Lead From a Posture of HOPE!

Job 11:13ff from The Message

"Still, if you set your heart on God and reach out to him, if you scrub your hands of sin and refuse to entertain evil in your home, you'll be able to face the world unashamed and keep a firm grip on life, guiltless and fearless. You'll forget your troubles; they'll be like old, faded photographs. Your world will be washed in sunshine, every shadow dispersed by dayspring. Full of hope, you'll relax, confident again; you'll look around, sit back, and take it easy. Expansive, without a care in the world, you'll be hunted out by many for your blessing."

I can't imagine starting a day off angry, full of resentment, swimming in despair, or just plain being a humbug. The posture of discouragement is not a good place to be. Pastors who find themselves starting the day off in a bad mood (and sometime we can list a lot of reasons why we might), need to phone a friend.

WHO DO WE CALL, when we need a shot of HOPE in the arm? A few years back when I was directing a Lutheran Summer Camp in Virginia, our theme song was "You've Got A Friend". Remember the refrain: "You just call out my name, and I'll be there, yes I will! You've got a friend." (written by Carole King, 1971).

Every Pastor needs a strong shot of HOPE now and then to get them out of the vortex of unwanted angst or discouragement. And this phone a friend caregiver is NOT the person you want to play "Ain't It Awful" with. It is the person who can re-empower your CALL! It is the person who will listen to you and offer guidance built on hope rather than despair. It is the person who can encourage and stimulate your strengths. It isn't the person who sides with your blaming or goes along with your complaining. A spiritual friend you can call on in a time of doubt and uncertainty says just enough to remind you of your gifts as a pastoral leader.

PPCN is a team of HOPE energizers. Anyone reading this article who needs a dose of good spiritual Jesus centered hope, can email anyone of us on the Board with a phone number. We will call you back and we will do our best listen to your story. We aren't therapists or psychologists. We are simply spiritual care givers who love pastors. We are a network of people who want the best for the men and women who serve our church.

FULL OF HOPE is the posture for good pastoral leadership!

Note: The term "Ain't It Awful" is a game described by Eric Berne, M.D., in his book The Games People Play. (1964).

For lots of reasons, churches have begun to pull away from their connection with other churches. The dream of the 50's that denominations could work together and make a common witness symbolized in the church center built on Riverside Drive in New York fell apart. Then increasingly    read more