Council of Counselors: Women on Church Staff / The Church and Me Too / Burnout Culture / Wrong Assumptions / Brain-Changing Exercise

This is a weekly post that highlights resources from other counselors that I have found helpful. The counselors may be from the biblical counseling, Christian psychology, integration, or secular counseling traditions. By linking to a post, I am not giving it my full endorsement, I am merely indicating that I believe it made a unique contribution or raised an important subject for consideration.

Five Reasons to Include Women on Your Church Staff by Michael Kruger

What I am arguing for here is that, as a church grows, hiring additional pastors should not be the only option considered. There are other types of paid staff that bless the ministry of the church, including ministry roles filled by women. Hopefully this post will at least put that option on some folks’ radar screens. OK, so here are five reasons to consider hiring women on staff.

• If you enjoyed this article you will probably also appreciate this article by Katie Persinger – Above Reproach, Not Unapproachable.

Abuse, the Church and Me Too with Elyse Fitzpatrick (Podcast) by Chris Moles

• As we think about how we address abuse in the church, I believe this article is important- Why We Should Always Teach Romans 13 with Romans 12.

Grace-Paced Living in a Burnout Culture by David Murray

Although no two burnouts are the same, as I’ve counseled increasing numbers of Christians through burnout, I’ve noticed that most of them have one thing in common: there’s a deficit of grace. It’s not that they don’t believe in grace. Many of them are well-grounded in “the doctrines of grace.” Many of them are pastors and preach grace powerfully every week. The “five solas” and the “five points” are their theological meat and drink. Yet grace is missing in five vital areas. There are five disconnects between theological grace and their daily lives.

• If you realize you need to address burnout after reading this article, consider my podcast “Burnout: Not the Purple Heart of Ministry.”

You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know: Three Wrong Assumptions by Robert Jones

While the Bible gives us absolute truths that apply to every person, no two people are the same. Heather’s experience is not the same as any personal experience you had, any case study you read or heard about, or any person you previously counseled. Heather is Heather, and no one else. Counsel Heather.

• If this article reminds you of your need to grow in listening in such way that allows you enter another person’s life, consider this article How to Listen Well: Marital Communication 101 (which applied to more than marriage).

The Brain-Changing Benefits of Exercise by Wendy Suzuki

What’s the most transformative thing that you can do for your brain today? Exercise! says neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki. Get inspired to go to the gym as Suzuki discusses the science of how working out boosts your mood and memory — and protects your brain against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.

• In the opening segment of the seminar on depression, I examine a myriad of things – like exercise – that benefit our brain health.

What I’m Reading

Tweets of the Week

Meaningful Meme

On the Lighter Side

Because, “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones,” Proverbs 17:22.