J.S. Park

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Posts tagged with "Sabbath"

Mar 1
Today is the The National Day of Unplugging, which begins March 1st Friday night at sundown and continues for 24 hours.  It involves not only unplugging from electronics, but also spending intimate time with friends, family, and neighbors. According to USA Today, “Part of the Sabbath Manifesto, the campaign is designed to get people to slow down in an increasingly hectic world, an idea inspired by that most un-Microsoft of documents, the Old Testament. In short, God rested on the seventh day — and so should you.” I think I shall participate.

Today is the The National Day of Unplugging, which begins March 1st Friday night at sundown and continues for 24 hours. 

It involves not only unplugging from electronics, but also spending intimate time with friends, family, and neighbors.

According to USA Today, “Part of the Sabbath Manifesto, the campaign is designed to get people to slow down in an increasingly hectic world, an idea inspired by that most un-Microsoft of documents, the Old Testament. In short, God rested on the seventh day — and so should you.”

I think I shall participate.

Posted 2 months ago

7 notes

Sabbath, National Day of Unplugging, Sabbath Manifesto,

Feb 28

Question: Preventing Burnout?

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joshtheyipper asked:

How do you find the balance between doing ministry and burning out? How can I prevent burnout?

 

Hey Josh!

I believe everyone has their own natural rhythm, and they need to discover it.

On one hand, I believe in working hard, even pushing yourself, to get the work done.  Ministry is hard work and it requires our full engagement.  Fierce warriors like Paul, Peter, Ruth, Rahab, David, and Deborah got the work done.

But this can also become idolatrous, harmful, and create a messiah complex.  So we need to know when we are approaching fatigue and resentment.  We need to rest before we get there. Any ministry worker has to guard their time wisely and know when to say NO.  We can’t save everyone, help everyone, and do all things all at once.  I can only do a few things with effectiveness.  It hurts me to say no, but I would rather be abrupt than dead. 

Honestly, I don’t answer every question in my inbox. Maybe half. It would be impossible to answer everyone. I really wish I could — but I am one dude (I know how this makes me sound, and trust me, I know I’m a nobody begging for wisdom from the Only One who has it).

In a church setting, this means building up leaders who build up leaders.  It means making disciples.  If you’re a pastor or elder or teacher, then yes, try to make time for everyone — but prioritize that, and don’t feel bad for referring them to someone else who can do a better job.  I can’t counsel a WWII veteran or a seriously drug-addicted prostitute, and I would be foolish to try.

 

Sometimes “burnout” is also wrongly diagnosed.  Usually we think it means when we are at the end of our strength, but that isn’t always true. Some people get burned out because they are doing things that they are not wired for.  A preacher won’t always be good at administration and a teacher won’t always be good at preaching. Often it’s our pride that stops us from using our gifts the way we were meant to.

Some of us get burned out because we’re not allowing a team effort and think “I can do it all myself,” or we are depending too much on the team and get disappointed.  So it’s important to locate the source of burnout as well.

I would also make a time for “balcony” reflection.  That means set aside time to think of what you’re actually doing and why.  Think of the direction, the next five or ten years.  I don’t mean to stress yourself out about it, but just to be certain that the momentum you’re building now can be sustainable for the long term.  Anyone can start something: you need to know how to keep that going in the strength of God and your own capability.

Love you brother, praying for you.

— J.S.

Posted 2 months ago

14 notes

Christianity, church, ministry, burnout, idolatry, rest, Sabbath,

Feb 18

Jesus Says Take A Break

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You need a break.      

I know you hate this idea, and so do I, but you really need to take a break.

Everyone around you is multi-tasking, phone-apping, book-cramming, reading or scheduling or building or flying – and you suspect they’re all more productive than you, so you’re pushing, sweating, clenching, bleeding to get this done. 

But you: you really need a break.

God commands rest.  How could He command rest?  I’d rather read my Bible and fight for the offering plate than REST.

Most of us have bought into the neurotic productivity of American Do-Ism, so you have American Idol and the Olympics and Like buttons and your GPA – so no, I won’t take a break, I can’t take a break, I have to keep up or shut up.

But a funny thing happens when you refuse God’s commands.  The very core of your humanity begins to break down.  You can probably already feel it: the restlessness, the twitchiness, the constant checking of your phone. 

See: God knows how you’re made and what’s best for you. That’s what His commands are all about. He knows that if I don’t take a break today, and tomorrow, and for a long time, that I’ll eventually consume more energy than I can create and my spirit will be crushed. It won’t be any one thing on my schedule or any one exam or any one person: but the accumulated weight will be too much to bear, and I’ll either melt down or check out.

 

You probably saw this coming, but:

Your spirit needs a break, or life will break you.

I know your fear as much as mine is that we think we have to keep moving or the world will spin out of orbit.  At least your world or my world will.  I know there are demands, due dates, and deadlines on your life.  But do you know what happens when you just pause and back up?  The sky doesn’t fall on you.  The world doesn’t explode.  Things still get done.  You can gain perspective again.  You can see what’s important, what needs priority, what isn’t and what does not.  And you can re-enter the fray, refreshed and ready to go. 

 

Jesus called himself the Sabbath.  He said, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.”  How much hope and richness is in that verse?  He called himself the Living Water.  If you’ve ever ran cold water over hot bruised hands, you know how good it is.  When you’re really thirsty from a round of Zumba, nothing is better than water: no straw, no flavor, just water.

Set aside time for a break.  Don’t feel guilty for being non-productive.  You need time for yourself.  Keep your phone in the car and find a nice spot.  You don’t need to pray or read Scripture or intake anything: just breathe, unfurl your fists, and be thankful to God.  Look around you, soak in the colors.  It’s okay if you fall asleep. 

Take five minutes, an hour, three, six.  If you really need to, re-start that book you’ve been meaning to read.  Focus on a couple Bible verses, say what you’re grateful for, don’t think of the past or future.  Be in the now.  Re-engage and be present, because the Lord knows we can keep up autopilot if we’re left to ourselves.

You need a break.  Fight for rest and don’t let anyone else in.

This is you-and-God time.

 

— J.S.

Posted 3 months ago

86 notes

Christianity, rest, Sabbath, take five, encouragement, stress, anxiety, Jesus, grace, truth, the Gospel, God, find a quiet place,

Jul 18

The word relax has become this toxic, unthinkable evil of anti-good. Imagine: to actually hit pause and have some guilt-free time for yourself. To watch a sun rise, pray all day, and watch the sun dip away. God commands rest. I don’t mean laziness. I just mean: God gives us a scenic route, too. The robotic-routine of hamster wheel dedication to this world does not fill our dying souls. You know what they say: sometimes you got to stop and smell those roses. That’s why they smell like that: to snap people out of it.

- From this post

Posted 10 months ago

8 notes

Sabbath,