Posts by Jay Fowler
Spiritual Reading for Your Sabbatical
One of the things that renews our soul, quickens our minds and refreshes our spirits is reading godly, Christo-centric, material. Paul said, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his…
Read MoreRecognize Your Pastor’s Birthday or Favorite Holiday
Hello. This is Jay Fowler with a one-minute word of encouragement for your pastor. Most of us like special days like our birthdays, our anniversary, or we like special holidays like Christmas or Easter. And your pastor’s no exception. What would really bless your pastor is for you to find out his birthday and wedding…
Read MoreSupport the Vision of Your Church
Hi. This is Jay Fowler with a one-minute word of encouragement for your pastor. Leading can be lonely. And it can be hard. Sometimes, pastors feel like they’re the only one in the boat paddling as hard as they can for the vision and mission of their church. And that can be really exhausting. So,…
Read MoreManage Conflict Well
Hi. This is Jay Fowler with a one-minute word of encouragement for your pastor. Conflict is inevitable in the church. No matter how awesome your pastor is, someday, something will happen that causes a conflict. It may be his or her fault. It may be your fault. It may be somebody else’s fault. But conflict…
Read MoreWriting a Sabbatical Policy
Every church should have a sabbatical policy. The concept of sabbatical is rooted in Scripture. Every hard-working pastor who’s been at a church for a few years comes to the point where they need a sabbatical. Even secular businesses are beginning to see the need for sabbaticals. However, many churches have not thought through the…
Read MorePastors Need to Take a Sabbatical
It is tough being a pastor! It’s tough being in full-time ministry! We think its hard now, but it has always been a challenge. Look at what Paul said about his ministry, 2 Corinthians 11:23-29 (NIV) 23 … I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed…
Read MoreThe Pastor and Generosity
Most pastors aren’t paid enough. They work as hard if not harder than the people they serve, and yet their income is often below those they serve. As a result, sometimes being financially generous as a pastor is a challenge. Tithing can seem like an impossibility. We may preach the concept of tithing, but have…
Read MoreThe Ministry of Preaching Reminders
For my 30th wedding anniversary my wife gave me a smart watch. It’s called a Pebble Time. I like it a lot. One of the things I like about it is, that it gives me reminder notifications. About 30 minutes before an appointment, my watch buzzes and a notice comes up that says, “Hey, stupid!…
Read MoreWatching for the Light
The Journey through Advent to Christmas It’s getting to be that time of year when the days get shorter and it’s dark more hours than it is light. For some people, this time of year can trigger depression. In fact, according to Norman Rosenthal, MD, 6% of the US population, primarily in northern climates, is affected…
Read MoreThe Beach Ball Effect: PART 3
In the last Blog called the Beach Ball Effect, we discussed how feelings are like a beach ball. When we suppress them, it is like pushing the beach ball under the water. If those feelings are not dealt with, they pop out, usually hitting whoever is nearby when our emotions get vented. There are several…
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