Oct 13, 2016 | Calling, Career, Depression, discouragement, Fatigue, Leadership, Rest, Stress
401k plans serve as the primary retirement funding vehicle for private sector workers. The purpose of a 401k plan?f It’s a tax-advantaged savings vehicle for building your retirement nest egg. If you don’t contribute to your 401k now, if you don’t plan for your...
Oct 6, 2016 | Calling, Depression, discouragement, Leadership, Relationships, Stress, Uncategorized, Work
We are losing pastors in the U.S. at a rate of 1500-2000 every month. A 2015 Survey conducted by Expastor.com, which focused on pastoral health, explains some reasons why. Here are the highlights (actually low-lights) of their research: 81% of pastors at times feel...
Sep 29, 2016 | Family, Marriage, Relationships
Life happens fast. My firstborn son married the love of his life this past June. In a couple of days, my second born son Andrew is doing the same. Two weddings in a little over three months. And as the big day draws near, I’m feeling nostalgic. Andrew, as I...
Sep 22, 2016 | Calling, Career, Contentment, Fatigue, Leadership, Rest
Sunday September 18 was a milestone day for the Opalewski family. The campus we’re giving oversight to launched to the public. It marks the first time in more than 20 years that we’ve officially served as “pastor.” (It’s a part-time role that allows us to continue...
Sep 15, 2016 | Calling, discouragement, Fear, friendship, Relationships, Uncategorized
A famous proverb begins: “An anxious heart weighs a man down, but…” Perhaps no words ring truer for pastors than these. There’s a second part to that proverb… but I’ll share it with you in a bit. When I was a pastor—especially during my years as a lead pastor—the...