don’t merely pursue the grace of God. Pursue the God of grace”. I hope this helps you in that life-long process.

——————————

Steve Childers is the President & CEO of Global Church Advancement, an inter-denominational ministry that provides church planting training, consultations, and resources for church planters, pastors and missionaries throughout the world. Steve has trained Christian leaders from more than 40 countries (curriculum in five major global languages) representing over 120 denominations and mission agencies. Steve is also an author, Professor of Practical Theology (since 1995) and the director of the doctoral program at Reformed Theological Seminary, in Orlando, Florida, where he teaches church planting, missions, evangelism and spiritual formation. To learn more about GCA:

• Browse the GCA Website: http://www.gca.cc

• Join the GCA Cause: http://bit.ly/X5bZC

• See the GCA Blog: http://www.gca.cc/blog/

• Follow GCA on Twitter:http://twitter.com/_gca

• Follow GCA President (Childers) on Twitter: http://twitter.com/stevechilders

• Check out upcoming GCA Events: http://gca.cc/Seminar_Overview.htm

• Support GCA: http://gca.cc/Support_GCA.htm

He mentioned a quote I had used… I use it a lot in training leaders, elders, pastors and church planters. I stole it from Steve years ago (I have looked it up myself and its legit). It’s the Rule of St. Benedict, from the Benedictine Monastery, 6th Century.

“If any pilgrim monk come from distant parts with wish as a guest to dwell in our monastery and will be content with the customs which he finds in this place, and does not perchance by his lavishness disturb the monastery, but is simply content with what he finds, he shall be received for as long a time as he wishes. If indeed he find fault with anything or expose it reasonably and with humility and charity, the Abbot shall discuss it prudently, lest perchance God has sent him for this very purpose. But if he has been found gossipy or divisive in the time of his sojourn as the guest, not only ought he not be joined in the body of the monastery, but also it shall be said to him honestly that he must depart. If he does not go, let two stout monks, in the name of God, explain the matter to him.”

Then we began to talk seriously about pastor friends who had blown themselves up…abandoned the ministry, their call and sometimes their family. Most were men who had been faithful, godly pastors, caring for a church… most for a long time. Then wham.

We confessed our independence. We are basically loners. Ministry can have that effect on people. (Or is it loners are attracted to ministry?) We repented to God and one another.

Benedict coined the term “stout monk” in reference to men able to guard and protect the community from enemies and intruders. He put them to work on tasks and mission requiring strength, courage and integrity (sure they loved beer too). When necessary, they would go and escort the intruder out. Yet they were called to act in pairs, not in isolation. They were together. They protected one another as well as their community.

Our conversation led to forming the Stout Monk Society. Our objective is to halt the exodus. To raise the fallen. We each invited other men to join us (we have six, but think we will add an Abbott). We need each other’s counsel, prayer and friendship. Though its only annual, it has been great. Rewarding.

We spend a few days together in community (not a real monastery but we share cooking, cleaning and other stuff (for those not reformed I refrain from causing you to stumble, but a pastor said to me once, ‘when I became a Christian I gave up all my vices. When I got reformed I got them all back’).

I will continue this blog later… but let me ask you: Do you long for a Stout Monk Society?

Tom Wood has been a pastor for 25 years. He has planted and pastored two churches and has served as a church planting trainer and coach for the Presbyterian Church in America. He is currently the president of Church Multiplication Ministries, in Atlanta. His mission is starting, strengthening and multiplying grace centered churches and church planting networks, through coaching and consults with church planting pastors, leaders and emerging leaders.

The 6th Day…

It’s January 2010 and I begin this new decade with three decades of ministry laying thick on my soul. Thick on my soul. Heavy. Good and rich experiences and head shaking, “I can’t believe I went through that” experiences. Here I am physically healthy and mentally and emotionally, still quite tired actually after nearly a week in reflection, reading, prayer and study. Well, it’s been since last July that I had time away from hyper drive ministry. 6 months at it straight isn’t wise I know, but stuff happens in ministry and you can’t always get away when you should, if you can even afford to get away. I guess really it’s been 6 months and 30 years. I’m not complaining. I know I’m blessed. I’m at a friend’s home in the North Georgia mountains. I’m sitting on a soft couch in front of a nice fire place writing this. It’s sort of my fault that I haven’t come here before. He’s offered it over and over. Finally I took him up on his generosity. I wonder about my pastoral colleagues…you who might read this. I wonder…have you gotten away, by yourself…do you even have the opportunity I have had this week to do this? I want that for you. We in the pastorate don’t think we can get away or should take time off to study, even though EVERYBODY knows you need a break. (What about the pastor I know who takes a month a year off to study…he’s lasted a long time…mmm…no wonder)The complexities of our lives work against disconnecting ourselves from a very people/program/calendar connected life. We’re usually relationally and programtically overloaded.

Frankly I’m not ready to go back home yet, but I leave tomorrow morning to get back. It will be a drive of faith that I’ll be ready in fact by the time I need to be ready. Jesus does that for us and through us doesn’t He? What a great Savior.

1st Day…

A 7 hour drive away from town singing along with Laura Story (Great God Who Saves) and Small Town Poets…interspersed with Genesis on cd read by a guy with some million dollar voice. Genesis…the people were as dysfunctional and sinful back then as they are today. Genesis of course shows the real world, people as we really are, and our world as pastors. We deal with pride, ego, murders, lies, sexual misadventures, broken dreams, success stories, births and deaths, marriages and funerals, people’s bad choices and good choices. It’s our world and God promises early on (Gen. 3) to do something about it…and sure enough He has. But we still live in the “not yet”. That’s why we need a break. Living in the “not yet” is hard work and if we’re going to help others in the “not yet” of His Kingdom come, we’ve got to get away from it for a time. On the road, away from the epicenter of ministry for me helps me look up, worship, and relax some. Ministry in the rear view mirror means God’s in control back there and I don’t have to pretend that I am. So this week, I’m going to stop pretending that I am in control. Never was anyway!

2nd Day…

With Church Planters in a major city…sharing some of my thoughts on leadership. I love church planters and still consider myself one even though I haven’t planted more than one church (some of them have planted 5! I think they’re supermen) and it was a long time ago. These men are passionate, continual learners, intelligent, great question askers, hungry for help, sponges for inspiration and truth, bonded together for a common task, gifted, experienced. There is something absolutely supernatural about what they are doing…about what we are doing. Yes, ego motivates me, us, in what we do as pastors, but the altruistic call of our gracious God is also a major factor. Some of these men, and some of us are really humble because of past failures. One man I met years ago failed in his first church plant that he restarted three times. His wife left the organizing team of that church. He has one more opportunity to make this church go; hopefully his wife won’t go. What manner of man is this? What manner of men are we as pastors? Called men, seeking to follow our Lord wherever He calls us, and willing to die for Him.

We all could have done something else with our lives. Most pastors I know are so talented that they could have made more money, had more fun, and endured less struggle if they had not become pastors. But that is in the past. We pastors have been selected as warriors in the King’s business. While Warriors need rest, we also need to gather with other warriors, like these church planters. We need resources, interaction, motivation, coaching. We need each other.

Resolved: To spend some more time hanging out with fellow warrior-pastors not to flaunt what I know but to learn what they know…to absorb their humility…to inspire them if I can and to let them inspire me.

Day3…

Aloneness…unhurried reflection…no deadlines…no one to be a mother to…reading…journaling. YES! 24 pages of journal notes in one day? How can that be? A lot gets stuffed down in the course of our busy lives! We feel numb at times…positively numb from all the stimulus we get as pastors. Do you ever feel as though the emotions of other people are pressed into our soul like a French press coffee system? As the mind unwinds thoughts resurface and I get them outside of me and on to paper. That helps. I read and learn, and I am reminded how much other Bible teachers and Christian thinkers have to offer me. Great resources for pastors who have been at it a long time…By Bob Buford, Half Time; Game Plan; Stuck in Half Time; Finishing Well. Great reading…deep…I want to finish strong. I’m listening.

Day 4…

More of the same…I’m amazed that I can read this much, think this much, pray this much, be alone this much. Man I’m an extrovert and I like people. I must have needed this time away more than I thought. In the first half of life we want to be conquerers. In the second half we should be heroes…serving others. I wanted to be a success in the first half but really do find that I want God given significance in the second. We pastors really do go through major transitions in life and I’m in one for sure. Ok…the great adventure continues. What are you saying…where are you leading? What’s next???

Day 5…

Finding your core. To finish strong, find your core focus in life, the you that never changes, and serve people through that core. It takes time and thought and prayer, but we pastors eventually know what it is that gets us up in the morning. Staff or elder meetings? Planning? Programs? Counseling? Preaching? Worship planning? Developing disciples? What is it for you? Gotta know that. Gotta pursue that.

Day 7…

I’m on the way home. It’s been good to be away. Elijah got away, and then God brought him back into the battle. Ministry out my front windshield is coming, and I’m gearing back up. But I have more armor on than a week ago. I thought I would accomplish far more on this study break than I actually have accomplished. But I did get three weeks of sermon outlines done, and three weeks of commentaries read. The constant pressure of every seven days builds up on me and I get into this weekly frantic “gotta get the sermon done”, and Lord please don’t let an emergency happen this week.

Afterwards: Back at work…well, the four days away really paid off…These weeks are better because I have some sermons done ahead…well, most of the sermon anyway…I’m finding that I can listen more this week for what He actually wants me to say to my people in the sermon, because I have some of the spade work of Scripture study already done. Still and all, I have to depend upon my Lord every day. I’m not a superman.

To my pastor friends: As you listen in to my journals, maybe you’ll plan some time away. No guilt here, but you ought to try and make it happen if you haven’t gotten away in a while. I need you, they need you in the game brother.

You take it to heart,

Pete Alwinson

If you will remember, we have been chatting about the idea that tiredness is the symptom, not the problem. Maybe we need to stop and see what the tiredness is telling us about ourselves, the way we see God, and the way we see creation.

Today, the topic is perfection in an imperfect world. Perfectionism is an easy sin to hide. We may say that we “pursue excellence” or simply “want to do things right” and those are admirable goals. The opposite of perfectionism is not what I am calling for in this article. This is not a celebration of slothfulness or slovenliness; it is simply facing what is true about ourselves and the world around us. Perfectionism seems to be born from two faulty beliefs, first, that perfection is possible on this side of heaven, and secondly that you are responsible and capable of making perfection happen.

Embracing the reality of a fallen world can be troubling. I want to arrange my life so that if Christ returned I wouldn’t be disappointed—I want everything in order, my kids growing in wisdom and love, ministry going well, and a fully funded 401K. God never intended for the odd chasm between Eden and heaven to be so comfortable and perfect that our hearts would be fully content. He allows us to long for Him. As Larry Crabb states, “there is something wrong with everything on this side of heaven”.

Armed with our false belief that perfection is possible, the perfectionist then believes it is up to him to put it all in place. This can show up in many different ways in a person’s life—it can look frantic, desperate, overly organized, or it can look as if he is procrastinating. Yet no matter how it looks on the outside it is exhaustion on the inside. This belief will also destroy interpersonal relationships.

There are two types of perfectionists—internal and external.

External perfectionists compare themselves and their behaviors against others, exhausting themselves in comparison and analysis. At the seminary, I see students not just comparing themselves to Steve Brown or Tim Keller, but attempting to copy and emulate them to the point of exhaustion. This type of perfectionist is easy to spot. These students are rarely enjoyable to spend time with; however, they are often very effective in ministry due to their drivenness.

The more troubling type of perfectionist is the internal perfectionist. They are comparing themselves to an idealized version of self that does not exist. They spend hours in internal dialogue chastising themselves for mistakes and flaws. They may be quite gregarious on the outside, but on the inside they are exhausted. What is the solution for our false beliefs and our perfectionist comparisons? One must begin with the image that one carries of himself and of God. It is not what we say we believe that determines how we behave, it is what we really do believe. If the core image of yourself is that “I am a failure, I can never amount to anything”, or “I must prove myself” these are all images that lead to perfectionist thinking.

The fig leaf of perfectionism doesn’t cover up a flawed view of oneself. It also doesn’t cover the flawed view of God. Most of us in ministry are secretly working out some cosmic deal we have made with God. If we are good enough, if we serve enough, if we are “perfect” enough, then He will be pleased with us and is “obligated” to bless us. How surprised we will be in heaven, when we realize that it really was not about us. He bestowed his blessing by making us his children. He was calling us his beloved from the very beginning.

So from one internal perfectionist, who is repenting from taking so long to write this blog,
I hope this day finds you resting in the arms of a loving perfect God, in an imperfect world.

This time when I received the email, I decided I had been negligent about my Facebook correspondence and needed to spend some time “catching up.” While feverishly “liking” people’s statuses, I came across a status my wife had posted on December 26, 2009 at 11:47pm.

Kelly Van Dyke sitting in the front row of an empty sanctuary listening to Zach preach!!!

After spending a few moments thanking God for giving me a wife that would listen to me practice my first sermon into the wee hours of the night, a thought crossed my mind that could lengthen my procrastination.

I know Kelly journals. Maybe she would allow me to post her thoughts about that first sermon for this week’s article.

God loves me. Like many times before, Kelly shocked me by saying “yes.”

As I was listening to Zach practice his first sermon in an empty sanctuary at midnight, I was filled with pride. It wasn’t perfect. And despite working on it and practicing it all day, it was still fifty minutes long. (Zach told me the first time he practiced it, the sermon was an hour and forty minutes long). He still needed to cut twenty. It was late and this was crunch time. He preached his sermon again. We discussed, cut, re-worked and then he preached some more. Still fifty minutes.

I had to come to terms with the possibility of sleeping at the church and wearing my sweatpants and Uggs to the service.

Laying across the front row listening to Zach pray and plead for the Holy Spirit to come and speak to His people, my thoughts began to drift. It was late, nearing one in the morning, it was the day after Christmas and we have 3 young children, I was exhausted. I entered a kind of dream-like state. Not really sure how to describe it but I kind of journeyed through my past, our past.

As a child, I went through communicants class in this church. My dad had been a pastor here for 14 years. I met Zach here in fifth grade. This church, this body, had loved me and hurt me. They took part in shaping and shaking my view of God. They had ministered to me, walked by me, and deserted me. Many times I have had to forgive and others have unexplainably forgiven me. Chills began to fill my entire body and I was overwhelmed by the thought that I just need to rest in the arms of the One who is writing my story, Zach’s story, our story and the Church’s story.

We headed home a little after one, and we both got very little sleep. Zach was up with stomach cramps at four, throwing up at five, and left for the church around six. He left saying, “Never let me do this again! I know God gave me this message specifically for these people, but I don’t want to do it! Next time I am preaching on something that doesn’t expose me. Transparency sucks!” I rolled over and went back to sleep for another hour or so annoyed at my husband’s flair for the dramatic.

Around 7am, I was awakened by my own stomach cramps and an unbearable fear and panic set in. I had to stop Zach! I had to keep him from standing before these people! I had vivid visions of an angry mob. I had to protect him! Now this may sound ridiculous, but for me, in this moment, it was so real. Fear gripped me. I laid prostrate on my living room floor crying and asking God to take this burden, this responsibility, this calling away from us. I grew up as a pastor’s kid and had experienced so much pain from this very church. I have seen too much! It hurts.

I told God, “I don’t want this!”

He then gently reminded me of the prayers He had given me since Zach took the job as a youth pastor. “Lord, less of me. More of you. Use me, please. Use Zach. Let us see Your church and ourselves as You do – beautiful, spotless, forgiven. Give us adventures and let us always say ‘yes’ to the places you are leading.”

I knew I needed to say ‘yes’ despite the pain. ‘Yes’s’ are costly.

Eventually, I placed Zach, myself, my family, and God’s people into His hands…where I know they already were; yet I am so grateful he allowed me the chance to lay them down myself.

I went to the church, prayed with Zach, and then waited restlessly in the front row.

I was too nervous to visit with anyone, sometimes praying, sometimes wondering how Zach was feeling and wishing that I could be filled with peace and joy knowing that my husband was ministering God’s Word.

I began to wonder how all of the other pastors’ wives do this. They always sit poised and smiling. I’ve never seen a pastor’s wife that looked like me- red eyes, biting fingernails, bouncing her knees. Oh well. The moment was here.

As my husband stood up to preach his first sermon ever, I made eye contact with him and gave him the biggest smile I could muster. I prayed, “Ok God, do Your thing. I am ready for the ride. Come Holy Spirit, come.” And He did.

For the next thirty-seven minutes (far from one hour and forty – Praise Jesus!), I sat in awe of the real presence of the Holy Spirit and the impeccable way that He was speaking through the mouth of my husband. I had heard this sermon a few times, but this was different. God had a message for His people and He spoke it clearly, with smooth transitions, poignant illustrations, clutter free and straight to the heart.

After a breathtakingly beautiful sermon, Zach closed, “So glad it’s all about grace. Amen.” I burst into tears.

Zach had said “yes.” And God showed up for him…and me…and our church body. What an unbelievably unique blessing to hear the voice of my Heavenly Father, through my terrified, diarrhea ridden, sinful, and willing husband.

I don’t know if you are one to make New Year’s Resolutions or not, but either way you’re probably thinking about how you can become fitter, healthier and happier than you are right now.

These 27 Fitness and Fat Loss Tips will get you on the right track for this New Year:

1. Visualize the accomplishment of your goals each and every day. Experience the taste of success and feel that sweet satisfaction.
2. Push the intensity of your workouts. Work out with a purpose.
3. Use smaller plates at home. This effortlessly reduces calorie intake and promotes weight loss.
4. Build accountability into your workouts so that you resist the temptation to take days off. The best way to ensure accountability is to work with a personal trainer either one-on-one or in a group training setting.
5. Believe in yourself. Know with conviction that you CAN accomplish your goals.
6. Drink water throughout your day. Do this by carrying a water bottle and opting for water rather than calorie-filled beverages. This simple action is extremely beneficial.
7. Maintain your metabolism by eating a healthy snack or meal every three hours. This food should be unprocessed, low in fat and high in fiber.
8. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
9. Incorporate High Intensity Interval Training into your cardio workouts by performing bursts of high intensity rather than exercising at a single steady pace.
10. It’s not about will-power, it’s about want-power. You have to want it.
11. Do not eat processed foods. These items are high in empty calories and contain a plethora of chemicals that are harmful to your health.
12. Stop talking about losing weight. Start doing it.
13. Fat contains twice the caloric density of carbohydrates and protein, so limit the amount that you consume. Fill your diet with lean protein and carbohydrates from plants and whole grains.
14. Be wary of products that are labeled as ‘health food’. Always read the nutrition labels.
15. Find a workout partner who is in better shape than you, or better yet work with a personal trainer to guarantee dramatic results.
16. Make a habit out of reading nutrition labels. Avoid items that are high in fat and carbohydrates.
17. Destroy negative self talk.
18. Avoid the trap of high-calorie beverages after your workouts.
19. Be consistent with your workouts. Exercise two to three times each week and walk daily.
20. Expect more of yourself.
21. High fructose corn syrup should not be in your diet. It is high in calories and will quickly derail your weight loss efforts.
22. Challenge your body with each workout.
23. Eat lots of whole plant foods. Vegetables, fruits and whole grains are filled with fiber and antioxidants, vital for your good health.
24. Do your walking after weight training to ensure more fat burn. Your stored sugars will be depleted during the weight training then your body will rely on fat stores to get you through the cardio workout. Walk in the evening if possible.
25. Set specific, measurable goals.
26. Start each day with a healthy breakfast. This important meal should help to get your metabolism going strong.
27. Make sure to view my STLToday clip and add a comment to it. It’s pretty good stuff!

After writing these tips, I realized how powerful and inspiring they are. Print this list and place it somewhere that you’ll see often – this will keep you motivated and pumped up to accomplish your goals.

If your New Year’s Resolution has to do with losing weight and getting into great shape (and whose isn’t?) then guarantee your success by working with a fitness expert who can guide you to success.

I’d love to team up with you – together we will transform your body in 2010!

Email me to learn more about my fitness and fat loss programs that will quickly change your life.

Recipe of the Week

Healthy Winter Hash

This simple recipe is the perfect meal for a chilly winter day. It is packed with tender vegetables, filled with protein and can be made with chicken or as a vegetarian dish. Serve it with a salad for a quick and healthy meal that the whole family will love.
Yield: 6 servings

Here’s what you need…

• 2 medium yellow potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 3 large carrots, peeled and diced
• 1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and diced
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
• 1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
• 2 cups chicken, cooked and cubed (or 1 package firm tofu, drained and cubed)
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 1 Tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 can lowfat chili

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. In a large bowl combine all of the vegetables and chicken. Drizzle the olive oil and mix to coat. Add the thyme, salt and garlic powder.
3. Spread the mixture on a baking sheet, and cover well with foil. Bake for 30-40 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.
4. Remove the foil and turn on the broiler. Broil until the vegetables are nicely browned, about 8 minutes.
5. Top each serving with a scoop of warmed chili.

Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 230 calories, 4g fat, 28g carbohydrate, 6g fiber, and 20g protein.

Fitness Tip of the Week

Are you making a New Year’s Resolution today? If you do, keep this in mind: It has been reported that 92% of New Year’s Resolutions end in failure. Why? Because most people make resolutions that are simply unrealistic. They quickly get discouraged and then abandon the idea entirely.

To ensure that you accomplish your New Year’s Resolution, stick with a goal that is realistic rather than intimidating. Check out these examples:

• Instead of resolving to lose 70 pounds by summer, commit to exercise 3-4 times each week.
• Instead of resolving to give up all carbs, commit to bring healthy lunches to work instead of going through a fast food drive thru.
• Instead of resolving to drop 3 sizes in 3 months, commit to losing 1 pound each week until you reach your goal weight.
• Instead of resolving to never eat out again, commit to eating healthy all week and rewarding yourself with one meal out on the weekends.

“If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” 2 Corinthians 11:30 (ESV)

This is the fourth in a series of blog posts called, “My Top Ten Mistakes in Ministry (That I Can Share Publicly)” After many years of ministry experience as a church planter, pastor and seminary professor I think I’ve finally learned that one of the best kept secrets to surviving well in the ministry is to stop making the same old mistakes that others (like me) have been making for decades. Instead, let’s all start making some brand new, bold, innovative and creative mistakes!

We began this series with an introduction called, “Ladies First” in which veteran church planter wife, Shari Thomas, addressed the tough topic, What I Wish I Had Known About Church Planting” from the perspective of the church planter’s/pastor’s spouse. We then took a look at

• Mistake #1 (these are in no intentional order) called, “Failing to Understand the Importance of How I Define Ministry Success.” Last time we covered
• Mistake #2 called, “Managing My Time and Not Managing My Life”. This time we’ll take a brief look at another painfully common mistake church leaders make that I wish someone had told me about before I went into the ministry. That’s
• Mistake #3: Not Understanding the Difference Between my Goals and Desires.

Mistake #3: Not Understanding the Difference Between My Goals and Desires

In the Sermon of the Mount Jesus said, “Do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matt 6:24

This is one of many famous quotations from Jesus that we’ve heard so often we think we really understand it. But the hard truth is that we’ve often either forgotten it or never really learned it in the first place. So let me try to remind you of the stunning present relevance of these words of our Lord for you and me today.

In these famous words of Jesus we are meant to learn the simple but life-changing truth that God means for us to focus our attention, energies and worries primarily on the things we can do something about today— and then trust him with all those things that are out of our control tomorrow and in all the tomorrows that lie ahead. Just like with the Israelites, the Lord wants us to learn how to trust Him for our manna (our “daily bread”)—one day at a time (Sweet Jesus!).

In the trenches of real-life ministry, the task before you can be so overwhelming that you can easily feel like one very small person standing all alone with a very small axe in your hand looking up fearfully at a massive forest that you’ve been “called” to cut down. The task can be absolutely paralyzing unless you learn how to put on those “Gospel Blinders”, go into “biblical denial” about all those things that lie ahead of you now that could eat your lunch—and instead set a very reasonable, achievable goal for cutting down just a few trees each day.

Then you must learn the art of giving yourself each day–not to fulfill your desire to remove the whole forest–but to accomplish your goal of just taking down those few trees (and they better not all be about ministry!). Only then can you be free from the oppressive, crushing, joy-robbing demands of the whole forest.

Understanding the difference between your goals and desires can truly help set you free from a life dominated by anxiety and fear. I think it was from Dr. Larry Crabb and/or Dr. Dan Allendar that I first learned (way too late!) this idea that:

• Your Personal Goals need to be defined as those things that are within your control, relatively speaking (because nothing is every REALLY in your control), while you must learn to see

• Your Personal Desires as those things normally not in your control.

Let me try to bring this lofty idea down for a landing regarding practical ministry issues. Under this definition if, as a church planter or pastor, you want to have ten people become Christians and be baptized in your church this year, that would be a desire but not a goal because you cannot control that outcome.

The key that can often open the door to new, heart-freedom is when you learn how to WORK toward Your Goals . . .

. . . and PRAY for Your Desires.

What you must learn to think (and to say!) is that your desire is to have ten people trust in Christ and be baptized in your church this year but your goal is to do practical, tangible things like set aside regular times to pray for the lost, make so many contacts with people in your community every week, train six people in evangelism, have three evangelistic gathering events, etc.

The key that really opens the door to heart-freedom in all this is that you learn to work toward your goals and pray for your desires. The value of this approach to life and ministry is that it serves to remind you that the outcome of your life and ministry ultimately rests with God—and not you!

I’m convinced that one of the primary reasons so many Christian leaders drop out of the ministry today is because they have never learned this simple distinction between their goals and desires. Their desires become their goals and when their desires are not meant, for whatever reason, they become angry, bitter, depressed and frustrated.

But there is a freedom and peace about your life and your ministry that can be yours if you will learn, by God’s grace, how to understand the difference between your goals and desires. Oh how I wish someone had shared this with me thirty years ago. As Steve Brown would say, “You think about that!”
——————————

Steve Childers is the President & CEO of Global Church Advancement, an inter-denominational ministry that provides church planting training, consultations, and resources for church planters, pastors and missionaries throughout the world. Steve has trained Christian leaders from more than 40 countries (curriculum in five major global languages) representing over 120 denominations and mission agencies. Steve is also an author, Professor of Practical Theology (since 1995) and the director of the doctoral program at Reformed Theological Seminary, in Orlando, Florida, where he teaches church planting, missions, evangelism and spiritual formation. To learn more about GCA:

• Browse the GCA Website: http://www.gca.cc
• Join the GCA Cause: http://bit.ly/X5bZC
• See the GCA Blog: http://www.gca.cc/blog/
• Follow GCA on Twitter:http://twitter.com/_gca
• Follow GCA President (Childers) on Twitter: http://twitter.com/stevechilders
• Check out upcoming GCA Events: http://gca.cc/Seminar_Overview.htm
• Support GCA: http://gca.cc/Support_GCA.htm

One of the greatest inventions in my lifetime has to be the iPod. Music, messages and movies all in one place. The new version even has radio capability. I heard a song on TV and went to iTunes and downloaded it into my library. A while back I downloaded the Brown Sessions, listened to Steve interview Dan Allender, and Mark Driscoll. Amazing technology.

Most of all it’s the music though. Music is a means of grace… yesterday at church as we were singing I thought about how there aren’t any other places in our society that groups of people get together and sing. We have SomeOne and Something about which to sing. Steve says often, it’s the laughter that sets us apart from both the pagans and the religious elite. That’s true. But a close second is the music. Which leads me to another thought. The Gospel of grace—freedom from the penalty and power of sin in life through Jesus—is music to the soul. Radical freedom and love from God the Father toward us is more than words…or lyrics to the song. It is the music. It is the tune. Some of the preachers I have listened to have the words but not the music. “For God so loved…He sent His One and only Son, so that all who believe in Him should not perish but have Life”. Do you hear the music? The joy? The Tune of the Gospel?

“Joy to the world, the Lord is come, Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare him room, And heaven and nature sing! No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow, Far as the curse is found!

He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove, The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love!” Isaac Watts

Notice in Watts’ famous Christmas song the grand, cosmic significance of Jesus’ saving activity. The music of the gospel moves us out of the narrow realm of our self-preoccupation. My friend Bob Heppe wrote, “The Gospel is God’s message of liberation: from guilt, alienation, and every bondage that hinders the human race from being fruitful for and reflecting the glory of God. The good news that Jesus preached is that He, as Lord of the cosmos, is now in the business of recapturing a runaway planet. He came to destroy the works of the Devil — all of them, not merely the psychological one’s that plague middle class Americans — and to bring the world under His saving authority. That means He came to reverse the effects of the fall, “as far as the curse is found.” The gospel of the kingdom announces nothing less than God’s intention, and activity, to replace the effects of the fall (sin, guilt, sickness, hunger, injustice, oppression, poverty, bondage, dehumanization, and death) with His Kingdom righteousness; and His work will not be finished until His redemption covers the whole earth.”

Tom Wood has been a pastor for 25 years. He has planted and pastored two churches and has served as a church planting trainer and coach for the Presbyterian Church in America. He is currently the president of Church Multiplication Ministries, in Atlanta. His mission is starting, strengthening and multiplying grace centered churches and church planting networks, through coaching and consults with church planting pastors, leaders and emerging leaders.

Casualties of this economy are everywhere. The obvious tell-tale signs of economic death are the hundreds of empty offices with brown paper on the windows and trash in the entry ways, malls where your voice echos in the emptiness, and drawn faces of men with dark circles under their eyes who answer, “How you doing man?”, with…”Well…you won’t believe this, but….” No I believe it. Every one of us pastors has dealt with more sorrow in ’08 & ’09 than anyone really knows. Our counseling appointments are up, what 50-75%? More?

One of my elders is responsible right now for shutting down a factory in his hometown. He used to work there, his father used to work there, and many of his friends still work there. He took the assignment because he felt that he could bring about this death more painlessly than any one else in his company. Economic death.

Death is a reality all pastors have to deal with. After a few years, we get used to dealing with the dying, the dead, and those left. But what about when a church dies? No one talked to us about that in seminary and while there is precedent for shutting down factories and warehouses and businesses, there isn’t much written about shutting down a church. I don’t think there was even a mere mention of it in “Theology of Ministry 101”. But it’s happening…churches are closing, and my friend had to do it.

Why in the world did his church close? Call him Dirk (because I think it’s a manly name that Clive Custler uses in his novels, and all of us pastors are manly, right?…except for you wonderful ladies of course!). Dirk was an incredibly committed layman who felt called to the ministry and eventually took the leap into ordination and full time ministry, minus seminary, leaving a well paying job to do so. Most of the guys I know who leave one career and go into ministry seem to leave good jobs, not bad ones. Could Dirk have benefited from Hebrew and Greek exegesis? Sure. Would he have preached better if he had Communication I and II and taken labs with critical feedback at a good seminary? Without a doubt. Would a seminary education have enabled him to have kept his church alive? I’m not so sure.

When Dirk took this church, it was already on life support, having not really ever grown much over 100 people in its twenty plus year history. The congregation was in the early stages of a building program when Dirk became pastor. He jumped in with both feet, led the effort to build the building and got it done. Being the inspirational leader that he is, Dirk called the people to vision, to be generous and regular givers of their time, treasures and talents. He called them to join community groups, be evangelistic, serve others. We met periodically and I honestly don’t know what else he could have done. The church grew to around 130. But then the bottom dropped out of the economy, people moved, giving hit an all time low, bills couldn’t be paid and all the economics of the church went sideways. The bank finally couldn’t let it go on any more and said it was time to call it quits.

Why did the church close? Many, many factors. I’m not smart enough and I was a bit too removed to really know all of them. I am sure that before my friend became the pastor this group of Believers was not well led and well taught in key areas like vision and stewardship. His was a case of too lateness. Some patients could be helped early on in the disease, but not in the final stage. What I do know is that Dirk feels the full weight of this “failure” when previous pastors ought to share some responsibility. But all of that doesn’t matter really. Dirk feels responsible. It’s all on his shoulders, this debacle, this death. Shame, angst, questions all dog him, daily. He’s grieving I know.

What do I do now? I’d like your help on this…what do I do now? Here’s my plan: I’m going to talk to him whenever I can. I’m going to listen to him and let him talk. I’m going to try and give him perspective on where he is. His next steps and vision need to be thought through, prayed through and held up to the light. Return to business? Go with his heart into another pastorate? I’m not the Holy Spirit, and I’ve been a pastor long enough to wish him no more pastoral pain than he’s had, but also know the highs of being used by the Lord Jesus to touch people for time and eternity. Dirk has to follow His Lord’s call, and he will.

Did I tell you this was the second church I know of in my area that closed its doors? I didn’t get to talk to that pastor, but I can guess, because of Dirk, what he felt.

Man, what’s going to happen to my church? Are we going to make it? What do I do if we have to shut the doors? What will that do to my reputation? My ego? Will it be my fault?

What I know and feel right now is that while churches close and die, THE CHURCH never dies. We’re a part of what will never be extinguished! I also know that it could happen to me and I could be the cause of church death,but I’m still loved by my Father. Truly the church is His church, not mine. So today, I’m glad I’m in the company of pastors like you guys, who understand His grace, try to stay out of the death grip of performance, and offer up yourselves every day to your Lord.

In losing our life, we find it.

Next time I’ll write with more humor. Today, I feel solemn joy.

Strength and Courage!

Pete

As I was driving to the home of a Ray and Trish and their 5 kids – Daniel, Andrew, Patrick, Caroline and Stephen – four of whom are or have been part of my student ministry, I kept repeating to myself: “I know how you feel.” (Don’t say it. Just don’t say it.)

Pulling up to the home, I was overwhelmed by the number of people that had already gathered in their front yard. People were crying and embracing, walking around stunned. I immediately walked over to a group of students who looked like they had all taken a slam to the gut by a 2-by-4. It had only been 30 minutes since Trish and her 5 kids learned that their husband and dad, who had been missing for the past 24 hours, had taken his own life in a wooded part of their neighborhood.

“Did someone say Zach’s here? Send him this way immediately. The kids need him inside.”

All the sudden, I was being escorted passed all of the friends and neighbors gathered in the front yard…

Why are they singling me out?

Passed the police officer standing guard at the front door…

I don’t know what to say?

And inside the home where I encountered the unedited shock and raw grief that accompanies tragedy. It was at that moment that my calling became real…and painfully convicting.

Pastors are supposed to have all the answers and know the right things to say and do in any situation and to bring hope in the bleakest times. “God works all things for the good of those who love him”…right?

I can’t say that. I don’t believe that. I’m obviously not a good pastor. I’m a “religious professional” who sometimes loves Jesus but more often struggles with God’s goodness and sovereignty…and knows not to say “I know how you feel.”

Why is saying “I know how you feel” so damaging at times like this? The obvious answer being the people who do say something like that usually have no clue and no desire to know how that person feels. But what if you do?

David’s dad died of cancer in the middle of his sophomore year. It was a long and painful battle that turned brutal at the end. Does David know how it feels to play basketball with his dad one day and next find out his dad had taken his own life? No.

But does David know how it feels to be constantly aware that he will never see his dad again…not here at least? Does he know how it feels to watch everyone around him move on while he still struggles daily with the death of his dad?

David knows how Daniel, Andrew, Patrick, Caroline, and Stephen feel.

During his freshmen year, Evan’s parents divorced and his dad moved across the country to Arizona (and this week will be deployed to Afghanistan for a year). Does Evan know how it feels to have his dad die? No.

But does Evan know how it feels to lose his dad…to not have his dad here? Does he know how it feels to walk off the football field seeing dads throwing their arms around their sons’ shoulders saying “That’s my boy”?

Evan knows how Daniel, Andrew, Patrick, Caroline and Stephen feel.

Maybe Satan’s most ingenious lie during a tragedy is “No one knows how I feel…especially God.”

The other day I was reading John 18 (still working on reading through the Gospels for Lent…as you can see I’m almost done!).

When Jesus had finished praying, he left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it. Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.

Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, got up and asked them, “Who is it you want?”

“Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.

“I am he,” Jesus said.

When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

Again, he asked them “Who is it you want?”

“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.

Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.”

Ray was a good man. He often called me to talk about his kids and what he could do to be a better daddy to them. His suicide has messed me up.

Maybe a day or two after reading John 18, while sitting in my car at a stoplight, I couldn’t shake the images in my mind of Ray in the woods agonizing over what it would mean to continue living in a fallen world. And then an image of Jesus in the woods popped into my mind…and he was doing the exact same thing. He was crying and sweating and shaking. He was sweating blood.

And before the light turned green, I saw Jesus, “overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death”, getting up. He got up!

I still can’t quote Romans 8:28 to Daniel, Andrew, Patrick, Caroline and Stephen, but I can say to them with great assurance that when their daddy got to Heaven, Jesus looked at him with deep tenderness and said, “I know how you feel.”

And only because Jesus got up and walked boldly into the pain of not only the cross but also the pain of Hell, Ray and those of us who believe in His name (and love him sometimes) will never be able to say to Him, “I know how you feel.”

Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.”

So glad it’s all about grace.
Zach

I included the actual names of these deeply wounded people in hopes that you will join me in praying for them by name.

The number one reason why people don’t exercise is that they don’t have time.

At least that’s what they tell themselves .

I know we are all busy. Between getting to and from work, balancing responsibilities and having time for yourself, there’s little left over for workouts.

With the holiday season fast approaching your busy schedule is sure to get even busier. There will be parties, shopping, decorating, cooking and family gatherings. It’s no wonder that exercise quickly takes a backseat to holiday activities.

You don’t have to succumb to weight gain this holiday season. Escape the time crunch excuse in three easy steps:

Step One: Schedule Your Workouts: You’ve heard this before, and it makes so much sense. If you treat your exercise time with the importance of a work meeting then you’d never skip a workout and you’d be in amazing shape.

While the scheduling concept is brilliant in its simplicity, you have to put it into practice to reap the benefits. Pull out your calendar and a pen. Don’t laugh, I’m serious! Just do it. If you want to get into shape it starts with committing to a revised
schedule with a set exercise time.

Identify three 40-minute time slots and mark them on your calendar. That is when you’ll exercise.

Remember this: if the thought that you should exercise this week is floating around in your head, but you haven’t anchored it down to a specific time and date, then it will quickly disappear.

Step Two: Get the Most from Each Minute: The days of endless, mind numbing cardio are over. A great workout can take place in under an hour, when done correctly. The idea is to burn more calories each minute. This is done through short, intense bursts of exercise.

Use the following three tips to bring your routine up to the next level:

1. Be Unstable: Use your entire body, and target your core, by performing exercises that engage stabilizing muscles. To do this use an exercise ball, a balance board, a balance disk, or you could simply stand on one leg.
2. Add Resistance: The more resistance that you incorporate with your routine translates into higher intensity and more calories burned. Some ideas for adding resistance include: carrying dumbbells while doing lunges, wearing a weighted vest while walking or jogging, or putting a weight between your feet while doing leg raises.
3. Use Intervals: Interval training is an amazing tool for creating short yet effective workouts. Don’t worry, it’s not complicated. Interval training is simply alternating between different short bursts of activity.Here’s an example: Let’s say you want to focus on your legs and abs and to also get an effective cardiovascular workout. This would be a great interval routine for your goals:

• Lunge while curling dumbbells, 15-20 repetitions
• 30 seconds of intense cardio: sprint, jump rope, or jumping jacks
• Squat while pressing dumbbells overhead, 15-20 repetitions
• 30 seconds of intense cardio: sprint, jump rope, or jumping jacks
• Crunches on an exercise ball, 15-20 repetitions
• 30 seconds of intense cardio: sprint, jump rope, or jumping jacks
• Leg raises off the end of an exercise bench, 15-20 repetitions

Step Three: Twice the Results in Half the Time: What if I told you that I have a proven way to deliver twice the fitness results in half the time? It’s simple really…

When you attempt to lose weight or meet a fitness goal on your own, the odds are stacked against you. Sure, you could do it over time – but it’s a long and lonely road. A road lined with detours that threaten to undermine your progress.

When you start a program with me, you suddenly have the upper hand on weight loss. You have me in your corner, coaching you each step of the way, keeping you accountable to workouts and giving you that dose of encouragement went the going gets tough.

And I’ll be the one congratulating you when your goal is met.

Call or email today to get started on a fitness program that will put exercise firmly on your calendar, and results squarely in your future.

They make it seem so easy to achieve and maintain results. What do they know that you don’t? When you boil it down, the answer is quite simple.

The missing link between you and your ideal body is good old motivation.

A healthy dose of motivation coupled with determination will get you almost anything in life. So how do you know if you’re genuinely motivated?

• Motivation will tell you to get out of bed for an early workout.
• Motivation will nag you to put down the doughnut.
• Motivation makes passing on fries a reflex.
• Motivation makes a sweat drenched workout exciting.
• Motivation constantly reminds you why you do what you do.

If your motivation levels are lacking, read the following four steps to turn on your motivation.

Step #1: Pinpoint Your Motivator.

Motivation stems from having a goal. What is your goal? Why do you want to get into great shape?

Once you uncover your personal motivator you’ll find that motivation flows quickly your way.

Take a minute to really uncover the reason that you want to lose the weight. Don’t say something vague like you want to ‘Be thinner’ or ‘Look more attractive.’ Dig deeper – there is a very specific motivator in your life, you simply need to uncover it.

Here are some possible motivators…

• I want to have more energy to keep up with the kids.
• I want to improve my health through weight loss to extend and improve my life.
• I want to lose 15 pounds before my vacation.
• I want to restore my confidence to wear sleeveless shirts.
• I want to regain my figure to impress and attract my significant other.

Step #2: Make It Official.

When you write something down it suddenly feels official, doesn’t it? Write down your motivator for getting into great shape, and post it where you will see it often – next to your alarm clock, on the bathroom mirror, or in your car.

Each time you see your written motivator take a moment to visualize yourself accomplishing your goal. Try to make the scene as clear in your mind as possible. This is a powerful tool for maintaining your focus and direction.

Step #3: Be Practical.

It’s game plan time. You know what you want, and now you need to map out exactly how you’ll achieve it. It is important to be practical in your planning, rather than throwing out ideas that you know you won’t stick with.

With any weight loss goal it is important to 1) maintain a healthy low-calorie diet, and 2) participate in a consistent and challenging exercise program.

Plan a routine that will fit into your schedule and you’ll be more likely to stick with it. Also choose an exercise program that you enjoy – don’t force yourself to jog everyday if you hate jogging.

Step #4: Call For Backup.

Enlist the support of your friends, family and co-workers. Tell everyone about your goal to lose weight and get fit, you’ll be surprised how supportive most people will be. By being open about your goals you’ll likely be an encouragement to others to make healthy changes in their own lives.

The most effective way to ensure that you meet your goal is to enlist my support, your personal trainer. Together we will identify what really motivates you. Together we will design a workout routine that fits into your schedule and into your life. And together we will see it through until your goal is met.

Email me to learn more about my fitness and fat loss programs that will quickly change your life.

Recipe of the Week

Grilled Fruit

We are entering the holiday season, a time when sugar-and-fat laden desserts will materialize wherever you go. Wait! Before you forego your fitness goals for another piece of pie, try this simple recipe.

Fruit is nature’s candy – it’s sweet, delicate and delicious. Grilling fruit extracts the natural sugar, making it a warm, tasty treat. Serve seasonal grilled fruit for dessert this holiday season – you’ll lose weight without depriving your taste buds.

Yield: 2 servings

Here’s what you need:

• 1 mango (or apple, pear, melon, pineapple)
• 1 banana (or fig, apricot, papaya, peach, nectarine)
• Dash of cinnamon *optional*
• Grill pan
• Non-stick cooking spray
• Wooden skewers

1. Submerge wooden skewers in water for 15 minutes. Cut fruit into chunks, thread onto skewers.
2. Lightly spray a grill pan over medium heat. Place the fruit skewers in the pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon, if desired.
3. Grill for 5 minutes, or until dark grill lines appear. Flip the fruit over and grill the other side.

Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 120 calories, .5g fat, 31g carbohydrate, 3g fiber, and 1g protein.

Fitness Tip of the Week

Give Thanks, Get Fit

The year’s most calorie-dense day is almost here—are you ready? Use this game plan on Thanksgiving to avoid gaining extra weight:

• Start your day of thanks with a fiber-filled breakfast.
• Take 30-60 minutes for a brisk walk or jog before the big meal.
• At the table, fill most of your plate with lean cuts of meat and vegetables. When you’ve filled up on the healthy stuff then simply taste the heavier dishes, rather than eating a large serving.
• Wait at least 20 minutes before you get a second helping. This is very important since it takes at least this long for your body to register how full it actually is. You may realize after 20 minutes that you don’t want seconds after all.
• Enjoy a warm serving of Grilled Fruit for dessert instead of pie. Use the recipe above!

]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/killing-the-time-excuse/feed/ 0 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/%e2%80%9cmy-top-ten-mistakes-in-ministry-that-i-can-share-publicly-2%e2%80%9d/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/%e2%80%9cmy-top-ten-mistakes-in-ministry-that-i-can-share-publicly-2%e2%80%9d/#comments Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:05:38 +0000 Steve Childers http://www.poopedpastors.com/?p=796 “If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” 2 Corinthians 11:30 (ESV)

This is the third in a series of blog posts called, “My Top Ten Mistakes in Ministry (That I Can Share Publicly)” After many years of ministry experience as a church planter, pastor and seminary professor I think I’ve finally learned that one of the best kept secrets to surviving well in the ministry is to stop making the same old mistakes that others (like me) have been making for decades. Instead, let’s all start making some brand new, bold, innovative and creative mistakes!

We began this series with an introduction called, “Ladies First” in which veteran church planter wife, Shari Thomas, addressed the tough topic, “What I Wish I Had Known About Church Planting” from the perspective of the church planter’s/pastor’s spouse. Last time we looked at Mistake #1 called, “Failing to Understand the Importance of How I Define Ministry Success.” This time we’ll take a brief look at Mistake #2 (these are in no intentional order) I wish someone had the wisdom and guts to tell me before I began church planting/pastoral ministry more than 30 years ago.

Mistake #2: Managing My Time and Not Managing My Life

In his classic article, “Tyranny of the Urgent”, Charles Hummel writes, “‘Have you ever wished for a thirty-hour day?’ Surely this extra time would relieve the tremendous pressure under which we live. Our lives leave a trail of unfinished tasks. Unanswered emails, unvisited friends, unread books and articles, etc., haunt quiet moments when we stop to evaluate. We desperately need relief.

But would a thirty-hour day really solve the problem? Wouldn’t we soon be just as frustrated as we are now with our twenty-four allotment? “A mother’s work is never done”, and neither is that of . . . any pastor. Nor will the passage of time help us catch up. Children grow in number and age to require more of our time. Greater experience and success in life and ministry normally bring more exacting assignments. So we find ourselves working more and enjoying it less.”

Our problem is often, unknowingly, allowing the urgent things in life to crowd out the truly important things. We all live in a constant tension between the urgent and the important.

The Gap Between the Compass and the Clock

There is an ongoing contrast between two things that continually influence our lives: the clock and the compass. Stephen Covey, in his book, First Things First, describes the clock as representing such things as our commitments, appointments, schedules, goals, activities; it’s how we use and manage our time. The compass represents our core life values, our conscience, our sense of personal vision and life mission; it’s what we believe is truly important in life and how we manage life.

The struggle comes when we experience a gap between the compass and the clock–when what we actually do with our time doesn’t contribute to what is truly most important in our life. In an effort to close the gap between the compass and the clock, many of us naturally turn to the field of “personal time management.” Traditional time management theory suggests that by doing things more efficiently, you’ll eventually gain control of your life and that increased control will bring personal peace and fulfillment.

Although there is much to gain from such things as planning, prioritizing and goal setting, the bottom line is that mere increased efficiency normally does not lessen the gap between the compass and the clock. In fact, I’m was a living example of someone who had learned how to get a lot more work done in less time, but what I was actually doing with my time was not at all what truly matters to me the most. This is why I wish someone had asked questions and said things to me like:

“How many pastors on their deathbed wish they had spent more time at the church?”

“The worst enemy of the best is often the good.”

The Answer is Not Learning to Get More Done in Less Time

The gap between what is deeply important to you (your compass) and the way you spend your time (your clock) cannot be closed by simply learning to do more things more efficiently. The answer is not found in learning to get more things done in less time.

In fact, increasing your time management efficiency can actually make things worse! What is needed is a new way of thinking—learning how to manage your life and not just your time, and learning how to shift your focus away from things that are urgent to the things that are truly important.

Often, unless we take intentional, proactive steps to fight against it, we’ll inevitably become slaves to the “tyranny of the urgent”. It’s been said that, “Anything less than a conscious commitment to the important is an unconscious commitment to the unimportant.”

In Isaiah 30:15 we read, “For thus the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said, ‘In repentance and rest you shall be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength.’” At the root of our frantic propensity to overwork is the sin of pride—an exalted sense of our importance to the Kingdom of God. We secretly and arrogantly think things like: “If I dare to stop, the Kingdom of God just might not make it and my ministry would surely self-destruct!”

Some of us need to show our faith in God

not by working harder but by working less.

Some of us have been hitting it too hard for too long, and we desperately need extended time to rest. For some it might be 6 months for others it might be 6 weeks, or maybe 6 days. For some of us the most spiritual thing we could do now is to go home and go to bed and sleep!

A seasoned missionary in Peru came up to me at a conference once to tell me that in all his years in the ministry, he has learned that there are two types of missionaries in Peru—those who take siestas (naps) every day and those who leave the field. He said, “If you don’t learn to take your siesta on your first term, you normally will not be back for your second term.”

Finishing Well

It’s one thing to start ministry well. It’s another to finish well. We must remember (and keep reminding each other) that the ministry is not a sprint, but it’s a cross-country event. So we must pace yourself. We must build into our lives a Sabbath Rhythm of work and rest, work and rest—daily, weekly, quarterly, yearly.

The Scriptures tell us, “When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he instructed his disciples to cross to the other side of the lake” (Matt 8:18). Jesus knew when it was time for him and his followers to pull away from the pressing demands of ministry. My prayer for you and for me is that we will too, before it’s too late.

——————————

Steve Childers is the President & CEO of Global Church Advancement, an inter-denominational ministry that provides church planting training, consultations, and resources for church planters, pastors and missionaries throughout the world. Steve has trained Christian leaders from more than 40 countries (curriculum in five major global languages) representing over 120 denominations and mission agencies. Steve is also an author, Professor of Practical Theology (since 1995) and the director of the doctoral program at Reformed Theological Seminary, in Orlando, Florida, where he teaches church planting, missions, evangelism and spiritual formation. To learn more about GCA:

• Browse the GCA Website: http://www.gca.cc
• Join the GCA Cause: http://bit.ly/X5bZC
• See the GCA Blog: http://www.gca.cc/blog/
• Follow GCA on Twitter:http://twitter.com/_gca
• Follow GCA President (Childers) on Twitter: http://twitter.com/stevechilders
• Check out upcoming GCA Events: http://gca.cc/Seminar_Overview.htm
• Support GCA: http://gca.cc/Support_GCA.htm

]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/%e2%80%9cmy-top-ten-mistakes-in-ministry-that-i-can-share-publicly-2%e2%80%9d/feed/ 2 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/tom-wood/preaching-christ/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/tom-wood/preaching-christ/#comments Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:39:02 +0000 Tom Wood http://www.poopedpastors.com/?p=787 I’m in London as I write this. Tomorrow I meet with about 15 church planting pastors here in the UK. They are a great bunch of men. All of them are making tremendous sacrifice to minister in this Post-Modern, Post-Empire, Post-Everything city. I am going to facilitate a training module on preaching Christ-centered, grace saturated sermons in our post-Christian world. It is one piece of our half-day meeting (we pray together; we do small group peer coaching and problem solving together; we pray more; we laugh and cry; we tell stories of what God’s doing). It’s great. I wish you could have a community like this one. I suspect you’d last longer if you did. One day I will tell you about the Stout Monk’s Society I’m in, but I digress.

I attended two different churches today. Both sang the songs we sing in the USA. (one better than the other but again I digress). I listen to and evaluate about 25 sermons each year and write reviews for church planter wanna-bees. I also have coached a number of pastors in preaching. Today’s “two-sermon Sunday” caught my attention. Both were different in delivery and content. Both taught from the Bible. Both loved Jesus and are obviously loved by Him, so please don’t misunderstand what I am about to say. I am not criticizing any of my dear brothers, either here or in the USA. And trust me, I am a better coach than practitioner. (and I really wish after listening to Steve for over 25 years, I were better).

Brothers, may I humbly remind us of two things: one, we are strangers in a strange land and preaching Christ and his grace is for both believer and non-believer. Be careful you are not simply talking “Christianese” to Christians. But secondly, it’s the gospel of grace. It really is all about Jesus Christ and the radical nature of his love and grace. The way you get in to a relationship with Jesus is by grace through faith and repentance and the way you live in grace is through ongoing faith and repentance, not by the rules. Jesus didn’t die so he could give your congregation an easier list of rules to live by. He died to set them free.

I want to tell you that I thought Zach’s blog, Heroes and Heretics, was so real and honest. Thanks Zach. I think that’s a great example of what our freedom allows us to enjoy. And when we preach with that kind of remarkable authenticity, our watching world of non-believers may just sit up and listen. When Jesus is lifted up as the only solution for our plight, lives, communities and cities will be transformed. God’s glory and our good!

The following is from an old British pastor from the mid 1800’s, named C H McIntosh.
“A man may be called to preach the gospel in the same place for years, and he may, at times, feel burdened by the thought of having to address the same audience, on the same theme, week after week, month after month, year after year. He may feel at times at a loss for something new, something fresh, some variety. It will greatly help such to remember that the one grand theme of the preacher is Christ. The power to handle that theme is the Holy Ghost; and the one to whom that theme is to be unfolded is the poor lost sinner. Furthermore, it is well for the preacher to bear in mind, on every fresh occasion to rising to preach, that those to whom he preaches are really ignorant of the gospel, and hence he should preach as though it were the very first time his audience had ever heard the message, and the first time he had ever delivered it. To preach the gospel is really to unfold the heart of God, the person and work of Christ; and all this by the present energy of the Holy Ghost, from the exhaust-less treasury of holy Scripture”.

Of course, it might also help if you had a deep voice that sounded like God… but once again, I digress.

Tom Wood has been a pastor for 25 years. He has planted and pastored two churches and has served as a church planting trainer and coach for the Presbyterian Church in America. He is currently the president of Church Multiplication Ministries, in Atlanta. His mission is starting, strengthening and multiplying grace centered churches and church planting networks, through coaching and consults with church planting pastors, leaders and emerging leaders.

In need of encouragement? Subscribe to Tom’s weekly dose of grace at GracedAgain.com.

]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/tom-wood/preaching-christ/feed/ 2 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/steve-mckinney/flipping-the-switch-turn-your-motivation-on/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/steve-mckinney/flipping-the-switch-turn-your-motivation-on/#comments Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:06:15 +0000 Steve McKinney http://www.poopedpastors.com/?p=740 Have you ever wondered how some people are able to maintain amazing bodies while you struggle with your weight?

They make it seem so easy to achieve and maintain results. What do they know that you don’t? When you boil it down, the answer is quite simple.

The missing link between you and your ideal body is good old motivation.

A healthy dose of motivation coupled with determination will get you almost anything in life. So how do you know if you’re genuinely motivated?

• Motivation will tell you to get out of bed for an early workout.
• Motivation will nag you to put down the doughnut.
• Motivation makes passing on fries a reflex.
• Motivation makes a sweat drenched workout exciting.
• Motivation constantly reminds you why you do what you do.

If your motivation levels are lacking, read the following four steps to turn on your motivation.

Step #1: Pinpoint Your Motivator.

Motivation stems from having a goal. What is your goal? Why do you want to get into great shape?

Once you uncover your personal motivator you’ll find that motivation flows quickly your way.

Take a minute to really uncover the reason that you want to lose the weight. Don’t say something vague like you want to ‘Be thinner’ or ‘Look more attractive.’ Dig deeper – there is a very specific motivator in your life, you simply need to uncover it.

Here are some possible motivators…

• I want to have more energy to keep up with the kids.
• I want to improve my health through weight loss to extend and improve my life.
• I want to lose 15 pounds before my vacation.
• I want to restore my confidence to wear sleeveless shirts.
• I want to regain my figure to impress and attract my significant other.

Step #2: Make It Official.

When you write something down it suddenly feels official, doesn’t it? Write down your motivator for getting into great shape, and post it where you will see it often – next to your alarm clock, on the bathroom mirror, or in your car.

Each time you see your written motivator take a moment to visualize yourself accomplishing your goal. Try to make the scene as clear in your mind as possible. This is a powerful tool for maintaining your focus and direction.

Step #3: Be Practical.

It’s game plan time. You know what you want, and now you need to map out exactly how you’ll achieve it. It is important to be practical in your planning, rather than throwing out ideas that you know you won’t stick with.

With any weight loss goal it is important to 1) maintain a healthy low-calorie diet, and 2) participate in a consistent and challenging exercise program.

Plan a routine that will fit into your schedule and you’ll be more likely to stick with it. Also choose an exercise program that you enjoy – don’t force yourself to jog everyday if you hate jogging.

Step #4: Call For Backup.

Enlist the support of your friends, family and co-workers. Tell everyone about your goal to lose weight and get fit, you’ll be surprised how supportive most people will be. By being open about your goals you’ll likely be an encouragement to others to make healthy changes in their own lives.

The most effective way to ensure that you meet your goal is to enlist my support, your personal trainer. Together we will identify what really motivates you. Together we will design a workout routine that fits into your schedule and into your life. And together we will see it through until your goal is met.

Email me to learn more about my fitness and fat loss programs that will quickly change your life.

Recipe of the Week

Easy Homemade Lentil Soup

Few things are as comforting, on a brisk autumn day, than a bowl of hot lentil soup. This recipe is surprisingly simple with 5 minutes of prep and a cook time of just 30 minutes. Serve for lunch or dinner with a piece of hearty whole grain bread and a salad.

Here’s what you need…

• 7 cups water
• 2 1/2 cup dried red lentils
• 1 large onion, minced
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• Large pinch of cayenne pepper
• 4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• Salt and pepper

Combine water, lentils, onion, turmeric, and cayenne pepper in a large soup pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, partially cover, and simmer until lentils have disintegrated, about 30 minutes.

Stir in lemon juice, cumin, salt and pepper to taste.

Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 148 calories, .8g fat, 25g carbohydrate, 6g fiber, and 11g protein.

Fitness Tip of the Week

Halloween is right around the corner, and candy seems to be everywhere. Most people use the holiday as an excuse to purchase their favorite treats, and end up eating far more of it than they should. Break out of the weight gain cycle by saying no to candy this year. There are plenty of non-edible treats that you can purchase for the kids, or stick with healthy treats like boxed raisins. By taking a minute to plan ahead you’ll save yourself from countless calories.

]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/steve-mckinney/flipping-the-switch-turn-your-motivation-on/feed/ 0 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/heroesheretics/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/heroesheretics/#comments Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:42:35 +0000 Zach Van Dyke http://www.poopedpastors.com/?p=717 hero – [n.] anyone noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially who have risked or sacrificed his or her life.

heretic – [n.] anyone who does not conform to an established attitude, doctrine, or principle.

So the other day I wrote that Kay Arthur is teaching heresy on my facebook page.

Now before you post a comment or write KeyLife…

I, Zachary David Van Dyke, am in no way stating in this blog that Kay Arthur is teaching heresy and I will not be using this platform to comment on Kay Arthur and what she teaches.

And I know she has pointed many people to Jesus…every single one of my mom’s friends who are on facebook let me know…and yes, I have read all 40-plus comments that have been posted on my facebook wall about the great, life-changing precepts of Kay Arthur. She is a hero to many.

But this got me thinking…why does it bother us when someone else thinks one of our teachers, leaders or heroes says something that is wrong or false or heresy?

I decided to do a google search that included the name “Steve Brown” and the word “heresy.”

As I read the various articles and blogs that google produced for me, I found myself wanting to cut and paste a lot of the things that my post-menopausal friends had written on my facebook wall. I was outraged at the misrepresentation of my teacher and friend (and unofficial hero), Steve Brown. These “Heretic Hunters” just didn’t understand the context or what Steve really meant. I just needed a chance to explain it to them.

Just as I was about to post a comment I remembered something Steve says often; “50% of what I am telling you is wrong. I just don’t know which 50%.” (This is for the guy who said that those who study under Brown respond with “brownisms” instead of Scripture.)

The other night, I went to hear Rob Bell (a man who has been called a heretic by many of his brothers and sisters in Christ). It was crazy. About 2,000 people paid (me included) $20 bucks to hear him talk for two and a half hours.

The excitement in the theatre was palatable leading up to his entrance and once he made his appearance from the middle of the audience, the crowd went wild.

At one point, Rob asked if anyone was wearing a cross necklace that he could borrow for an illustration. A woman on the 2nd row hurled her cross earring to the stage like it was undergarments at Bon Jovi concert in 1988. (I have never been to a Bon Jovi concert and was only eight in 1988, but I imagine that is what it was like.)

During the event, no one yelled out “heresy” but if they did, there is no doubt in my mind that someone wouldn’t have hiked up his skinny jeans, taken off his spiked belt and started a beat down. Unless of course, Rob reminded him that “Love Wins.”

I got to read a paper a ninth grader wrote for his English class. The assignment was to write about your hero. His paper was titled “Zach Van Dyke.”

Does he not know that I am often mad at God and don’t believe He is good…
that I can give an entire talk at youth group and not believe a word coming out of my mouth…
that I’m a very selfish husband and distracted father…

or even WORSE…

that I sometimes sound antinomian…
that I was moved by The Shack…
that I once posted on my facebook that Kay Arthur taught heresy.

I had a vision as I was working on this blog…not that kind of vision…maybe it would be better to say I started daydreaming about heaven…

I saw Kay, Steve, Rob and I (how presumptions of me) sitting around Jesus laughing about how many times we were so wrong and thought we were so right and thanking Him for being a Hero that rescues “heretics” like us.

So glad it’s all about grace.

Zach

]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/heroesheretics/feed/ 7 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/my-top-ten-mistakes-in-ministry-that-i-can-share-publicly-1/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/my-top-ten-mistakes-in-ministry-that-i-can-share-publicly-1/#comments Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:29:53 +0000 Steve Childers http://www.poopedpastors.com/?p=711 This is the second in a series of blog posts I’m calling, “My Top Ten Mistakes in Ministry (That I Can Share Publicly!). After decades of ministry experience as a church planter, pastor and seminary professor I’ve learned the hard way that most church leaders seem to keep making the same mistakes in ministry. I hope that this series will help some church leaders (including me) stop making the same old mistakes and at least start making some brand new, innovative and creative mistakes!

Last time we began this series with an introduction called, “Ladies First” in which veteran church planter wife Shari Thomas answered the tough question, “What I Wish I Had Known About Church Planting” from the perspective of the church pastor’s spouse. This time we’ll take a brief look at the first of my top ten ministry mistakes.

Mistake #1: Failing to Understand the Importance of How I Define Ministry Success

First, I wish someone had told me how critically important it is to have a biblical view of success in the ministry. I wish someone had the wisdom and guts to have taken me aside, before I went into pastoral ministry, and say something like this: “Do you know that you have a definition of what it means to be successful in ministry and that definition is probably very wrong and dangerous?” I wish someone had explained to me how my definition of ministry success had the potential power of either destroying my ministry and life or deeply enriching it. But no one said that to me. So I had to learn this lesson the old-fashioned way–by failing.

By anyone’s standards the disciples’ ministry, described in Luke 10, seemed to be a raging success. You know the story. Jesus sent them out “two by two” and commissioned them to heal the sick and proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom. As they spoke in Jesus’ name and ministered to the people, God’s power fell on them in an astonishing way. They were not only surprised but also thrilled and elated. Luke 10:17 tells us, “And the seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.’” Their enthusiasm was obvious. God was mightily at work through their lives doing great signs and wonders, just like they had seen done earlier by Jesus.

So the disciples rejoiced. And why shouldn’t they? Even the demons were subject to them, just as they had been to Jesus. But right in the midst of all their elation and rejoicing at how God was working so powerfully in and through them, Jesus spoke these sobering words. He said, “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven”(Luke 10:20).

Here Jesus makes clear to his disciples what I wish someone had made clear to me many years ago–that their source of joy in ministry must not be found in what they do for Him but in who they are in Him. Jesus knew that there would soon come a time in all of their ministries when there would no longer be great signs and wonders to encourage them. Instead, there would be great hardships, trials, persecution, and even death for serving in His name. Jesus knew there were times before them when they would feel much more in subjection to the demons rather than the demons being in subjection to them.

At such times Jesus does not want his followers (then or now) to be robbed of joy, so he taught them to find their true source of joy in something other than what most would call “ministry success.” Instead, Jesus wants His followers, even in the face of what many would call ministry failure, to be the kind of people who learn to find deep-seated joy in their knowledge of the Good News of God’s radical love for them in Christ, (i.e. that “their names are recorded in heaven”.)

In the often difficult and faith-testing trenches of real life ministry (not the unrealistic, Pollyannaish and triumphalistic pictures of ministry often painted by others) it is extremely easy and very normal for church leaders to become discouraged and depressed. Thousands have left the ministry over the years convinced they are failures because of their lack of what many would call ministry success. One of the downsides of my ministry is that I’m sometimes called in to help when church planters and church plants crash and burn. Often these church planters don’t just leave the ministry-they leave the Faith. And every time, without exception, I have discovered deeply lodged in their broken hearts an unbiblical definition of ministry success.

According to Scripture, success before God should be measured primarily in terms of faithfulness to Him. Success has been defined well by Ken and Barbara Hughes, in their excellent book Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome, as “faithfully pleasing God with the resources and responsibilities that He has given you.” The authors make the point that in the Parable of the Talents (Matt. 25:14-30) Jesus rewarded each faithful man the same—even though one was actually given more than the other and even though one actually produced more than the other.

The main point in this book is not to denigrate the value and necessity of things like thoughtful planning and hard work in the ministry. And the authors are not advocating spiritual pacifism in the name of faith. Instead, they are making a solid case for a biblical view of success that is radically different from the world’s view. It is primarily qualitative not merely quantitative. Its emphasis is more on things like faithfulness, humility, love and relationships than on measurable, objective accomplishments and achievements in the ministry.

God’s Kingdom is an upside-down Kingdom. The Apostle James wrote, “God is opposed to the proud but He gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). Through the prophet Isaiah the Lord said, “But to this one I will look, to him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word” (Isaiah 66:2). One of the supreme glories of the Gospel is that it is primarily through weakness that God has chosen to show his strength. This is why the Puritans used to say, “God’s grace, like water always flows to the lowest place, the sinner’s place–the foot of the cross.”

Paul writes, “For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of athe world and the despised, God has chosen, the things that are not, that He might nullify the things that are, that no man should boast before God”(1 Cor 1:26-29).

If you are like most of us in the ministry today your definition of success is naturally prone to be primarily quantitative not qualitative. Its emphasis is on measurable, objective accomplishments and achievements–things like ”nickels and noses” (church finances & attendance), making a “Kingdom impact”, attaining prestige, power and resources. Without realizing it your sense of personal worth and identity is inordinately and frighteningly deeply rooted in these things–not in the Good News that “your name is recorded in heaven.”

Oswald Chamber wrote, “God can achieve his purpose either through the absence of human power and resources, or the abandonment of reliance on them. All through history God has chosen and used nobodies, because their unusual dependence on him made possible the unique display of his power and grace. He chose and used somebodies only when they renounced dependence on their natural abilities and resources.”

Never forget that your source of joy in the ministry must not be rooted in what you do for Him but in who you are in Him. That’s because there will inevitably come a time in your ministry when you will no longer have all the quantitative accomplishments, power and resources in which you are now illegitimately (and probably unknowingly) finding your true sense of worth and joy. “Do not rejoice in this…but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven” (Luke 10:20).

Instead, learn to find your true sense of personal worth and joy in the Good News of God’s radical love for you in Christ. Define your success in ministry as “faithfully pleasing God with the resources and responsibilities that He has given you.” Make the primary focus of your ministry things like faithfulness, humility, love and relationships. Then leave the results of your ministry to God. Failing to understand the importance of how to define ministry success has been one of my top ten greatest mistakes in ministry–that I can share publicly. This failure has cost me greatly. I pray that you will not keep making this same mistake.

Steve Childers

PS: Here’s a recent photo of Steve, his wife of almost 30 years, 3 grown daughters AND even a female dog named Sophie! Steve is known for carrying with him 24/7 “EPLAD” –that is an “Alert Device” (AD) that detects dangerous levels of Estrogen Poisoning Level (EPL) before problems break out at home!

Steve Childers is the President & CEO of Global Church Advancement, an inter-denominational ministry that provides church planting training, consultations, and resources for church planters, pastors and missionaries throughout the world. Steve has trained Christian leaders from more than 50 countries (curriculum in five major global languages) representing over 200 denominations and mission agencies. Steve is also an author, Professor of Practical Theology (since 1995) and the director of the doctoral program at Reformed Theological Seminary, in Orlando, Florida, where he teaches church planting, missions, evangelism and spiritual formation. To learn more about GCA:

• Browse the GCA Website: http://www.gca.cc
• Join the GCA Cause: http://bit.ly/X5bZC
• See the GCA Blog: http://www.gca.cc/blog/
• Follow GCA on Twitter:http://twitter.com/_gca
• Follow GCA President (Childers) on Twitter: http://twitter.com/stevechilders
• Check out upcoming GCA Events: http://gca.cc/Seminar_Overview.htm
• Support GCA: http://gca.cc/Support_GCA.htm

]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/my-top-ten-mistakes-in-ministry-that-i-can-share-publicly-1/feed/ 4 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/pastoral-points/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/pastoral-points/#comments Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:02:41 +0000 Tom Wood http://www.poopedpastors.com/?p=708 I was sitting in a pub with a bunch of pastors in London. One of the guys told us that in commercial flying, the airlines have come up with a point system for pilots, so they don’t get burned out. He said, for instance, that flying into Heathrow, since it’s so complex, is 500 points. Flying in and out of Atlanta, since it’s the busiest, is 750 points. But flying in and out of smaller places, like Birmingham, AL or Birmingham, UK is only 200 points. After a pilot has logged so many points in a month or week, he has to take a break.

Because we are all pastors, we could apply that to ministry life. Instead of putting in a 50 hour week, as if ministry is logged in as hours done, maybe we should come up with a point system for pastors. So if you do a funeral for a friend, its 500 points. If its for a child, its, 1000 points. If you deal with a couple and one’s infidelity, it’s another 500 points. If you have a deacons meeting or elders meeting that week, that’s 2,000 points. Every week is a sermon. For some its only 100 points, for others its 500-1000 points. And then there’s the administrative junk and the phone calls…and emails and…

Makes sense doesn’t it? Pastoral life is more than sermon prep and making polite conversation with little old ladies. It’s tough. And maybe we need a point system that says, when you get to this amount of stuff, stop. No more pastoral work for the week.

Anyway, here’s the kicker. I checked with a commercial pilot friend of mine who flies all over the country (USA). I asked him about the point system. He said, “Not true.” They fly by hours. Oh well, it still makes sense doesn’t it?

But if we decide to put something in place for pastors—to keep us from getting pooped—we should also think of the good stuff as well. So when you see someone really get the gospel of grace—maybe a new convert or where they get graced again, maybe that’s minus 2,000 in the point system. Or when a healing occurs or a sermon really worked and a few people ‘got it’—minus 500 points. Or when the teens return from a mission’s trip and a few want to serve locally as well… Or a half day of prayer, alone with the Father, restores one’s soul. Subtract 1,000. There are some things that put the energy back aren’t there? Makes me want to be a pastor again just thinking about it…

Tom Wood has been a pastor for 25 years. He has planted and pastored two churches and has served as a church planting trainer and coach for the Presbyterian Church in America. He is currently the president of Church Multiplication Ministries, in Atlanta. His mission is starting, strengthening and multiplying grace centered churches and church planting networks, through coaching and consults with church planting pastors, leaders and emerging leaders.

In need of encouragement? Subscribe to Tom’s weekly dose of grace at GracedAgain.com.

]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/pastoral-points/feed/ 1 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/what%e2%80%99s-wrong-with-me/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/what%e2%80%99s-wrong-with-me/#comments Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:12:55 +0000 Pete Alwinson http://www.poopedpastors.com/?p=695 “So what I want to know is, why do you still have a church and I don’t? What’s wrong with me?”

It’s a Thursday afternoon at Starbucks and I’m sitting with a 64 year old pastor friend of mine, uh, former pastor friend of mine, who three years earlier had been unceremoniously cut loose from the ministry he built from 70 to 400 people over 16 years. His leaders had done it all wrong, even illegally according to church protocol. I can’t help but think while he’s talking, “What good is a Book of Church Order if you don’t follow it? It’s supposed to work, and does sometimes. It’s supposed to keep us from slashing the heart out of the people of God. Ya, but you’ve messed up using the BOCO too Pete. Uh huh.”

“Why do you still have a church and I don’t?”

I’m drinking my Pike’s Peak decaf (it’s afternoon, I’m hyper enough and already caffeined up; have been since 5:30 AM) fast because I have no answer for this one. He’s not attacking me, he’s just in incredible pain…still… after three years, and doesn’t have any answers that satisfy. Do I need to feel guilty because I still have a church to serve and he doesn’t? I know the answer is “no”, but I do. I’ve learned to insulate myself from the pain of others, but my friend is getting under my skin. I feel a lump rising in my throat and wash it back down. But, man, there are a lot of times when I just wished I would have an excuse like his to not be a pastor. It’s crazy work we do. In fact, right now would be a great time to be let go and not be a pastor, but I don’t tell him I feel that way. I’m listening. Scrambling for words. I want to say, “Maybe it’s a gift to you.” I don’t. Maybe I still have a church because the Lord is disciplining me for not having learned lessons I should have learned years before and He’s gonna keep me here until I finally learn them. That’s kind of twisted, but Steve Brown’s words ring in my ear: the first time I heard him speak to pastors after he retired from the pastorate he said: “I’m not a pastor any more…na na na na na na!” I laughed. And was a little envious.

But my friend still wanted to be a pastor. I just keep listening. We both believe down to our toes that God is Sovereign. He talks and I listen with that understanding between us holding us both up.

“What’s wrong with me?”

Oh, cuss…he’s lived with these feelings for 1,095 days…is that not close to unbearable? How many times did I feel that this week? Several. How many times have I admitted it? Zero. How many pastors have felt that for years? Too many to count. I want to cry with him. I can’t. I’ve been too busy, too under the gun, too involved trying to help my church survive these difficult economic times, cut back expenses without cutting back ministry, holding staff together in fragmenting times, dealing with the pain of staff lay offs. I can’t cry; I gotta keep moving forward. But at least I can relate to him and I’m there with him. Have I lost the ability to cry? No, it’s still there, but way down there…

“My wife is angrier than I am; my son hasn’t gone to church since I was fired…well, he did go with some friends last week.”

Great, after three years his wife is still struggling and his son may never want to follow Jesus and enjoy His people again. Add that to the list of incredibly painful things I’ve heard this week. On we talked. He did of course, miss something with his leadership. He missed their slipping support. Didn’t see it or feel it. He missed seeing how the staff member gained power and usurped the love of the elders. What he never accepted fully is that the church bosses who were there years before were still the real human power in the church. One major difference I begin to see in our respective churches is that he was a church developer and I was a church planter. He took the core and developed them. I built the core…and now, all those who didn’t like me left because I was there before them. It wasn’t that I was a better pastor I’m pretty sure. I’d probably made as many mistakes as my friend. The issue was probably more one of power and who’d been there first and longer. There are always some not so very spiritual reasons why some pastors seem more successful than others.

Why did he and why do we miss the signs of lack of support of our leaders? They had to be there! Again my heart sinks just one more notch as I hear the tale of his wife’s long term illness which doctors couldn’t diagnose and his sons teenage rebellion which wouldn’t end and how while dealing with his family, his leadership (fellow, brother elders) stepped away, instead of stepping toward him. Long term trial leads to eventual fatigue. He finally saw the fatigue himself: He was just going through the motions as a pastor. Been there too. Sometimes we see it too late humanly speaking, for them to forgive and reattach to us and us to them.

But the betrayal! Most seasoned pastors have felt the sledgehammer of betrayal…I have and I wanted to go after those suckers…those fellow elders. Sometimes it takes years for a flattened heart to reinflate. When they sent him on a sabbatical and told him not to return, he didn’t fight it. Why? He had no fight left in him that’s why, and any pastor who has been through a long ministry without a sabbatical, with out periodic rests and vacations, knows the feelings.

What would you do if you could do it differently, your ministry I mean?

“Pray more, have a deeper relationship with my leaders, take more study breaks and take some vacations. I wouldn’t tie vacations to our annual denominational meetings…You know, I’ve heard so many pastors say lately, ‘If I could leave this job today with a comparable salary, I would do it.’ When pastors start talking about ministry as a ‘job’ you know you’re in trouble.”

Did you hear of the time Jesus made a quick return to earth for a visit? He came upon a lame man, had compassion on him, and healed his leg. Further down the road, Our Lord came upon a blind man, had compassion on him, and healed him. A little further down the road, Jesus came upon a man sitting on the curb sobbing his heart out. Jesus asked him what was wrong. The man cried out in agony, ‘I’m a pastor!’ Jesus sad down beside him, put his arm around him…and cried too.”

We do experience agony as pastors… and incredible joy. I asked him what he’s the most passionate about in life and he told me. His face lit up, energy pulsed through him (it could have been his coffee though…) We brainstormed a plan and I told him, ‘Go do it…go do it.” I’m not the Holy Spirit but I think at the end of the day, what happened to him was a gift. Now he has the opportunity to reach convergence…his business career plus his ministry career equals fulfilling the reason God put him on planet earth. No distractions. Focus. Grace always shows up to God’s beloved sons and daughters, always, sooner or later. What was wrong with him? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. And there’s nothing wrong with you either.

You take it to heart…

Pete

]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/what%e2%80%99s-wrong-with-me/feed/ 1 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/3-steps-to-overcome-overeating/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/3-steps-to-overcome-overeating/#comments Tue, 08 Sep 2009 21:10:20 +0000 Steve McKinney http://www.poopedpastors.com/?p=643 Let’s face it, the extra pounds you’re carrying around are due to overeating – plain and simple.

Why do you overeat? Here are a few likely reasons:

1. Habit: Whether you realize it or not, you eat in a learned pattern, rather than out of need. You clean your plate because that’s what your mother taught. You eat what is served without stopping to check if you are full. You butter two pieces of toast for breakfast rather than questioning if one piece would do the job.

2. Absentminded: You forget to pay attention when you eat. Mindless munching while watching a movie, snacking while driving, or picking at food while cooking – these absentminded calories really add up.

3. Something Deeper: Sometimes you use food for recreation or to change your mood. These calories may lend you a temporary sense of comfort or pleasure, but ultimately your body suffers from the indulgence.

Here are 3 Steps To Overcome Overeating – read these, and apply them to your life.

Step #1: Pay Attention

Be aware of what and how much you eat. This simple concept will save you from hundreds upon hundreds of calories each week.

To apply this rule, don’t eat while your attention is distracted by another activity. Only put food in your mouth when you are hungry and conscious of it. This means turn off the T.V., get out of your car, and no matter what you do, don’t graze in the kitchen while cooking.

Step #2: Practice Balance

Be aware of the types of food that you eat during each meal, and make sure that it’s balanced. When you eat a balanced diet filled with lean protein, whole grains, lots of veggies, a few daily servings of fruit and limited fat and sweets, your body will be satisfied and you’ll lose the urge to overeat.

This means you shouldn’t always eat carb-based meals, and you also shouldn’t always eat high-fat meals. Make a mental checklist of the food groups that you’ve eaten each day. Did you eat lean protein? Did you have plenty of vegetables? Did you refrain from eating more than one or two primarily carb-based meals? This mental checklist will save you from making food decisions that you’d later regret.

Step #3: Be Tuned In

Your body will always tell you when its hunger has been satisfied – you’ve just gotten so good at ignoring the signs that you barrel through your meal only to feel like you’ve been hit by a ton of bricks once all that food hits your stomach. It’s time to take a deep breath and listen to your body.

An important part of being tuned in is to eat slowly. Once you start to pay attention you’ll notice a point when each bite becomes less and less satisfying. That is your body’s way of letting you know that you’ve had enough and that each continued bite is simply overkill (yes, even if you’re only halfway through that plate of pasta).

By learning how to control your eating habits, you’ll find weight loss to come simply and naturally.

Want to speed up your weight loss, make it permanent, and shape your body at the same time? I’ve got what it takes to get you there! No guess work, no fad diets, and no super long workouts.

Email me to learn more about my fitness and fat loss programs that will quickly change your life.

Recipe of the Week

Rainbow Kebabs

These fresh fruit kebabs are simple to prepare and make a stunning display. It’s perfect to bring to a barbeque or to enjoy as a healthy dessert. The fruit selections below aren’t set in stone – use any fruit that is fresh and colorful.

Yield: 10 servings

Here’s what you need…

• 10 wooden skewers
• 10 strawberries
• 10 bite-sized watermelon pieces
• 10 bite-sized cantaloupe pieces
• 10 bite-sized mango pieces
• 10 bite-sized pineapple pieces
• 10 bite-sized kiwi pieces
• 10 blueberries
• 10 blackberries

1. Put the chunks of fruit on each skewer in a rainbow pattern – red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple.
2. Place skewers on a platter and serve.

Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 60 calories, 0g fat, 15g carbohydrate, 3g fiber, and 1g protein.

Fitness Tip of the Week

No More Clean Plates

You know that portions are now larger than ever. Do you really need to eat all of that food? Of course you don’t. It is time to release yourself from the obligation to eat every morsel on your plate. Start by always leaving one or two bites. Soon you will find that you naturally stop eating when you’re full – even if your plate isn’t empty.

]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/3-steps-to-overcome-overeating/feed/ 0 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/summer-silence/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/summer-silence/#comments Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:43:41 +0000 Zach Van Dyke http://www.poopedpastors.com/?p=638 I was working on a cute little article about summer and how as an adult it doesn’t mean what it did as a kid and how as a youth pastor it means non-stop – make sure the fridge is stocked with Red Bull…but then I heard from Him.

Out of the three summers I have been a youth pastor, this by far has been my most successful with the highest numbers and greatest excitement among students. Camp was amazing. Participation in service projects has been phenomenal. Students have taken initiative in speaking the Gospel into each others’ lives.

This has been a hard summer for me. Much harder than the past two.

My summer has been overwhelmingly busy, but not because I have been wasting time sitting at the feet of Jesus. (I still haven’t finished reading all four Gospels – one of my goals during Lent as you may recall.)

My summer has been filled with blatant sin, but not because I believe so strongly in grace and therefore abuse it. On the contrary, I have never struggled so much with unbelief in the grace of God.

My summer has been lonely, but not because I haven’t been surrounded constantly with people who care.

My summer has been hard because God has been silent.

Okay, don’t argue theology with me…God has been silent…you know what that’s like, don’t you?

Yes, I’ve been busy and haven’t been carving out time with Him.

Yes, I’ve been sinning and not repenting…sometimes even enjoying it.

Yes, I’ve been ignoring and avoiding the warm fellowship of other believers.

Yes, all of the above creates a barrier in the relationship between me and God…or does it?

Am I ever still enough…obedient enough…encouraged enough to hear from a holy and perfect God?

Last week at the end of a very busy, sin-filled, lonely day, I went to visit a man who was dying. His name was Scott and he battled cancer for 8 years. I almost didn’t go, because I felt guilty that I hadn’t gone to visit him more often and now that he was about to die any day, I suddenly find time for him.

When I arrived at his house, it was hard to find parking because so many cars were lining the streets. Scott had lots of friends and I wouldn’t be surprised if most credit God’s work in his life to bring about radical change in theirs. In High School and college, Scott and I had a sort of unofficial mentor relationship. Most younger guys who knew Scott even if for only one week would say the same thing.

Encouraged by his wife, I walked over to see him. His hospital bed was in the middle of the living room and around him people talked and laughed and ate. There was so much life in the room, but he looked dead.

I said to him “Thank you for loving Jesus in front of me.” I meant it, but I also didn’t really know what else to say and was still feeling extremely guilty.

He then opened his eyes very briefly and stared at me. He began to speak. It was really hard to understand him. He became frustrated at my inability to interpret his breathy, slurred words, so he called for his wife to come over. He insisted that she raise his bed to a sitting position. He was then facing the group of friends and family on the couches and chairs and strained to get out the words that he so desperately wanted me to understand.

One word at a time he said:

“It…has…been…my…honor…to…represent…Jesus.”

Once he got through every word, he began repeating that sentence over and over and over again each time a little louder than before.

As his family gathered around him with tears streaming down their faces, I moved back behind the bed and I began to pray that God would speak through him to those gathered in the room. Not sure why, God had been silent.

And as soon as I finished praying, Scott called my name, “Zach.”

He struggled to speak and I struggled to understand.

I want to pass these words on to my fellow brothers and sisters in youth ministry, because I think He intended them for you as well.

“It has been my honor to represent Jesus. Now you do that. Love those teenagers. Disciple them and send them out. I love you. Go in peace.”

So glad it’s all about grace.

Zach
2 Cor. 6:1

]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/summer-silence/feed/ 14 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/my-top-ten-mistakes-in-ministry-that-i-can-share-publicly/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/my-top-ten-mistakes-in-ministry-that-i-can-share-publicly/#comments Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:14:05 +0000 Steve Childers http://www.poopedpastors.com/?p=627 An Introduction by Steve Childers

Introduction: Ladies First!
After more than 30 years of ministry experience as a church planter, pastor and seminary professor I think I’ve finally learned the secret to survival in the ministry: stop making the same old mistakes the rest of us have been making in the ministry for decades and start making brand new, bold, innovative and creative mistakes!

This is the first in a series of posts I’m calling, “My Top Ten Mistakes in Ministry (That I Can Share Publicly)“. But instead of starting with “My Greatest Mistakes–Part One” I thought it might be better to begin this series by allowing you the privilege of looking back at 25 years of real-life, in-the-trench church planting ministry through the lens of a good friend of mine, Shari Thomas*—a veteran church planter’s wife.

Knowing the depth of Shari’s spiritual maturity and the profound impact her ministry has had on so many Christian leaders (including me), several years ago I asked Shari if she would consider being one of the trainers at our annual Global Church Advancement North America Conference. She has been one of GCA’s most effective trainers ever since.

A few years ago I asked Shari if she would be willing to address all the conference attendees at our final plenary session—instead of only doing her excellent 6-session workshop alongside several others. She responded with her typical, refreshing, bold humility, “Sure! What topic would you like me to address?” I told her I’d like for her to answer the question, “What I Wish I Had Known About Church Planting”—and not hold back anything.

Below is a taste of Shari’s heart-felt answer to that difficult question. As you’ll see…she held nothing back. And I’m glad she didn’t.

A Church Planter Spouse Looks Back: What I Wish I’d Known About Church Planting! by Shari Thomas* (Given at the 2008 Global Church Advancement North America Conference.)

I wish someone would have told us (Shari and her husband, John), that we both would need a support system greater than just each other…

…that we would need coaches and mentors, and we should plan at more than one stage in the journey on getting counseling…

…and when we didn’t have this support system it would be up to us to seek it out!

I would have greatly benefited knowing that we needed to come to a mutual understanding and commitment about what my involvement in the church plant would be…

…that pursuing and nurturing my gifts was as important as nurturing his.

And that we would often need to review this involvement through out the stages of church planting and seasons of life…

…that when the children were young, my husband and children would require and need most of my time.

I wish he’d known how much I would need his support in sticking to these commitments rather than both of us rescuing ministries and people when they floundered.

I longed for someone to gently come alongside me and remind me again and again that what my husband needs from me most is love and respect.

He can find coaches, teachers, nags and critics in countless places. He already has one mother. And when it’s late at night and we are falling into bed that this is not the time or place to hear one more idea on how to make the church successful!

But at the same time I also wished he’d known how very important it was for the two of us to have our weekly “staff” times to talk about how the church and family life intersected.

I was a part of the church planting team and needed to know about the plant, give my input and have a place on the team. I wish we had spoken more openly about this to our staff as they too needed to work through their understanding of my role on the church planting team.

If I had known that my heart as well as our kids would be hurt, angry, and almost torn in two by this ministry we might not have planted a church

….but we also may never have learned the delight and satisfaction of pointing each other to Jesus, to the hope that only the gospel brings, and the deep joy of leading others to this hope.

…if we hadn’t planted a church I don’t know if we would ever have known the joy of watching the people we had led to Christ then turn and point our hearts to Jesus during our dark hours.

We would have benefited from being told that the question “should we stay in this church?” will be one that will haunt us through out our ministry lives. I was not prepared for him rolling over in bed doubting his call.

I didn’t know we would question if God had brought us here…that when my husband’s passion and energy for the church plant was waxing, mine might be waning and vice versa. It would have been helpful to know this was normal.

I am thankful that someone told us we would have to work harder for a marriage where there is spiritual, emotional, and physical intimacy than we would have to work at planting the church…that this would involve sacrifice on both of our parts, and it would be well worth it.

…that this would mean being honest about the damage we both do to one another and then seeking reconciliation to whatever point was needed for the sake of the other.

…that repentance involved not a simple “I’m sorry” but asking the other person to tell how we had harmed them and to listen without defending.

That it would mean doing this over and over in our marriage…that it would mean being willing to give up church planting, even leaving ministry for the sake of loving the other person.

I am glad my husband learned early on that church planting gave him great freedom to creatively mold his schedule to fit the needs of both his family and the church.

I am grateful he takes time from church ministry to pour into the lives of our kids: working on school projects, creating feasts in the kitchen, taking vacations, catching the latest blockbuster, filling their lives with music, asking them the tough questions, drawing out their hearts, repenting openly before them…

…I love watching their eyes fill with pride when they introduce their friends to their dad. Nothing draws my heart to him more than that he loves our children so well.

And at the same time when both he and I love our kids poorly, I really wish I had known that the Christian life and Church planting was not about working so hard to get it right, be right, and do right.

That it was not my job to perfect myself. That even learning the gospel was not another tool to add to my arsenal of how to live a better life. But it was church planting that finally brought me to the realization that I can’t change myself.

That it’s not about what others say about me. That Jesus has already said, “It is finished.” That God’s verdict spoken over me comes before any of my performance, before I ever started on this journey of church planting…he delights in me already!

If I had known this, I would have enjoyed life so much more. But the journey isn’t finished and I’m planning on joining the party more these days.

But I am most grateful that my husband keeps learning that no one can pursue, strongly lead and cherish me the way he can.

…that when I’m withdrawn and discouraged, his gentle wooing speaks volumes.

…when I’m masking deep hurt with anger, his strong, consistent pursuit melts me like nothing else.

…when darkness has masked Jesus face, I have felt another strong hand leading me home.

…and when it’s all said and done, and we are at The Great Marriage Feast I will recognize the tastes and sounds and smells. The dance will be vaguely familiar…

…for hints of the realm unknown have drifted across the border land.

…and I have caught glimpses of what is yet to come for so many of you, my friends, my church family, my kids and my husband have shown me the way.

——————————

*Shari Thomas has been involved with her husband, John, in church planting for over 25 years both in North America and abroad. Shari serves on Mission to North America’s church planting staff as the Director of Parakaleo, a ministry primarily to church planting spouses. Shari and/or Tami Resch (also on staff with Parakaleo) lead the Women’s Forum (6 Sessions) at the North America GCA Conferences & Seminars. John is the director of global training for the Redeemer Church Planting Center in Manhattan, NYC. They have 3 children who amazingly still claim them as parents. They love sailing, only do legal drugs, and are known coffee snobs.

Steve Childers is the President & CEO of Global Church Advancement, an inter-denominational ministry that provides church planting training, consultations, and resources for church planters, pastors and missionaries throughout the world. Steve has trained Christian leaders from more than 40 countries (curriculum in five major global languages) representing over 120 denominations and mission agencies. Steve is also an author, Professor of Practical Theology (since 1995) and the director of the doctoral program at Reformed Theological Seminary, in Orlando, Florida, where he teaches church planting, missions, evangelism and spiritual formation. To learn more about GCA:

• Browse the GCA Website: http://www.gca.cc
• Join the GCA Cause: http://bit.ly/X5bZC
• See the GCA Blog: http://www.gca.cc/blog/
• Follow GCA on Twitter:http://twitter.com/_gca
• Follow GCA President (Childers) on Twitter: http://twitter.com/stevechilders
• Check out upcoming GCA Events: http://gca.cc/Seminar_Overview.htm
• Support GCA: http://gca.cc/Support_GCA.htm

]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/my-top-ten-mistakes-in-ministry-that-i-can-share-publicly/feed/ 9 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/steve-mckinney/the-deep-fried-disaster/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/steve-mckinney/the-deep-fried-disaster/#comments Thu, 20 Aug 2009 18:42:18 +0000 Steve McKinney http://www.poopedpastors.com/?p=575 I am often asked how to lose weight quickly and easily.

Of course no one wants to listen to a lecture on the importance of healthy eating coupled with a solid exercise routine. That would preclude the quick and easy part.

So in a world where two thirds of all adults are overweight or obese, and some doctors predict that we will soon see a generation with a lower life expectancy than their parents due to obesity related diseases, I’ve come up with a solution that is both quick and easy. (Drum roll, please.)

Stop eating fried foods. (Gasp!)

Fried foods, despite having little to no nutritional value and being loaded with fat and calories, have become an accepted indulgence in our society. So accepted that many restaurants serve fries or chips alongside every meal.

It’s no wonder that fried foods are the number one thing that most people crave – they are salty, addictive and plentiful.

Are Fried Foods Really That Bad?

In a nutshell, yes, fried foods really are that bad for you.

Take an average potato, bake it and you have 110 calories and 0 grams of fat. Take that same potato, turn it into French fries and you have 380 calories and 18 grams of fat.

Frying food is the easiest way to dramatically increase the calorie and fat content. And you know that extra calories and fat end up as extra body fat.

Other disasters that fried foods put you at risk for include:

• Heart Disease
• Diabetes
• Clogged Arteries
• High Blood Pressure
• Obesity
• Acne

Fried foods have also been known to trigger Acid Reflux and IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome).

Need I say more?

Going Fried-Free

Giving up fried food may not be easy, though it will arguably be one of the best things you do for your health and appearance. You will lose weight and improve your health by eliminating fried food from your life.

Keep in mind that, like all habits, the first thirty days will be the toughest. Make things easier by staying away from situations that place you in front of a big basket of fries or plate of doughnuts.

New Foods to Love

Instead of fried foods, enjoy the following:

• Substitute a salad or fruit instead of fries
• Baked potato – but pass on the butter and sour cream
• Baked chicken instead of fried chicken
• Baked chips instead of fried chips
• Raw veggie pieces

You may be surprised how delicious these healthier options taste.

Help, I’m addicted!

If your diet has consistently included fried foods – multiple times a day or several times each week, then giving it up may take more work than simply trying healthier options.

You’ll need to use some mental strategies as well.

To do this focus on all the negative things about eating fried foods:

• Think of how bloated and heavy you feel afterward
• Remember the heart burn you’ve experienced
• Focus on the extra pounds you want to lose – imagine doughnuts and French fries sticking to your belly and thighs
• Look at your acne
• Feel the discomfort of being out of breath doing normal activities

You didn’t think I was really going to skip telling you how beneficial exercise is to achieving your health and weight loss goals did you?

The bottom line is that exercise plus healthy eating will give you the body that you want.

What are you waiting for? Drop that bag of chips and email me for a workout that will change your life!

Recipe of the Week

Summer Time Gazpacho

Gazpacho is a tomato based, raw vegetable soup that is served cold. This recipe makes a light and refreshing summer meal, and is quick and easy to make. Feel free to simply chop the ingredients for a thicker soup if you’d rather not use a blender.
Yield: 4 servings

Here’s what you need…

• 1 pound ripe tomatoes
• 1 1/2 cups cucumber chunks, peeled and seeded
• 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
• 1 clove garlic
• 1/4 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon light honey
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• * Optional * Cayenne pepper to taste

1. Core the tomatoes, and cut into large chunks.
2. Place all ingredients, except cayenne, into a blender. Puree until smooth.
3. Transfer to a container, add cayenne. Cover and chill.
4. Serve cold.

Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 71 calories, 4g fat, 9g carbohydrate, 2g fiber, and 4g protein.

Fitness Tip of the Week

The Trans-Fat-Free Decoy

You’ve probably heard that many restaurants and food manufacturers have stopped using trans-fats. Don’t get too excited. While trans fats aren’t as bad as other fats, fried items are is still loaded with fat, calories, and sodium – all things that you want to avoid when trying to lose weight.

Before you eat a trans-fat-free item check the overall nutritional content. Does it contain saturated fat? What is the total fat and calorie count? What about sugar and sodium? Don’t let a trans-fat-free label distract you from the overall nutritional content of the food.

]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/steve-mckinney/the-deep-fried-disaster/feed/ 0 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/pete-alwinson/noise-is-better-than-vomit/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/pete-alwinson/noise-is-better-than-vomit/#comments Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:43:29 +0000 Pete Alwinson http://www.poopedpastors.com/?p=566 So I’m talking to our worship director on Monday morning as he comes in to my office to work his magic and try and help me get my iPhone working properly again (one of his many ministries to me): “So Jeff how’s it going…how’s the family?” Pause…hesitation…uh oh. Yesterday was a great Sunday of worship. Jeff is a tremendous worship leader…the best…stay away from him. As Steve has said many times, my elders gave me a .45 and I know how to use it and will in the right circumstances. You stand warned. My sermon also went reasonably well Sunday. I didn’t have speaker’s remorse hitting the red zone this Monday. But it was Monday…another day.

Cutting to the chase it was a rough morning to follow Sunday’s triumph for Jeff: The shower was broken and some bathroom wall issues resurfaced that had to be dealt with again…what a nuisance…my friends youngest son was sick that night, threw up in a trash can with a plastic bag in it…which stated bag the dog got in the morning and drug all over the house, munching on and leaking out the revolting contents as he (or she or it) went about his (her or it) contented dog way. His wife was out doing her morning run when he discovered all of this so of course he was morally obligated to clean it up. (Ignorance and absence in cases like this does alleviate and absolve responsibility. If he were really spiritual he would have been in the office already, say about 6:30 Monday morning and missed this service duty at home.) Jeff cleaned up the carnage, ran a measly 6 miles for a light workout (for him) and came in to the office (finally) to help his technologically challenged colleague get reconnected. Phone working, he told me that some recording the worship team was going to do this coming Wednesday evening might disturb the Men’s group I lead. It was going to be noisy on Wednesday evening. Thanks for the warning.

In this imperfect world, great Sunday’s are often followed by lousy Monday’s for pastors and church staff alike. Given the saga Jeff told me, when he left my office I reflected and said to myself while shaking my head gravely in affirmation, “Noise is better than vomit. Noise is good in fact, well, compared to vomit. I’m good with noise. I choose noise.” But I didn’t have a choice. Rarely, if ever, do I get to choose between the circumstances I face as a pastor. You know exactly what I mean.

You didn’t choose this economic tidal wave and the financial implications that continue to dog us week after week (the layoffs of people you love and need, tough decisions about missions and programs, talking more about money in church than you might want to; the raises you don’t get and can’t give your staff; the ripple effect of all this seems endless!); the key leader who lost her job and cannot carry out her key ministry as before; the newer Christian who was offended by someone who should have known better and you have to clean up that mess; the suicide; the betrayal; the staff member who doesn’t work out; added ministry responsibilities because of that staff change; the need for changes that you intuitively grasp that you have to make in your church but you have a pit in your stomach (or is it an ulcer), wondering if you have the leadership skills to bring about that change; oh, and the approval thing, who likes me (you) and who doesn’t.

Reality is, we don’t get to choose between noise and vomit. Or much else. Pastors deal with what they get. How are you doing with that reality? Here’s what I’m learning on my grace journey about noise and vomit:

• I’m learning that all of us as pastors get messy “hands” dealt to us. I’m not alone in this present darkness (using a Frank Peretti idea). That helps. I haven’t been singled out for especially rough treatment by my Lord who is just itching to make my life miserable. It’s the cost of doing His business in His broken world. It’s essentially what I signed up for at ordination. Going back to this strong stand-by has helped:

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. (NASB)

You’re not alone and He’s not ticked off at you. Remind me of that when you see me and I will remind you. Ah, Grace is good.

• I’ve learned this too: When you think it can’t get worse, it can. Like my pastor friend discovered who is in the process of shutting down his church. Financial cut backs have come to this. His church is up on the block. Can you imagine that! Devastating. Another church down the street from me has gone belly up as well. These two churches near by serve as sober reminders to me. Could it happen to my church? When you think it can’t get worse, you find that it can. Such we know is life in this world. Cheer up! Reality is good. At times, as Jim Collins says in his book Good To Great, we really do have to look at the brutal facts and go from there.

If it gets worse, and it might, it’s not the end and your life isn’t over. Some of you reading this are sailing along pretty well these days. Great! For many, the seas are high right now. If your boat comes apart He will pick you up on the beach, and escort you to the next thing. Remind me of that when you see me and I will remind you. Grace is good.

• And this: That during extremely difficult times when my leadership role and spiritual maturity is being stretched to the max, that the Father deeply loves me and is fully engaged in helping me grow.

You’ve simply got to get and listen to Laura Story’s new CD, Great God Who Saves. It will put some new “kick” in your stride as you run, or hope in your walk; it will help you say “YES!” to whatever you are facing. Want encouragement & motivation? Read these words from the first song on the CD:

Bless The Lord

You give and take away for my good
For who am I to say what I need
For you alone see the hidden parts of me that need
      To be stripped away
And as you begin to refine, I’m learning to let go,
      To rely
On the One who walks with me, as hard as it may be
You’re teaching me all the while to say

Bless the Lord O My soul, all that’s in me bless Your Name
Forget not your power untold, not your glory or your fame
For you came to heal the broken, to redeem and make me whole
Bless the Lord, O My soul.

Crank that song up as you drive to the office and you’ll jump out of your car, truck or SUV (or off your Vespa as one of my pastor friends does) ready to let Him strip away what is useless and continue building you as He works through you to build His kingdom. After all, who am I to say what I need? He knows best. These times will be better for us than we know right now. Remind me of that when you see me and I will remind you. Grace is good. It always leads to the very best and lasting kind of spiritual growth.

Tonight it’s going to be noisy around our church. That’s better than vomit for sure. I choose noise. Not because I’m a fatalist, but because I’m His Son and He will be in the noise. If I was getting the other stuff, He would be there too.

You take it to heart,

Pete

]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/pete-alwinson/noise-is-better-than-vomit/feed/ 0 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/influence-leadership-destiny/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/influence-leadership-destiny/#comments Wed, 12 Aug 2009 20:17:08 +0000 Tom Wood http://www.poopedpastors.com/?p=560 Someone said once, that the one thing all leaders have in common is that they have followers. True. But they also have enemies.

A friend recently defined leadership for me this way:

“Leadership is disappointing people at a pace they can tolerate.”

That makes more sense, in a real, down to earth type of church setting.

I work with leaders all the time. So I have been thinking about it a lot lately. Most of the men with whom I went to graduate school, who were preparing to be pastors, seemed mostly concerned with pastoral type studies; i.e., exegeting a passage of scripture, pastoral counseling, teaching and preaching. I don’t think they thought of themselves as leaders. Granted, it was a long time ago, but the emerging leaders I have the joy to work with are not unlike the old guys (I am an old guy now) I was with…instead of being a pastor of one church, they see themselves as parish ministers…they carve out a community and become the parish priest in a sense, even to those who don’t’ attend church.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the missional zeal and the idea of a church caring for its immediate ministry sphere. I think that is biblical and wise.

But Leadership wasn’t for my peers and doesn’t seem so for the new generation either. Have we an aversion to leadership? Have we gotten so burned by bad leaders, by corrupt and self-serving leaders that we don’t want anything to do with it? I pray not so. We desperately need leaders in our churches, in our communities and in our nation.

Our call is a call to influence others by grace. That means leadership at some level, because that is the essence of leadership- to have influence on others.

If you are a pastor, no matter what the size is of your congregation, you have influence. That is the nature of the job. You are a leader. Perhaps it’s time to study it and learn it. Leverage it. Even if you are afraid of leading, you are still a leader. Jesus can teach you. He will lead you as you lead others.

In the movie Forrest Gump, after Lt. Dan had lost his legs in Vietnam, they were both recovering in a hospital. One night, Lt. Dan yanked Gump off his bed (he was wounded saving the men) and started yelling at Gump for saving him back in the jungle. He said, “You should have left me out there to die, that was my destiny, but look at me now, I’m nothing but a cripple, a legless freak. I was Lt. Dan Taylor, and I was supposed to die with my men, that was my destiny and you cheated me. I was Lt. Dan Taylor.” Gump says, “You’re still Lt. Dan.”

I’m not sure how you see yourself today…or what you think of as your destiny. But one thing I do know, God’s calling to be a leader in the church is God’s enabling. I Thess. 5:24 .

Tom Wood has been a pastor for 25 years. He has planted and pastored two churches and has served as a church planting trainer and coach for the Presbyterian Church in America. He is currently the president of Church Multiplication Ministries, in Atlanta. His mission is starting, strengthening and multiplying grace centered churches and church planting networks, through coaching and consults with church planting pastors, leaders and emerging leaders.

In need of encouragement? Subscribe to Tom’s weekly dose of grace at GracedAgain.com.

]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/influence-leadership-destiny/feed/ 0 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/the-missing-link-for-motivation/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/the-missing-link-for-motivation/#comments Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:17:31 +0000 Steve McKinney http://www.poopedpastors.com/?p=519 If you’ve ever wished that you were more motivated to experience life at your full potential then this is for you.

Most of us set goals and work hard only to find our motivation fizzle out after a couple of weeks. But there are little tricks that will help you harness the power of your mind and propel you toward achieving your goal.

The Two Motivators

When you boil it down, you’re motivated by two simple things:

1. To avoid pain (fear of failure)
2. To gain pleasure (promise of reward)

You are naturally geared toward one of these motivators. To figure out which, think of the last time you accomplished a task and then ask yourself the following: While doing the task were you thinking about what would happen if you failed to finish, or were you thinking about what you would gain when you finished?

Take note as to which motivator works for you – fear of failure, or promise of reward.

Set Your Goal: The first step towards unstoppable motivation is to determine your goal. You know you’re unhappy with your body, but what exactly do you want to change? Why is it important to you?

Perhaps you can relate to one of the following goals:

• You need to lose weight for your health. Your doctor scared you straight or maybe you’ve had a recent health problem that landed you in the hospital. Your goal is to move away from the pain of sickness.
• You want to look and feel incredible. You’ve always wanted to feel vibrant and attractive. The idea of having more energy really excites you. Your goal is to move toward the pleasure and reward of a fit body.
• You’re worried about your kids. They don’t eat enough vegetables, they drink more soda pop than water and they play video games constantly. You have decided to model a healthier lifestyle and to encourage your kids to participate. Your goal is to move away from the risks of a sedentary lifestyle and to propel your kids toward a healthy future.

Train Your Mind for Weight Loss

With your clear and important goal in mind, let’s take a few minutes to train your mind to achieve it. You know that weight loss comes as a result of eating right and regular challenging exercise, so let’s use your mind to conquer both.

Eating Right: Use this exercise to distance yourself from the self-sabotaging foods you really wish you didn’t eat, and to naturally begin selecting healthy foods.

Take a moment to review your current eating habits. Identify the foods that you should stop eating (hint: sweets, anything fried, refined carbohydrates, sugary drinks). Identify the worst food that you eat regularly but know you shouldn’t.

Now imagine the healthy foods that you should eat (hint: vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean protein). Identify the healthiest food that you know you should eat regularly.

Now with the image of these two foods in mind, find a quiet place and do the following exercise (seriously this stuff works):

• Draw up the image of your unhealthy food item. This image will likely be quite vivid, with smell, taste and bright color. In your mind, fade this picture to black and white and distance the image until it is dull, fuzzy and remote.
• Draw up the image of your healthy food item. This image will likely be fuzzy and faded. In your mind, bring this picture to life with smell, taste, sound and bright color.

Regular Exercise: This technique can be applied in a way that encourages you to crave exercise rather than avoid it.

Take a moment to imagine how you feel after a great workout (notice the emphasis on the word after). Remember the physical satisfaction as well as the sweet feeling of accomplishment.

Now bring to your mind the aspects of exercise that you dislike. What is your biggest reason for avoiding exercise? Are you too tired? Do you not have enough time? Is physical exertion too much of a hassle? Pinpoint your greatest complaint about exercise.

Now with the image of these two aspects of exercise in mind, find a quiet place and do the following exercise:

• Draw up the image of your exercise complaint. The image is likely to be clear and accompanied by the sounds, smells and sensations. In your mind, fade this picture to black and white and distance the image until it is dull, fuzzy and remote.
• Draw up the image of the wonderful feeling you have after accomplishing a great workout. Magnify this image in your mind. Fixate on how you feel physically, mentally and emotionally. View the experience in bright colors and add a sound track of inspirational music.

Why It Works

If this was your first experience with training your mind (also called Neuro-Linguistic Programming, or NLP) it may have felt a little odd. Many of the world’s top achievers regularly use techniques like these to accomplish astounding goals.

The techniques above work because they train your mind to bring your behavior in line with your values. Think about it, you value health, you desire to be fit and attractive and you want to instill healthy habits in your kids.

These techniques encourage you to avoid self-sabotage and to make choices that line up with what you truly value.

Now that you are ready to accomplish your goals, email me today to start your fitness program that will greatly improve your life.

Recipe of the Week

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

This is one of those healthy foods that you’re missing out on! If the thought of Brussels Sprouts makes you queasy, then you’ve never had them prepared like this. Roasted with fresh garlic and light seasoning, these crunchy treats will tease your taste buds into thinking you’re eating potato chips. Servings: 2

Here’s what you need…

• 12 Brussels Sprouts
• 1 teaspoon Olive oil to drizzle
• Salt and pepper
• 2 fresh garlic cloves, minced

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2. Cut the stem off the Brussels Sprouts and cut them in half lengthwise. Drizzle with olive oil, coat evenly. Season with salt and fresh ground pepper.
3. Place the Brussels Sprouts cut side down on a baking sheet. Roast for 10 minutes.
4. Remove the baking sheet from the oven, using tongs coat the Brussels Sprouts with the garlic. Place the baking sheet back in the oven for an additional 5 minutes.
5. Remove the baking sheet from the oven, the cut side of the Brussels Sprouts should be browned and crispy.

Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 72 calories, 2g fat, 10g carbohydrate, 4g fiber, and 4g protein.

Fitness Tip of the Week

The Rocking Chair Test

Need another boost of motivation? Anthony Robbins uses this Rocking Chair Test to propel his students to action.

• Imagine yourself at 90 years old, sitting in a rocking chair and looking back over your life.
• Imagine that you never accomplished the goals that are important to you. Feel the pain of loss and regret.
• Now imagine that you did accomplish these important goals. Feel the pleasure of success and accomplishment.

Which scenario do you want to experience when you are 90?

]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/the-missing-link-for-motivation/feed/ 0 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/why-i-hate-the-youth-staff%e2%80%a6/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/why-i-hate-the-youth-staff%e2%80%a6/#comments Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:46:59 +0000 Jim Coffield http://www.poopedpastors.com/?p=506 I have a confession (maybe this entry should be in the forum section of Pooped Pastors), I secretly hate the entire youth staff at our church. Let me explain. You would never suspect this by my behavior. I am a supporter of the youth program and in some real ways I appreciate and even pray for all the youth staff. It’s just that I have been trying to effectively reach my sons for a lifetime. Along comes this team of too cool youth workers who have known my kids for only a few years and my kids will follow them anywhere. I make a suggestion which is ignored; one of these “Johnny come latelys” says the same thing and my son thinks it is profound. Where was the youth staff when I was scraping vomit off my sleeve with a spatula, taking my sons out to “man town”, or getting eaten by mosquitoes lying on the trampoline with my sons at night?

Wow, that seems angry.

The problem is that I also love our youth pastor. I thank God that there is someone speaking to my kids about truth. I have prayed for other adult Christians to influence my kids. Do you think the youth staff and maybe even my own kids can sense my ambivalence? (I’m getting tired just writing this down. Holding two competing ideas in your soul at the same time will exhaust you.)

My hope in this entry is not to come clean about my incongruent emotions about our youth staff, no, my hope is to speak to the issue of tiredness. A few entries ago I suggested that maybe our tiredness was a symptom of a problem and not the real issue. Last time I suggested that understating your internal wiring (and the natural tendencies of others around you) would help alleviate your tiredness. In this entry I would like to explore the issue of incongruence.

God often reminds us in scripture that we will reap what we sow. Certain fruit tress will consistently produce certain fruit. Jesus’ hardest words were reserved for individuals who lived one way on the inside and very differently to the outer world. He compared them to white washed tombs. The lack of congruence has the long term effect of exhaustion. First of all—all of us struggle with some incongruence. My most common prayer is “God let me become the man I pretend I am”. No one on this side of heaven is completely free from the reality of our own inconsistencies and sins – it’s just that God takes them seriously. The greater the discrepancy between the real and fake, between our condition and our calling, and between our internal and external, the greater our tiredness will be.

How will this play itself out? For some the place of incongruence is a secret habitual sin. The secret use of porn or the over reliance on a prescription drug are examples of hidden areas which may be causing great exhaustion as you try to live out your calling to pastor and struggle unsuccessfully against a habitual sin. You will notice that you are becoming less vulnerable and more cynical. Yet, not all incongruities are sin. For example, doubt about your faith is not sin. This is a hard one for pastors –after all, we are professional Christians. How can I doubt-and more honesty what will I do-for a living if I do not believe. Doubt about our faith then becomes buried and our faith becomes wooden and stiff. We only speak about our problems in the distant past tense. God is not afraid of your doubt or your honest questions… we are the ones who are afraid.

Another place of incongruence is found in secret plans to leave your church (or our family) and find another church or even a different profession. Over the years I have found pastors to be notorious for conjuring up fantasy jobs and careers. I know pastors who spend hours each week combing the listings but never applying for a different position. They are actively building one ministry while they are actively dreaming of another. This is very common in church ministry or any other position that is so relationally and politically charged. Yet, if you do not admit it, you will feel double minded and that tension will manifest itself in fatigue, anger or irritation. I don’t think Jesus was kidding when he said the truth will set you free – just be careful where you tell all the truth. Recently a pastor told me about his hidden fantasy that his wife of ten years would die in a car accident (of course he would never leave her) and he could pursue his old college sweetheart. I bet his wife can sometimes sense the ambivalence.

Please do not believe your own hype – we are all scared. We all have fears. Everyone feels lost and lonely at times. God will meet you in all of this if you seek him. Maybe the reason He invites us to live in the tension of the “already but not yet” is that it produces a bit of incongruence that invites you to be more dependent upon Him.

The common solution for competing ideas is to compartmentalize or become numb. If you compartmentalize, the anger or doubt becomes locked away in a hidden room. It may manifest itself in your life with a tough attitude or actions, yet many people live very compartmentalized lives. The problem is that it takes significant energy to keep everything locked away in separated places. You live your life like the kid in the swimming pool trying to hold two beach balls under water at the same time. You can do it but it’s hard to enjoy the swim. It will exhaust you.

The other common strategy with incongruence is to be numb – after all, you feel kind of crazy that you both hate and love your job. No one wants to feel that tension – so we try to feel nothing. We all know stories (from our own lives) and see them in the news about people who have been caught in a behavior that they had outwardly strongly opposed. Allowing locked, hidden rooms in our minds or attempting to just numb the problem can produce that kind of behavior.

So how do I deal with this and maybe even find some peace?

First of all, do NOT confess all your incongruence in your next sermon. It might be your best sermon ever but it may also be your last. Find a safe place to tell the truth. Start with a friend (not the head of the elder board), an old college friend from seminary days, a spouse or a counselor. The negative power to make you tired is in the keeping of the secrets. Satan has a vested interest in keeping you quiet, lonely and tired. I am not just talking about secret sins, I am including benign secrets. How you feel about church leadership, how you feel about the youth pastor who is trying to make you look bad and how you feel about the slow movement in your own spiritual life. The most important conversation about your incongruence should happen with God. You are not alone in this, you have good company. One third of the Psalms are laments and the writer often sounds crazy. He is ranting at the beginning of a Psalm and yet at the end he is praising God. Maybe real praise begins with sorrow and confusion. Maybe a prerequisite for new and strong faith is confusion and confession.

Jesus did not die on the cross, and shed his precious blood so we could pretend. So dump your bucket – first to him (just be willing to sit and listen to what God might have for you). Then share it with others when it is the loving thing to do.

I need to finish this blog; I have a meeting in a few minutes with the youth committee at church. Thanks to my confession here I am looking forward to going.

Next time we will continue our series on “what is your tiredness telling you” by talking about perfectionism.

]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/why-i-hate-the-youth-staff%e2%80%a6/feed/ 0 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/its-anyones-game/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/its-anyones-game/#comments Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:40:14 +0000 Steve McKinney http://www.poopedpastors.com/?p=427 When was the last time that you accomplished something huge?

That’s an easy question for Helen Phillips.

Last month Helen wowed the world with her dramatic transformation on the NBC show The Biggest Loser. At 48 years of age she is the oldest contestant to win the weight loss competition, shedding 140 pounds and 54.7% of her body weight.

I’d call losing more than half of your body weight a huge accomplishment – wouldn’t you?

The crazy part is that Helen was clearly the underdog. She was simply too old and too fat to win. At least that was what the other contestants thought.

And that’s what Helen thought too.

“I never believed in myself in the beginning,” she admits. However when a doctor told her that she was living in the body of a 60 year old woman, Helen got serious.

“I’m tired of doubting myself,” she decided and something inside of her head clicked into place. “The minute I started doing that, things changed for me.”

And, oh, how she changed.

Helen buckled down and made losing weight her only focus. Her hard work paid off, giving her the prized title of the Biggest Loser.

She accomplished something huge and now her life is vastly improved. “I feel so good! I feel like I can do anything,” she told reporters with a huge smile.

Helen also had a message for you. “If I can do it, you can do it.”

I have to agree with her.

If a 48 year old, 257 pound woman can transform her body from a size 22 to a size 2, then anyone really can do it. Think for a moment of that huge accomplishment that you haven’t made. Maybe it’s a weight loss goal that you’ve had for years. Maybe it’s something completely unrelated to your weight.

What’s holding you back?

Are you afraid you’ll fail?

The fear of failure is a powerful thing. No one likes to fail, and repeat failure is even worse. So what can you do to conquer it?

• Realize that failure isn’t the worst outcome. Not trying is.
• You only fail when you decide to give up. Get up and try again!

Are you afraid you’ll succeed?

You may not realize it, but most people fear success. Success means change and change can be scary. It is important that you embrace the idea of success and ditch any negative self talk.

• Close your eyes and picture yourself accomplishing your goal. What will that accomplishment do for your life? List the benefits you’ll enjoy.
• Spend a few minutes each day visualizing yourself accomplishing your goal. How great does it feel? Savor those victorious emotions and use them to drive your motivation.

Helen didn’t believe in herself, until one day she decided that she was done doubting.

Are you done doubting?

When you’re ready to transform your body, like Helen did, I’m here to help. Is NOW a good time? Email me and let’s get started on a program that will really improve your life.

It’s your turn to accomplish something huge.

Recipe of the Week

Mango Marinated Tofu



It’s mango season! If you’ve been hesitant to try tofu then this is the perfect recipe for you. The mango and ginger marinade gives the dish a sweet and tangy flavor that is hard to beat. Choose mangoes that are ripe, but not overripe. The fruit should give only slightly when squeezed. Serve with brown rice and fresh steamed broccoli.
Yield: 6 serving

Here’s what you need…

Marinade:

• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic
• 3 tablespoons chopped ginger
• 1/4 cup chopped yellow onion
• 2 large mangoes, chopped
• 1/4 pure maple syrup
• 1 cup vegetable broth
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1/4 teaspoon allspice
• Dash of pepper
• Dash of salt

Tofu:

• 2 pounds extra-firm tofu, drained and sliced
• 1 mango sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, cut into long slices

1. In a medium saucepan combine the oil, garlic, ginger and onion, saute over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Add the chopped mango and sauté for another 5 minutes.
2. Add the maple syrup and vegetable broth, cover and simmer for 35 minutes. Uncover and simmer for another 5 minutes.
3. Add the vinegar, lime juice, orange juice, allspice, pepper and salt. Allow the mixture to cool and then puree in blender until smooth.
4. Place the sliced tofu and mango marinade in a sealable plastic bag or a plastic container with lid. Marinate in the fridge for one hour or overnight.
5. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Place the marinated tofu in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet, reserving half of the marinade. Bake for 20 minutes.
6. Flip over the tofu. Coat the remaining mango slices and pepper slices in marinade and add to pan. Bake for an additional 15 minutes.
7. Serve with brown rice and steamed broccoli.

Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 219 calories, 1g fat, 7g carbohydrate, 4 g fiber, and 9g protein.

Fitness Tip of the Week

Who Knew?

While being interviewed after her victory Helen revealed the secret behind her staggering weight loss. “Who knew diet and exercise really were the answer?” It always comes back to diet and exercise. When it comes to losing weight forget about the fad diets, the pills and the potions. Focus on your diet and focus on your exercise plan then you too will see amazing results.

]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/its-anyones-game/feed/ 0 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/the-pastor%e2%80%99s-family/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/the-pastor%e2%80%99s-family/#comments Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:35:41 +0000 Steve Brown http://www.poopedpastors.com/?p=417 If you’re keeping up with the video thing each week, you know that I’ve started a series on the pastor’s family. And if you’re like me and saw that, you winced.

There is no place where pastors feel more guilt than they do about their families. And, not only that, I’m not sure that the family problems we face as pastors are even “fixable.” Maybe they can be better and maybe we can “get Home before the dark,” but the nature of our calling and the attendant pressures of that calling require that we change what can be changed, accept what can’t be changed, have enough wisdom to know the difference…

…and fake the rest.

As I go through the video stuff on the pastor’s family, I’m going to tell you everything I know. There is something to be said about an old guy’s wisdom. I’ve been where most of you are, have tried most of what you’ve tried, and have a pile of bloody T-shirts in my closet.

I’ve screwed it up so many times that I’ve lost count, I’ve had to ask forgiveness so many times that it’s grown easy to ask, and I’ve thought we weren’t going to make it so many times that divorce lawyers were salivating. I’ve done some things right and some things wrong.

But I’m still here. After all, we do worship a gracious and kind God.

I’m still married to and deeply in love with the same woman. I have children and grandchildren who are walking with Christ and, so far, haven’t screwed it up so badly that it was irreparable. So listen to the “old white guy.” I pray that what I say on these videos will prove helpful.

But I feel constrained to say something else here that is so very important.

Your marriage and family are never going to be as good as you want them to be, as your congregation thinks they ought to be, or as good as some of the books tell you they can be. The faster you and I face that fact, the more we can deal with fallen world issues in general and family issues in particular.

I will never write a book on marriage. I will certainly never do one on “The Pastor’s Family.” There are two reasons. First, as I mentioned on the video, Anna could (I don’t think it’s going to happen) finally have it with me and say, “enough is enough,” leave me, and find a nicer and better looking guy. My children could (and I don’t think this is going to happen either) become Buddhists.

The older I get, the less is the chance of that happening. However, one never knows and, frankly, I don’t want a book in print that would provide fodder for the “they’re all hypocrites” bunch.

The far more likely and important reason I’m not doing a book on marriage is because every time there is one by some Christian “expert,” a thousand Christian marriages go down the tube. Things were okay until they read the book and then they realized how bad their marriages were and tried to fix them. In a fallen world, if you get 51%, you file it under “success.” And if you try to get 90%, you’re going to get killed.

But that sounds so bleak. I don’t mean it to be bleak. Marriage is an incredible gift and a soft place, and it can be a microcosm for the macrocosm of what God intends for his people. My family is the most important gift God has given and I’m convinced that I would not have made it this far without them…or them without me. I have a lot of lines in my face, but a great number of them are laugh lines reflecting the joy and pleasure of God’s gift of my family.

Just don’t be unrealistic about it, okay?

Just so you know, I’m going to start a thread in the forums on the subject of “unrealistic expectations”…yours, theirs and mine. If you have anything to add, to correct or to teach, why not join me there?

]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/the-pastor%e2%80%99s-family/feed/ 2 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/your-new-favorite-thing/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/your-new-favorite-thing/#comments Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:45:30 +0000 Steve McKinney http://www.poopedpastors.com/?p=423 We all have a list of our favorite things. It may not be written down anywhere, but you know the things that make you happy.

The list holds your favorite foods, music, TV shows, movies and even people in your life that you can’t get enough of. This is the stuff that you really enjoy. It’s the stuff that makes your life worth living.

Somewhere on the list is your health and appearance. You know that looking and feeling great make a good life even better.

The interesting thing about your list is that without fail you’ll always make time for it.

• When your TV show airs, you watch it or record it to watch later.
• When your favorite actor stars in a new movie, you do your part by going to the theatre.
• When you’re hungry, you turn to your favorite foods.
• When the weekend rolls around, you do everything you can to spend time with the special people in your life.

Yet when it comes to exercise you automatically say, “I don’t have time.”

Time for TV, but no time for exercise… We live in an age where life is full. You don’t have extra time anymore.

You no longer have time. You make time.

• You make time for your TV show.
• You make time for your hobby.
• You make time for your friends.

It’s time to drop the charade of “I don’t have time to exercise” and call it what it really is.

An excuse.

You know how to make time for your favorite things. You know you want good health. You know you want to look great. You know you want more energy.

Exercise delivers all those benefits – and more.

I believe that exercise belongs on your list of favorite things.

Make It A Favorite: How do you turn something that you’ve dreaded into something that you enjoy?

1. Block the Negative: Your thoughts play a big part in determining your favorite things. Block out any negative thoughts you may have about exercise. Focus your energy on creating a positive attitude that will get you excited about hitting the gym, rather than dreading it.
2. Focus on the Benefits: With exercise you have so much to gain and nothing to lose. Exercise makes you stronger, sexier, happier, and gives you more energy. Pick the benefit that moves you the most and fixate on it.
3. Get Guidance: The easiest way to put exercise on your list of favorite things is to experience it at its best. Get onboard with one of my personal training programs and I’ll show you the most effective and enjoyable techniques that will get you into the best shape of your life.

Recipe of the Week

Energy Muffins



Finally, a great-tasting muffin recipe with no added sugar! Naturally sweetened with banana and blueberries, these muffins are as sweet as they are delicious. Enjoy one with a side of scrambled egg whites for a quick and nutritious breakfast. Servings: 18

Here’s what you need…

• 1 cup mashed banana
• 2 egg whites
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/3 cup refined coconut oil
• 2 cups wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 cup frozen blueberries, left to thaw in a strainer

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare 18 standard-sized muffin cups with paper liners.
2. In a large bowl, combine banana, egg whites, water and oil. Add the flour and mix. Gently fold in blueberries. Immediately spoon batter into muffin cups.
3. Bake for about 20 minutes. Remove muffins from tins and cool on a wire rack.

Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 98 calories, 4g fat, 13g carbohydrate, 2g fiber, and 3g protein.

Fitness Tip of the Week

Smaller is Better

Here’s a quick and easy way to lose weight. For dinner tonight use a small plate instead of a full sized dinner plate. It sounds simple, but you will actually eat less off a small plate than you would a full sized plate. This is a great way to encourage smaller portion sizes without feeling like you are being deprived.

]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/your-new-favorite-thing/feed/ 0 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/oh-baby-baby-its-a-wild-world/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/oh-baby-baby-its-a-wild-world/#comments Thu, 28 May 2009 15:29:17 +0000 Tom Wood http://www.poopedpastors.com/?p=407 This morning I woke up early. I had a lot on my mind. But the song playing in my head was the old tune, Wild World, by Cat Stevens.

“Oh, baby, baby, it’s a wild world
It’s hard to get by just upon a smile
Oh, baby, baby, it’s a wild world
I’ll always remember you like a child, girl

You know I’ve seen a lot of what the world can do
And it’s breaking my heart in two
Because I never wanna see you a sad girl
Don’t be a bad girl

But if you wanna leave, take good care
I hope you make a lot of nice friends out there
But just remember there’s a lot of bad and beware”

He wrote the song to himself as he was getting ready to leave home and start out on his own career. He had grown up in a religious home…his dad was a Catholic and his mom a Baptist. They lived in London, in the Soho district.

Years later, he converted to Islam and now goes by the name Yusuf Islam.

One of the reasons I got pooped as a pastor was being part of stories like this. Someone you think is getting the gospel; getting faith; getting “living by grace”…maybe even coming out of a traditional religious background… and despite knowing—“I’ve seen a lot of what the world can do…just remember there’s a lot of bad out there (and in you as well, I might add)…oh, baby is a Wild world”.

It breaks my heart in two when they throw it all away. Men and women who decided to throw away years of marriage…years of hard work building a business…years of ministry and “oh baby baby is a wild world”. Sadness, broken lives, devastated hearts.

I’m getting pooped just remembering their faces and stories.

You’ve heard this before I’m sure, but I did feel like I was standing at a cliff warning people, “Beware, I’ve been standing here watching people get too close to the edge and some have slipped, fallen off and been royally messed up. And some smiled and said, “Thank you so much Pastor Tom, that is so kind of you. You are the best pastor I have ever had”, then they walked over to the edge and jumped.

If you are pastor of people…I mean you love them and care for them, it’s going to break your heart in two when people jump off. I don’t have any easy made answers to the heartache. Love hurts…sometimes a lot. One way to find comfort in the pain is to remember that you are not responsible for their actions. Another is to remember that the “God of all grace” can find them at the bottom and bring them out of the pit. That’s where he finds all of us.


Tom Wood has been a pastor for 25 years. He has planted and pastored two churches and has served as a church planting trainer and coach for the Presbyterian Church in America. He is currently the president of Church Multiplication Ministries, in Atlanta. His mission is starting, strengthening and multiplying grace centered churches and church planting networks, through coaching and consults with church planting pastors, leaders and emerging leaders.

In need of encouragement? Subscribe to Tom’s weekly dose of grace at GracedAgain.com.

]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/oh-baby-baby-its-a-wild-world/feed/ 1 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/cartoon-quitting-time/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/cartoon-quitting-time/#comments Wed, 27 May 2009 14:21:50 +0000 nakedpastor http://www.poopedpastors.com/?p=395
nakedpastor is David Hayward. David is an artist trapped in a pastor’s body. Go to nakedpastor.com for more cartoons, blog posts and insight from a pastor who’s stark naked honest about church life.
]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/cartoon-quitting-time/feed/ 0 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/the-sweetest-scam-of-all-time/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/the-sweetest-scam-of-all-time/#comments Fri, 22 May 2009 20:43:41 +0000 Steve McKinney http://www.poopedpastors.com/?p=384 The correct answer to the following question will shock you.

Would you survive longer on a diet of just water OR on a diet of water and refined sugar?

The answer: You would survive longer on just water.

Sound impossible? Just ask the five sailors who were ship wrecked in 1793.

The ship was filled with sugar, thus giving the marooned five a diet of sugar and water. When they were finally picked up, nine days later, they were in a wasted condition due to starvation.

The story of the five sailors intrigued French physiologist Francois Magendie to conduct a series of experiments in which he fed dogs a diet of sugar. All of the dogs died.

Magendie proved that as a steady diet, refined sugar is worse than nothing.

How can sugar be worse than nothing? Plainly put, refined sugar is an anti-nutrient.

It starts out as sugar cane, and then goes through an extensive refining process that destroys all of the enzymes, fiber, vitamins and minerals. What you’re left with are empty, naked calories.

The problem is that your body needs the enzymes, fiber, vitamins and minerals that were taken out in the refining process in order to metabolize sugar and use it as energy. So it takes those nutrients from your own body.

So while you are enjoying that chocolate bar, sugar is draining vital nutrients from your body. Like a sweet parasite.

And it doesn’t end there…

• Sugar creates false hunger (as a result of the insulin rush and then ensuing plummet in your blood sugar levels), which makes you overeat. This means a constant struggle with your weight in which you never seem to achieve your ideal size.
• Sugar promotes aging (due to the advanced glycation end products, or AGEs, that occur when insulin levels are consistently elevated as a result of eating too much sugar). Sugar has even been dubbed the negative fountain of youth.
• Sugar weakens your bones – making you vulnerable for osteoporosis, and weakens your teeth – making you vulnerable for cavities (both due to the calcium being pulled from your bones and teeth in order for your body to process sugar).
• Sugar in excess is stored as fat (after your liver has no more room to store it, sugar is converted to fat and deposited on your belly, thighs, hips and the backs of your arms).
• Sugar can impair brain functioning (as a result of depleted B-vitamin production).

If you’re still not convinced of the danger of sugar here are more ailments linked to its overconsumption: varicose veins, constipation, hormonal imbalances, ADD and ADHD, increased emotional instability, depressed immune system, increased risk of cancer and degenerative diseases.

The average modern person consumes 46 teaspoons of sugar every day. That comes out to roughly 175 pounds of sugar each year.

And it’s no wonder, since sugar industry is big business. They sneak sugar into any product that they can.

Go through the foods in your home and you’ll see that sugar has been added to everything from ketchup and spaghetti sauce to crackers, oatmeal, peanut butter and even ‘healthy’ items like weight loss bars.

Where does this leave you?

You are in a unique position. Your personal judgment determines the foods that you eat and the foods that you avoid. It is my hope that you approach sugar with new eyes.

While all other foods offer you caloric energy PLUS some nutritional benefit, sugar doesn’t. Sugar is simply caloric energy with a sweet habit forming taste, and a hoard of health risks.

Use your judgment wisely and limit your sugar consumption – you’ll love the benefits of low sugar living.

And while you’re at it email me to start a training program that will turbo-charge your results.

(Oh and if you’re ever in a ship wreck with only sugar and water at your disposal – just drink the water!)

Recipe of the Week

Lentil Fruit Salad



This recipe is as refreshing as it is nutritious. Plump black lentils mixed with chunks of mango, strawberries, tomatoes and onions will tease your taste buds into submission. A splash of balsamic vinegar is the only flavoring that this colorful salads needs. Serve as a side dish or as a light meal.
Yield: 3 servings

Here’s what you need…

• 1 cup black lentils, cooked
• 1 medium mango, cut into 1 inch cubes
• 1 medium tomato, chopped
• 6 medium strawberries, chopped
• 1 tablespoon red onion, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• Salt and pepper to taste

1. Place the lentils in a medium bowl. Chop the fruit and onions, add to lentils.
2. Add balsamic vinegar to the lentils and fruit, mix until well combined.

Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 148 calories, 1g fat, 27g carbohydrate, 10 g fiber, and 9g protein.

Fitness Tip of the Week

The Many Names of Sugar

While you’re checking out nutrition labels for sugar content be on the lookout for the following names that all describe refined sugar:

• Sucrose
• High fructose corn syrup
• Fructose
• Lactose
• Organic sugar
• Maltose
• Dextrose
• Glucose

]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/the-sweetest-scam-of-all-time/feed/ 2 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/grace-notes/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/grace-notes/#comments Mon, 11 May 2009 19:32:54 +0000 Tom Wood http://www.poopedpastors.com/?p=378 I am new to blogging. So be patient as I try out my fingers…my wings on this adventure.

Every morning when I wake up I have a song playing in my head. It’s different every day. Sometimes it’s a SCC tune “Its all Yours Lord, Yours Lord, Everything is Yours…” or “Anticipation, Anticipation is making me late, is keeping me waiting”. Two mornings ago, out of nowhere, “Love the one you’re with, Love the one you’re with, dit, dit, dit, dit, dit, dit dit dit”. This morning, though, it was an old (1990’s worship tune), “You have been a shelter Lord, to every generation, to ev’ry generation. A sanctuary from the storm, to every generation Lord…” I can’t explain why one tune over another. Perhaps today was because yesterday I was in church holding my new grandson worshiping the Lord!

Now I happen to think that the old guys who told us that the means of grace were “the Word, the Sacrament, Prayer, Church and Holy Spirit”, well…if they had had iTunes, they would have included music. iTunes is the greatest invention known to man since the printing press. When I wake up and I have a tune I haven’t heard in a long time, I go to the iTunes store and bam, I can listen to the whole thing. Music is a means of grace.

A man I was talking to about tunes playing in my head responded, “I wake up almost every day angry”. The man was a pastor. I understand. There is a lot about which he should be angry. There are a few churches that make me angry too…but I digress.

Music is a window into my soul. I fill a lot of my soul with lyrics that remind me of the truth about the Gospel and grace and Jesus’ love. Why? Cause there is a whisper in the Universe. It was put there in the garden…”God is not for you. Make life work for yourself”. Martin Luther said, “To doubt the good will of God is an inborn suspicion of God with all of us…”

For me, one of the means of remembering God has not abandoned me is music.

Luther continues, “In all these difficulties we have only one support, the Gospel of Christ. To hold on to it, that is the trick . . . All these things cry out against us, death thunders at us, the devil roars at us. In the midst of the clamor the Spirit of Christ cries in our hearts, ‘Abba, Father.’ . . . The Spirit cries because of our weakness…(and) is sent forth into our hearts…to assure us of the grace of God.”

For the sake of your soul, get an Mp3 player. Plug in, go for a walk and listen to some good tunes. Calming jazz, Steven Curtis Chapman, some great guitar music by Keaggy, the sultry sounds of Anita Baker or you hardly ever go wrong with U2, especially their new CD. Worship the Lord using hymns and spiritual songs.

Oh yeah iTunes has sermons, Key Life, and other great teaching. It’s truly amazing. I hope you begin to wake up with tunes in your head and not anger or something worse…doubting God.

Tom Wood has been a pastor for 25 years. He has planted and pastored two churches and has served as a church planting trainer and coach for the Presbyterian Church in America. He is currently the president of Church Multiplication Ministries, in Atlanta. His mission is starting, strengthening and multiplying grace centered churches and church planting networks, through coaching and consults with church planting pastors, leaders and emerging leaders.

In need of encouragement? Subscribe to Tom’s weekly dose of grace at GracedAgain.com.

]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/grace-notes/feed/ 0 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/whats-lifestyle-got-to-do-with-it/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/whats-lifestyle-got-to-do-with-it/#comments Wed, 06 May 2009 15:59:11 +0000 Steve McKinney http://www.poopedpastors.com/?p=333 It happens to everyone. That moment when you realize that it’s time to do something about your weight.

It may happen when you’re looking in the mirror or standing on the scale.

Your first thought is to go on a ‘diet’ but as quickly as that enters your mind the ghosts of a hundred diets past return…along with all the frustration.

Then you wonder, why bother?

The weight will come back, as it always has. Then you’ll be back in front of the mirror as discouraged as ever.

The answer is not to go on another diet.

The answer is to change your lifestyle.

You’ve heard this before, and it makes sense, right? So why haven’t you done it?

Your Lifestyle Obstacles. Most people resist changing their lifestyle for two reasons.

1. Change is scary. Whether you realize it or not, your life is in a constant state of change. Though you cling to the familiar, it’s a futile struggle. Change always wins.

The most consistent thing in life is change. Since you’ll never escape it, you might as well channel it. It’s time to make the change in your life purposeful and positive.

2. Lifestyle misconception. How many times have you heard the term ‘healthy lifestyle’ only to picture a health nut with celery sticks in one hand and tofu in the other? The truth is that most people think that changing their lifestyle will be an extreme and unpleasant experience – and that’s not true.

Improving your lifestyle does not mean swearing off chocolate or living in the gym. You don’t have to eat wheat germ for lunch and you can still enjoy a nice plate of pasta. The key is moderation.

Making the Change. It’s time to lose your ‘all or nothing’ mentality. Embrace simple, small changes that will add up to big improvements in your lifestyle. These are your main venues for change:

• What You Eat. Let’s face it, most of the foods you eat aren’t the healthiest. Some are downright terrible (the burger and fries you had last week). While others are simply excessive (the snacks you eat while watching TV).

  The solution to cleaning up your daily diet is NOT to go back on a ‘diet’. In fact, I never want you to go on a ‘diet’ again. (Yes, you heard me right!) Instead I want you to make permanent healthy changes to your eating habits.

  Here are some practical examples:

  • Choose salad over chips or fries
  • Don’t add butter to your food
  • Eat fresh produce with every meal
  • Purchase fat free dairy products
  • Limit desserts to one or two per week
  • Cut out mindless snacking
  • Drink water, not soda

  I don’t expect you to eat a perfect diet every day of the week – that’d be ludicrous. You should, however, make MORE healthy choices every day than unhealthy ones.

• What You Do. Exercise is a huge component to a healthy lifestyle, and quite frankly you’re not getting enough of it. How often does an entire week go by without you ever lacing up your tennis shoes? Don’t disregard the importance and power of a good workout.

  Your new healthy lifestyle means exercising on most days of the week. This may seem tough, but I have the perfect solution – my training programs were created for busy people just like you who only have so much time to dedicate to exercise.

  I understand how hard it is to find the motivation to stay consistent and to push yourself. Make exercise a no-brainer – contact me to get started on a lifestyle enhancing program today.

  Here are simple ways to move more:

  • Watch less TV
  • Stretch stiff muscles every day
  • Play at the park with the kids
  • Go for a jog
  • Do some pushups every morning

  While none of the above are meant as substitutes for a solid exercise routine, they are great ways to become more active and to improve your lifestyle.

Your lifestyle is the balance of all the choices that you make regarding your body. Swing the balance in your favor – make a majority of your choices health conscious.

So the next time you’re in front of the mirror you won’t worry about your weight.

You’ll relish it.

Recipe of the Week

Sauteed Soybeans



What a delicious way to enjoy soy. Pre-shelled soybeans make this dish easy to prepare – it’s ready in 10 minutes. Serve this as a healthy side dish or a light meal.
Yield: 3 servings

Here’s what you need…

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 3 garlic cloves, diced
• 1 1/2 cups shelled soybeans
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 tablespoon soy sauce
• Dash of salt
• Dash of pepper

1. Heat saute pan over medium heat, add oil and onions. When onions begin to soften lower the heat, add the garlic and saute for two minutes.
2. Add soybeans and thyme, soy sauce, salt and pepper. Cook until soybeans are fully heated. Serve warm.

Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 172 calories, 9g fat, 11g carbohydrate, 5g fiber, and 10g protein.

Fitness Tip of the Week

The Liquid Calorie Ban

Here’s an easy way to live healthier: don’t drink calories. Liquid calories are sneaky. You don’t get that full feeling like with solid foods, but you’re still taking in tons of calories. Avoid drinks like: regular sodas, smoothies, juices, sweet coffee drinks, hot chocolate, milk shakes, and alcoholic beverages. Drink plenty of water instead-you’ll lose weight and feel great.

]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/whats-lifestyle-got-to-do-with-it/feed/ 0 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/cartoon-drive-through-orders/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/cartoon-drive-through-orders/#comments Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:28:48 +0000 nakedpastor http://www.poopedpastors.com/?p=323
nakedpastor is David Hayward. David is an artist trapped in a pastor’s body. Go to nakedpastor.com for more cartoons, blog posts and insight from a pastor who’s stark naked honest about church life.
]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/cartoon-drive-through-orders/feed/ 1 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/the-top-5-side-effects-of-exercise/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/the-top-5-side-effects-of-exercise/#comments Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:14:36 +0000 Steve McKinney http://www.poopedpastors.com/?p=313 Your doctor feels like a broken record.

That’s right – he’s sick and tired of telling you how important exercise is to your health because YOU DON’T LISTEN.

He’s sick of explaining how so many of your health problems will improve or even disappear as the result of a consistent exercise program.

He’s tired of tallying your controllable risk factors which include physical inactivity and obesity.

So why does he continue to give you the same lecture?

Because he’s seen exercise change lives.

He’s even seen exercise save lives.

A Doctor’s Perspective

Dr. David Shilling MD has been a family doctor for over 30 years. In that time he’s given a fair number of patients the exercise lecture…with good cause.
He’s seen firsthand the healing power of exercise.

Exactly what kind of healing? Dr. Shilling shared the top 5 benefits that he’s seen patients experience as a result of exercise…

1. Feel Great: The first thing that patients tell Dr. Shilling after starting an exercise program is how much better they feel. “People don’t realize how bad they feel. They get used to feeling bad. Then when they start exercising they feel so much better.”

Your energy levels boost and you feel great.

2. Pain Be Gone: Next patients notice a reduction in aches and pains. Chronic muscle and joint pain that they’ve lived with for years begins to fade. For some, joint replacement surgery is postponed. For others, arthritis pain is reduced.

Your muscles and joints feel better than ever.

3. Goodbye Coronary Heart Disease: While patients can’t feel this healing benefit of exercise, it is the one that saves lives. Exercise removes two of the major risk factors that lead to heart disease: 1) physical inactivity and 2) obesity. Exercise also increases your good cholesterol (HDL) and lowers your blood pressure.

Your risk of heart attack or stroke is reduced.

4. Goodbye Type 2 Diabetes: Patients with type 2 diabetes gain substantial benefits from exercise. Exercise improves the body’s use of insulin, and the related weight loss improves insulin sensitivity. Of course patients with type 2 diabetes need to get guidelines from their doctor before starting an exercise program.

Your blood sugar levels are better controlled.

5. Goodbye Sleep Apnea: Patients with sleep apnea are often caught in a destructive cycle. Their weight promotes occurrences of apnea then inadequate sleep promotes weight gain. Dr. Shilling has seen exercise break this cycle.

Your sleep becomes restful and weight loss becomes easier.

With all of these benefits it’s hard to see why anyone would avoid exercise. What’s your excuse?

• I know you’re tired…exercise gives you energy.
• I know you’re in pain…exercise alleviates your muscle and joint pain.
• I know you’d rather stay in bed…exercise makes your sleep more restful.
• I know you’re pressed for time…exercise improves your efficiency and extends your life.
• I know you don’t know where to start…that’s where I come in.

Email me and we’ll schedule a consultation where I can show you the fastest and safest way to reap all of the benefits of exercise.

Then the next time you see your doctor he won’t give you a lecture.

He’ll congratulate you.

Recipe of the Week

Smoked Salmon Salad



It’s simple, quick and makes the perfect lunch-to-go. Salmon in packed with protein and those omega-3 fatty acids that your body needs. Notice that this recipe doesn’t call for a creamy dressing, but rather a sprinkle of balsamic vinegar. Try this on all your salads and save yourself from tons of extra calories and fat.
Yield: 1 serving

Here’s what you need…

• 1 1/2 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
• 1/2 cup smoked salmon
• 1/2 of a hard boiled egg
• 3 cherry tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon green onion, chopped
• 1 kalamata olive, chopped
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• Sprinkle of balsamic vinegar

1. Arrange the lettuce, salmon, egg, tomatoes, onion, and olive on a plate.
2. Sprinkle with parsley and balsamic vinegar.

Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 170 calories, 6g fat, 5g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, and 18g protein.

Fitness Tip of the Week

Know Your Number

Do you know your BMI? Your Body Mass Index is a number that helps determine if you are at risk for weight-related diseases. While it is not a perfect measure, it is a helpful tool. BMI values from 18.5 to 24.9 are considered healthy. BMI values from 25-29.9 are considered overweight, and BMI values of 30 or greater are considered obese.

Calculate your BMI: 1) Multiply your weight in pounds by 703. 2) Divide by your height in inches. 3) Divide by your height in inches again.

]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/the-top-5-side-effects-of-exercise/feed/ 2 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/cannabis-confession-construction-contemplation/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/cannabis-confession-construction-contemplation/#comments Wed, 22 Apr 2009 19:58:15 +0000 Zach Van Dyke http://www.poopedpastors.com/?p=308 I really want to smoke weed.

I’ve never once in my 28 years had the slightest desire to smoke weed…until now.

Why now? Why is there an inescapable burning in the bowels of my being to smoke weed?

Because I’m a youth pastor.

Seriously, the reason I want to smoke weed IS because I am a youth pastor. I have racked my brain for weeks trying to uncover where this unmentionable desire is rooted and I can’t think of another reason or other change in my life that would bring about such a yearning. So, I have concluded the blame rests solely on my profession.

It is a hard, at times unbearable, profession…but wait, have I forgotten that I get paid to just hang out with teenagers all day, buy Venti Java Chips on the church credit card and go paint-balling?! (Did I mention I get paid?!)

So why then do most youth pastors last only 18 months?

Doctors and psychologists say that the human brain isn’t fully formed until the age of 22. As youth pastors, we are not working with fully formed humans!

This morning, I was reading in Luke 6 (my goal was to read through all four Gospels during Lent…as I am writing this, Easter has come and gone, and I still have Matthew, John and most of Luke to read) and came across the familiar story of the wise and foolish builders.

I started to think about our calling as youth pastors and what role we would take on a construction site. We are part of the foundation laying team (along with parents, teachers, even peers). Our work doesn’t take place above ground, but below. Scientifically speaking, the building isn’t done for 22 years.

Unfortunately, we are often coerced—maybe even forced—to ignore our role as foundation layers, and we begin to try and do work to which we aren’t called. The building’s façade is not our problem!

The senior pastor wants our ministry to be thriving and relevant (meaning our numbers should be up…even if his aren’t)…

Parents want their kids fixed (not unlike a dog…sex and teenagers is scary…remember…I do)…

We desperately want to be liked (there’s a reason I drive a Jeep and brush my teeth).

We could easily spend all of our time making our students look good because more than likely, as youth pastors who last an average of 18 months, we will be long gone when the storm hits and the foundation or lack thereof is revealed.

Although it may get us fired, I am certain that if the foundation we lay is grace (even with its inherent “risk” of abuse), the building, even if it doesn’t look very pretty, will remain standing long after Starbucks declares Chapter 11 and paint-ball is no longer a fun but painful activity.

I do apologize for the horrible exegesis of this sacred text…just one more reason I am not a “real” pastor, but only a youth pastor.

Unlike Steve who can say to pastors, “Been there, done that and got the t-shirt,” I’m just there.

I hope you will join me and other brothers and sisters “who don’t really work” in the new youth pastors’ forum as we share stories, confess sins and encourage one another. Because what we do matters…a lot. Ask any builder.

See you in the forums!

And if you read an anonymous confession to smoking weed, don’t assume it’s me.

So glad it’s all about grace.

Zach

]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/cannabis-confession-construction-contemplation/feed/ 4 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/teaching-a-pig-to-sing/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/teaching-a-pig-to-sing/#comments Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:56:07 +0000 Jim Coffield http://www.poopedpastors.com/?p=304 “How have you been doing, are you ill?” “No, just tired.” I wanted to tell my colleague that he would be a great mother, but I behaved. I looked at myself in the mirror later and realized he was right. I looked like the Lock Ness monster after a night in Lake Erie. My morning was spent grading papers and doing tedious paperwork. Some background might help here — I hate to grade papers (this is somewhat problematic for me, I am a seminary professor). Some of the more rigorous among you will believe that I’m lazy and you may be right, but there may be more. Nothing I am about to write gives me permission not to do my job.

Speaking of my job – the purpose of this note to you is to address one of the possible reasons for our tiredness. In my last blog post, I suggested that your tiredness is not the problem but a symptom. So in the next few entries we will explore some of the reasons that you are exhausted. One of the possible reasons lies in not understanding how you are wired. Psychologists call it temperament and with both great anecdotal and empirical evidence it seems that we all have tendencies that are not based on character or simple choice. They are based on hard wiring in our personalities. Consider two different pastors who are attending church socials after a long a hard week. The extroverted pastor can participate in introverted activities and can learn to enjoy solitude, but receives energy from being with people and most likely always will. An extroverted pastor will “work the crowd”. He will be tired but becomes revived around people. He will stay until the end and will be heard saying, “The church needs more events like this.” An introverted pastor at a “covered dish” supper may show up late, find one person to sit and talk with, be extremely gracious with a few people the entire evening and not particularly enjoy the activity. He will leave the event even more tired than when he arrived. He will look at his watch and wonder “how soon can I leave and still get credit for being here”. Being alone energizes an introvert. The issue is not character, the issue is temperament.

Fun facts about temperament – most people do not leave the pastorate for theological reasons – most people do not leave the mission field due to theological differences. They leave because of interpersonal issues with co-workers, elders and parishioners. It is often not issues of right vs. wrong that drives anyone out, it is the inability to read, understand and manage our own hardwiring and the hardwiring of others. We spend countless hours trying to convince a realist that they need to think like an idealist. You may try to get your youth pastor to be more detailed – after seeing all the empty fast food containers in his back seat. He may own stock in McDonald’s. We all have internal tendencies that are based on biology rather than discipline. Researchers have even identified basic temperaments in infants. Follow up studies show that the temperaments identified in the nursery are very consistent into adulthood. So, some of your tiredness may spring simply from a lack of knowledge of your hard wiring and shear exhaustion from swimming up stream.

We still need to do things that are difficult for us – but we need to prepare for it. I need an entire morning to grade papers or write. When I do our taxes the whole family has to leave the house and I need to prepare – I listen to blues music. I surf the web for a while. I must be up against a deadline. When you are working against your wiring it helps to have a sense of urgency. I eat nasty food because I feel so entitled and then I get to work. The guy who says, “I just spend a few minutes everyday putting in my data” and shows me his spreadsheets is not wired like me. If you work against your wiring it will take more energy and will need a better plan. I still need to do my taxes –it will exhaust me in a way that it will energize someone else.

The first step may be just to identify your own tendencies. Become a student of your own temperament. It can be done formally by taking some basic personality tests like the Myers-Briggs or a Disc test.* Contact a coach, spiritual director or a counselor and have them give you one of the formal assessments. You could also do it more informally by asking your spouse, friends and co-workers to describe your relational style. Remember the reason you study yourself is not for the sake of self – there are such better things to focus on in life than ourselves. You do not want to become self focused. No, you look at your temperament so you can untimely love others better and serve Him more effectively. See what things in your job description go with your wiring and which ones go against it. Get help and assistance with your weaknesses – don’t try to hide them. Everyone who works with you knows anyway.

Next become a student of the people around you – how is your spouse wired, your kids, your elders and members of your staff. As an extrovert I think while I talk – so I do not need time to formulate an answer. I figure out what I am going to say as I am speaking. However, one of my kids is more of an introvert – when confronted he needs time to formulate his answers and to think on how to respond. I had to learn to parent him in the way he was wired instead of demanding a quick response to my questioning or concerns. I am finally learning that he will be more comfortable and more thoughtful in his responses if given time to think about the situation before he is forced to go toe to toe with me. Real love is giving the way the recipient needs it not in the way the giver wants to give it – doesn’t the cross teach us that?

You may be tired because you are swimming up stream and do not even know it. You may be tired because you are trying to make your staff, family and friends work, think and behave like you. I guess with the right experts and enough resources you could teach a pig to sing but the pig would not like it and it would never be very pleasing to the ear. So learn about your wiring. Realize that some wiring was yours at birth and some developed as a way to cope with life. It’s good to explore how and why you are wired the way you are. It will save you a lot of time and it may be one of the reasons for your tiredness.

You humble me with your willingness to read these thoughts – next time I will explore the issue of “incongruence” as the reason for your tiredness– until then I have some papers to grade.

* one of my favorite web sites dealing with temperament is: typelogic.com

]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/teaching-a-pig-to-sing/feed/ 6 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/your-most-neglected-body-part/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/your-most-neglected-body-part/#comments Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:36:01 +0000 Steve McKinney http://www.poopedpastors.com/?p=298 I can’t figure out why, but people universally neglect to train their legs. It’s a funny thing, since proper leg training will dramatically deliver total body results.

Walk into any gym and you’ll see the bench press taken, the dumbbells being curled-and an empty squat rack in the corner.

Leg exercises are tough, I won’t deny that, but the benefits are more than worth the exertion.

A Case for Your Legs

Your legs are a major muscle group, so it’s no surprise that training them will get you big time results. Training your legs will…

1. Melt fat from your body. As I mentioned above, leg exercises are tough. Your legs are a large part of your body, so each exercise literally moves your whole body. This is precisely why a good leg workout will fire up your metabolism to melt fat away. You’ll burn more calories while exercising your legs than any other body part.

Due to the intense nature of a leg workout, your metabolism becomes elevated for more than 24 hours. That means that for an entire day your body continues to burn extra calories without any extra effort on your part. Who wouldn’t love that?

2. Build strength for everyday life. How often do you use your legs? Most of us depend on our legs constantly throughout the day-so wouldn’t it make sense to strengthen our individual mode of transportation? Kind of like putting a super charger on the engine of your car.

Exercising your legs isn’t only about increased strength; you’ll also improve your coordination and balance. This means that you’ll be able to do and experience things that you otherwise would have missed. You only live once, right?

Uncover natural muscle shape. Let’s be honest, toned legs are attractive. I’m not saying that you’re legs will bulge with muscles (unless we trained you for that), but I am saying that consistently training your legs will uncover your natural toned shape.

Many of my clients discover a whole new level of confidence after getting their legs back into shape. Women especially enjoy the freedom to wear shorts or a skirt without feeling embarrassed to show their legs. Wouldn’t you love that freedom?

Oh, and I should tell you that as you strengthen your legs you’ll also reduce the risk of injury to your lower back because you’ll actually learn to pick things up off the ground the right way.

Best Leg Exercises

Now that I’ve convinced you to pay more attention to your legs, here are three of the top exercises you should do. Each of these exercises have dozens of different variations, so have fun and always keep your workouts fresh and challenging.

1. The Lunge: Start with your feet together, take a large step forward and bend your knees down into a lunge position. Exhale as you press yourself back up to a standing position, or continue through with your step into another lunge.
2. The Squat: Start with your feet shoulder width apart, inhale as you bend your knees, keeping your back straight. Be sure to keep your knees from going past your toes. Exhale as you push back up to a standing position.
3. The Dead Lift: Grip the barbell with a mixed grip (one palm faces you, one doesn’t). Allow the barbell to hang down in front of you as you stand on the platform with your feet shoulder width apart. Lean forward at your waist, keeping your back flat, and bend your knees, bringing the bar down past them. Exhale as you straighten your legs and lift the bar up. When you are standing upright lean back slightly and squeeze the muscles of your lower back. Hold this contraction for a moment. Inhale and slowly return back down to the starting position.

By no stretch of the imagination are these three the ONLY leg exercises out available. And that’s the other great thing about training your legs… you have tons of options and variations.

Want to know more about leg exercises and which ones are the best for you? Are you finally ready to get into the best shape of your life? Let me help.

Email me and we’ll schedule a consultation where you and I can assess your goals and I can show you the fastest and safest way to reach them.

Recipe of the Week

Easy Lentil Soup

Use this recipe for a light dinner or quick lunch. It’s easy to make, tastes delicious and is low in fat. What’s more it’s full of natural protein. And guess what? Lentils are packed with cholesterol-lowering fiber.
Yield: 8 servings

Here’s what you need…

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup finely chopped onion
• 1/2 cup finely chopped carrot
• 1/2 cup finely chopped celery
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 pound lentils, picked and rinsed
• 1 cup peeled and chopped tomatoes
• 2 quarts chicken broth, fat free, reduced sodium
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/2 teaspoon ground toasted cumin
• Optional, spoonful of fat free cottage cheese
• Optional, dried parsley

1. Put the olive oil in a 6-quart Dutch oven and place over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, celery and salt. Sauté for 6 to 7 minutes.
2. Add the lentils, tomatoes, broth, coriander and cumin; stir to combine. Increase the heat to high and bring the mixture just to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook at a low simmer until the lentils are tender, about 40 minutes.
3. Using a stick blender, puree the soup to your desired consistency. Serve with cottage cheese and sprinkle with dried parsley if desired.

Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 240 calories, 2g fat, 35g carbohydrate, 18g fiber, and 16g protein.

Fitness Tip of the Week

Want Antioxidants? Go Blue

Blueberries are being called a “super food” by many nutritionists. Recent research has shown that blueberries are the fruit with the highest antioxidant activity. They have even been shown to improve memory and coordination and to slow the development of degenerative diseases.

Snack on fresh or dried blueberries instead of processed sweets – not only are they healthier, you’ll also lose weight.

]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/your-most-neglected-body-part/feed/ 0 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/keeping-your-job/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/keeping-your-job/#comments Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:39:30 +0000 Steve Brown http://www.poopedpastors.com/?p=294 Dan Allender says that grace is so incredibly radical that most of our congregations can’t deal with it. He then said that a pastor has to give it out in little pieces until the kids are through college.

Last night, I was teaching a course on grace at the seminary and realized that what I was teaching the students was dangerous stuff. Not only that. I realized that if they bought it, lived it and taught it, I was setting them up for a lot of pain and maybe even for some career adjustment…i.e. losing their jobs.

So I gave the students the Allender quote…and talked about being careful not to give too much too soon because they would be of no help to anybody if they had to leave the ministry and go into turnip farming or something.

During the class, we were talking about church discipline and whether or not public confession (beyond the leadership) to the congregation was necessary. One of the students said that he didn’t think so because the maturity level of most congregations was such that they didn’t know how to handle sin biblically and with grace, and so could end up destroying the one who had confessed.

Then during the break, one of the students followed me out to the patio where I was smoking my pipe. I said to him, “Jim (not his name), I’ve been watching your face and your reactions to what I’ve been teaching and you really get it don’t you?”

He laughed and said that he did because he had to for his own sanity. Then he told me a horror story about how he had sinned and how he was disciplined publicly. He told me about how he had gone into a major depression and how shame had defined his life, his relationships and his ministry. He then said, “If I had not discovered God’s grace and how radical it was, I would not have survived.”

It almost goes without saying that mostly the church isn’t very safe for anybody…and especially for pastors. It also goes without saying that it ought to be a goal of a pastor or a leader to try and remedy that. The question is how one gets from here to there without losing one’s job, dividing the church and creating—in the sometimes angry reaction—a church which is less safe than it was before one started?

I don’t have the foggiest.

I suspect Jesus had the problem in spades and it doesn’t hurt to check out what he did. Can you imagine knowing the truth (all of it) and trying to communicate it all the while knowing that we wouldn’t understand and would, in fact, kill you for telling us? Can you imagine living in the light and personifying love when dealing with people like us? Can you imagine what it would be like to come from the throne into “the silent and dark planet” where the residents missed what God was really like? Do you know what it cost to be a friend of sinners and drunks, to consort with prostitutes without sleeping with them, to speak truth to self-righteous power, and to love us when we didn’t deserve it?

Do you remember what Jesus said to Peter who was not altogether happy about Jesus washing his feet? Jesus said, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” And then Jesus said to his disciples, “I have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.” So it is permissible, I think, to be incremental.

Again, I don’t know how one moves a congregation or a people toward the light of God’s radical grace without losing one’s job. I do know that it’s important to speak truth…even if you can’t speak all of it. I know that it is important to confess your sins…the ones that won’t get you fired. I know it’s important to somehow love self-righteous people without being self-righteous, to be unconditional when others are very conditional with you, to be authentic without being stupid, and to be clear about your own neediness without being a weenie.

And then, I suppose, one has to trust that God will be involved in the process.

One other thing I know is that you have to have some people around you who love you enough to tell you when you’ve sold your soul and rationalized that transaction with the excuse that the congregation wasn’t ready.

So, to use the words of my late friend, Jack Miller, tell your congregations that the Bible is summed up in two sentences: First, cheer up; you are a lot worse than you think you are. And second, cheer up; God’s grace is a lot bigger than you think it is.

Just don’t be too specific until they are ready.

]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/keeping-your-job/feed/ 3 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/go-fitness-shopping/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/go-fitness-shopping/#comments Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:06:29 +0000 Steve McKinney http://test.poopedpastors.org/?p=270 Did you know that the grocery store is the source for most of your unwanted pounds?

Well, that and the fast food restaurants, but we’ll leave that for another day.

If you’re like most people then your shopping trips aren’t exactly organized. In fact, your grocery cart is likely to be more fat than fit.

The good news is that with a few small modifications to your routine you’ll be able to turn your grocery shopping trip into an easy opportunity to slim down.

I’ve broken down the process of healthy grocery store navigation with an easy-to-remember acronym – FITNESS.

Come, take a walk with me through your grocery store and we’ll improve your shape and the shape of your family members.

F: First Veggies

Your mom always told you that you had to eat your veggies before dessert-so this will be an easy one to remember. When you start shopping, first go to the produce section. The bulk of your shopping should take place here. Fresh vegetables, lettuce for salads, and fruits are the best things to eat when you want to look and feel great.

Don’t skimp on produce-aim to fill most of your cart here.

I: Is it Wheat?

When it comes to bread you only need to ask yourself one question. Is it wheat? White bread products have been processed and filled with simple carbohydrates – these will easily stick to your body as fat. Wheat breads, on the other hand, contain more fiber and are much healthier. Make it a policy to never purchase white bread, wheat bread is the right choice even for the little members of your family.

Always choose hearty wheat bread products-the more whole grain, the better.

T: Trim the Fat

In the meat section you are faced with a major decision. Do you go with your taste buds or do you go with your health conscious side? I urge you to stick with the latter. These days lean meats are more available than ever, and the benefits to going lean are numerous. When you choose lean meats you avoid extra saturated fat (your heart will thank you for this) and you also avoid the extra calories that come packed into each fat gram.

Want to be lean? Then eat lean meats.

N: Never Enter the Junk Food Aisle

I have a simple policy that has saved me from thousands of unnecessary calories. I don’t walk down the junk food aisle. You and I both know that it is nearly impossible to walk past rows of chips, candies and cookies without putting something into the cart. The bright packages stamped with mouthwatering images will give your will power a run for its money. My two cents? Avoid that row altogether and save yourself from the whole ordeal.

Nothing good ever came from walking down the junk food aisle-just say no.

E: Edge Around the Store

Here’s a really easy trick for healthy shopping. Edge around the store, as in shop the perimeter and avoid the inner aisles. Think about it-the healthiest products are kept around the perimeter of the store: produce, meat, dairy. The inner aisles are where you run into trouble: processed food, baked goods, and sweets. Don’t get me wrong, there are healthy products kept in the inner aisles too, but a majority of the items are waist-expanders.

Shop in a circle-stick to the perimeter of the store, do less shopping in the aisles.

S: Skinny Cow

The dairy section is filled with many healthy items; it is also filled with extremely high fat items. Your job is to pick out all those calcium-rich foods that you love in the low fat and non fat versions. I realize that many people have a prejudice against low fat milk or yogurt, simply because they’ve always eaten the full fat version. Making the switch to low fat is such a simple way to cut unnecessary fat and calories from your diet, while still getting all the benefits of dairy.

Fat free dairy products are the way to go-you’ll only lose unwanted pounds.

S: Stick with Water

Warning: mini lecture to follow. I’ll make it short and sweet. Drink more water-period. Sodas, sugary juices and calorie-laden alcoholic beverages are responsible for a large number of unnecessary calories in your diet. Don’t fill your cart with these sneaky calories. Keep them out of your kitchen and out of your life.

Looking for a tasty beverage? Look no farther than crystal clear water.

There you have it-your FITNESS shopping plan that will take your cart from fat to fit. I suggest that you write down the FITNESS steps on a note card and take it to the store with you.

Recipe of the Week

Albacore Lettuce Wraps

Tuna is one of those healthy items that’s found in the inner aisles of the grocery store-so venture down the aisle and pick out white albacore packed in water. This is an ultra-healthy meal that is high in protein and low in fat.
Yield: 2 servings

Here’s what you need…

• 1 can albacore chunk tuna, packed in water
• 2 Tablespoons finely chopped white onion
• 1/2 red bell pepper, finely chopped
• 1/2 yellow bell pepper, finely chopped
• 1/2 apple, finely chopped
• 2 Tablespoons nonfat mayonnaise
• 1 Tablespoon nonfat ranch salad dressing
• 1 teaspoon dried dill
• 4 large lettuce leaves, washed
• Pepper to taste

1. Combine the tuna, onion, bell pepper, and apple in a medium bowl. In a small bowl mix the mayonnaise, ranch dressing and dill.
2. Add the mayonnaise mixture to the tuna and mix until well combined.
3. Arrange the lettuce leaves on two plates, and fill with tuna. Garnish with a dash of pepper.

Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 124 calories, 1.5g fat, 13g carbohydrate, 2.7g fiber, and 14g protein.

Fitness Tip of the Week

Upgraded FITNESS Shopping

Want to upgrade your FITNESS shopping trips? Here are 3 additional tips:

1. Don’t go to the grocery store with an empty stomach. Your cart will mysteriously fill with extra, unnecessary foods that will end up crashing your good intentions.
2. Make a list before you go to the store. You’ll be able to think rationally at home before you’re surrounded by tasty, FITNESS destroying foods.
3. Plan out your meals for the week ahead of time, then shop specifically for those items. This will cut out the junk, and save you calories and money.

]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/go-fitness-shopping/feed/ 1 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/the-blame-game/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/the-blame-game/#comments Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:06:31 +0000 Steve McKinney http://test.poopedpastors.org/?p=232 Whose fault is it that you’re out of shape?

If you go by what you hear in diet ads then you believe that it’s anyone’s fault but yours.

The big diet companies think that if they put the blame on you, then you wouldn’t buy their bogus pills. So they put the blame on your cortisol levels, your modern diet (ie fast food), or your busy schedule instead of where it belongs – which is squarely on your shoulders.

Sure, you have obstacles that get in your way – your schedule, your job, your kids, the weather, your knee injury from college…but ultimately you have the body that you accept.

I’m going to repeat that so it will really sink in.

You have the body that you accept.

Embracing the blame for your current weight is not a bad thing – it’s empowering. Think about it. If it really wasn’t your fault, if it really was due to a long list of variables that you have zero control over, then you’d be stuck. You’d have no way to change.

The Secret Behind ‘Before and After’ Pictures

Allow me to pull back the curtain for you on something that the diet industry doesn’t want you to know. You’ve seen countless before and after pictures documenting weight loss as a result of a diet product. Well, there is more involved than just the diet product, and it’s the same across the board.

Look into the eyes of any person in their before picture and you’ll see that they are disturbed. The body they have is no longer in sync with the body they can accept.

They changed the body that they accept.

Now look into their eyes in the after picture – see the sweet satisfaction? They now own the body that they decided they could accept. And what a great feeling that is.

Your Time To Transform

Whether you realize it or not, you already posses everything you need to transform your body, but it all starts with taking responsibility for the body that you have today. You have your current body because until this moment you’ve been OK with it.

Oh sure, you aren’t thrilled with it, and you even talk about losing weight and getting fit, but you haven’t changed what you’ll accept. Here’s how to transform your body in 3 steps:

Step One: Get Disturbed

You’ve heard it said that emotion creates motion. This is essential when it comes to losing weight. Just like those folks in the before pictures, to transform your body you must first decide that you can’t live another day in the body you currently have.

It’s time to get your emotions stirred up. Make a list of all the reasons that you must lose weight and get fit. Get disturbed!

Step Two: Get Focused

Without clarity it’s very hard to get where you want to go. Now that you’re disturbed with the body you have, it’s time to decide what the body you can accept looks like.

I want you to think in concrete and specific terms. Just like the captions under those before and after pictures – “Suzy lost 25 lbs”, “Mike lost 8 inches from his waist”, “Jenny went from a size 18 to a size 6″ .

Get a clear picture in your mind of what you’ll look like in your after picture and visualize what the caption will read.

Step Three: Get Moving

The time spent between your inspiration (now) and your action determines whether you will succeed or fail. Don’t allow yourself to get stuck between inspiration and action – there is always something that you can do right now.

Don’t you agree that you’ll be happier living life in a fit, healthy and attractive body, rather than the body you have today? Of course you’ll be happier.

I am here to take you from your before picture to your after picture, however, you need to bring something to the table – you need to make up your mind about what you’ll accept of yourself.

What will you accept?

Recipe of the Week

Healthy Man’s Steak



Eggplants offer a host of health benefits due to their many vitamins and minerals as well as important phytonutrients which provide antioxidant activity. When you select eggplants look for ones that are firm and heavy for their size – also avoid ones with discoloration or bruises. Serve your Healthy Man’s Steak as a side to grilled chicken breast for a delicious and well balanced meal.
Yield: 6 servings

Here’s what you need…

• 2 eggplants, cut into 3/4 inch thick slices
• Salt
• 1 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
• 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tsp. dried oregano
• 1 small clove garlic, minced
• Freshly ground pepper

1. Sprinkle the sliced eggplant with salt and drain in a colander for about 30 minutes.
2. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Coat a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
3. Rinse the eggplant with cold water and pat dry. Arrange in a single layer on the baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes, turn the eggplant over and bake for 5 more minutes, until golden brown.
4. Stir together oil, vinegar, parsley, oregano and garlic in small bowl. Season the eggplant with pepper and brush tops with the oil mixture.

Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 52 calories, 3g fat, 6g carbohydrate, 4g fiber, and 1g protein.

Fitness Tip of the Week

Got Stress?
Exercise is the number one thing that you can do to relieve daily stress. A good workout will get your mind off of your bills, your boss, and your endless responsibilities. It’s been said that if exercise were a drug it would be the most powerful medication on earth!

]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/the-blame-game/feed/ 2 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/delayed-gratitude/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/delayed-gratitude/#comments Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:46:41 +0000 Pete Alwinson http://test.poopedpastors.org/?p=218 Did you say “Delayed Gratification”? Nope. Gratitude. Thanks. Attaboys. Confirmations that our ministry is on target and makes sense and is being used by the Spirit of God to bring about real transformation in people’s lives, specially when you have to say tough things to someone you love. I’m sure you get comments of gratitude and thanks for your sermons from time to time, like “Man you were on fire!”, “Have you been following me around this week?” (I always affirm that I have), “I was taking notes!” or “Good jokes pastor.” You might get positive comments every week, and that’s great. I don’t, but then Baptist preacher Calvin Miller said that if he gave 25 good sermons a year he was happy. That helped me be happy too with whatever I get. Steve Brown says that if you get 51% you chalk it up as success. I can live with that.

Back to gratitude. I like hearing that I’m getting through and that people think I’m as awesome as I think I am. But I’ve come to really treasure the statements of delayed gratitude that I get. Do you get them? I received one just the other day from a young man who left our church ticked off at yours truly. Here it is:

Dear Pete:

I was driving to work this morning and I felt the Lord lay upon my heart to send you this email.

Two years ago, when all that stuff went down I reacted with a less than repentant heart. After a few days, I realized my error and I did make a turn from my sins and trusted God to forgive me of my sins and purify me from all unrighteousness (I John 1:9). BUT the one thing I didn’t do was ask for the strength to forgive those whom I felt had sinned against me, as Jesus instructs us to do in His Prayer. The humility of having a private sin made “public” (or at least, to the leadership) was a growth experience, but I sat back idly and soon my humility turned into a misguided piety. I began struggling with self-righteousness and I forgot myself and allowed myself to revel in my own piety. It was foolish of me to think these things and act as the Pharisee did when he “thanked God that he was not like the tax collector,” and I am sorry. (Even now, as I am typing this email the song “Your Grace is Enough” came on the radio.)

All this to say, I am sorry for my poor attitude and my pious actions. I am thankful that the Lord had forgiven me, even though I did not deserve His forgiveness. I pray that you guys would be able to do the same (forgive me for my foolish behavior).

Thinking back on my spiritual journey I am very thankful for BOTH of you and all you have done. I am blessed to have had such godly men in my life. I pray for the Lord’s continued blessing upon you and your families, and WCC.”

Is this a world class letter or what? Pastors would die to get something like this! I save and protect these letters and emails like they’re gold. I come back to them in my “Motivation” file from time to time when I am low or tired or ready to run like crazy away from the church. I read them, savor them really, and after a good meal I’m ready to get back into the battle. Energized. Confirmed. Is justified too strong a word?

Being a pastor is way less glamorous than I thought it would be. The younger staff members who think you’re so antiquated you have nothing good to say; the other staff members who don’t like you but are scared of you; the straight talk you give staff only to have your words twisted and your credibility put on the line; the people you try to help with truth but leave, again casting doubt on your character (my friend above didn’t do that; we really did part as friends); the others in the church who think you were too harsh with the one who left, when in reality you were so gentle you wouldn’t have disturbed an insomniac. The marriages that broke up-the tough truth to both parties you had to give. A young man becomes a Christian and wants to immediately be put in front of the congregation with a high profile ministry role; then leaves the church before you can disciple him.

Glamorous? Why did I ever in my delusional state of mind think the pastorate would be glamorous? Probably reveals that I needed to be affirmed as a person and thought that I would be a “big fish in a little pond” as a pastor, and then I would feel good about my self. Big fish get hooked and hurt just like small ones however. No glamour in the pastorate. Our people have absolutely no idea how difficult it is for us to deliver tough truth. The sleep lost, the stress endured, the time I’m preoccupied with their issues that kept me wrestling and emotionally cut off from my family, the soul searching at 2 AM…all this is seldom if ever known by our people. After all, we only work one day a week. We pastors pay a high cost to serve up truth to our people. “Why don’t they thank me for what I’ve done for them?” Ever thought that? Uh huh, me too.

Well, Occasionally they do. Occasionally.

Sometimes delayed gratitude comes from someone like my friend above. Like almost all of my past staff who were ticked at me who in one way or another said, “I’m sorry, I had no idea what it was like to be a senior pastor. Now I do. Thanks for what you did that helped me.” Occasionally you get a real sincere, “I’m sorry.” And you get the Father’s blessing, and you go back out planting seeds and doing what pastors do.

Why is gratitude to pastors so often delayed? Here are some reasons:

1) Busyness. Life is busy, and people don’t take the time to find us and thank us. Later on, much later, something or Someone (the Holy Spirit?) motivates them to thank us and they do.

2) Some people figure we’re in this work to absorb abuse and that we don’t want or need their apologies or thanks. They couldn’t be further from the truth of course, but some people think that we knew what we were getting into when we became pastors and that thanks aren’t needed. We’re paid to put up with bleating sheep so they are convinced. Some wake up and know they put their pastor through more than the average wooly critter.

3) True growth into Christlikeness is often slow and painful for Christians and it takes a long time for our people to see what God was up to in their lives and how He used us to play a role in their growth. When they finally grow, they may have forgotten the role you played in their growth and not say “thanks” or “I’m sorry” at all. Even if they could track you down, they might be too guilt ridden or embarrassed to say anything to you. But gratitude is delayed to those who deserve it from those who are disposed to give it simply because it takes so long to grow. Our work often takes years to bear fruit.

Ultimately, I have had to grow to realize that I did not follow Jesus into this work to be thanked by people. Increasingly, my identity is determined by Him and not people or results. Increasingly, I said. I’m not there yet. I’m still too into gaining people’s approval. And at least, to this point in my life I have not lost my head (John the Presbyterian) or had my blood spilled (check out Hebrews 12) as a pastor. (I have come really close to having a much bigger guy tackle me in the parking lot one night. He was really angry! If that had happened and I’d lived, it would have made for a great article to pastors. I’m sort of sorry it didn’t.)

So when the Lord gives you the gift of delayed gratitude, sit back and enjoy it. Read it several times. Savor it. Share it with a couple of close friends who can rejoice with you. Chances are you didn’t go through that incident alone. Thank God for it. Save it. Put it in your motivation file. Pat yourself on the back…you did fight well when you had too! Write your “gratitude” back and thank them. From then on, you’ll probably be closer than you thought. Enjoy the satisfaction of difficult ministry done well and right. You have been justified in what you did to show tough love, and those brothers or sisters are better off for you having done so. You were Christ’s warrior when you need to be.

Which is how we should always view ourselves. Warriors.

See you back in the battle, whether they thank you or not.

Strength and Courage,

Pete

]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/delayed-gratitude/feed/ 1 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/what-is-your-tiredness-telling-you/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/what-is-your-tiredness-telling-you/#comments Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:45:05 +0000 Jim Coffield http://test.poopedpastors.org/?p=208 “I don’t know if I can do this until I’m 65.” Those are the words I heard recently from a pastor. It would be a good joke if my friend was 64 years old, but he’s in the mid-fifties. But let’s not be too quick to judge this situation. My friend is a successful pastor in a supportive church. He is not bitter or cynical; he is tired and exhausted. Ironically, from all appearances he is the pastor everyone wants to be. I don’t think he has some secret life or ongoing sin problem. He is not looking at the “want ads,” but examining his life and ministry brings about an honest assessment of exhaustion. Have you been there? In times like this, advice usually runs in three equally unhelpful streams.

Wait…before I go any further, maybe a personal introduction may be in order. Let me anticipate your discerning question, “Who is this guy and why is he writing on our pooped pastor web site?”

What qualifies me for this blog is that Steve Brown owes me big – I’m a story teller and Steve steals my stories and tells them to others. So from the bowels of guilt my friend and colleague at the seminary asked me to share my thoughts with you. Truthfully, I am humbled by this idea. To have an audience with you is truly a privilege. I am a licensed psychologist and have worked on church staff as a counselor and family pastor (in a previous life I was a youth pastor, I think, but that is blurry). At the seminary my greatest privilege is to teach future pastors, specifically issues related to counseling. I have a wife, two sons and a dog named Pavlov (you caught that didn’t you?). I submit these ideas to you for your encouragement; I pray that God will give you renewed hope and strength.

Now let’s return to my tired friend and the three streams of unhelpful advice. The first stream is the “whining creek.” The listener will often say things such as, “You poor guy, nobody understands you, and you have such a hard job.” This stream has a positive short-term effect, yet one that could become a justification for self absorption. There is some truth to the fact that people do not understand the pastor’s role and job, but accepting a victim’s cloak can lead to a growing sense of entitlement. This type of empathic stream is helpful is some ways, but it often misses God’s bigger purpose in the situation.

The next stream is the “suck it up” stream (it takes a big straw!). Often the advice goes something like, “You have a calling, now get to work and quit complaining.” This is the type of thinking that birthed the line, “Eat your brussel sprouts because there are children in the third world who are starving.” Just sucking it up and burying your emotions can foster legalism and burnout. Denying the symptom prevents one from trying to determine where the loneliness originates.

The third stream is the “fix it” stream. Day timers, Blackberries, seminars, the latest books and gadgets all indicate that you have chosen to manage the tiredness instead of wrestle through it to see where it leads. You have probably tried all of these options, and you know the latest lingo, but at the end of the day you still find yourself exhausted, misunderstood, and lonely.

What is the answer? What do we do with our exhausted souls? The obvious answer is rest. When Jesus was appealing to the exhausted and burdened, he promised rest, explaining that true rest is obtained by learning from the Gentle One. We often do not consider the unlikely route to rest: listening to the exhaustion. Being tired is not the problem; it is the symptom of a weary heart.


What does the beat of a tired heart say? It could be an invitation by God to explore. He seems to be more interested in our growth and loving dependence on him than our comfort. Don’t get me wrong, exhaustion is an invitation to rest, but it is also an invitation to reflect. One might be tired because he/she is working outside of one’s giftedness. The tiredness may be a result of living life by the demands of others, or your own unreasonable goals. Perfectionists are always tired.

Weariness could be the result of constantly scrutinizing ourselves against the perceived perfection of others. It could also be the natural result of ministering in a fallen world and doing it alone. Whatever it is, don’t repent of being tired. Don’t try to justify, manage, or deny it. Listen to it. The promise is that we will find rest. Don’t strain against this new yoke; we are learning He is gentle and humble in spirit.

Eugene Peterson once said that the job of pastoral ministry is “not to solve people’s problems or make them happy, but to help them to see the grace that is operating in their lives.” When you are tired, you cannot see the grace, so my prayer for my friends in pastoral ministry is to stop trying to ignore the tiredness, stop living as if you can figure things out and solve all your problems. Allow the tiredness to become a tool used by the Gentle One to move you toward honest reflection so you can see the grace and find true rest.

In the next few blog entries I will consider some of the possible meanings to our tiredness. I am humbled and delighted that you took a few minutes to read my thoughts – thanks. May our good God meet you, teach you and reveal Himself to you in your tiredness.

]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/what-is-your-tiredness-telling-you/feed/ 6 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/are-these-3-foods-making-you-fat/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/are-these-3-foods-making-you-fat/#comments Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:57:15 +0000 Steve McKinney http://test.poopedpastors.org/?p=196 It’s easy to let yourself be fooled into thinking the things you eat are healthy. Foods dressed in crafty packaging lead you to believe they will help you lose weight.

But do they?

The truth is that most of the time the only thing special about the so-called healthy food product is the clever marketing. Have you been fooled by the following foods?

So-Called Healthy Food #1: SALAD
Who doesn’t get a self-righteous feeling when ordering a salad, right? Salads are healthy, and salads equal weight loss. Unfortunately, not anymore.

Salad in and of itself is a wonderful, healthy food. It is filled with nutrients and untouched by artificial additives. If only we left it at that.

Most salads on the menu today are loaded with fat laden extras. Croutons, tortilla strips, nuts, and even fried chicken (not the best source of protein). And let’s not forget the salad dressing.

While you know that salad dressing isn’t very healthy, you may not be aware of the staggering number of fat calories packed in these dressings. Most people add between a quarter to a half a cup of dressing to their salad, and with the average creamy salad dressing weighing in at 8-12 grams of fat per tablespoon, you can see how an innocent collection of greens can quickly turn into a spare tire.

So-Called Healthy Food #2: 100 CALORIE PACKS
In the snack section of your local grocery store you’ve probably seen the attractively packaged “100 Calorie Packs.” These light and airy snack packs send a subtle message that they are healthy and in line with your desire to drop the fat. I mean, how harmful can they be? Let’s take a look at the snacks within the package. Here are the most popular:

• Oreo cookies
• Ritz snack mix
• Planter’s peanut butter cookies
• Cheese Nips crackers
• Chips Ahoy cookies
• Shortbread cookie

Hmmm, that list sounds like junk food-doesn’t it? These items are high in sugar, salt and fat, and they don’t contain a grain of nutritional value. And let’s be honest, most people don’t eat just one pack…

So-Called Healthy Food #3: CEREAL
Can a box of cereal help you lose weight? That’s the message being sent out by a handful of cereal brands, namely Special K. This cereal manufacturer has gone so far as to create the Special K Challenge, a program which claims to help drop 6 pounds in 2 weeks. The message that most consumers take away from the cereal commercials is “If I eat this brand of cereal then I will lose weight.”

Wait, don’t grab a bowl of your favorite cereal along with your skinny jeans just yet.

It’s dangerous to think that any food item will promote weight loss, especially a food item that is high in simple carbohydrates. In the fine print you will see that the cereal claims to help lose weight when incorporated with a very low calorie diet, and that the cereal itself has no weight loss inducing power.

Making the Healthy Choice
As a rule of thumb ignore the bold claims on food packaging-the information you really need is listed on the nutrition label. Finding healthy food is simple when you use the following guidelines.

1. Eat Fresh: The healthiest food in the world is fresh, unprocessed whole foods. This includes fresh vegetables and fruit, whole grains and legumes, and raw seeds and nuts. These fresh foods supply your body with vitamins, minerals and enzymes that are priceless to your health. When it comes to meat, poultry and dairy choose products that are grass fed and hormone and antibiotic free.

2. Set Limits: Let’s be honest. Just because something is edible doesn’t mean you should eat it. A key to healthy eating is to identify which items to limit or even eliminate from your diet.

• Cholesterol. The American Heart Association recommends that you limit your intake of cholesterol from food to less than 300 milligrams per day.
• Saturated Fat. Your intake of saturated fat should be less than 7% of your total daily calories.
• Trans Fat. It is recommended that you either eliminate trans fat from your diet or keep it under 1% of your total daily calories.
• Sugar. Most of us consume way more sugar than we should. Make a habit of checking the ingredient list of the foods you eat. If sugar is the first listed ingredient then you know that item is packed with sugar.

3. Look at the whole picture: A healthy diet consists of taking in a combination of fats, carbohydrates, fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals each day. Remember that eating too much of even healthy foods can lead to weight gain. All of the foods that you eat should fit together to form a well-balanced, calorie controlled diet.
The bottom line is that you should eat to live not live to eat. Your body will thank you for it.

Want more ideas on how to get the body of your dreams without starving yourself or doing boring exercise routines? Email me today to get started on a fitness program that will change your body and improve your health.

Recipe of the Week

Fitness Casserole



What a delicious way to eat your veggies. This colorful dish is perfect for a healthy breakfast or a light dinner. Servings: 4

Here’s what you need…

• 1 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced
• 1/4 cup sweet onion, chopped
• 1 12 oz bag Birds Eye Steamfresh frozen broccoli
• 1 15oz jar Mezzetta Marinated Sweet Yellow & Red Roasted Peppers
• 1/4 cup 2% milk reduced fat shredded cheddar cheese
• 8 egg whites
• 2 tablespoons nonfat milk
• 8 Calamata Olives, chopped
• Dash of salt and pepper
• Cherry tomatoes to garnish (optional)

• Preheat the oven to 350. Coat a small saucepan with light cooking spray and sauté the zucchini and onion over medium heat until tender. Microwave the frozen broccoli according to the instructions on the package.
• Coat an 8inch square pan with light cooking spray. Line the bottom of the pan with the roasted peppers. Spread the zucchini and onion mixture and broccoli over the peppers. Sprinkle the cheese over the vegetables.
• In a medium bowl combine egg whites, milk, olives, salt and pepper. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the vegetables. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the eggs have set. Garnish with cherry tomatoes.

Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 154 calories, 3.8g fat, 15.2g carbohydrate, and 11g protein.

Fitness Tip of the Week

Lighten Up

Want to quickly eliminate fattening calories from your diet? It’s easy: simply don’t add fat while cooking. Instead of oils, butter, or lard, try cooking with a light cooking spray. Instead of frying, try broiling. Also drain or blot excess oil from food before eating it.

]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/are-these-3-foods-making-you-fat/feed/ 0 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/study-confirms-the-fountain-of-youth/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/study-confirms-the-fountain-of-youth/#comments Mon, 16 Feb 2009 15:53:39 +0000 Steve McKinney http://test.poopedpastors.org/?p=186 I recently saw a special on an amazing female Olympic swimmer who’s competing with women half her age.

Dara Torres, 41, has been in five Olympic games. Oh, and did I mention that she also has a two year old daughter? While other women her age are whining about pregnancy pounds and being ‘over the hill’, Dara looks like the 20 year olds she competes with.

What makes her different from other 41 year old moms?

“I love to exercise,” Dara says. “I love how it makes me feel. I love how it makes me look.”

Here’s the fountain of youth part:

Because of exercise, Dara’s body is actually younger on a molecular level than her out-of-shape counterparts, according to a recent study led by Tim D. Spector, a professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College in London as reported by the Washington Post.

The results were astounding. They found that exercise appears to slow the shriveling of the protective tips on bundles of genes inside cells (called telomeres), which means a slowing of the aging process.

“These data suggest that the act of exercising may actually protect the body against the aging process,” said Spector.

Here’s the study in a nutshell:

• Telomeres cap the ends of chromosomes and every time a cell divides, the telomeres get shorter.
• Once a telomere gets too short, that cell can no longer divide.
• Aging occurs as more and more cells reach the end of their telomeres and die. This results in weakened muscles, skin wrinkles, loss of eyesight and hearing, organ failure and slowed metal functioning.
• The study analyzed the telomeres from the white bloods cells of twins over a 10-year period. Telomere length was used as a marker for the rate of biological aging.
• It was found that the length of telomeres was directly related to that twin’s activity level. “There was a gradient,” Spector said. “As the amount of exercise increased, the telomere length increased.”

What does this mean to you?

The fountain of youth is literally at your fingertips!

Add to that the previously proven benefits of exercise (such as a reduced risk of heart disease, cancer and other diseases) and it’s no wonder that exercise lovers look and feel as great as they do.

Do you want to start an exercise program or get back on one?

Whether it’s been months, years or even a lifetime since your last workout, remember that it’s never too late to start looking and feeling your best.

Email me to set up your first workout.

And while you may not share Dara’s passion for swimming, you can share her secret for staying young and looking your best.

Recipe of the Week

Perfect Honey-Glazed Salmon

Talk about an easy way to prepare a delicious salmon dinner; this main dish only takes 20 minutes from start to finish. Salmon is a wonderful source of omega 3 fatty acids.
Servings: 2

Here’s what you need…

• 1 (8oz) sockeye salmon fillet, cut into 2 pieces
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 teaspoon ketchup

1. Heat oven to 450. Line cookie sheet with foil; spray foil with non-stick spray. Place salmon on sheet.
2. In small bowl, combine honey and ketchup; blend well. Spread mixture over salmon.
3. Bake at 450 for 12 to 18 minutes or until thickest part of the fish flakes easily with fork.

Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 220 calories, 11g fat, 4g carbohydrate, 0g fiber, and 26g protein.

Fitness Tip of the Week

Want a Smaller Stomach?

Are you doing dozens of sit ups in the hopes of reducing the size of your stomach? You cannot greatly reduce the size of your midsection by stomach exercises alone. While exercises are great for firming your abdominals, a fat burning workout is the most effective way to lose weight and take off inches.

]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/study-confirms-the-fountain-of-youth/feed/ 0 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/a-mean-streak/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/a-mean-streak/#comments Fri, 13 Feb 2009 20:47:24 +0000 Steve Brown http://test.poopedpastors.org/?p=172 If you’ve seen the last video, I’ve started talking about politics in the church.

If that subject doesn’t make you wince, you probably need to spend some more time with Jesus. And if you don’t think that politics is necessary in the church, you need to spend some more time with Paul.

I’ll probably say this in the video series but just in case I forget, one of the important spiritual gifts for a pastor to have is a “mean streak.” Well…uh…maybe that’s not the best way to put it. But then again, maybe it’s best to use the harsh ascription and then let the Holy Spirit’s gifting sand it down a bit.

But with that being said, it does worry me sometimes that so many pastors, in their efforts to be kind and Christlike (a good thing), end up being a target for neurotic people whose calling in life is “get the preacher.”

I don’t know if you’re familiar with Ben Haden, but he’s been my friend for a whole lot of years. (Check out “changedlives.com.“) Ben was one of my predecessors at the church on Key Biscayne where I served, the longtime pastor at First Presbyterian in Chattanooga, and a former newspaper editor.

Ben is quite strong in his leadership style. One time he called the church treasurer into his office, locked the door and pocketed the key. “Both of us can’t run this church,” Ben said, “and when this meeting is over, one of us is going to resign.”

It wasn’t Ben.

I must restrain myself from telling you more stories…but you get the idea.

We were talking about leadership once and he told me that the congregation (even if they shouldn’t and even if it was wrong) would think of God the way they think of their pastor. He said that if they could manipulate their pastor, they would think they could manipulate God. “So,” he said, “you have to be strong even if you don’t want to be strong or don’t feel strong.”

I’ve never locked a treasurer in my office (Ben’s meaner than I am), but I have prayed for some deaths. (Joke…sort of.) And I’ve tried to heed—sometimes to varying degrees of success—Ben’s advice about being strong even when I didn’t feel like it.

Inside “the warrior is a child.”

Have you ever been in those revival meetings where the evangelist, in order to get people to come forward at the invitation, did a bit of manipulation? Sometimes the evangelist would say, “Turn to the person next to you and say, ‘If you go, I’ll go with you.’”

While I don’t very much approve of that kind of thing, that’s exactly what God says to his servants, to wit, “If you stand, I’ll stand with you!”

He does, you know?

He said that to me this morning and then told me to tell you.

Don’t you shilly-shally!

]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/a-mean-streak/feed/ 0 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/don%e2%80%99t-believe-the-lies/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/don%e2%80%99t-believe-the-lies/#comments Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:41:17 +0000 Steve McKinney http://test.poopedpastors.org/?p=151 Repetition does not transform a lie into a truth.

That bit of wisdom came from Franklin D. Roosevelt during a radio address in 1939, and though he wasn’t talking about fitness, it certainly applies to the following fat loss myths.

Myth #1: Eating Late at Night Makes You Fat

The Facts: Your body doesn’t have an internal timer that causes late night eats to be stored directly as fat. Weight gain happens when you eat too much and exercise too little – you could eat too much in the morning, the afternoon, or late at night and it would all result in weight gain.

• Your Solution: Consider how many calories you eat and burn each day, rather than when you eat.

Myth #2: Snacking Promotes Weight Gain

The Facts: Eating snacks throughout the day is actually a great way to keep your metabolism up and to avoid overeating at meals. However, if you snack on junk food then be prepared to pack on pounds.

• Your Solution: When it comes to snacking it’s all about what you snack on.

Myth #3: You Can Lose Fat Without Exercise

The Facts: Exercise and healthy eating go hand-in-hand when it comes to permanent fat loss. Your body needs exercise just as it needs to be fed a diet filled with fresh produce, whole grains and lean protein.

• Your Solution: Accept exercise as a part of your daily lifestyle.

Myth #4: Fat Free Means ‘All-You-Can-Eat’

The Facts: It’s time to close your eyes and mentally erase everything that the 90’s taught about fat-free dieting. Fat-free foods are not the equivalent of flavored air – they contain plenty of calories and often lots of sugar.

• Your Solution: Be mindful of calories when eating fat-free foods.

Myth #5: Eat as Little as Possible for Maximum Fat Loss

The Facts: Eating too little causes your metabolism to shut down and puts your body into starvation mode, and prone to store fat rather than burn it.

• Your Solution: When it comes to fat loss think burn rather than starve.

Myth #6: Diet Pills Work for Fat Loss

The Facts: The only thing that diet pills are capable of burning is the extra cash in your wallet. Billions of diet pills are sold every year – all to no avail.

• Your Solution: Healthy eating and exercise can never be replaced by a pill.

Myth #7: You Should Never Eat Fast Food

The Facts: It’s all about what you order. Fried, processed and salty foods will cause weight gain – don’t order them. Lean meat, salad, vegetables and beans, on the other hand, are available at many fast food chains – order these instead.

• Your Solution: When eating fast food skip the fried items, stick with lean meats and salads.

Trying to lose weight is often a frustrating experience. In a world filled with quick fixes, lasting weight loss is not something that happens overnight. Remember that it took time to gain the weight, so it will also take some time to lose it.

Permanent weight loss happens as a result of a proper exercise and diet plan – my specialty.

Email me and together we will customize a diet and exercise plan designed to help you lose the weight, tone your body and feel fantastic.

Recipe of the Week

Roasted Citrus Cod

Want fish in a flash? This recipe offers a healthy and delicious serving of cod crusted with breadcrumbs and enhanced with citrus zest.
Yield: 6 servings

Here’s what you need…

• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley
• 1 teaspoon grated orange zest
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon grated lime zest
• 6 (6 oz) skinless cod fillets (1.5 inches thick, with bones removed)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Combine panko, butter, parsley and citrus zest until evenly mixed. Place the cod fillets on the prepared baking sheet. Season the fillets with salt and pepper. Top with the panko mixture, pressing it onto the fillets.
3. Roast until the breadcrumbs are browned and the cod is fully cooked, about 10 minutes.

Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 122 calories, 3.5g fat, 10g carbohydrate, .5g fiber, and 12g protein.

Fitness Tip of the Week

Don’t Try
The New Year is still fresh and change is in the air. What do you want to change in your life this year? Whatever your goal, apply this philosophy to it: Do or do not. There is no try. This bit of wisdom didn’t stem from a former president…it came from a little guy named Yoda!

]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/don%e2%80%99t-believe-the-lies/feed/ 2 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/master-and-commander-again/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/master-and-commander-again/#comments Mon, 26 Jan 2009 20:02:21 +0000 Pastor Pete http://test.poopedpastors.org/?p=148 I know, I know, it’s an old movie now. But I liked the movie and watched it the other day, again. Master and Commander starred Russell Crowe as the brash British Naval Captain John Aubry. “Lucky Jack” of the HMS Surprise. For a Presbyterian Pastor, any saying or title with “luck” or “lucky” in it always forces a self-righteous smirk to our faces. We know there is no such thing as luck because God is sovereign!

Still, I like “Lucky Jack” a whole lot. He’s my kind of guy. Remember the movie? Captain Jack Aubry uses all of his seafaring talent, skill and experience in leading his men in battle against the French Frigate Archeron. It was a mismatch for sure; the 29 guns of the HMS Surprise to the 47 guns of the Archeron. No way Aubry could defeat one of Napoleon’s finest. But with the use of creative maneuvers and deception, they not only defeated the Archeron, they captured it! Master and Commander!

After talking about the movie, my friend Bob told me it came from a novel by Patrick O’Brian, and I had to read it. My conclusion: Great novel, but never has a movie deviated from a book more than in this case! Ok, the movie reflected major themes of the book, but the story line was completely different. What the movie perfectly captured though, was the character of Captain “Lucky Jack” Aubry. He was truly a renaissance man: cultured, smart, good sense of humor, an educated warrior who played the violin. But he was a warrior: physically strong, bold, courageous, violent when he needed to be. A tactician, risk taker, never say die kind of leader. For sure a Master and Commander.

Like I guess I thought I would be as a pastor. How about you? Did you think you might eventually become the pastoral equivalent of a master and commander? The ministry of the church is so diverse and so many things have to happen well and at the same time for the church to be healthy and growing, that we pastors often don’t feel like we’re masters or experts at anything! My son Jon tells me that his business prof said that in three years in the average job, a worker will reach his top level of competency. He will probably make more money over the years as he continues to work of course, but he won’t become appreciably more competent at his work. Zig Ziglar, in his book Better Than Good, talks about the “Ten Year Rule”: It generally takes ten years for a person to become proficient in their profession. Three years or ten? Hey, I’ve been a pastor for 30 years…can we talk? Out of the 16 major plates a pastor is expected to keep spinning (Pagan Christianity? Viola/Barna, p.138) I feel I’m not spinning many of them well, and I’m a master in none of them! American culture keeps changing on me faster than I can keep up. I think I’ve figured preaching out and then, bam, the culture changes and I wonder if I’m getting through. Future Shock is here…a Master? Come on Fred.

Want to talk about being a commander? Do we even need to go there? Leadership is not the strong suit for most pastors, and we can become exhausted by working so long as leaders outside our main strengths. By the way, what is your strong area of giftedness? What is the one major area you do well? Teaching, preaching, counseling, evangelism; it might be leadership. Great! The fact is that strong leadership is necessary for church growth. Commander pastors who build larger churches can’t act like military command generals, but they do figure out how to command in a Christianly acceptable way.

For many of us, trying to be Master and Commander Pastor will exhaust and crush us, and maybe even our people. Here’s what helps me. I have to recognize I’m a bit neurotic and need therapy (that’s what Steve Brown says anyway-it’s nice having such a supportive mentor.) I often feel hyper-responsibility and lose sleep because the church isn’t growing as quickly as I think it should or doesn’t have enough tithers or finances; or a member doesn’t like our worship quality or we’re too much of a community church and we don’t do the age niche thing well for them. Pastors all understand each other at this point! Sometimes I just have got to stop being so neurotic and go for a run or go plinking. Amazing how blowing up a few plastic bottles can really brighten ones day. John Maxwell told us at a conference once, how, when golfing, he would write the name of a difficult member on the ball just before teeing off….

I’m also more comfortable with trying to master one or two areas of ministry and stop thinking I’ll ever master the 16 competencies of a pastor. But I’m sure going to try and find others who do really well what I don’t. Regarding being a commander: there are times when you simply have to take a stand and tell staff or your people what you want them to do without giving a million reasons. Smile and say, “That’s not our philosophy at our church” when someone wants to institute something that won’t work. “I don’t see us ever doing that” is a legitimate statement a leader can make. Step out in faith and trust Jesus (John 14:1-2). Command when you need to, then go rest up if it wears you out.

Steve and I have been talking about that simple faith and love that guys like George Beverley Shea exhibit. Steve was with him at a conference recently and commented about how refreshing it is. Ah, simple faith and trust; a simple love for Jesus and people. I use to have more of that and want it again. I want to end my ministry well, being a more simple, loving Christian man; a little less neurotic. Jesus doesn’t expect me to be a master. He’s the master. He wants me to find joy in using my gift and putting in place people to use their gifts. Teamwork is fueled by grace. At times I need to command with a smile. And then get some ice cream and leave the results up to Him.

Pastoral “Lucky Jacks” we may never be. But we might be! I’m just praying you’ll be the you Jesus wants you to be where you are serving, no more, no less. There is only one Master and Commander, and we work for Him.

“You can’t; God can!
You are inadequate;
He isn’t.”
Jill Briscoe

“In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.”

I Corinthians 4:2

Fight the Good Fight of Faith, praying for you…

Pete Alwinson

]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/master-and-commander-again/feed/ 0 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/going-home-again/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/going-home-again/#comments Fri, 23 Jan 2009 20:49:18 +0000 Steve Brown http://test.poopedpastors.org/?p=145 This past weekend I did what Thomas Wolfe said one couldn’t do—I tried to go back “home” again. I went to Miami, my “home” for so many years and the place I think of when I think of “home.” I spent a couple of days with a group of pastors and then, on Sunday, preached at the church where my former associate (Kent Keller) is pastor.

I discovered that Thomas Wolfe was half right and half wrong.

I don’t do nostalgia very well and don’t much want to do it well. It’s sort of like going into a bakery when you’re on a diet. Why do it? You can’t eat anything there anyway. I always thought that it was best to wait on nostalgia until retirement or closer to death. Then you can remember. Until then, it’s best to keep moving.

Not only that. We have a “selective” remembering process. We remember the good stuff and filter out the bad, so that the girl one dated in high school looked like Marilyn Monroe, one’s prowess in sports was astounding, and the music and fun never stopped…when in reality, the girlfriend looked like your ugly aunt, you couldn’t make the team, and there was more confusion and pain than music and fun.

But sometimes it’s good to remember. (“Drink this in remembrance of me.”) Sometimes you stop, look back and remember God’s faithfulness. Sometimes you “pile the rocks in the river,” look at the “memorial” and rejoice. Sometimes God gives you accurate memories of the fact that he was there and wrote the story.

That happened to me this weekend.

At the worship service where I preached on Sunday morning, there was a “full house.” No, I wasn’t playing poker. However, that full house was as positive to me as a full house was back in the days when I played poker.

(Oh yes, just so you know, if this preaching thing doesn’t work out, I can always play poker for a living. I was quite good at it, thank you very much. I even thought I might do it for a living and would have if Jesus had let me. He wasn’t altogether happy with my idea.)

No, this was a house full of memories…memories of people I loved and love, of battles we fought, and of the dark places we walked through together. In the front row was a man who almost died of cancer and in his cancer, found God. Behind him was the widow whose husband died in the hospital as I held his hand. There was the couple headed for divorce court when Jesus came and restored their marriage. There were so many who had found Christ at the church where I served for so many years. A bunch of people hugged me and whispered in my ear some memory that we shared of God’s faithfulness. I saw the couple whose son was killed and remembered the tears we shed together, the young man I had baptized who is now serving Christ in some hard places, and the many couples for whom I had “officiated” their weddings. As I looked out over the congregation, I was overwhelmed with memories of supernatural answers to prayer when the doctor had given up, the counselor didn’t know what to do, and friends were without hope.

Okay, okay. There were some twits there too. I haven’t lost my mind or allowed the good memories to cause me to forget those for whom I prayed…that they get the hives!

Do you know what I thought as I drove back to Orlando? I thought that there is no better job on the face of the earth than being a pastor. I know the hard places, the discouragement, the loneliness and the feelings of inadequacy. I have all those T-shirts.

But when I was a pastor, I also had a “front row seat” to the drama of God in the lives of his people. Nobody but pastors get to see so much of God in so many places. We get to go places where nobody else goes, share secrets that nobody else shares, and rejoice in the victories and weep at the failures that nobody else can even imagine. We are called to “walk with Jesus” and to see through his eyes the reality behind the reality of his people.

My poet friend from Dallas, Bruce Fogerty (“The Birdbath Poet”), sent me a great poem the other day.

Grace Masquerading

The darkest hour of some lives
Often yield the big surprise-
Grace masquerading once again
Who would have thunk it; Oh my friend!

For grace attends life’s costume balls:
In prison cells and funeral halls!
Unfriendly courts and ugly falls!
Hospital rooms and midnight calls!

Grace masquerading once again;
Who would have thunk it; Oh my friend!

Eternal epilogue will bring
Perspective to all happenings,
Both the good, and seemingly bad
For those who call the Father-

Dad…

Grace was there. And as I drove back to Orlando from Miami, I was thankful that I was there too.

Does that make me want to be a pastor again?

Not quite…but almost!

]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/going-home-again/feed/ 0 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/if-i-only-had-the-time/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/if-i-only-had-the-time/#comments Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:09:42 +0000 Steve McKinney http://test.poopedpastors.org/?p=132 ‘I don’t have time’ is the reason that most people don’t exercise. Well, they call it a ‘reason’ I like to call it what it really is – an excuse.

Most people believe their workouts need to be 60-90 minutes in order to really count. With this kind of time commitment it is no wonder that exercise becomes the activity that you simply don’t have time for. Before you know it one missed workout becomes two and soon you realize that you haven’t put on your gym shorts for a month.

Missed exercise is a slippery slope toward irreversible consequences. Obesity wasn’t gained in one day…or even in one year. Neither was heart disease.

Question: Have you ever wondered if long workouts really deliver the best results?

The truth is that exercise doesn’t have to take 60-90 minutes anymore. The experts agree that short, intense bouts of exercise can actually deliver better results than traditional low intense exercise.

In fact, a study was conducted at the University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine that tested whether short bouts of exercise would deliver better results than one long bout of exercise. They found that participants who performed short bouts of exercise stuck with the program longer and experienced greater weight loss than the participants that performed long bouts of exercise.

Throw out the idea that you need an entire afternoon or a free evening to have a great workout. It simply doesn’t take as much time as you think. Here’s one example:

10 Minute Results-Driven Workout

• Dumbbell Squat : Stand with your feet shoulder width apart and hold a dumbbell in each hand. First lower down into a squat position. Make sure that your knees do not go past 90 degrees. Exhale as you straighten your legs and return to the starting position. Complete 12-15 repetitions.
• Dumbbell Curl: Stand with your feet shoulder width apart and hold a dumbbell in each hand down at your sides. Curl the dumbbells up toward your chest. Inhale as you return to the starting position and repeat. Complete 12-15 repetitions.
• Dumbbell Bent Over Rows: Stand with your feet shoulder width apart and hold a dumbbell in each hand. Bend your knees and lean forward from your waist, keeping your back flat. Exhale as you drive your elbows back and squeeze your shoulder blades together. Inhale as you return to the starting position. Complete 12-15 repetitions.
• V-Ups: Sit on the edge of a chair or bench and lean back. Exhale as you drive your knees in toward your chest, squeezing your abdominal muscles. Inhale as you lower your knees back down with control. Complete 15-20 repetitions.
• Dumbbell Press: Sit on a bench with the dumbbells at shoulder level. Inhale as you press the dumbell’s over your head and exhale as you lower to the starting position. Complete 12-15 repetitions.

This is just a simple example of a short workout. Please remember to control the weights throughout the movement. Think outside of the box. Could you do a 10 minute workout in the morning or a 15 minute workout before bed?

Let’s be honest, you make time for the things that you feel are important. If I told you that for every minute you spent exercising I would give you a thousand dollars, would you find a minute to exercise? Sure you would! You’d probably find quite a few minutes to exercise.

Short bursts of intense exercise will give you the results you want, all you have to do is make the time for it.

Somewhere deep down inside you know that it’s now or never.

Will you choose to simply close this email and allow your hectic schedule to slowly push you down the path of obesity and health risk? Or will you find creative ways to fit exercise into your day as you steadily regain your shape and health?

Make this the day that you finally make the change. Email me to schedule your no-obligation fitness consultation and I’ll show you many other high intensity time effective workouts that deliver amazing results.

The choice is yours.

Recipe of the Week

Spicy Veggie Stir Fry
When you want a healthy meal that doesn’t compromise on flavor-here’s your dish. This vegetarian recipe calls for chicken substitute, but you can use real chicken if you want. Bake or grill real chicken before adding it to the recipe. Servings: 4

Here’s what you need…

• 3 cups hot cooked instant rice (cooked as directed on the package, omitting margarine and salt)
• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon oil
• ¼ cup chopped onion
• 1 medium green bell pepper, cut into thin strips
• 2 tablespoons water
• 3 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise, thinly sliced
• 4 frozen breaded chicken substitute patties, thawed, cut into bit-sized pieces
• 3 tomatoes cut into thin wedges.

1. While rice is cooking, in small bow, combine 1 cup water, soy sauce, cornstarch and red pepper flakes; blend well. Set aside.
2. Heat oil in large nonstick skillet or wok over medium heat until hot. Add onion and bell pepper; cook 3 to 4 minutes or until onion is tender. Add 2 tablespoons water and zucchini; cover and cook until all vegetables are tender.
3. Add chicken substitute pieces and tomatoes; cook until thoroughly heated. Stir cornstarch mixture; added to skillet. Cook and stir until thickened. Serve mixture over rice.
Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 380 calories, 10g fat, 54g carbohydrate, 6g fiber, and 13g protein

Fitness Tip of the Week

Get Out Your Camera
Do you wish that you had more motivation to achieve your fitness goals? Give yourself inspiration by taking a ‘Before’ picture. That’s right, put on your bathing suit and pose! Next, place the picture in a place that you see often (on the refrigerator maybe?) Now get to work on changing your body—imagine how great it will feel to replace your ‘Before’ picture with a stunning ‘After’ shot.

]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/if-i-only-had-the-time/feed/ 2 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/fitness-and-more/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/fitness-and-more/#comments Mon, 12 Jan 2009 14:32:54 +0000 Steve McKinney http://test.poopedpastors.org/?p=106 Hey guys,

I just wanted to say “hello” and introduce myself. My name is Steve McKinney and I’m a Certified Personal Fitness Trainer, owner Fitness And More, Inc., and the Pastor, of Frontline Fellowship located in Granite City, Il.

I’m going to be a part of this website by giving some fitness tips and healthy eating habits. Now, please don’t panic! You won’t be tested on this! However, there’s a real good chance some of these tips will help you.

As most of you know, ours is a very stressful job. One way we combat stress is eating. It’s called “comfort eating”. We eat when we aren’t even hungry! The next thing you know you’ve added weight, your blood pressure is high and your energy levels are on the decline.

For example, my friend who is a Pastor (he said this is ok to share) called me the other day and said, “I’m totally embarrassed, I went to the dentist and they wouldn’t even pull my tooth. My blood pressure was too high.”

The interesting thing is my friend lost over 60 pounds with proper diet and exercise. Only to quit and put it all back on plus a few extra. Needless to say, he’s back at it, trying to exercise and eat right. But it will take time.

Now, here’s what I could do. I could play the “God Card” and tell how we’re the temple of the Holy Spirit and gluttony is a sin (venial if you’re catholic) but this is a site for war torn brothers, so let’s not go there.

Let’s go here. The benefits of proper exercise include stress relief, increased energy, mental clarity and overall improved health. I want to make sure you noticed I said proper exercise. You can overdo exercise and cause yourself more harm than good.

Read more in my free eBook, Fitness and More.

I’ll be adding simple exercise tips, motivation and some recipes to the site. Until then, click here to visit my online training site. Then, go and take a walk!

Grace and Peace,

Steve

]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/fitness-and-more/feed/ 9 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/bah-humbug-sort-of/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/bah-humbug-sort-of/#comments Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:07:27 +0000 Steve Brown http://test.poopedpastors.org/uncategorized/bah-humbug-sort-of/ We sent out a video a week or so ago to people who had given a gift to Key Life over the past year. I thanked them for the gifts and the prayers, and then mentioned this new website and some of the things we’re going to do with it. The response we received was overwhelmingly positive.

But there was one person who wrote: “Pastors don’t need your website. They need to be faithful with the truth and stop compromising!”

I’m already a Scrooge at Christmas and, frankly, that didn’t help.

Then I thought it could be worse.

I could be a pastor.

Then I thought it could be worse than that.

I could be a pastor and have that man as a member of my church.

Then I thought it could be even worse than that.

I could be a pastor and have to deal with that person and have to do it at Christmas.

Then I thought about you. I stopped and prayed for the pastors I know and for those I’m coming to know through this website.

I’m old…but I remember.

How do you deal with the self-righteousness of twits?

And then at Christmas…

How does one say something that’s been said and heard a million times without boring people out of their gourds? How does one preach and teach God’s people and, at the same time, try and be faithful to present the Gospel to unbelievers who come out of the woodwork at Christmas? How does one say “no” to all the parties without giving offense, “yes” to one’s family when you know there’s no time, and “leave me alone” to people who just want to stop by and chat? How does one meet the budget shortfall at Christmas and still be prophetic?

Then there are the concerts, the “Christmas Weddings,” the staff Christmas party, the officer Christmas dinner at the manse…and it goes on and on.

But the hardest part about being a pastor at Christmas is the pain…the pain of God’s people that no one sees but the pastor. At Christmas, my counseling load often doubled and sometimes more than that.

Loneliness, loss, depression and sometimes even anger (as with the man who wrote me) get magnified during the Christmas season. Christmas is so painful for so many because one’s darkness is even darker when everybody else seems to be living in the light, singing about it and rejoicing over it.

Only the pastor knows.

But there is always Christmas Eve.

That was always my favorite service of the year. By then it was too late to fix what one hadn’t fixed, to contact those one hadn’t contacted, to visit those one had forgotten to visit, and to buy the present or send the card one should have sent.

On Christmas Eve, even this old Scrooge was glad and celebrated the coming of the King. On Christmas Eve, I sang the ancient carols without faking it and felt the love that had come…

…even to me…a cynical, old preacher.

On Christmas Eve, I would pray, “Jesus, you know I wouldn’t do this for anybody but you, but I do thank you for letting me serve you in the hard places. I praise you for the forgiveness, the mercy, the grace, the meaning and the love you have given to me and I rejoice you have commissioned me to bring that to others the way you brought it to all of us at Christmas.”

So cuss and spit, and gut it out at Christmas.

Christmas Eve is coming!

And not only that, a spiritual giant is praying for you.

Jesus.

(And my prayers couldn’t hurt either.)

]]> http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/bah-humbug-sort-of/feed/ 0 http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/pete-alwinson/war-stories/ http://www.poopedpastors.com/blogs/pete-alwinson/war-stories/#comments Fri, 17 Oct 2008 20:28:58 +0000 Pete Alwinson http://test.poopedpastors.org/?p=25 When the smoke cleared, there were some bodies on the floor of the pastor’s study. He’d had it with these few elders who seemed experts in stonewalling progress while poking holes in his fragile ego at the same time. This had gone on for too many years. Sometimes pastors are pushed too far. This “pistol packing padre” had reached his limit and eliminated his ecclesiastical opposition forever…you should have seen the terror in their eyes when he pulled out his .45…

Well…it didn’t happen quite that way, but a well-respected, nationally-known Senior Pastor of a large, downtown Presbyterian Church said to me once as he was pointing to his office carpet, “A lot of blood has been spilt on this carpet.” Pastoral conflict. Sounds banal and bland. How about war? War may be a better word. Sometimes the pastor is involved in conflict that reaches war-like proportions. Agree? I’ll tell you right now, had I known how much conflict I was going to experience as a Senior Pastor, I would probably have never gone into the ministry. Now, I’d read the Gospels and Acts in Bible college and, of course, in seminary. I saw the conflict in extending the Kingdom of God in God’s Word; I mean, you can’t miss it! But I failed to appropriate it for myself! I was as na‹ve as could be when I first became a Senior Pastor, dealing with and absorbing conflict I never had to face as a Ministry Intern or Youth Pastor.

You know what helped me deal with conflict? It was really helpful when I started talking to other pastors and found out they had gone or were going through similar battles. Frankly, it helped me more when I found out they were taking a beating worse than I ever took, but that’s my depravity talking. What seemed to help me grow and persevere was swapping war stories. The more you tell and listen to war stories, the more you relax, and learn, and laugh, and realize that we really are warriors in a cosmic battle that Jesus has won, but we still have to fight. In time, you actually can rejoice in the fact that you’re a warrior and have got the scars to prove it. One time, in telling a huge war story to my compassionate mentor Steve Brown, he laughed at me and said, “Why did you do that?” I told him and in a non-judgmental way, he replied back, “Well, it’s the best thing that has ever happened to you and in five years, you’ll know it.” His was the laughter of experience. He knew I’d survive. He knew Jesus’ church didn’t hinge on my mistake. He also knew I was taking myself way too seriously. He’d been there before. And Steve was right. Five years to the day, I felt better!

I love this war story: When he was younger, this pastor friend of mine simply could not get his elder board to make a decision. He would bring up a business item and they would talk about all the implications of it and the direction they could and should go, but they would never make a decision and he would end his meetings in frustration at time wasted. But, at the next meeting, that unfinished business item would come up first, be briefly discussed and a decision quickly made. It took a few months before he figured out how work was really being done…er…his wife figured it out. She heard the elder wives talk after session. After the elder meetings, the elders would tell their respective wives what the issues were, the wives would get together to discuss the issues, reach consensus, and deliver to their spiritual-leader husbands the decision, which the elders would then convey to the pastor, and it would be done. Until, in one meeting in the pastor’s office, again stonewalled against making a decision, the young pastor picked up the telephone on his desk, held it out and said to the elders: “Want to call your wives?” They sheepishly grinned…then laughed at themselves…and an actual decision was made on the spot.

Now that’s a gutsy move by that young pastor! When he told me, I stuck up my arm and went “Ya! You brought it, man!” It’s a great war story that gave me courage as well as a model of how to deal with a tough ecclesiastical issue. Look, I’ve got scars and love to talk about them, and so do you. We pastors need to tell our stories and learn from one another so we can stay in the fight.

You remember these great texts…

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)

13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

OK…join me in the anonymous pastors forums. Let’s tell one another our war stories…which are stories of Grace! Go for it, brothers, and fight the good fight. Stay in it!

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