Valentine’s Day and the Focus on LoveValentine’s Day is approaching rapidly and it focuses our attention on love. Actually, our thoughts were drawn to this celebration long before we approached February. It seems that just after the Christmas items came down at local stores, Valentine’s Day items quickly appeared. But it’s not just our stores; it’s everywhere – T.V., radio, emails and just about e...  Read More

Almost everywhere I turn I see evidence that there’s trouble in the temple. I once heard a former superintendent report that in the previous year, the church conference had almost exceeded its health insurance limits. Health problems among its ministers threatened their coverage. Many needed medication for stress-related disorders, others were in poor health. Several struggled with weight problems...  Read More

Finding balance in ministry often seems like the proverbial quest for the Holy Grail. The quest often proves long, arduous and mostly elusive. Ministers have justly gained notoriety for sacrificial service to the neglect of personal and family needs. This stance and style inevitably creates a life woefully out of balance. Physical and psychological problems, exhaustion, chronic stress, burnout, di...  Read More