Wisdom for life

A wise old rabbi once asked his pupils how they could tell when the night had ended and the day had begun. "Could it be", asked one of the students, "when you see an animal in the distance and can tell whether it's a sheep or a dog?" "No," answered the rabbi. Another asked, "Is it when you can look at a tree in the distance and tell whether it is a fig tree or a peach tree?" "No," said the rabbi. "Then when is it?" the pupils demanded. "It is when you can look on the face of a man or woman and see that it is your sister or brother. Because if you cannot see this, it is still night (from ministry archives--source unknown).

How do you prevent burn-out?

I am often asked the question, "How can you minister to the broken and brokenhearted without breaking yourself"? The answer is simple (although it took me many years to discover). I minister to honor and please God, never to please other people or even myself. And I serve in his strength alone, not mine. It is really nothing that I do. Actually, ninety percent of ministry is just "showing up" and being used by God. Oh, and one other thing: Don't be a rescuer. Don't work harder than the people coming for help.

Quotes from favorite authors

"To worship God is to serve him in imitation of our Savior Jesus who did not come to be served, but to serve (Matt.20:28). I believe that the temporal care of the poor is no less sacred than ecclesiastical activity. While the gathering for worship always takes precedence, the love of our neighbor must be an inevitable corollary. The duties of worship (pietas) and love (caritas) are inseparable." --John Calvin

"Mercy is not an option or even an addition to being a Christian. Instead, a life poured out in deeds of mercy is the inevitable sign of a life which has experienced the grace of God" (Tim Keller in Training for Deacons).