This is my other publication that is sent to a private list of pastors. It goes out around the first of each month. See below in case you want to be added to the list.
It has three links, two quotes, and a freebie.
Three links of interest this month
1. What do people miss in retirement?
Mostly, the other people.
From the Harvard 85-year study on human happiness, a CNBC summary.
On the other hand, this an excellent opportunity to deploy retired corporate or other to be volunteer mobilizers for your team.
This is one of the critical issues in Pastor Succession Planning too.
2. The US has about 22 million people working part-time for “non-economic reasons.”
Full-time work doesn’t have as much draw anymore.
Reasons:
o Parent Care
o Parenting children
o Personal work-life balance
Think you can’t afford that staff position? Maybe a part-time role fits the bill just fine. Chop up a full-time role, center on the most critical two pieces, and make it part-time.
3. The post title is Ten Charts I can’t stop thinking about.
I, too, am a sucker for a good chart.
Pay attention to the happiest age chart (number 3), the organized religion chart (number 9) complete with the author’s testimony of faith, but also “but the world is getting better.” (number 10)
TWO QUOTES:
From my friend Mike Woodruff’s Friday newsletter:
“It’s Worth Noting That: 1) Our goal isn’t merely to memorize Scripture, but to “learn it by heart.” We want to drive God’s Word so deep into our subconscious that it changes the soundtrack animating our life; 2) Given that parents – and grandparents – think about the future (and value different things) because they see it through the eyes of their children, the fact that a growing number of educators and legislators do not have children of their own is troubling; 3) Spiritual Disciplines are not about making us more precious to God. They are about making God more precious to us; 4) Yes, Jesus spent time with tax collectors and prostitutes. But it was the tax collectors and prostitutes who came away changed, not Jesus; 5) Angrily defending truth is not a Fruit of the Spirit.
And this one came from Facebook but is a chart that Pete Scazzero uses in his work.
“Scazzero’s Emotionally UN healthy Spirituality
1. Using God to run from God.
2. Ignoring anger, sadness, and fear.
3. Dying to the wrong things.
4. Denying the past.
5. Dividing life into the secular & sacred.
6. Doing for God instead of being with God.
7. Spiritualizing away conflict.
8. Covering over brokenness, weakness, and failure.
9. Living without limits. (Acknowledge your limits, like time, $, emotional limits, energy, etc.)
10. Judging other people’s spiritual journeys.”
See Pete’s books Emotionally Healthy Spirituality and Emotionally Healthy Leadership, or go here for more information.
Full disclosure: Pete and New Life Church were a client in the past for pastor succession, and Emotionally Healthy Discipleship has also been a client.
ONE FREEBIE – or a thing you can use
If you are an ordained pastor or commissioned worker in your tradition, don’t forget that your housing allowance should have risen dramatically in the last three years.
Too many pastors set it and forget it.
In recently working with several pastors in their succession plans, they have neglected to have their allowance reflect the actual housing costs.
I am not giving you tax or financial advice but remember: The housing allowance is the total rental value of your home, FULLY FURNISHED, PLUS maintenance and utilities.
Rental costs, furniture costs, utility costs, and other maintenance have risen since the pandemic—time to take a look at that and adjust your allowance.
Apply the “savings” towards retirement and thank me later.
If you want to get added to this resource, intended primarily for Senior Pastors, just send me an email - dave.travis@generis.com.