A Preacher’s Wish List
Every now and then, the mind of a preacher wonders into fantasy land where the buildings are overflowing, every member shows up and brings a friend and the community knows the church by the gospel it presents. It is a wish for every preacher of the gospel and they are doing their best to make it a reality.
Below is a short wish-list of what preachers desire to see in the lives of the congregation, their own lives and the lives of their families.
A Preacher’s Wish-List
10 – A wish for every member to become greeters, not just those listed on the bulletin.
9 – A wish for the elders to do the work as shepherds, not as bill payers.
8 – A wish for people to spend more time getting to assemblies, than figuring out excuses on how to miss them.
7- A wish for deacons to be allowed to serve in their capacities instead of being micro-managed by the elders.
6 – A wish for parents to realize the value of teaching your children the Bible.
5 – A wish for the phone not to ring during dinner so he can have a meal with his family.
4 – A wish for the community to know the congregation, not by the programs, but by the lives of each member.
3 – A wish to be supported to preach instead of being paid to show up on Sunday.
2 – A wish for every member to sing as excited on Sunday morning as they do for the radio on Saturday evening.
1 – A wish for the seed to be planted each day.
Just some thoughts,
Paula Harrington does it again!
Paula Harrington has done it again. After publishing “A Sunday Afternoon with Preacher’s Wives,” Paula brought a further discussion regarding preachers and their ministry in her newest compilation – “A Common Bond.”
Paula’s desire for those in ministry and her compassion for the church is clearly seen in her writings. The encouragement she provides is a powerful resource. A Common Bond is a compilations of insights from preachers on a variety of subjects; from weddings to sermon preparation to God’s Providence. Paula wrote many preachers and asked them for their wisdom regarding the ministry. A compilation book such as this is needed not just by preachers or those in the ministry, but also those looking to go into the ministry and every member of the church so they can understand the various aspects of preacher’s lives.
Personally, I wish this compilation was available when I made the choice to enter into the ministry in 1994. The insights are extremely helpful in my current ministry. The insights from experienced preachers is a delight. Their wisdom is passed through this book to the reader. There are stories of comedy, heart-break and opportunity.
Take time today and read “A Common Bond.”
I bought “A Common Bond,” the electronic version (PDF) and have enjoyed keeping it on my computer as I travel. I recently read it on a short family trip and I could not put the tablet down. Get this book for yourself and for others!
The self-publishing house, Lulu, has the electronic version for 99 cents! Get it now.
Thanks Paula! I can’t wait to see the next one!
Be sure to check out Paula’s website, “Thinking Jesus” at http://paulaharrington71.blogspot.com/
Just some thoughts,
PreachersPen.TV- Coming October 2011
Beginning October 2011, the Preacher’s Pen website will offer a weekly webcast to discuss various matters relating to the ministry. From time to time ministers get worn down and worn out serving others and need a place to be uplifted and refreshed. PreachersPen.TV seeks to provide ministers with a weekly webcast covering topics and issues relating to the ministry and to minister’s lives and their family.
Stay tuned as more information is being put together to create a great webcast network.
Got Questions? Here are some answers:
What is PreachersPen.TV?
- PreachersPen.TV is a simple internet webcast involving audio, video and chatroom to discuss area of ministry, in order to encourage ministers and their families.
What are some topics discussed on PreachersPen.TV?
- There will be a variety of topics discussed each week. Some of the topics to be discussed are listed below:
- Overcoming Burnout
- Depression: Coping and Avoiding
- Dealing with Personal Grief in Ministry
- Equipping Men for Ministry
- Preachers and Debt
- The Preacher and Elders Relationship
- Preachers and Building Projects
- Writing for Preachers
- Staying Fresh in the Midst of Crisis
- The Minister and His Wife
- The Minister and His Children
Will their be a PreachersPen.TV podcast?
- Right now, there will be a podcast of the weekly show and I am currently finding a way to put the video in an archive to post online. Once the podcast is up and running, we will make it known. Stay tuned for more!
Will there be a cost to PreachersPen.TV?
- PreachersPen.TV is a no-cost webcast available to anyone with an internet connection. There will be an on-going cost to the efforts of the Preacher’s Pen Network and those costs are being absorbed in our ministry. If you would like to help, we do not ask for donations; we ask you to use our affiliate links found on the Preacher’s Pen website under Support and the GallaghersOnline.com website on the right sidebar. A small portion of each sale goes to help fund our efforts on these sites.
Got another question? Contact us by clicking here, filling out the form and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Just some thoughts on a new effort.
Uncomfortable, I am Satisfied
Standing in front of Christians each week is no easy task. The message of Christ is a sacred message not to be taken lightly. The message is a changing one which steps on toes and breaks hearts in the process. There is no greater time to challenge Christians than the present. Immorality is growing more prevalent and Christians are becoming more accustomed to worldly pursuits.
The worldly pursuits involve an aspect of self. When self takes precedence, the thoughts of God are moved aside to make room for self. This is called selfishness.
Ministers have a difficult task of changing lives through changing behavior. The task is made more difficult by some who want a changed life without changing behavior. Many ministers have been taken to task, because the have stepped on toes, but I can assure you them stepped on their own toes or broken their own hearts first.
As a minister, my responsibility is not to assist you in happiness, but to assist you in godliness. Decisions must be made and many of those are uncomfortable and inconvenient, but they are worth making the change.
If those challenges make you uncomfortable, maybe it is time to move your feet.
Just my thoughts,
A Few Sabbatical Thoughts
Since Tuesday, I have been on a sabbatical which will last the rest of February. While sabbaticals are uncommon in the churches of Christ, when planning to hire a minister, the congregation consulted with a retired minister regarding things to place into a work agreement; one of those was a sabbatical. So, every five years working with the congregation, I get a few months off to reflect, refresh, recharge and renew. I am grateful for the congregation in Mount Pleasant for allowing me the opportunity to have this time off.
I am only on day 4 of my sabbatical, but I can tell you it is different that I imagined. As with most ministers, it is difficult to lay aside the daily requirements of the ministry and recharge their batteries. Ministry is different as any career in the world as if engulfs your heart, soul, mind and strength. Ministry calls at 3 am just as it does at 3 pm. Spiritually it is highly rewarding but physically it is exhausting. Ministers have the ability to see the probable while many look and see the impossible. The life of a minister is seen by all, criticized by some, loved by others and experienced by few.
What I am realizing on sabbatical time:
- What to do more spiritually, sacrifice more physically.
- We may have thought about ministry backwards. (More on this later)
- The church is not the problem, selfish people are.
- To move beyond the boundaries of our buildings, Jesus must break the boundaries of our heart.
- Preachers burn out physically and spiritually.
- Church money matters are problems of clenched fists and closed hearts.
- Some people will never be happy until the find humility.
Just some thoughts for now…more to come later,
Chris
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