An Evangelical Manifesto

“The release of “An Evangelical Manifesto” on May 7 caught the attention of the national media, and thus it represents yet another opportunity for evangelical definition. The document, released May 7, also represents a challenge, for its framers hope to redefine the movement in the context of our unsettled times.”

Read Dr. Mohler’s two-part response:

• An Evangelical Response to “An Evangelical Manifesto”
• “An Evangelical Manifesto” — Continuing the Conversation

Pastoral ministry is hard …

Harder than most people know. Much harder than I ever suspected, I think.

Oh, it’s not the study that’s difficult. It can be demanding, yes, but it’s also very rich and rewarding — intellectually stimulating and spiritually satisfying. And it’s not the teaching and preaching that take a toll at last. Any pastor worth his salt loves to teach his people and loves to preach God’s Word. It’s not the long hours that are exhausting, or the many things that have to be done — meetings attended, visits made, calls returned, emails answered, folks counseled, problems solved, friends walked with, and so on. None of that is what makes ministry hard.

No, what makes it hard are the responses to the work, which (with a few exceptions) are generally things like indifference, boredom, persistent disapproval, criticism, disrespect, insult. Some of the latest figures I can find indicate that 80% of pastors (and 84% of pastor’s spouses) live in a relentless state of discouragement. There was a time in our country, not too long ago, when the pastoral profession was held in some esteem, both in the church and in the community. Now pastors are among the least honorable, and 70% or more say that pastoral ministry has depleted their sense of self-worth and confidence. Fifty percent of pastors say they would leave the ministry tomorrow, if they could, but they have no other way to make a living. The majority of pastor’s wives surveyed said the most destructive event that cricket free ringtones | free verizon wireless ringtones | free kyocera ringtones | caller download hotlink ringtones | free mobile phone ringtones | free ringtones for motorola cell phone | cricket free phone ringtones | download free ringtones virgin mobile | real music ringtones | free ringtones for cricket cell phone | cell cricket free phone ringtones | free jamster ringtones | much music ringtones | free real music ringtones for nextel | free ringtones sprint | download verizon ringtones | cricket phone ringtones | send free ringtones to your phone | make your own mp3 ringtones | info personal polyphonic remember ringtones | has occurred in their marriage and family was the day they entered the ministry.

I wonder what the symptoms of burn-out are. Some days I just weep, and I don’t know why. Sometimes I fantasize about running away, and I wonder if it would even matter. I feel exhausted. I never sleep too well. My blood pressure is elevated. And I just may be self-medicating on caffeine!

Pray for my family, and for me. Pastoral ministry is hard!

Please pray for me …

I don’t often make personal requests here, but I’d sure appreciate some prayer. As you may know, I became a Type I diabetic about nine years ago, after my immune system, in response to a case of the flu, also killed the little islets that produce insulin. I got very sick very fast and was immediately insulin-dependent. I’ve been on an insulin pump for six or seven years now, and that’s helped a lot, but every day is still a battle. My diabetes is very “brittle,” as they say. I have some pretty wild and extreme swings between insulin lows (hypoglycemia) and glucose highs (hyperglycemia) for no readily apparent reasons. For example, last night I dropped to a 50 and this afternoon hit a 503, with no change in what I eat or what I do during the day. It’s not only very frustrating, it’s debilitating — makes it very hard to read and study and think. And that can get depressing after a while. I’d love to be healed, of course, but my faith is always pretty weak, it seems (I’m an ολιγοπιστος, as Jesus would say, a “little-faith”). I’d be glad just to be able to regulate this thing better. Please just pray with me about this as the Lord brings me to mind. Thank you so much!

“Plant Rights”: Have you seen this yet?

“An ethics panel in Switzerland has decided that ‘the arbitrary killing of flora is morally wrong.’ Writing in the current edition of The Weekly Standard, Smith explains that the idea of ‘plant rights’ is now a matter of serious consideration among the Swiss.” Read Dr. Mohler’s reflections HERE!