Here is the much awaited, end of the year, what’s been happening podcast. I wanted to get one more in before 2008 rolled around. Here’s a farewell to 2007 and a better 2008.
Click here to download podcast
Pastor Links
Surviving Hell – A great set of cds on how to survive stress and conflict by Dr. Matthew Anderson. He does a great deal of work with weight loss but this is for anyone going through tough times. This was a gift from a friend and very helpful – thanks, Andrea!
Healthy Congregations by Peter Steinke – Peter is a church consultant who has specialized in understanding and dealing with congregational conflict using family systems theory. There are additional books by Peter, all well worth reading.
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Glad to see your back! Great podcast, have a happy new year.
Bruce
Yay!
I wish you didn’t have to leave the congregation, but its great to see another podcast up, always enjoy them! Happy New Year!
“A relationship of meaning and love that is bigger than us and embraces usâ€
You have hit that one on the head. With all that I have been through this year, with losing my father this week…… god what now? I find myself saying that over and over again.
Tami, sorry to hear about your dad. I guess that transition we all want to make is from saying “god, what now” in despair to “god, what now” in hope. In my own journey, I can sympathize not knowing what is happening next for me as far as a new call (with all the fears of not finding one soon enough, a bad match again, etc…) and wanting to hang on to the hope that what is next is going to make sense. The harder part is willing to take the chance that the divine relationship we are searching for can actually be anchored in a congregation of human being as screwed up as we are. But that’s what we say the cross is all about.
I have always loved your shows, even when I have found you a little annoying. However, I was really saddened to hear that the podcast may have been an issue in your dismissal. You do us all a service with this podcast, and it infuriates me that your congregation would imperil your ability to make a living because of it. People can be pretty mean to their pastors, and I am far more annoyed with them than I ever could be with you.
Exactly. I have found that after being with that congregation for over 20 years, I no longer fit. Parts of me is sad, and other parts realize that it will not do me any good if Im not gaining anything from being a member. I so need a congregation that realized that bad things happen in this world to ALL of us. Don….. yes, it infuriated me too and it WAS my church, but not anymore. This particular issue took me over the top.
Tami, I to would like to express my condolences. I’d also like to share something my wife told me when my father died. At this point she had already lost both parents. What she said was: it never gets better, but it does get easier. Almost 12 years later I can say I’ve found this to be true. But more importantly, in the early days I hung on to these words like dear life it’s self. And they gave me great comfort in there hope. It is my hope, and my prayer that they too may help you.
Don, I to have a huge problem with what happened to Tom. And like Tami it was my church that did it. So, it surely wasn’t all of us. It’s my feeling or opinion or what ever, that it was a very vocal, very powerful minority at the center of it all. That said, this kind of thing can and does happen all the time to all sorts of different groups, organizations, businesses etc. It’s how we handle it and if we grow from it that matters.
Thanks for the support, folks, but we need to leave my old congregation out of any more discussion. As Bryan said, these things happen and the key part now is how everyone handles it and grows from it. The congregation will have to handle it on its own and I will move on as well. Pray for each other but I want to keep things focused on the wired wanderings ahead, not what happened last year. I am obligated to keep out of whatever happens there and I don’t want any conversations here to cross that boundary.
I think you all understand and I thank you for it.
Bryan:
Thank you for your kind words. Im sure it will get easier with time. It is just so hard to beleive that MY dad is gone…. this happened to everyone else not me. Im a mess right now and places like this help. My parents have been divorced for over 30 years so it is really up to me to take care of his things. My mom had a heart attack during this time as well. I just need some time away from it all. Again, thanks for your kind words.
Hey Tom,
Long time no contact. My fault. My apologies. I find that we seem to be in the same boat, albeit for differing reasons. You have my prayers while you search for a new congregation. Unfortunately I find myself no longer able to fight the good fight. Hit me up sometime.
Peace, David