Pastors

#1 · May 1, 2002, 9:13 pm

Quote from Forum Archives on May 1, 2002, 9:13 pm
Posted by: aubuchon8 <aubuchon8@...>

Recharging Your Emotional Batteries
(Second in a series of 10)
Dr. John S. Powers

Several years ago my perspective on ministry took an important turn as I listened a tape by Bill Hybels, pastor of Willow Creek Community Church. As Hybels shared his message about the three gauges in a minister's life, I realized God was speaking to me. I have been serving in ministry for almost 30 years. Throughout those years I was taught to examine only two areas of my life: the spiritual and the physical.

Spiritual Life

First was my spiritual life. Face it. The disciplines of our faith are key to spiritual growth. In his wonderful study titled Masterlife Avery Willis aptly describes those disciplines by using the Disciples Cross. They include: abiding in Christ, living in the Word, praying in faith, fellowshipping with believers, and witnessing to the world. Early on I learned that these and other disciplines provide the necessary elements of victorious Christian living.

I have learned to recognize walking in personal intimacy with the Lord compared to following Him at a comfortable distance. For me, it feels like a warm hug from my father when I am closest to the Lord. However, in those times when I have broken fellowship with Jesus, I have sensed the need to come clean in personal confession before Him. At that moment, the distance closes.

Physical Life

A second area I examined was my physical life. I learned to check my life to be sure my diet, exercise and general health was consistent. Stress in ministry is as common as hot dogs at a baseball game. It's not a question if you will experience stress but how much stress you will come to know. Today, I continue to watch my health, which includes a daily vigorous exercise routine.

Emotional Life-A Deeper Look

But one day, I hit a wall in ministry. I couldn't put my finger on it but sometimes there simply was no energy, no initiative, no interest in almost everything! I looked at my walk with the Lord and it seemed to be normal and growing. No problems surfaced there. I turned to a physician and he found nothing of concern physically. But I felt like something was not quite right. Was God calling me to another church? Was He preparing me for change of vocation? What was my problem? It was then I discovered a third element to a fruitful ministryI needed help in dealing with my emotional life.

Here is how I know when my emotions are ragged and require some special (and immediate) attention.

· When ministry becomes a chore and not a joy.
· When people are interruptions instead of divine appointments.
· When I become testy with my wife and son.
· When I feel weak morally.
· When the marketplace looks more appealing than ministry.
· When I prepare sermons and not messages.
· When I go through the motions in ministry instead of being passionate.

My emotional life is screaming at me when I am driving home in bumper-to-bumper traffic and a wave of road rage washes over my spirit. Sometimes I think, "I hope there are no problems at home, no homework to check for Nathan or no issues to consider with Connie. I hope I can vegetate, escape for the evening." My emotional life needs addressing when my mind resembles a television channel that has gone off the air! When I don't have time for my precious family and friends, I need help.

Sound familiar? How is your spiritual life? Are you living in an ongoing and abiding relationship with Jesus? How about your physical life? Are you taking care of yourself? Are you eating right and exercising regularly? And, how is your emotional life? Check that list I shared and see if you nod with agreement. If so, it's time to address the steps to making important changes in your emotional life.

Here are some steps we all may take the next time we smack up against an emotional wall.

1. Admit it. I am reminded of the story when boxing champion Muhammad Ali boarded an airplane. The fight attendant politely asked, "Mr. Ali, would you please put on your seat belt?" Ali spouted back, "Superman, don't need no seatbelt!" To which the fight attendant responded, "Superman don't need no airplane either. Put on your seatbelt." That's a good word for pastors. Neither you nor I have an "S" painted on our chests. We are not supermen. We are men who have emotional hic-ups and we must admit it when we slam up against an emotional wall.

2. Attend to it. Your emotional life will not disappear. It will not be ignored. It's like a junkyard dog. It will receive attention. Replenishing emotional strength takes time. Consider the depleted cells of a normal car battery. When a car battery runs out of "juice," it needs recharging. There are two ways to recharge a car battery. The first way is often called a "quick charge." This occurs when one provides the dead battery with a relatively high amperage charge from another energy source. However, there are no guarantees that the quick charge will be there the next time you need to start the car engine. The better way to recharge a battery, provided it has enough life in it to maintain the charge, is a "trickle charge." This is a slower process for restoring life to the battery.

In ministry, an emotional quick charge resembles a complement for preaching on Sunday morning. Thriving on one affirmation to the next is a dangerous way to minister in this culture. An emotional quick charge occurs when we watch a movie just to escape from reality. In the end, an emotional quick charge may or may not be there when we need it most. A better way is to provide emotional trickle charges. Here are some I use:

Read, read, read. My goal is to read one book per week. A typical reading schedule includes: the books of the Bible, leadership, devotionals, commentaries, history, and biographies. I rotate books in and out as I read them.

Find a task you can finish. Ministry is draining because it is never ending. There is always another hospital room, another counseling session, another soul to win, sermon to prepare, call to make and meeting to attend. Like the fan blades on a wind-mill, you dodge one but another is comingand soon. That's why I have special tasks or hobbies that I use to recharge my emotional batteries. These are things I can finish, wipe my hands of and walk away with a sense of completion. For example: I love to detail my cars. I do my on yard work. I play eighteen holes of golf. In other words, I finish something.

Prioritize your schedule. Pastor, you set your schedule and keep it. Inform your people of the changes and hold to that commitment. Keep careful watch over your time, especially with people who "drain" you. Remember, you are a steward of your time.

Expand your heart. Listen to tapes of other pastors. Listen to a wide variety of leadership material. You may be surprised how many good illustrations come to your mind.

Develop a "dream day." Each week I set aside a "dream time." Normally, it is at the end of the week. The outside world is closed to me. I am left alone with my open Bible and a notepad with pen. Then I begin to think about all the things I need to accomplish or dream to accomplish. I review my life's purpose statement, objectives and goals. I evaluate!

These are just a few things I use to recharge my emotional life. How about you? It's one thing to be in the ministry game, quite another to remain there emotionally.

Dr. Powers is the author of "Redefining Church Membership" and "The BodyLife Journey, Guiding Believers into Ministry" A pastor for 22 years, Dr. Powers received his master's of divinity and doctor of ministry degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He considers "The BodyLife Journey" a personal life-message from the Lord.

Article from Lifeway/Pastors ... http://www.lifeway.com/pastor_cg020415.asp

Posted by: aubuchon8 <aubuchon8@...>

Recharging Your Emotional Batteries
(Second in a series of 10)
Dr. John S. Powers

Several years ago my perspective on ministry took an important turn as I listened a tape by Bill Hybels, pastor of Willow Creek Community Church. As Hybels shared his message about the three gauges in a minister's life, I realized God was speaking to me. I have been serving in ministry for almost 30 years. Throughout those years I was taught to examine only two areas of my life: the spiritual and the physical.

Spiritual Life

First was my spiritual life. Face it. The disciplines of our faith are key to spiritual growth. In his wonderful study titled Masterlife Avery Willis aptly describes those disciplines by using the Disciples Cross. They include: abiding in Christ, living in the Word, praying in faith, fellowshipping with believers, and witnessing to the world. Early on I learned that these and other disciplines provide the necessary elements of victorious Christian living.

I have learned to recognize walking in personal intimacy with the Lord compared to following Him at a comfortable distance. For me, it feels like a warm hug from my father when I am closest to the Lord. However, in those times when I have broken fellowship with Jesus, I have sensed the need to come clean in personal confession before Him. At that moment, the distance closes.

Physical Life

A second area I examined was my physical life. I learned to check my life to be sure my diet, exercise and general health was consistent. Stress in ministry is as common as hot dogs at a baseball game. It's not a question if you will experience stress but how much stress you will come to know. Today, I continue to watch my health, which includes a daily vigorous exercise routine.

Emotional Life-A Deeper Look

But one day, I hit a wall in ministry. I couldn't put my finger on it but sometimes there simply was no energy, no initiative, no interest in almost everything! I looked at my walk with the Lord and it seemed to be normal and growing. No problems surfaced there. I turned to a physician and he found nothing of concern physically. But I felt like something was not quite right. Was God calling me to another church? Was He preparing me for change of vocation? What was my problem? It was then I discovered a third element to a fruitful ministryI needed help in dealing with my emotional life.

Here is how I know when my emotions are ragged and require some special (and immediate) attention.

· When ministry becomes a chore and not a joy.
· When people are interruptions instead of divine appointments.
· When I become testy with my wife and son.
· When I feel weak morally.
· When the marketplace looks more appealing than ministry.
· When I prepare sermons and not messages.
· When I go through the motions in ministry instead of being passionate.

My emotional life is screaming at me when I am driving home in bumper-to-bumper traffic and a wave of road rage washes over my spirit. Sometimes I think, "I hope there are no problems at home, no homework to check for Nathan or no issues to consider with Connie. I hope I can vegetate, escape for the evening." My emotional life needs addressing when my mind resembles a television channel that has gone off the air! When I don't have time for my precious family and friends, I need help.

Sound familiar? How is your spiritual life? Are you living in an ongoing and abiding relationship with Jesus? How about your physical life? Are you taking care of yourself? Are you eating right and exercising regularly? And, how is your emotional life? Check that list I shared and see if you nod with agreement. If so, it's time to address the steps to making important changes in your emotional life.

Here are some steps we all may take the next time we smack up against an emotional wall.

1. Admit it. I am reminded of the story when boxing champion Muhammad Ali boarded an airplane. The fight attendant politely asked, "Mr. Ali, would you please put on your seat belt?" Ali spouted back, "Superman, don't need no seatbelt!" To which the fight attendant responded, "Superman don't need no airplane either. Put on your seatbelt." That's a good word for pastors. Neither you nor I have an "S" painted on our chests. We are not supermen. We are men who have emotional hic-ups and we must admit it when we slam up against an emotional wall.

2. Attend to it. Your emotional life will not disappear. It will not be ignored. It's like a junkyard dog. It will receive attention. Replenishing emotional strength takes time. Consider the depleted cells of a normal car battery. When a car battery runs out of "juice," it needs recharging. There are two ways to recharge a car battery. The first way is often called a "quick charge." This occurs when one provides the dead battery with a relatively high amperage charge from another energy source. However, there are no guarantees that the quick charge will be there the next time you need to start the car engine. The better way to recharge a battery, provided it has enough life in it to maintain the charge, is a "trickle charge." This is a slower process for restoring life to the battery.

In ministry, an emotional quick charge resembles a complement for preaching on Sunday morning. Thriving on one affirmation to the next is a dangerous way to minister in this culture. An emotional quick charge occurs when we watch a movie just to escape from reality. In the end, an emotional quick charge may or may not be there when we need it most. A better way is to provide emotional trickle charges. Here are some I use:

Read, read, read. My goal is to read one book per week. A typical reading schedule includes: the books of the Bible, leadership, devotionals, commentaries, history, and biographies. I rotate books in and out as I read them.

Find a task you can finish. Ministry is draining because it is never ending. There is always another hospital room, another counseling session, another soul to win, sermon to prepare, call to make and meeting to attend. Like the fan blades on a wind-mill, you dodge one but another is comingand soon. That's why I have special tasks or hobbies that I use to recharge my emotional batteries. These are things I can finish, wipe my hands of and walk away with a sense of completion. For example: I love to detail my cars. I do my on yard work. I play eighteen holes of golf. In other words, I finish something.

Prioritize your schedule. Pastor, you set your schedule and keep it. Inform your people of the changes and hold to that commitment. Keep careful watch over your time, especially with people who "drain" you. Remember, you are a steward of your time.

Expand your heart. Listen to tapes of other pastors. Listen to a wide variety of leadership material. You may be surprised how many good illustrations come to your mind.

Develop a "dream day." Each week I set aside a "dream time." Normally, it is at the end of the week. The outside world is closed to me. I am left alone with my open Bible and a notepad with pen. Then I begin to think about all the things I need to accomplish or dream to accomplish. I review my life's purpose statement, objectives and goals. I evaluate!

These are just a few things I use to recharge my emotional life. How about you? It's one thing to be in the ministry game, quite another to remain there emotionally.

Dr. Powers is the author of "Redefining Church Membership" and "The BodyLife Journey, Guiding Believers into Ministry" A pastor for 22 years, Dr. Powers received his master's of divinity and doctor of ministry degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He considers "The BodyLife Journey" a personal life-message from the Lord.

Article from Lifeway/Pastors ... http://www.lifeway.com/pastor_cg020415.asp