Archive for the ‘Marriage’ Category

This has been a tough week for me. Nothing big. Just out of sorts.

I know everyone posts about the good stuff of life.  Especially pastors.  But the reality is sometimes weeks don’t go awesome!  We don’t admit it or write about it often…but sometimes you have a crappy week.

What do you do when your week is hectic? Full of disappointments? Too much going on? Not clicking with your spouse?  Kids driving you crazy?

Leaders and pastors need to stop portraying every day like it’s the most awesome day they ever lived….it’s not reality…nor would that be any fun! Some weeks are just plain normal and even hectic.

(btw pastor…stop portraying every Sunday like it’s the best Sunday and sermon you ever preached…really?…some Sundays you feel like someone just punched you in the stomach…I am not saying to throw up all over your people….but learn to be real!)

Here are 12 things I remind myself during weeks like this…..

1. Jesus is Lord…this is still true!

2. Do you remember what was bothering you a year ago? A month ago? Me neither.  This too will pass.  Keep perspective!

3.  Bad weeks are normal. This doesn’t mean life is falling apart. They are normal. What fun would life be if every week was awesome?

4. Jesus never said “perfection” I give you…He did say “Peace I give you”.

5.  Forgive quickly.

6.  Stop and listen to the gentle whisper of God.  I love to journal.  It helps me sort out my feelings and thoughts.

7.  Sleep.

8.  Don’t email or facebook things you regret…this is important..give it a few days.

9. Only vent to trusted friends. Who can you be real with?  Who do you trust?  Invest in these relationships!

10. Remember that person you are about to snap at doesn’t deserve it.

11. Laugh. Find someone to laugh with…..laughter covers over a multitude of dispointments.

12. Enjoy your humanity.  You are not a machine, you are a human being created in the image of God. You feel. You hurt. You laugh. You cry. All good.

6 Comments »

I am a big believer that married couples need to create what I call a “No Kid Zone”…meaning there needs to be times every week (if not more often) when couples  get away from the kids, spend some time together, see a movie, make passionate love and enjoy each other’s time together. For 22 years [...] Read more

Clarity without compassion leads to a gospel without redemption! Watch this video…I’d love to hear from you… Why does the church speak with so much hatred towards the gay community?  Why does the church need to be clear on the Biblical definition of marriage?  Do you agree that the best way to protect marriage is [...] Read more

Over the years people have asked me, “How does the Jones family enjoy Christmas together?”   I make comments from time to time like, “It takes us all morning to open gifts.”  This has created a bit of curiosity in people. Let me back up for a moment….I remember being a kid and always wishing we [...] Read more

December is a nightmare for so many people. We run around with our heads choped off, spend money we don’t have, over eat and then somehow pretend this is the month to celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus. Noise. Money. Conflict. Debt. Confusion. Don’t let the month of December be defined by these words. [...] Read more

I have people ask me all the time why New Life gathers for a night of worship six times a year.  We call it “Simply Worship”. The question comes to me in all types of ways: Some are upset that we don’t do Simply Worship more often Some are concerned this will impact their family times [...] Read more

  Every leader will be criticized.  The reality is I speak to over 3,000 people every weekend + I write and live a very public life.  Fair and unfair criticism is part of the deal. Recently I had a couple of people make some strong statements against me.  One of them is James Sundquist from Rock Salt Publishing.  He [...] Read more

In December, 1997 I established what I call “Prayer and Planning” retreats.  I have done these retreats twice a year faithfully for 14 years. I get away for two nights in July and December.  These times prepare me for the fall and the new year.  I pray, plan, read Scripture, read a book, work on [...] Read more

Six times a year we do a leadership day with all of our staff.  This last Tuesday I walked our staff through a leadership lecture called “Gut Check: Five Ways to Sharpen and Shape Your Gut.” This is a must read for every pastor, business leader, mom, dad or manager. You can refer to your [...] Read more

This weekend my daughter (Chelsey) had her open house for graduation. Where did the time go?  I remember yesterday bringing her home from the hospital. I remember standing there in the hospital with her two year old sister.  Kaylee’s first words about her new baby sister were, “Mom, Chelsey has no socks on.” 18 years [...] Read more

« Older Posts