Are there some areas in your life and ministry where you are consistently struggling?

In a recent blog post, Thom Rainer says, “I still don’t get it in several areas of life and leadership…Here are my top five (or should they be a bottom five?).

• The so-called big problem of today will not be around in a short while. Though I know better, I sometimes respond to challenging issues of today [as if ] it’s the end of the world. Weeks later, I will wonder why I got so upset at the time.

• Don’t take criticisms personally. Yeah. Right. Sometimes I think my skin is so thin it’s translucent. I have written numerous articles on dealing with criticisms. Sometimes when I am writing on such topics, it seems like an out-of-body experience. I know I talk it a lot better than I walk it.

• Trust God in all things. I certainly believe the statement biblically and theologically. I just don’t demonstrate faith to live it more times than I would like to say.

• Life is short; enjoy the moment. I am goal-oriented. Let me restate that. I am obsessively goal-oriented. Too often I miss out on the small and daily joys God has given me. I don’t focus sufficiently on this day because I’m looking to accomplish something in the future.

• An adventure in faith begins when we get out of our comfort zones. OK, I’ll give myself a little credit here. I have stepped out in faith a few times in my life. My point is that I don’t do so enough. I can get comfortable with my routines and earthly pleasures. Too comfortable.” (Read Thom’s full article here.)

What would you include in your Bottom-Five List? What can you do this week to help strengthen your service in one of those areas?

Blessings!
Michael Duduit
mduduit@salempublishing.com
www.michaelduduit.com

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About The Author

Michael Duduit is the founding publisher and editor of Preaching magazine. He is also the founding Dean of the new College of Christian Studies and Professor of Christian Ministry at Anderson University in Anderson, South Carolina. Michael is author and editor of several books, including the Handbook of Contemporary Preaching (Broadman & Holman Press), Joy in Ministry (Baker Books), Preaching With Power (Baker) and Communicate With Power (Baker). From 1996 until 2000 he served as editor of the Abingdon Preaching Annual series. His email newsletter, PreachingNow, is read each week by more than 40,000 pastors and church leaders in the U.S. and around the world. He is founder and director of the National Conference on Preaching and the International Congress on Preaching, which has been held in 1997 at Westminster Chapel in London, 2002 at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, and 2007at Cambridge. He has been a pastor and associate pastor, has served a number of churches as interim pastor, and speaks regularly for churches, colleges and conferences.

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