SERVING STRONG

See You On The Other Side

Well, I'm about to practice what I preach.  I'm taking some time off from blogging posts to be more present with my wife and kids and family over Christmas and New Year's.

At this time of year, it's important (and healthy) to pause and reflect on the goodness of Christ.  He came to bring us hope and peace.  My prayer for all of you is that you have an unbelievable experience in HOPE and PEACE this season.  No matter where you are or what you're doing - may God be near you.  Emmanuel.

This time last year, I posted on busy-ness and what that does to our ability to serve strong.  CLICK HERE to read it in its entirety.

In the meantime, here are some "next steps" you can take (I'm a life coach.  Next steps are what I incorporate in the sessions with my clients.):

1. Visit the Blog Archives link.  There are over 440 posts to choose from.
2. Join the Serving Strong Facebook Group
3. Subscribe to the Serving Strong eNews (it's free!)
4. Visit the Serving Strong website
5. Click for a free coaching session (I'll contact you after the New Year holiday)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  Make the most of the days God gives you and you'll be Serving Strong!

Avoid The 7 Blunders In 2009

If you want 7 quick and easy ways to look at life so that 2009 is all it can be, here is a list of "The Seven Blunders of the World" by Ghandi:

1. Wealth Without Work
2. Pleasure without Conscience
3. Science without Humanity
4. Knowledge without Character
5. Politics without Principle
6. Commerce without Morality
7. Worship without Sacrifice
   

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Avoid these blunders in 2009 and you'll be Serving Strong!

The Perfect Gift

Looking for that perfect gift for that perfect someone?  Here are a few ideas, courtesy of Oren Arnold:

To your enemy, forgiveness

To an opponent, tolerance

To a friend, your heart

To a customer, service

To all, charity

To every child, a good example

To yourself, respect

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Give these gifts and you'll be Serving Strong!

A Thankful Change Agent

I ran across this video that graphically illustrates our perspective (our world view, if you will) when it comes to being thankful.  In America, Thanksgiving is a national holiday.  But being thankful is much more than that.  It's a mindset.  It's an attitude.  If taken seriously, thankfulness can even change the world.

Watch the video & reflect on your life.

Now, ask yourself,

"What can I DO to make the world a better place?"

"How can I turn my thankfulness into action?"

Serving Strong eNews Goes International!

I am pleased to announce the Serving Strong eNews is now reaching subscribers in five countries around the world!

Every Tuesday morning at 6:00 am EST, a community of people helpers are serving strong by receiving a newsletter with a short thought regarding balance and self care.  The eNews is designed to keep balance & self care in the mind of the people helper as they pursue their calling.

The eNews is for you if you serve in:

• Ministry
• Healthcare
• Social Service
• Caregiving (whether by choice or by circumstance)

If you're not subscribed yet, what's stopping you?  It's a short read.  It's free.  You can unsubscribe at anytime.  Your email will remain protected.

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When Highspeed Isn't High Enough

I came across this video.  Watch it and then I have a couple questions:

How impatient are you these days?  Have you lost the wonder of the amazing world around you?  Has the incredible become dull?

This post is about world view.  If your world view is one of wonder, count yourself blessed.  If you are impatient, demanding, and quick to anger, maybe it's time to take inventory.  Are you getting sucked in by the dark side of progress?

Note:  Some of you serve in areas of the world where the progress hasn't been that incredible.  For example, one Serving Strong eNews subscriber is a missionary serving in Jamaica where it can take hours to go to town and mail a simple package.

But for those of us in the "land of plenty", the right world view will enhance our ability to Serve Strong!

Are We ALL Meant For Community, REALLY?

I read a post on one of the blogs I follow.  It had to do with community.  Here's the sentence that caught my attention:

"Humans are social beings, and we are happier, and better, when  connected to others."

That may be true for the extrovert, oriented toward people rather than tasks.

But what about the person who is introverted?  What if a person gains their energy from being alone?  Are they NOT a social being?  Can they serve without community?

I'd really love your input...

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National Family Caregivers Month (November)

November is National Family Caregivers Month.  According to www.joniandfriends.org, there are more than 50 million family caregivers across the country.  Help Serving Strong join Joni and Friends give a great round of support & encouragement to these hard workers who are a vital part of our society.  Caregivers carry a unique weight on their shoulders.  It's good to recognize them and share our appreciation.

Visit the Joni and Friends website and look at all the information and programs they provide.  There are resources, programs, field ministries, and so on.

When we help each other carry our respective loads, we are Serving Strong!

Starting A New Habit Or Routine

Jim Collins, in his book Good To Great, talks of how great companies become great.  It's not because of a tremendous event that takes place or a major decision.  Greatness comes from doing many small things very well.  It involves a consistent turning of the flywheel.  Then, as time goes on, BOOM!, greatness begins to appear.

Life Balance and self care don't occur because a person simply wakes up one day and says, "I'm going to be balanced and take care of myself."  That is a great start, but strong people helpers become strong because they weave life balance and self care into their journey of life and profession over time.

New habits are a challenge the older we get.  We get set in our ways and become comfortable with the familiar.  Newness = change.  Change = grieving.  So we'd just as soon leave things well enough alone.  But new habits and routines are the way life balance and self care is woven into the fabric of life and profession.

It's a lot like grafting a new branch onto an existing tree.  Grafting is a process of cutting, binding, sealing, nurturing, and lots of time.  That's what it's like to create a new habit.  It takes time and persistence.  But when we're talking about balance & self care, it's worth the effort!

Here are five questions to ask as you embark on the journey of grafting a new habit into your life:

1. WHAT kind of change are you making?  Some change is called "technical".  For example, if I go to the doctor and he says I have a cold, then I change my life by taking the prescribed medicine for a period of time.  Then the cold goes away.  Other change is called "adaptive".  For example, say I go to the doctor and he says I have a chronic heart condition.  Then I need to adopt a different lifestyle long term which involves my diet, exercise and perhaps medicine.  The habits we're talking about in this post are ADAPTIVE.
2. WHY the change?  What is the reason for starting this change in the first place.  Your answer needs to be motivating for you.  Time will test your resolve.  In those tests, you want to have the strength of the "why" to keep you on message.
3. HOW are you going to go about the grafting?  Think logistically.  Write down all the steps involved.  Create a timeline - a step by step plan.
4. WHO is your support network?  Surround yourself with cheerleaders - people who will support you and lovingly hold you accountable.
5. WHERE are the resources to assist you?  Seek out helpful resources, tips, tricks, information that will help you become better informed on the topic you are addressing with your new habit.  You may find this online, in the library, your own bookshelf, etc.  Greater knowledge will yield greater resolve.

Grafting balance and self care into your life and work of helping people will enable you to Serve Strong!

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Join The Serving Strong Community

People helpers just like you are weaving balance and self care into their life & ministry every week.  The Serving Strong eNews is their tool.  Its a short read that comes to your inbox every Tuesday morning at 6:00 am EST.  Its sole purpose is to keep you focused on your personal balance and self care as you pursue your profession.  It is a short read with a thought-provoking question and a few next steps to consider.  Its free.  You can unsubscribe anytime.  Your email address is protected.

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Me And Michael Jordan

First, I must say I can't take credit for the following story.  I read it today on LeadershipJournal.net in an article by Dave Stone.  Check out the link below for the entire article by Stone.

The story is told about a time when Michael Jordan scored 69 points. The Chicago Bulls' lead was so big that in the final minute Coach Phil Jackson put in Stacey King—a seldom used rookie substitute. King scored two meaningless free throws. Some years later he was asked by a reporter, "What's been the highlight of your career?" King glibly replied, "It would have to be the night Michael Jordan and I combined to score 71 points!"

Attitude...

...it's vital to how we approach our calling.  We can see ourselves as insignificant or we can see ourselves as a player.  Who are you?  God chooses to work through you.  You are his hands and feet.  Yes, you are a jar of clay - but you're a jar of clay under the direction of the very Creator, Himself.  Your attitude is key to Serving Strong!

Read the Leadership Journal article.

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Resources, Resources, Resources

I continue to be in awe of the tremendous wealth of resources available at our fingertips online regarding just about any subject.  To illustrate, I have Googled the following words or phrases and provided links to those results to give you a feel for what is out there for you as you pursue your own life balance and self care in a holistic manner:

• "Life Balance" (7,420,000 hits in 0.16 seconds)
• "Parenting Skills" (1,510,000 hits in 0.17 seconds)
• "Conflict Management" (2,730,000 hits in 0.19 seconds)
• "Self Care" (5,190,000 hits in 0.21 seconds)
• "Relationship with God" (3,110,000 hits in 0.19 seconds)
• "Marital Success" (34,200 hits in 0.16 seconds)
• "Sound Finances" (12,900 hits in 0.22 seconds)

NOTE:  Not all results are good.  You still must involve discernment.  I like to ask God to guide my searching so I am not taken off track to what He wants to show me.  And I also like to allow His guidance and scriptures to trump anything I may come across in my research.

Make the most of the resources at hand and you'll be Serving Strong!

The One Thing That Hinders Effective Service

Scott Hughes talks about 3 common unhealthy activities - one of which I'd like to highlight in this post.

The Television.

Scott Hughes considers it possibly the "worst addiction in society" because it engulfs so many people so much of the time.  Hours and hours of time are wasted while we sit idly in front of the TV as our minds stew aimlessly and our bodies increasingly get weak and fat.  I agree (although I'm talking to myself here as much as to you, since I've been known to waste a few hours here and there watching mindless drivel :))

So, what is YOUR television viewing habit?  How much time do YOU spend watching?  Perhaps there's an acceptable amount of TV for the TV to briefly "escape" from the pressures of people helping.  But just imagine how much more time we can devote to the other areas of our life if we get up, turn it off, and walk out of the TV room (quality time with our spouse, time with kids, yard work, calling a good friend, encouraging a neighbor, studying God's Word, reading a book on our particular calling, exercising....)?

Regulate the amount of TV time for maximum impact and you'll be Serving Strong!

Note:  image from www.gadgetaddict.com

Know Why You're In A Hurry

If you're a driven person and find yourself always in a hurry to get things done, this song is for you:

It's one thing to be in a hurry and KNOW why.  It's quite another to be in a hurry and NOT KNOW why.  Which is it for you today?  If you have to be in a hurry, at least know why you are and you'll more likely be Serving Strong!

The Chapmans Are Still Grieving

It's been several days since the tragedy that hit the household of Steven Curtis Chapman. News has a tendency to be on the front pages for a short time and then the story is forgotten. But I want to keep it alive just a bit longer. Grief is a terrible thing in our fallen world. When the story dies down, the grief remains.

Here's a link to a blog post (one of the many) that I wanted to highlight, if you're interested. It's from Tim Stevens.

I urge you to continue to pray for the Chapmans. Reflect on what life is all about, and the eternal perspective in all you do to help other people. It's so important to remain Serving Strong!

What Does A Christian Life Coach Do?

As you may already know, one of the services I offer people helpers is a life coaching benefit.

If you've ever wondered what a Christian life coach does, here is a video of my mentor coach, Chris McCluskey, explaining the 5 key roles of a Christian life coach:

It's All In How You See It

We are faced with a wide array of situations as people helpers. Each situation offers us the opportunity to choose how we are going to respond. Our response depends, in part, how we view the situation. Our view could be right or wrong. Here is an example (thanks to Kim Klaver):

One day, there was a blind man sitting on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet and a sign that read: "I am blind, please help."

A creative publicist was walking by and stopped to observe. He saw that the blind man had only a few coins in his hat. He dropped in more coins and, without asking for permission, took the sign and rewrote it. He returned the sign to the blind man and left.

That afternoon the publicist returned to the blind man and noticed that his hat was full of bills and coins. The blind man recognized his footsteps and asked if it was he who had rewritten his sign and wanted to know what he had written on it.

The publicist responded: "Nothing that was not true. I just wrote the message a little differently." He smiled and went on his way.

The new sign read: "Today is Spring and I cannot see it."

You see, it all depends on how we view a situation. Here's another example:

Let's say you're an owner of a store that sells precious, breakable glassware. You've had some instances where children were left unattended and broke several of your inventory.

Remember, it's all in how you view the situation.

One option is to post a sign on the door that reads, "CHILDREN ARE NOT TO BE LEFT UNATTENDED. IF CAUGHT, YOU WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE STORE."

Or you could do what one store owner did and post this sign:

Our response to situations depends on our view of them. In essence, you could say it depends on our mindset. And our mindset has a tremendous impact on our balance & self-care.

By the way, the Serving Strong eNews subscribers are currently receiving a series on Mindset into their inboxes every Tuesday at 6:00 am EST. If you would like to join the Serving Strong Community and start receiving the eNews, feel free to subscribe. It's free. The issues are short reads designed to keep balance & self-care in the front of your mind as you serve.

View your situations accurately, respond wisely and you'll be Serving Strong!

It Got Blown Out Of Proportion

It's inevitable. Small issues get blown out of proportion. If you've lived any length of time you have seen this happen in your own life.

The next time this happens, what are you going to do? David J. Lieberman, author of Make Peace With Anyone, gives us a couple ideas for when we have to deal with this:

1. Listen - Refrain from judging what the other person is saying. Don't think about what you're going to say next. Don't agree, disagree, or argue. If they are upset, you're best bet is to say "I'm sorry". Any more than that and they may get more defensive. Lieberman says it would be like telling a person they should eat healthy and exercise regularly while they are having a heart attack. The first step is to resolve the problem at hand. Then address the issues which led to the problem in the first place. It's amazing how helpful it is to simply let someone get an issue off their chest. In a lot of cases, when a person feels heard, it's all they want.
2. Paraphrase - This helps the other person know you've been listening. It also crystallizes his complaint and helps you better understand what the issue is. This is also known as the "drive-thru conversation." When you order a chicken sandwich and iced tea, the voice responds by repeating what your order is. If incorrect, you clear it up right then. If they get it right, you pull forward and pay. Paraphrasing is the same idea.
3. Ask For A Favor - This conveys the message that you are making their problem your problem. For example, after listening and paraphrasing, ask the other person to tell you what they think is a fair solution.

Dealing effectively with small issues that grow into big ones is part of Serving Strong!

Rapport: A Secret To Conflict Management

Conflict (as noted in a previous post) is a topic too large for one sitting. Over time, I will attempt to highlight information, thoughts and concepts together for us as we continue in the people-helping profession.

Conflict is a common source of emotional (and sometimes physical) drainage for people. When things just aren't right between us and another person, we become consumed with feelings of frustration, anger, hopelessness, and stress. The amount of energy it takes to maintain these feelings takes away from the energy we could be devoting to helping others. That's why I am highlighting ways to manage conflict.

One way to manage conflict (or avoid it altogether) is through RAPPORT.

Rapport, as Barbara Pachter notes in her book, The Power of Positive Confrontation, is "a relationship of mutual trust and harmony achieved, in part, through common courtesy and practicing good etiquette."

She goes on to make a distinction between minor and major rapport. An example of minor rapport is saying "hello" to the cashier at the grocery store. No long-term relationship desired, but why not be friendly? Major rapport, by contrast, would be having a conversation with, and getting to know, a neighbor or someone you meet at a conference.  An on-going relationship is desired.

This may seem a little elementary when you think about it. How can a little rapport help me avoid conflict?, you may ask. But it's a simple principle: You usually get back what you put it. When you are nice to someone, you indirectly honor them. While they may not consciously acknowledge it, they will feel (at least) a baseline of trust and like for you. Plus, when rapport is absent, it is almost undeniably noticed.

Bottom line: Be nice and take a genuine interest in the other person. It helps avoid conflict ahead of time.

Interpersonal Confrontation

Conflict in relationships is inevitable. It is a source of emotional and psychological drain for most people. Getting a handle on how to manage conflict with other people is crucial to the people helper who wants to serve with long term effectiveness.

The topic of confrontation and conflict in relationships is much too large to fit into one post. For now, I am highlighting a number of excellent resources I've come across.  I urge you to consider making them (and the concepts contained within them) a part of your library and lifestyle. If you have any to add, send me a comment.

Make Peace With Anyone (by David J. Lieberman, Ph.D)

Emotional Intelligence At Work (by Hendrie Weisinger, Ph.D.)

The Power Of Positive Confrontation (by Barbara Pachter, Susan Magee)

Difficult Conversations (by Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, Sheila Heen, Roger Fisher)

Opportunity To Help Eliminate Arthritis

This blog is, for the most part, a focus on the people helper. The vision behind the creation of Serving Strong is that as the people helper takes care of himself/herself, he/she will be better able to serve effectively and finish strong.

But I want to ask you to take a moment to think beyond your own balance & self-care for a moment and consider a request by a good friend of mine, Roger Carr (creator of Everydaygivingblog.com.) Roger posted a request recently asking for help to stomp out arthritis.

I urge you to visit the post and read it and pray about whether you should make a contribution. If you suffer from this painful condition, you know how difficult it can be to deal with while serving others.

Thanks, on behalf of Roger.

Pastor Burnout Roundtable - Church Solutions

  UPDATE: Thanks to all who supported the Pastor Burnout Roundtable on Feb 13. I trust those who attended were receptive to what was presented by the panelists.

This week I have the privilege of joining the great people from Church Solutions during their 2008 Conference & Expo in Phoenix, Arizona. I was asked to be on a panel along with 2 pastors to discuss the topic of pastor burnout. The session will take place on Wednesday, February 13 from 5-6pm MST.

Read more about the Pastor Burnout Roundtable.

I would appreciate your prayers. Burnout among pastors is a serious issue. I am hoping that the discussion will help put a dent in it and cause a lot of pastors to begin serving strong.

Thanks for your support!

Have you cleaned your side mirrors today?

It's a misty, rainy, slushy Ohio day today. We're sitting at a stop light. The trucker just ahead of me is taking advantage of the "down time" to wipe off his side view mirrors.

That got me thinking. What are side mirrors for? They help us see what's behind us. They help us navigate from lane to lane while driving.

The Application to Serving Strong:

We can learn a lot about ourselves by looking behind us occasionally. Think back to a day when simply everything went your way. You were serving "in the zone". Stuff was clicking. You were on the top of your game. Ministry seemed easy. Now, ask yourself, "What was I doing?" "What was going on around me?" "How was I honoring my values?" "What brought joy to my heart?" These questions help us learn from the experience. We don't simply live the moment, we learn from it - hopefully to create more moments like those.

The same can be done with a rotten day. Think back to a time when everything went wrong. You were out of your element. You felt cheated. You seemed weak. Ministry seemed too hard. Now, ask yourself those same questions above. You can learn from your experiences, whether great or awful.

But life tends to take over. We end up going from task to task without the opportunity to look back and learn in this way.

SO, remember to make use of life's "down times" and wipe off your side mirrors. Make time to think back. What can you learn about yourself. The more we understand how God has wired us, the better we are able to Serve Strong!

"Deadline Approaching"

I received a spam email message today and I paused a minute before I deleted it. I paused because in the subject line were the words, "deadline approaching." That caught my attention. It made me wonder if I should open it and see what it was all about. "What if I am missing out on something big?", I thought to myself.

"Deadline approaching." It has a sense of finality to it.

Have you ever noticed how much more productive you are when you're about to go on vacation? You want to get as much done as possible to avoid being overwhelmed when you return. You're laser focused on what absolutely has to get done.

Or have you ever been "in the zone" with a person to whom you are ministering? You know you only have so much time to have a positive influence (perhaps they are on their death bed). You're focused on them and their well-being right then and there. You pick up on all the clues as to how best to help minister to them.

Deadlines have a way of causing each of us to become more focused. So how can we stay focused when we don't really sense any deadlines? Try thinking on these thoughts:

• We will only live for so many years and then we'll be gone from this earth forever. My father-in-law was an incredible communicator for the Gospel. He made a huge impact on a great number of people. But he died early because of a brain tumor which took his ability to speak and ultimately took his life. What he did while alive still lives on in the people who were touched by his ministry. What kind of difference are you making in the lives of other people while you have the time?
• Your kids will be out of the house before you know it. What kind of influence are you having on them before your parental role morphs into a friendship role?
• As you walk through life today, what "divine moments" will God want you to seize? Once they're done, they're done - gone forever. How are you going to be prepared to recognize those moments when they happen?

Approaching your service to others with a "deadline approaching" lense can help improve your focus. Improve your focus and you'll be Serving Strong!

A brand new year

Well, here we are. An entire new year lay before us. Full of opportunity. Full of possibility.

As we embark on 2008 together, I have some general thoughts that are begging to be put down on paper so here they are in no particular order (do with them whatever you want):

• It all comes down to the walk. I can attend seminars, read books, meet great people, and see great events unfold. But when it comes to my balance and self care in serving other people, it comes down to my individual choices. I don't grow simply by knowing great people or attending the right seminars. It takes individual effort on a regular basis.
• A day is still just a day. When I come to work, I will have enough on my plate to accomplish. Some days my plate is incredibly full. Other days, I am on top of my game and everything I plan to do gets done. But there will never be more than 24 hours in a day. This year, I will do my best not to get so uptight & nervous when I am overwhelmed. God knows what I have to face. I will rely on Him to help me discern what's priority during the busy times.
• The big picture. There will be many times when the details get overwhelming. I will be further ahead if I can periodically put on by "big picture" lenses and not get so caught up in the detail.
• The weekly review. I have so many times penned plans that were great and motivating to me. But then, after a while, I lose steam and forget why I set out to do what I planned. This year, I want to look at my priorities at least on a weekly basis. I want to ask myself the hard questions which will keep me on track.
• Always growing, always learning. This year I want to be 100% present wherever I am. I want to learn from other people, learn from my own responses, learn from my circumstances. I want to listen not just with my ears, but by observing and questioning what has become status quo.
• Centered. The longer I live, the more I believe in the concept of centering. At the core of my being is the leadership of God. When I take over for myself, I inevitably fail. So, everything I say, do, think, read, listen to will be filtered through the central command of God's leadership.

I trust this year of 2008 will be a GREAT year of Serving Strong for you!

Are you learning but never seem to get any smarter?

Ken Blanchard, Paul J. Meyer and Dick Ruhe have published the book, Know Can Do! in which they highlight the obstacles that prevent people from implementing what they learn. These obstacles include:

• Information Overload (too much learning in too little time)
• Negative Filtering (holding onto negative thought processes which prevent an open mind)
• Lack Of Follow-Up (not having a plan to put the new knowledge into action)

I have indicated in previous posts that there are two well-documented realities:

1. First Reality: There is overwhelming evidence that pastors are struggling with burnout, depression, stress, low self-esteem, loneliness, and obesity. Some say is is a result of the very profession pastors are in. They are expected to be all things to all people. Plus they are dealing with people and their struggles.
2. Second Reality: There is an over-abundance of information that addresses burnout, depression, stress, low self-esteem, loneliness, and obesity. I Google'd "stress" the other day resulting in over 285,000,000 hits in 0.5 seconds. The first page of results gave me enough information to learn what good stress is, what bad stress is, what its effect is on my life, and steps I can take to reduce the bad stress from my life.

There is a gap between the struggle pastors face and the resources that sit in bookshelves and websites across the world. The problem is in what the autuhors highlight in Know Can do!

Coaching is the key to filling this gap. With a personal coach, a pastor overcomes the obstacles mentioned above:

• The learning is in smaller bits of information more frequently
• The pastor and coach discover a positive perspective for longer-lasting impact
• The pastor and coach design a follow up plan of action that is do-able

Check out more about what coaching is.

Contact me if you're interested in exploring a coaching benefit for yourself. Learn the art of weaving balance and self-care into the fabric of your ministry.

A turkey trots (...trotted)

Update November 24, 2007:

Well, although I beat my goal by 19 seconds, I only finished 30 out of the 31 men who finished in my age bracket. Oh well, it felt good anyway.

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November 21, 2007:

I did a stupid thing yesterday. A friend invited me to run in what is called the "Turkey Trot" near where I live. There's a 2-mile race, then a 5-miler. I agreed to run the 5-miler.

Now, I haven't run 5 miles in years. The longest I've run recently was 4 miles in the "Firecracker Four" in a town where I live. That was in July... this is November!

So, in order not to totally embarrass myself tomorrow morning, I went out and ran last night. It was dark and a little rainy. I ran 4 miles. It wasn't pretty. For lunch I had a grilled chicken sandwich without mayo, a fruit cup, and bottled water from Chik-fil-A. I got a bottle of orange flavored Gatorade (which I'm drinking as I type this post). I also purchased a few GU brand gel packs for the run. I plan to get to bed early tonight, eat a bowl of cereal in the morning, take some ibuprofen, and drink some more Gatorade before the race, then take a gel pack around mile 1.5 or so.

So what's my point in typing all this, you ask?

Once I made the decision to run the 5-mile race, I went into "healthy mode". I normally have a challenge eating breakfast in the morning. I usually get a fried chicken sandwich and waffle fries whenever I go to Chik-fil-A. I don't like Gatorade much. If I weren't running tomorrow, I'd probably stay up a little later than usual.

The commitment impacted my choices.

When I made the commitment, a lot of other smaller choices were made in light of that commitment. What commitment are you willing to make for a healthy lifestyle? What goal are you willing to decide on? If your serious, you'll more likely see a number of other habits begin to fall into place over time.

Commit yourself to health and wellness and you'll be Serving Strong!

P.S. I plan on posting my results on a future post. While I don't plan on winning anything (unless there was a way to place first in the 70-85 year old category!), but I do intend to finish. That's good for me. We'll see...

Two pastors talk about their depression

"Depression and burnout are becoming the occupational hazards of ministry. In a recent Enrichment poll, 17% of those who responded said that quite often they were depressed to the extent it affected their ministry performance. Another 20% said they experienced this lever of depression every 2 or 3 months."

This quote, from a Summer 2006 article in The Enrichment Journal, further highlights the kind of issues pastors face. Although it's a relatively old article, it could well have been written this morning. The issues are being felt right now by ministry servants around the world.

The article, an interview with Wayde I. Goodall and E. Glenn Wagner, is a tremendous read. Two pastors sharing their struggle with depression and the effects ministry serving had on them. If you're a ministry servant, I urge you to read it and gain comfort that you are not alone. These challenges that a such a prevalent part of ministry do NOT have to grip you to the point of hitting the wall and giving up.

Check it out

This article (and there are so many others out there saying the same thing) is why Serving Strong exists. These challenges of ministry do NOT have to grip you and render you ineffective. There is help. There is a way of Serving Strong!

It strikes me odd that, in this day of tremendous resources on preventing burnout and other side effects of ministry (books, seminars, conferences, DVD's, CD's, presentations, workbooks, home study course, etc.), so many ministry servants are still struggling. There's an apparent gap between these resources and the great people who respond to God's call on their life to serve others.

Serving Strong presents you three options that help to address this gap:

1. Blog.  You are currently reading the Serving Strong blog. This is a place to come, free of charge, to see what is going on with research and information specifically regarding balance and self care for ministry servants.
2. eNewsletter. Every Tuesday morning at 6:00 am EST, Serving Strong sends out a free, quick thought directly to the inbox of its subscribers. It doesn't take a lot of time to read. It's designed to keep balance and self care in the forefront of your mind as you pursue your calling to serve others. This newsletter is now reaching people in four countries. SUBSCRIBE TODAY. Or, CHECK THE ARCHIVES to get a feel for the eNews.
3. Coaching. This is a personal benefit designed specifically to help you identify the areas of your life that need more balance and self care. It is a designed alliance that deepens your learning and forwards your action toward true, lasting growth. It's intentional and consistent. And it works!! VISIT THE COACHING SITE for more info.

Still have questions? Call me (330.402.6600) or email me (coach@progressmax.com)

Pastor burnout roundtable

I'm excited about an opportunity that has presented itself. I will be joining 2 other pastors on a panel at the Church Solutions Conference in Phoenix Arizona this February.  It will be a roundtable discussion for pastors and will touch on the unique challenges of the ministry profession. We will be addressing things that contribute to burnout.

I trust it will be a real help in this area. There are many pastors who have devoted their lives to ministry and are truly struggling with the profession, dealing with depression, obesity, loneliness, disillusionment, etc. If pastors can integrate balance and self care into their lifestyles, I believe they will be stronger servants who will make a greater impact for the redemption of the world.

Click for more information about the roundtable discussion.

Click for more information about the entire Conference.

Jamaica - Hurricane Dean update

Got a call this morning about the conditions at Karen's mission on the mountain near Santa Cruz, Jamaica.

She said their household is fine.  Although the ceiling moved up & down during the storm, the roof is still on this morning.  They did lose the tree by the playground (a favorite shady hangout during the hot, sunny days.)  They will be without power for several days.  And the storm basically ended around midnight.

Thanks to all who prayed.  Please continue to pray as the cleanup process now takes place.

For more information about the mission trip we took to Jamaica on Easter 2007, click for post 1 of 2; and 2 of 2.

Prayer for Jamaica

As you all know, our family and the Carter family have a special interest in the mission work on the mountain near Santa Cruz, Jamaica.  Click for post 1 of 2; and 2 of 2 regarding the mission trip we took Easter 2007.

Please be in prayer for the good people on the mountain, Karen, and the mission work she is doing and will most likely be doing in the aftermath of hurricane Dean.

Thanks!

Everyone has the same life purpose

I read a statement recently and I need to get it out in the open so I can think about it more clearly.  In the meantime, if you have any thoughts or comments, feel free.  The gist of the thought is this:

"Ultimately, we were designed to become the fulfillment of our potential.  In that sense, we each share the same purpose.  The individual uniqueness is in the manifestation - doctor, speaker, teacher, parent, etc."

Send a comment if you agree, disagree, or have more clarifying thoughts...

Vacation

Just a note to say I'll be in Canada fishing all week.  Looking forward to a low mobile phone signal, some guitar, and a simple grocery store for a change.

Perhaps there will be some good life balance and self care material come out of my journaling.

Explode into the rest of 2007

If you're reading this post and you're from the USA, you will understand what the 4th of July signifies.  It represents freedom as a country and as individuals.  Fireworks are a big part of the tradition.

Fireworks explode!

I'd like to encourage you to explode into the remainder of 2007.  Six months have come and gone.  Six more months remain.

Here are some key questions to ask yourself if you're serious about making progress toward those goals you set for yourself (perhaps you could revisit those resolutions you listed in January):

• What is your goal?  Be specific.
• How will you know when you have reached that goal? What will you see as the outcomes?  How will you feel?  How differently will others treat you as a result?  What will your life picture look like?
• What are the benefits of achieving this resolution or goal?  What will you gain from it?

The best way to progress toward something is to have a crystal clear (I do mean crystal clear) vision of life AFTER the goal is achieved.  So many goals stay intentions because they are too vague.

Set goals.  Be crystal clear.  Explode into the rest of 2007 serving strong!

Mission work is doable (part 2)

I hope you will indulge me as I brag a little.  My daugher and her friend, Danielle, were interviewed by another local newspaper, the Vindicator, about their high school senior projects that dealt with giving and mission work in Jamaica and Africa.

Link to the actual article.

Link to the newspaper's blog, if you want to post a comment.

Working on a new habit?

Are you trying to start something new in your routine?  Do you want to succeed at it?  Some say it takes about 21 days for a new habit to take root.  It's like grafting a new branch into an existing plant.

Here are a few tips to consider in making the most of that new thing you want to incorporate into your lifestyle:

1. Be patient.  Patience is becoming a rarity in our fast-paced culture.  We're used to microwaves, drive thru windows, and 65 mph speed limits.  Building a new habit into a lifestyle simply takes time.  There's no way around it.
2. Be in community.  Starting something new is nearly impossible if done alone.  We really need one another.  Chances for success increase greatly with a peer-to-peer accountability partner who can ask you hard questions, actively listen, and encourage.
3. Be relevant.  Times will get tough.  Life will take over.  You will be presented with the opportunity to get frustrated and give up.  If the new habit isn't relevant to what you are trying to be or do, your new habit will fall by the side and die.  If, however, your new habit is powerfully connected to an overall plan to grow personally, it has a greater chance of weathering these moments of discouragement.

Make personal growth a lifestyle.  It's certainly worth the effort.  But be sure you are patient, in community and have relevant goals and you'll be serving strong!

The PATH to personal growth

Want to succeed at growing personally and professionally?  Here are four character traits that are absolutely necessary to have to succeed at it:

P - Possibility.  Think positively.  You've got to believe that growth is possible.  There are too many people in the world who wish to grow, but who don't think it's possible perhaps because they've tried and failed or they've been told it can't happen.

A - Authenticity.  You've got to be honest about who you are.  Without honesty, the entire personal growth effort will be an exercise in futility.

T - Teachability.  Growth comes when the person wants to grow.  Answers are good because they answer our questions.  But answers are also bad because they answer our questions...we stop questioning.  This requires re-developing the spirit of inquisitiveness that we often see in children.  A thirst for learning is the start of growth.

H - Humility.  If growth is really your desire, you will come upon areas of your life that will not look so stellar.  Pride is a response that destroys further development because it makes us deny we need help.  Humility is a response that's like fertile soil, allowing growth to happen beautifully.

Mission work is doable

Roger Carr, of Everyday Giving, asked me to post on our family's recent mission trip to Jamaica.

If your interested, go check it out!

Pray for the Christians in Pakistan

Just read an article in my local newspaper about the 500 Christians who live in Islammabad, Pakistan.  It turns out that pro-Taliban militants have sent them letters earlier this month telling them to close their churches and convert to Islam by Thursday (today) or be the target of "bomb explosions".

I can't imagine getting a letter in my rural mailbox telling me I had until Thursday to convert to Islam and denounce my Christianity or be bombed.

Let's gather together in one Spirit and pray for them.  Let's pray a prayer of protection for them as well as all the other Christians around the world who are trying to serve strong under persecution.

God help us all.

Welcome to the new subscribers!

I would like to extend a HUGE WELCOME to all the new subscribers to the Serving Strong eNewsletter.  It's great to have you in the community!  If you have any feedback or questions about the topics contained in the eNewsletter, feel free at any time to EMAIL me or call (330.402.6600).

For those reading this "welcome" post who are not yet subscribers, allow me to expound a little bit on what the eNewsletter is all about...

Those in ministry are typically very busy.  I respect that.  Therefore, the eNewsletter is short.  It's a quick read.  I also understand the information overload you deal with in this age.  Therefore, the eNewsletters come at a reasonable frequency for you.

It appears in your email in-box at least weekly on Tuesday mornings.

It's designed to be informative and up to date.  Generally, the subject matter revolves around life balance and self-care for the person serving others.

Subscribers have the opportunity to provide feedback on what is helpful and what is not.  Serving Strong is a dynamic benefit.  It is on a continual quest for improvement, based on the input from end users.  At all costs, I try to keep Serving Strong from becoming stale and out of date.

There is no obligation to subscribe -- even if you don't consider yourself "in ministry" but are interested in life balance and self-care.  You can unsubscribe at any time if you wish.

Click HERE if you wish to join the rest of the community.

EMAIL me if you have any questions or challenges signing up.

Have a great day today!  Wherever you are and whatever service you are providing, my prayer is that you are wildly successful and fulfilled.

Sincerely,

Scott A. Couchenour

VTech Tragedy

Please join me in praying for the families and friends of the victims of this senseless event (for a recent news report click HERE).

Also pray for those who will be ministering to them in the coming weeks, months, and years.  I would imagine that serving people in this situation can take quite a toll on the servant.  May each servant, family member, and friend sense the closeness and peace of God's presence.

And may God be able to use servants in in this tragedy to draw more people into a deep, personal relationship with Him.

Serving in Jamaica

Well, we're all packed and ready to head out tomorrow morning at 5:00 am for Jamaica.  We arrive in Montego Bay around 1:00 pm, then go through customs and take the long bus ride up the mountain to Santa Cruz.

If God places us on your mind, please pray for these specific items:

1. That we travel with safety
2. That we all remain free from sickness
3. That we connect with the children on an eternal level through the basketball club, Bible camp, and etc.
4. That we flow through customs smoothly and not have to pay duty on the keyboard we're bringing to Karen (shhh.  It's a surprise!)
5. That all 12 of our checked bags make the transition from our Pittsburgh plane to our Charlotte plane.
6. That God does something incredible in and through us.

Thanks for your prayers!

Personal Service example

I'm so proud of these 2 girls and their desire to serve others in need!  Especially because the one on the right is my daughter!  Read the entire story...

We hope to bring back a journal, pictures, and hopefully video of our family's trip to Good Hope, Jamaica this Spring break as we conduct a Bible camp, basketball camp, and build some playground equipment for kids who have hardly any hope in the world.

Global Warming? Gospel?

So I'm in the car traveling from a meeting, listening to Daryl Hanna talk with Sean on the Sean Hannity radio show.  They're talking about global warming and the steps we can take to be more "green".  Of course the two of them disagree about the reports that have come out which say global warming is a reality and that man and the industrial revolution is the cause.

This post isn't to debate global warming.  But about a very interesting statement Daryl made during the course of the conversation.  She said something like, "you may not believe the report that has come out verifying the fact that global warming is a reality, but wouldn't you want to be more energy efficient even if there's a possibility that it was true?"

Now, I have also heard the same line of thinking regarding the gospel.  It goes something like this:   "You may not believe the claims that Christ made while on earth and that there is a heaven and a hell, but wouldn't you want to be ready even if there's a possibility that it was true?"

Funny how we seem to pick and choose what we are willing to die for...

Just a thought.