Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
(NIV - 1 Peter 1:3-5)
A grumpy believer? It's a contradiction in terms
Sophocles, a Greek philosopher and playwright in 496 to 406BC wrote, “Not to be born at all - that is by far the best fortune; the second best is as soon as one is born with all speed to return thither whence one has come”.
To the gentiles, the world was a place where everything decayed and faded away. There could be moments of pleasure but in the end there was nothing.
Peter describes the lives of those who have received a new birth from God as a living hope. That was a unique and distinguishing characteristic of the believer from those without hope. Even though our world was shrouded in difficulties, we had every reason to be optimistic. To be a negative believer is a contradiction in terms.
How’s your living hope going? Has the negative view of the world around you taken hold of you and swallowed your hope alive? Christians, let’s be optimistic because of the hope that is in you, the salvation of your souls and the inheritance that is being guarded by the power of God.
nothing left to give
The following are indicators that ministry leaders are heading toward burnout, if not already there. Sadly, we too often become so focused on our tasks and responsibilities that we fail to see these warning signs until it is too late.
- Unusual mood swings that may include weeping without just cause, anger, or depression
- Exhaustion
- Paranoia and suspicion
- Weight change, including gain or loss
- Moments of panic and feeling totally overwhelmed
- Fantasizing about dying or running away to get away from the pressure
- Fight-or-flight cycles where you rise up to intimidate and conquer others or run away from difficulties just to avoid them
- Insomnia, including difficulty falling asleep or remaining asleep, which can lead to a reliance on sleeping pills
- Too frequent use of alcohol or tobacco High blood pressure
- Comforting yourself with unhealthy foods packed with fat, sugar, and simple carbohydrates
Read more »
Saving Grace
The Turmoil
During this time, spiritual enemies seem to gain a foothold in the church. There are subtle changes in attitude toward the minister. Once he was held in esteem, but now there are conflicts and discontentment expressed toward certain aspect of his work or life. The spiritual battle increases in intensity almost daily. Pressure on the pastor and confrontations with certain people grow worse, with no satisfactory resolution. Even fasting and prayer often fail to turn things around. The particular events that cause the turmoil vary from church to church, and pastor to pastor, but this stage is a common one in most stories I’ve heard.
The Trauma
Eventually, the opposition that’s been partially hidden comes to a head. Open conflict breaks out, or secret meetings take place. Either way, it leads to the resignation or termination of the minister. As a result, there is deep emotional damage. The pastor, spouse and family experience an overwhelming sense of rejection and disbelief. The extent of the injury varies, depending on how ugly things become before the pastor is forced out. It may range from a minor scratch on the heart to complete soul crucifixion. Sleeplessness and depression are common, and often bring a minister and spouse to the point of despair. Read more »
Devotionals | Gerry | 
October 19, 2008 9:18 pm | 
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