When we were going through a particularly challenging period, I remember an older pastor asking me “Are you able to sleep through the night.” Insomnia is of course a significant emotional health warning and many of us will have at different times struggled with it, finding ourselves unable to drift off or alternatively being suddenly… Continue reading The secret to good sleep
Tag: rest
Day Seven
The Old Testament Law rooted its command to set apart the seventh day as a sabbath in the creation account. Read Genesis 2:1-3 God has created the world, he has formed it and filled it. He has named things and ordered them. H has blessed his creation. Now, having blessed his creation, he blesses time,… Continue reading Day Seven
If you want to look after your pastor, just let him have a normal weekend off!
I’ve just read one of those Twitter threads which outlines how churches should look after the pastors. This current one talks about things like using paying the pastor a decent wage, paying for any counselling they need, letting them have marriage enrichment weekends, praying for them, giving them sabbaticals and also giving then a “sabbath… Continue reading If you want to look after your pastor, just let him have a normal weekend off!
Finding joy – an answer to exhaustion
I recently shared a few articles about the Christian Sabbath. In one, I talked about how we shouldn’t be looking at how many meetings a person attends on a Sunday but whether the Sabbath is fulfilling its intended purpose. My dad who has served as a lay pastor (unpaid whilst continuing in secular work), itinerant… Continue reading Finding joy – an answer to exhaustion
What is Sabbath rest?
We associate the idea of a Sabbath with rest for three reasons. First of all, in terms of the big Biblical picture, Sabbath practice looks back to Genesis 2:1-4 where we are told that God rested on the 7th day after 6 days of creation. Note, that whilst God rested after completing his work, that… Continue reading What is Sabbath rest?
What shall we do with Sunday?
Earlier this week, I wrote a little article about Christian students starting University. One other things I responded to in that article was the recommendation that students should seek to attend church twice on Sunday. I want to delve a bit more into the question about what we should do with Sundays and how we… Continue reading What shall we do with Sunday?
Why were there leftovers at the feeding of the 5000?
We know the answer don’t we? It’s obvious. Ny providing an abundance, Jesus was demonstrating his ability to provide all that his people needed. The Twelve baskets meant that each disciple had something to take away. More than that, they symbolised the 12 tribes, so that we saw Christ’s abundant provision for his people. However,… Continue reading Why were there leftovers at the feeding of the 5000?
A day made for you
When challenged about what his disciples are doing by picking and eating corn on the Sabbath, Jesus says: “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27 At the time Jesus was speaking, the Jewish Sabbath was in force. Jews observed Saturday as a day of rest from work remembering that God… Continue reading A day made for you
Jesus my king says “come and sit with me”
I was speaking at West Smethwick Congregational Church last Sunday. WSCC is a church we built connections with when they sought help with revitalisation and replanting. A few years back they were down to half a dozen people. So, it was good to visit them and see such a change. They have a pastor and… Continue reading Jesus my king says “come and sit with me”
Is it burnout?
I’ve seen a few articles talking about burnout among those in church leadership over the past few weeks. These seem to be particularly in response to the experience of leaders through the COVID-19 pandemic which has in many ways amplified many of the challenges of Gospel ministry. One helpful contribution to the discussion was this… Continue reading Is it burnout?
Faithroots 