Category Archives: burnout

Stopping burnout by making life changes

Posted on January 20, 2016 by

Sharpen the saw. It’s a story I first came across maybe 20 years ago reading Stephen Covey’s, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” A man walking through a forest came across a frustrated lumberjack. The lumberjack was trying to cut down a … Continue reading →

Posted in burnout, Liver disease | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wasting my bonus days

Posted on January 18, 2016 by

I think I’m wasting my bonus days. Or, at least, I think I’m wasting too much of them. Imagine you have a giant bowl of mashed potatoes and are a huge spud fan. If you have a gallon of mashed potatoes, you … Continue reading →

Posted in burnout, change, diet, direction, recovery, transplant recovery | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Life: have you tried turning it off and on?

Posted on January 1, 2016 by

Reboot. It’s the first word used by technology nerds in answer to a multitude of questions: “Why is my phone doing …?” “Why is my TV not …?” “Why is my computer so …?” “Why is my toaster …?” Have … Continue reading →

Posted in burnout, change, depression, discouragement, exercise, Find God | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Do you pray? How do you pray? When? Why?

Posted on April 20, 2015 by

When I was at my lowest, my prayers seemed intimate and somehow powerful. They seemed like a two-way interaction, I often sensed God’s presence and comfort like a sudden, warm, summer downpour – the type that makes you throw out … Continue reading →

Posted in burnout, Christianity, hope, peace, recovery | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Holy Freak-out, Batman! What just happened?

Posted on August 15, 2014 by

Sheesh, that was out of control. It felt like I was a combat veteran in one of the thriller movies I like to watch. You know the scene? A car backfires and the loud bang sends the vet into a … Continue reading →

Posted in burnout, change, Liver disease, recovery | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Coaching for young pastors: Stop, drop and roll.

Posted on January 9, 2014 by

    Now that I am 20 months past transplant, life is 95% back to normal. If not for the monthly trips to the blood lab, the handful of anti-rejection medicines twice a day, the hand sanitizers and side effects … Continue reading →

Posted in burnout, coaching, leadership | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Why do I get to live while others die?

Posted on March 12, 2013 by

I just don’t get it. I want life to be fair but I don’t worry about “fair” when things are going great. Who does? Have you ever seen a lottery winner shake her head and say, “I don’t know. Life’s … Continue reading →

Posted in burnout, chronic illness, Liver disease | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Sometimes ministry stinks

Posted on June 9, 2010 by

The phone rings and we pick it up. The tone sounds and we know an email just came in so we open it. A text message comes in and we are compelled to read it. Lately I’m not making many … Continue reading →

Posted in burnout, Christianity, criticism, critics, discouragement | 2 Comments

Spirit-filled or Spirit-blind?

Posted on March 24, 2010 by

Man, that church has a great dance team. The way those people wave those big flags is pretty impressive. But, you know what? I’m just not all that jazzed by stuff like this. If you gave me free tickets to … Continue reading →

Posted in burnout, Christianity, church planting, direction, Find God, gospel, Jesus, leadership | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Who do you say that I am?

Posted on October 29, 2009 by

Youth worker, who do you say that I am? You are Christ, the filler of my weekends. You are Jesus, compelling me to attend meeting upon meeting. You are Jesus who keeps me from taking vacations with my family because … Continue reading →

Posted in burnout, NYWC, pastor, peace, time management, youth pastor | 1 Comment