I sat quietly and listened as the pastor shook his head in both grief and bewilderment. He was desperately trying to make sense of his unexpected, forced termination from the church he had pastored and loved. To add insult to injury, he grieved that there was no effort for a biblical resolution, which, in his opinion, would have addressed some of the issues that the board threw on the table for his dismissal. It was painful to watch as the reality of what he was facing washed over him.
One of the things that makes us uniquely human is the ability to think and reason in our mind. We can process things that are going on with imaginative pictures and possibilities. How many times have you caught yourself staring off into space as you soak in the wonderful indulgence of daydreaming? We longingly think about something that we are looking forward to or we replay a delightful conversation. There is hope-filled anticipation of what is to come and there is joy in remembering what once was.
http://clergycare.ca/app/uploads/2023/03/FOCUS-40-banner_ClergyCare.png00Pauline Doerksenhttp://clergycare.ca/app/uploads/2023/03/FOCUS-40-banner_ClergyCare.pngPauline Doerksen2023-01-30 23:54:472023-01-30 23:54:47Replacing the lies of imposter syndrome with God’s truth
Do you ever have one of those days that moves along really well? You’ve had a great night’s sleep. Things are going according to how you expected. The kids got up and ready for school without a fuss. Everyone made it out the door with a smile on their face. You get to work and open your email to find a note of encouragement: “Hey Pastor, just want you to know that I’m thankful for you and praying for you today.”
Have you ever heard anyone use the saying “that’s just the tip of the iceberg”? I’m sure we all have and maybe we have said it ourselves. Whenever I hear someone refer to the tip of the iceberg my mind goes to the historical story of the Titanic. The iceberg that was seen was literally only the “tip of the iceberg.” It was the part of the iceberg that was unseen that sunk the supersized ship that was said to be unsinkable.
http://clergycare.ca/app/uploads/2023/03/FOCUS-40-banner_ClergyCare.png00Sam Doerksenhttp://clergycare.ca/app/uploads/2023/03/FOCUS-40-banner_ClergyCare.pngSam Doerksen2021-08-26 20:45:282021-08-26 21:18:53The tip of the iceberg: Being mindful of what’s below the surface
When you spend four and a half years in one church and then 28 years in the next church, it is easy to think one hasn’t faced much transition. As I look back, I have to say, this isn’t the case.
http://clergycare.ca/app/uploads/2023/03/FOCUS-40-banner_ClergyCare.png00Sam Doerksen and Marshall Eizengahttp://clergycare.ca/app/uploads/2023/03/FOCUS-40-banner_ClergyCare.pngSam Doerksen and Marshall Eizenga2021-04-01 15:58:452021-04-01 16:05:21Reflections on transition in ministry
As I write this, a snowstorm is swirling outside, but in this time, it is not only the weather that keeps us isolated and, in many ways, disconnected. We know that many in society are suffering increased challenges to their mental health due to the restrictions related to COVID-19 – and clergy and ministry leaders are not immune to trials of the mind and spirit.
http://clergycare.ca/app/uploads/2023/03/FOCUS-40-banner_ClergyCare.png00Bob Cheatleyhttp://clergycare.ca/app/uploads/2023/03/FOCUS-40-banner_ClergyCare.pngBob Cheatley2021-03-03 23:13:052021-03-03 23:13:05How to endure in ministry without facing exhaustion
A couple of days ago, on two different occasions, trusted ministry partners shared with me that a significant portion of pastors in North America are discouraged, and even considering leaving pastoral ministry. I woke up this morning with this fact, or observation, on my mind and heart, and during morning devotions wondered if I could speak a word to any of you wrestling along such lines.
http://clergycare.ca/app/uploads/2023/03/FOCUS-40-banner_ClergyCare.png00Darrell W. Johnsonhttp://clergycare.ca/app/uploads/2023/03/FOCUS-40-banner_ClergyCare.pngDarrell W. Johnson2021-01-05 18:12:202021-01-05 18:34:25Don’t give up
“If someone is getting in the way of you becoming the person God created you to be or is frustrating the work God has called you to do, for you that person is toxic.”
This quote is taken from Gary Thomas’ book When to Walk Away: Finding Freedom from Toxic People. He wrote this book to help the reader understand the impact of toxic people in their lives. He underscores this by adding, “This book is about protecting our mission from toxic attacks even more than it’s about protecting ourselves from toxic people.”
http://clergycare.ca/app/uploads/2023/03/FOCUS-40-banner_ClergyCare.png00Marshall Eizengahttp://clergycare.ca/app/uploads/2023/03/FOCUS-40-banner_ClergyCare.pngMarshall Eizenga2020-09-09 18:21:572020-09-09 18:21:57Book review: When to Walk Away: Finding Freedom from Toxic People by Gary Thomas
It’s been four years now since we got in our car and drove away from the city we loved and the church we had pastored for over 28 years. We moved to a new province, a new job and pretty much an entirely new life. The opportunities ahead were exciting. The future was bright. Everything on my “to-do” list had been checked off. The house was sold, the boxes were packed, the moving van was booked – I was ready to go. Or at least I thought I was ready.
“Purposeful waiting.” It sounds like a nice title for a fictional story. A little bit like a Hallmark movie. We can most likely dictate what will happen at the end when we’re only ten minutes into the movie.
There is a child that runs away, physically, mentally or spiritually – or perhaps all the above. They may not just run away but also run into a life of sin, self-pleasing and rebellion against God.
http://clergycare.ca/app/uploads/2023/03/FOCUS-40-banner_ClergyCare.png00Sam Doerksenhttp://clergycare.ca/app/uploads/2023/03/FOCUS-40-banner_ClergyCare.pngSam Doerksen2020-02-05 18:56:072020-02-05 19:47:51Purposeful waiting for a prodigal
