Keeping Your Life Under the Speed Limit

Arizona has been blessed with photo radar on all the freeways. Motorists for the most part detest big brother watching. However these devices do have an affect on overall speed. If you aren't paying attention the next thing you know you are getting flashed for doing 15 over.

Are you consistently going 15 over?

Let me throw up a warning sign to those of you who insist on going over your human speed limit.

Sooner or later you will get flashed and pay the consequences.

One of the biggest problems I am seeing in the lives of pastors is an inability to set boundaries. I recently heard from a pastor who is bi-vocational feeling guilty that he can only give 3 hours a day to counseling those in his congregation. I hear from other pastors who don't enjoy a day off or have been on a legitimate vacation for years much less a sabbatical. Most pastors I talk to are exceeding the speed limit and are not paying attention to the warning signs.

What are those warning signs? How about fatigue, depression, lack of compassion, cynicism, anxiety,guilt, physical problems, loss of patience, loneliness, sleeplessness, too many nights out,

disengagement with the family? The list can go on.

So how do we keep under the speed limit?

1. Distinguish between real guilt and false guilt. Real guilt comes from God not your own or others expextations.

2. Be intentional about setting boundaries. If you can't do it well, then ask for help. Find a secretary or person who will hold you accountable.

3. Understand your own idiot lights. God has uniquely given us alarms in our systems that go off when we are on overload. We need to determine what they are and pay attention to them.

4. Give yourself permission to take some time to rest. Remember boundary setting should lead to margins and margins should give you time to rest. You can bet in ministry that nobody will do it for you. The demands are too great.

5. Ask your spouse and kids if they feel significant and understood.

6. Make sure you are not in denial. As you know that is a deep and long river.

The bottom line is this: SLOW DOWN AND LIVE!