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Mad Church Disease: Overcoming The Burnout Epidemic (2009)

by Anne Jackson(Favorite Author)

3.8 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

0310287553 (ISBN13: 9780310287551)

languge

English

genre

Nonfiction

publisher

Zondervan

review 1: I bought this book from a local Christian bookstore that was closing down. There were many on the shelf which I thought could mean either it A) wasn't popular and nobody bought it or B) was very popular and the bookstore felt the need to once stock many in their shop.It was kind of an impulse buy as my son ran crazy through the store. I didn't have time to scan it for reviews - in fact I barely had time to read the blurb. It was heavily discounted so I took the chance. That and a friend had been concerned that I had taken up too many things at Church plus a few extra curricular activities and therefore I was going to burnout.I was convincing myself I was burning out, but after reading this book I realised that I wasn't. Which is good. HOWEVER, I did also need to put some m... moreeasures in place to ensure that I didn't burn out in the long run.What I loved so much about this book is that it wasn't just relative to people who work in a church or ministry setting. In fact, I volunteer at church but still found it highly relatable. The information provided in this book can be adapted to any 'work' situation. There are also really helpful thought provoking questions at the end of each chapter. The book doesn't solely focus on the spiritual - there's a lot of interesting facts about stress and the human body - I felt like I was learning something and there were a lot of "aha!" moments.Anne Jackson;s character comes out in this book. She tells little stories relating to burnout which really had me hooked and eager to keep reading. She is insanely talented in her writing and I'd love to have a coffee with her and joke around - she seems like the kind of woman I'd get along with. So in conclusion - I'm thankful I picked up this heavily discounted book in an impulse buy. Five Stars for sure.(oh, and one more thing. Jackson is American, but what I thought was really cool is she pulled some of her facts from betterhealth.vic.gov.au!)
review 2: Great book on keeping God first in your life. Some of my favorite quotes:I loved Jesus, but his church was wearing me out. “the way I was doing the work of God was destroying the work of God in my life.” Craig GroeschelI gave God a choice that night (sixteen-year-olds are so smart!). Either I was going to part ways with the church entirely, or he was going to give me a way to help bring unity to the church.I didn’t have the answer. But I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I was so wrapped up in doing, I had forgotten how to simply be.If the leader is exhausted, then the people following that leader will feel exhausted. If the leader is wearing thin on hope, then people start losing hope too. If the leader gets pessimistic, everybody gets pessimistic. You see where this is going. I would hope we could find the kind of energy that comes only from the Holy Spirit so that we can sustain productive, Christ-honoring ministry over the long haul. Bill HybelsAnne, your dreams are just too big for our church. Maybe it's time you found somewhere else you can dream.I don’t do evening meetings, don’t schedule dinner meetings, and don’t have the elders meeting in the evening. We have those meetings early in the morning or at lunchtime. I get home around 5:15 every night, and that is practically set in stone. You should design your ministry around your family values. Craig GroeschelDo you run to something that only covers up your pain? Something that allows you to hide in it? Or do you run to God?“People are afraid to be amazing.” Penelope TrunkDon’t get older; get better: Live realistically. Give generously. Adapt willingly. Trust fearlessly. Rejoice daily. Charles SwindollWe cannot be dependent on ourselves and on God at the same time. When we consider the practice of rest unnecessary, we will also inevitably lose sight of the necessity of God. less

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