Mountain Confessions…
Pete Alwinson January 27 2010 - 2 Comments
…Journal of a Pooped Pastor on a Study Break
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. (more…)
The perfect blog…
Jim Coffield January 20 2010 - 2 Comments
It’s been too long since I have written about being tired—I think I have just been too tired to write. I have had the idea for this blog for several months, but I wasn’t sure that I would be able to put my thoughts into words. It is the curse of wanting to do things perfectly, and it is exhausting.
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 (more…)
My First Time
Zach Van Dyke January 11 2010 - 12 Comments
When it comes to writing, I often procrastinate until the last possible moment. Whenever I get an email from Cathy reminding me that my next article for PoopedPastors.com is due, I usually decide it’s time to rearrange the books in my office, cut my toenails, and catch up on my television watching…there always seems to be an episode of Law and Order: SVU on some channel that cannot be missed.
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. (more…)
27 Fitness and Fat Loss Tips
Steve McKinney January 05 2010 - No Comment
It’s a new year, and you have a clean slate.
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:
- Visualize the accomplishment of your goals each and every day. Experience the taste of success and feel that sweet satisfaction.
- Push the intensity of your workouts. Work out with a purpose.
- Use smaller plates at home. This effortlessly reduces calorie intake and promotes weight loss.
- 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.
- Believe in yourself. Know with conviction that you CAN accomplish your goals.
- Drink water throughout your day. (more…)
My Top Ten Mistakes In Ministry (That I Can Share Publicly) #3
Steve Childers December 31 2009 - 3 Comments
Mistake #3: Not Understanding the Difference Between My Goals and Desires
“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 (more…)
The Music of the Gospel
Tom Wood December 22 2009 - No Comment
I was in an antique store recently (on vacation with my wife ok?) and I saw a little transistor radio. It was AM radio in a black case –kinda looks like an Ice Cream sandwich— it had one ear piece. I remember having that radio. I listened to 45’s on my single record player and LP’s. Cassettes, CD’s. I have always loved music.
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… (more…)
Shutting the Doors for Good
Pastor Pete December 14 2009 - 3 Comments
When A Church Dies
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. (more…)
He Knows How You Feel
Zach Van Dyke December 08 2009 - 3 Comments
“I know how you feel.” (Don’t say it. Just don’t say it.)
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. (more…)
Killing the “Time” excuse!
Steve McKinney November 23 2009 - No Comment
Where Did the Time Go?
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: (more…)
“My Top Ten Mistakes In Ministry (That I Can Share Publicly) #2”
Steve Childers November 17 2009 - 5 Comments
“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. (more…)
