Mad Church Disease – Day 3
One cow said to another cow: “Hey, what do you think about that mad cow disease?”
The second cow said, “What do I care, I’m a helicopter.”
I am participating in another Group Blogging Project. This time about the book – Mad Church Disease (MCD). A different blogger takes each chapter, blogs and then we all interact with one another about the book. Please join in whether you have the book or not.
Who am I? is a question I have been asking myself recently. In the joke you just read, the second cow does not who he is. Chapter three encourages us to look at our internal risk factors for MCD and analyze who we are.
Being a youth pastor I often try to come up with witty ways to remember things and love it when they start with the same letter. The four for this chapter are personality, past, parts and piety.
Personality: We need to know what our personality is. Our personality strengths can quickly become weaknesses if we are not careful. I am a contemplative, quiet person, so I keep feelings in and do not share which can lead to stress and anxiety.
Past: What has happened in our past influences who we are today and what we might potentially be at risk for in causing MCD. Having a father who is a pastor effects my life including family, ministry and how I view myself. I have recently been through some difficulties in my personal life and marriage. This will be with me as long as I live and if I am not diligent at keeping it under control could lead to MCD.
Parts: Our physical health is also an internal risk factor. We need to take care of the temple Yahweh has given us. My biggest temptation is Mountain Dew and now that Sonic is here, Route 44 Cherry Limeades.
Piety: Our daily walk with Christ and the priority that this relationship has in our life is critical and the most important in keeping MCD at bay. Because of where I have been, I committed to read through the Bible using the Daily Walk. I have read my Bible every day since January 1. It has definitely made a difference in my life, not only spiritually, but emotionally and physically as well.
Oswald Chambers is quoted in this chapter and this sums up the hope in this idea beautifully.
If you want to be of use to God, get rightly related to Jesus Christ and He will make you of use unconsciously every minute you live. 5.18 – My Utmost for His Highest
Question for discussion: What are your internal risk factors relating to the four areas of the chapter?
Check out Chapter 2 here.
Check out Chapter 4 here.
Pic – via Michelle Lyles
I know my risk factors definitely include sleep and nutrition. Between working a full time job, leading the youth, and working on my own projects, I manage to keep myself busy all the time. I end up going through periods of high output, and then a period of resting. I need to find that balance. I'm also on the move a lot because of this and therefore don't take the time to create healthy meals. They may not be unhealthy and rarely are they fast food, but they're not qualified as nutritious either, lol.
SLEEP! It is so difficult sometimes. There are nights where I get home from work and am just "slap worn-out." How is it possible for me to be able to do anything for the Kingdom like that.
WORK! Not really internal risk, but has to be said. Just last night I missed out on an opportunity to join some others from my church because I was caught at work on a deadline for a site that had to be live this morning. Changes were happening late….There was a group of folks from our church going to scout out an event that will be happening regularly in our community to see if it would be a good chance for us to have a weekly presence handing out tracts and Bibles.
MT DEW! – Just have to mention it too, because I'm staring at one right now
I had to say no to Sonic today. And Starbucks. Goodness I really want one or the other now…it is an emotional coping mechanism for me!!!
Stay strong Anne.
Personality: I am more of the Type B personality. It seems like the church staffs I have been on like to do the personality tests…so I know what I am: Myers-Briggs says ENFP. Disc test =i . People Map tells me that I am a Free-Spirit/People person. Creative/social type that now has many learned traits that fall outside of all of these classifications.
Past: For whatever reason my past has conditioned me to be a people-pleaser which equals quick and fast burnout.
Parts: I am not consistent with eating. However I view eating as a social activity and I love being social. Don't invite me to lunch if you don't really mean it because my answer will always be yes.
Piety: I am either really good at this or really bad at it. There's not really an inbetween for me and it depends on how busy my ministry schedule is as to how infrequently I am in the Word…and that's horrible…but true.
I know that I also have a tendency to go from completly calm to stressed in mere moments. This is one of the reasons I had shingles when I was 25 years old.
Wow, I continue to be challenged in some many ways! Risk factors? I don't eat right, I don't exercise, I don't share my feelings well, and I am either running around at 90 mph or stopped! I don't seem to be able to say no, consequently I am over-scheduled with some really good things, while the best things I should be doing are suffering. Thanks for the help and great insight!
Physical health is a huge internal risk factor for me. When I neglect my health I feel it in the rest of my life. I find myself struggling more with depression and with spiritual battles. This is something I am currently working on.
Johnny, I want the link to your sermon. =)