First Things First Keepin It Real

"I am not the Christ."-- John the Baptist 1

Keepin’ It Real...Keepin’ It Real...Balancing Life and My Balancing Life and My

MinistryMinistry

Presented to thePresented to theLos Angeles/San Diego/LasLos Angeles/San Diego/Las

Vegas District Vegas District Ministers’ and Minister’s Spouses Ministers’ and Minister’s Spouses

RetreatRetreat

Janet GloydJanet GloydPresenterPresenter

"I am not the Christ."-- John the Baptist 2

DevotionDevotionGod blessed the seventh day and God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from his work of day when he rested from his work of

creation.creation. Genesis 2:3

ReflectionReflection Am I keeping the Sabbath by planning Am I keeping the Sabbath by planning

a time in my schedule for adequate a time in my schedule for adequate rest?rest?

PrayerPrayer Lord of the Sabbath, help me to make Lord of the Sabbath, help me to make

rest and refreshment a priority, and rest and refreshment a priority, and free me from the need to be free me from the need to be

indispensable.indispensable.

"I am not the Christ."-- John the Baptist 3

My Spiritual AuditMy Spiritual Audit

The most important element to the The most important element to the spiritual audit is ones desire to want spiritual audit is ones desire to want one. Our lives are a mixed bag in one. Our lives are a mixed bag in need of regular review to sort out need of regular review to sort out those things which put us off those things which put us off balance. balance.

An audit is more than a statement of An audit is more than a statement of conditioncondition. . It is also an indication of It is also an indication of spiritual potential for balanced living spiritual potential for balanced living and for our mission.and for our mission.

You cannot put a number on the audit You cannot put a number on the audit as with a manufacturing plant, as with a manufacturing plant, where an actual weekly figure can where an actual weekly figure can be placed on employees' morale. be placed on employees' morale. This is much more subjective. This is much more subjective. Prayerfully, this is always a work in Prayerfully, this is always a work in progress. Coming to balance and progress. Coming to balance and maturity is such a slow progress.maturity is such a slow progress.

"I am not the Christ."-- John the Baptist 4

Answer the following questions:Answer the following questions:

1. Am I content with who I am becoming?1. Am I content with who I am becoming?

2. Am I becoming less religious and more 2. Am I becoming less religious and more spiritual?spiritual?

3. Does my family recognize the 3. Does my family recognize the authenticity of my spirituality?authenticity of my spirituality?

4. Do I have a flow-through philosophy?4. Do I have a flow-through philosophy?

5. Do I have a quiet center to my life?5. Do I have a quiet center to my life?

6. Have I defined my unique ministry?6. Have I defined my unique ministry?

"I am not the Christ."-- John the Baptist 5

7. Is my prayer life improving?7. Is my prayer life improving?

8. Have I maintained a genuine awe of 8. Have I maintained a genuine awe of God?God?

9. Is my humility genuine?9. Is my humility genuine?

10. Is my "spiritual feeding" the right diet 10. Is my "spiritual feeding" the right diet for me?for me?

11. Is obedience in small matters built into 11. Is obedience in small matters built into my reflexes?my reflexes?

12. Do I have joy?12. Do I have joy?

"I am not the Christ."-- John the Baptist 6

Benefits of Work Life Benefits of Work Life BalanceBalance

Beloved, I pray that all Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you may go well with you and that you may be in and that you may be in good health, just as it is good health, just as it is well with your soul. well with your soul. – – III John 2III John 2

Wellness, wholeness, Wellness, wholeness, abundant life is the will of abundant life is the will of God for all God’s people.God for all God’s people.

"I am not the Christ."-- John the Baptist 7

Is your Christian life in-balance or Is your Christian life in-balance or out of balance? Are you banging out of balance? Are you banging around and making a lot of noise around and making a lot of noise or are things running smoothly in or are things running smoothly in

your life?your life?

"I am not the Christ."-- John the Baptist 8

Let Us Review Some Things I Let Us Review Some Things I See As Necessary for Balance See As Necessary for Balance

and Peace of Mindand Peace of Mind

Core values Core values DreamsDreams Family Family Exit plan Exit plan Financial Financial Friendships Friendships

"I am not the Christ."-- John the Baptist 9

Fun Fun

Interests Interests

Physical Health Physical Health

Relationships with Relationships with others others

Society Society

"I am not the Christ."-- John the Baptist 10

Health data on a sample of Episcopal clergy Health data on a sample of Episcopal clergy compiled by the Mayo Clinic cover a wide range of compiled by the Mayo Clinic cover a wide range of health assessments, including psychological and health assessments, including psychological and physical indicators.physical indicators.

Data from the Episcopal clergy sample of 646 respondents were Data from the Episcopal clergy sample of 646 respondents were compared to a much larger “benchmark” sample of individuals compared to a much larger “benchmark” sample of individuals from all organizations that use the Mayo Clinic Health Risk from all organizations that use the Mayo Clinic Health Risk Assessment (HRA) online service. An analysis of the data Assessment (HRA) online service. An analysis of the data identifies striking difference between the two groups in key health identifies striking difference between the two groups in key health risk areas.risk areas.

Warning signals Warning signals in key medical in key medical conditionsconditions

More stress More stress reportedreported

Significant Significant prevalence of prevalence of

depressiondepression

"I am not the Christ."-- John the Baptist 11

Analyzing and Taking Analyzing and Taking Control of the Balancing Control of the Balancing

FactorsFactors Core ValuesCore Values

What’s most important to us?What’s most important to us?By living By living Your Core ValuesYour Core Values, not only are you more , not only are you more

successful you enjoy your success more. You also successful you enjoy your success more. You also achieve your outcomes with less effort and conflict.achieve your outcomes with less effort and conflict.

DreamsDreams What do we dream about? What do we dream about?

What do we want to splurge What do we want to splurge on?on?

FamilyFamily Is the “business” allowing us Is the “business” allowing us

time with family?time with family? Exit PlanExit Plan

Retirement – Now at a Retirement – Now at a mandatory age. What do you mandatory age. What do you want to do?want to do?

Financial PlanFinancial Plan How much do we make? How How much do we make? How

much should we save?much should we save?

"I am not the Christ."-- John the Baptist 12

FriendshipsFriendships Are we spending enough time Are we spending enough time

with people who are important with people who are important to us?to us?

FunFun Are we still having fun at work?Are we still having fun at work?

InterestsInterests Do we have the time and Do we have the time and

resources to do things we resources to do things we enjoy or to develop God-given enjoy or to develop God-given talent?talent?

Physical HealthPhysical Health How can we maintain our How can we maintain our

health? Do we have all our health? Do we have all our business in order?business in order?

SocietySociety Are we giving back to our Are we giving back to our

community?community?

"I am not the Christ."-- John the Baptist 13

Finally...Finally...

Imbalance occurs when we Imbalance occurs when we don’t examine our most don’t examine our most deeply held values, when we deeply held values, when we have no clear vision for our have no clear vision for our lives, and when we don’t live lives, and when we don’t live our lives according to our lives according to seasons. seasons.

People who are purpose-People who are purpose-driven know that some driven know that some seasons of life will require seasons of life will require huge amounts of energy in huge amounts of energy in one area.one area.

"I am not the Christ."-- John the Baptist 14

Balance TriangleBalance Triangle

Each piece is part of the Each piece is part of the balanced life. With all other balanced life. With all other factors fitting within the factors fitting within the equal sides.equal sides.

Work

Spirituality

Play

"I am not the Christ."-- John the Baptist 15

Closing PrayerClosing PrayerHoly God, be in my mind,Holy God, be in my mind,

that I might let go of all that diminishesthat I might let go of all that diminishesthe movement of Your Spirit within me.the movement of Your Spirit within me.

Discerning God, be in my eyes,Discerning God, be in my eyes,that I might see You in the midstthat I might see You in the midst

of all the business that fills my life.of all the business that fills my life.Loving God, be in my heart,Loving God, be in my heart,

that I can be open to those I love,that I can be open to those I love,to those with whom I shareto those with whom I share

ministry and to the whole human family.ministry and to the whole human family.Gracious God, be in that grace-filled Gracious God, be in that grace-filled

silencesilencethat lies deep within me, that I might live that lies deep within me, that I might live

in Christin Christas Christ lives in me.as Christ lives in me.

Amen.Amen.