Comments on: Mad Church Disease – Chapter 4 Discussion

By: Sarah Salter

Sarah Salter — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:44:32 +0000

Denise, thanks for coming by! Shark Bait is a good guy. I’m glad he sent you this direction and I’m glad you’re enjoying it. Please feel free to come by anytime!

By: Denise

Denise — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:40:25 +0000

I’m really glad Shark Bait recommended your blog. I am really enjoying it and learning so much at the same time. Thank you!

By: Ryan Tate

Ryan Tate — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:16:33 +0000

Like Jason said, this chapter was great just like the previous three.

A few lines stuck out to me:
“Ego can show itself as loud and abrasive, or as subtle and deceiving.” (bottom of pg 75)
“Skill can only take you so far. It takes heart to fulfill your purpose the way God intends it to be fulfilled.” (middle of pg 80)

These external factors once again reiterated the fact that we need to protect and equip ourselves properly. It is a constant process and I need to make sure that I remind myself, and especially my pastor, that physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual health is necessary to combat the circumstances that life is filled with.

By: Sarah Salter

Sarah Salter — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:13:06 +0000

Dacia, I clicked on your link and went and read your response on your blog. AWESOME! You’re exactly right! When are you going to write a guest post for me?

By: Dacia Bryan

Dacia Bryan — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:01:16 +0000

I have WAY too many thoughts on this to contain in this comment space. So I just wrote my own blog response.

http://wp.me/pIfit-Y

Anyway, as to the two questions you posed, I find myself sidetracked by guilt, people’s expectations, and my own type-A personality that does drive me to be rather competitive about things that should NEVER be a competition.

The first two I’m still really struggling with. The latter, I look to the story of Mary and Martha and ask myself really what is “better”? What will “not be taken from me”? (Luke 10:41-42) Sometimes I hear Jesus speak to my spirit, “Dacia, Dacia…” just like he did Martha. And I reign myself in…sit at his feet…and remember what is best.

By: Response to “Mad Church Disease” Chapter 4 « A Healing Place

Response to “Mad Church Disease” Chapter 4 « A Healing Place — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:54:20 +0000

[...] on the book Mad Church Disease: Overcoming the Burnout Epidemic by Anne Jackson over at her blog Living Between the Lines. If you are in any way connected to either full time or volunteer ministry, you should read this [...]

By: jasonS

jasonS — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:17:36 +0000

This chapter spoke to me in many ways (but I guess, really, they all have). If I start feeling too much pressure or get overwhelmed, I tend to withdraw. In theory, it’s to protect me from giving myself even more to do, but it brings isolation. When it gets to that point, it takes me a while to see that everything in my life is suffering (relationship with God and people, emotional stability, etc.).

Keeping first things first (as in, God and obedience to Him) and confronting these issues and feelings instead of running away is what I’m working on. Thank God for His grace. None of these factors have to take me down.

Reminds me of 1 Peter 5:8, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” I will stand in God’s strength and grace- alert and ready!