Thanksgiving is just around the corner, but medical science proves that it’s a good idea to find ways to give thanks for the things in your life every day. This month take it on as a spiritual discipline by keeping a “gratitude journal,” sending out three thank you cards a week, or just counting your […]
Cancer is a sad reality of modern life, and there’s no bulletproof way to protect yourself. But did you know that most cancers are linked to lifestyle factors that we have enormous control over? You can help minimize your risks by changing your diet and adopting some healthy lifestyle habits. This article from Prevention magazine […]
Too many church professionals burn out. Achieving a healthy work-life balance eventually comes down to personal responsibility and discipline. We must make the right choices, and our choices must be influenced by our attitudes and values. Behaviors that flow from our deeply held beliefs help us counter external pressures that keep us from taking care […]
Everybody knows that time management will make you more productive, but did you know that it can make you healthier, too? Getting more done you’ll feel better and less stressed, as well as have more time for relaxation, recreation, relationships or exercise. This article from WebMD gives you some excellent tips on how to manage your […]
“Depression lies to me. It is relentless. It tells me I will always feel this way, that I’m not deserving of help, that I am a burden, a waste — that my life is thoroughly hopeless,” Pastor Jason Chestnut writes in Sojourners. Ministry is hard, and the stresses clergy face can lead may people to […]
Scientists have gone to great lengths to fully understand sleep’s benefits. They have discovered that sleep plays a critical role in immune function, metabolism, memory, learning, and other vital functions. And yet many people don’t get enough — especially busy church leaders! This webpage from Harvard Medical School will tell you to everything you ever […]
Sure, you may draw closer to God when you pray, but are there other ways that prayer is good for you? Yes, say scientists have who have studied the physical, mental and emotional health of people who engage in regular prayer. They have found it to be beneficial in tangible ways. This informative article from […]
Serving God’s people reaps many joys, but it’s also a highly stressful vocation. And for too many ministers that stress results in extra weight, according to a United Methodist Study. It showed that clergy suffer from obesity, high cholesterol, borderline hypertension, borderline diabetes, asthma and depression at significantly higher rates than do other demographically comparable […]
It’s hard to be spiritually healthy when your physical health needs work, and that’s why a parish nurse or health advocate program is a good idea for every congregation. It’s especially important as obesity rates rise and our health-care system is on such uncertain footing. This free 17-page comprehensive guide from the Lutheran Church – […]
There’s a fine line between being tired and actually burning out. The challenge is, once you cross the line, it’s so difficult to get back. Eleven years ago, I entered into the darkest period of my life. People had always warned me I would burn out. I thought I could prove them wrong. And usually I did. I […]
