WANTED::one columnist

>> October 29, 2010

CLUTCH needs a critic.

Often, we get requests to review new resources, new books, new music albums or artists, and even new family movies. 
We'd like to be able to do it, but our main bloggers are already fully committed. (And yes, occasionally it all makes us a little insane!) 

So we are looking for someone new, who would be willing to take on the role of reviewing stuff. And writing about it. 

This writer needs to be a young PW or ministry wife, willing to critique content based on biblical principles and values, keeping the interests and needs of CLUTCH's specific audience in mind.

Minimum frequency would be two posts per month, more if you like. 

If you're interested, write us at clutchtalk [at] gmail [dot] com for more details.  Tell us about yourself, where/what kind of ministry you and your PH are doing, and why you think you'd be a good critic.

© CLUTCH, 2009-2010 unless otherwise sourced.
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the dream

>> October 28, 2010

When you were younger, what did you dream of?

What was in your heart for you to become? Are you living that dream today? When was the last time you sat back, relaxed, and began to dream? The dreams God gave you were not meant to just ponder, but live out. Today I encourage you to "Live the Dream!"
If it's starting a Women's Ministry in your church, but you feel a lack of confidence, step out!

Have you been wanting to go back to school to finish a degree but are worried about how you are going to continue to support your husband in his calling? Talk to him about it. Pray together and see what God would have you all to do.

Is your dream to be a stay-at-home mom, but the finances just don't seem to add up? Ask the Lord for innovative ideas. He can make a way where there seems to be no way.

Maybe you have wanted to embark on the adventure of homeschooling, but you aren't sure where to begin. There are tons of resources out to assist you in finding the right method for you and your family.

Perhaps your dream involves saving for a vacation or a marriage get-a-way to strengthen the relationships in your family?

Don't complain about what you tolerate. Instead, start today and make a change. Take a step towards "Living the Dream!"

Share

© CLUTCH, 2009-2010 unless otherwise sourced.
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digging into devotions - a miniseries (Heidi Rogers Melton)

>> October 26, 2010

This is part of a mini-series featuring profiles of PWs about their devotional life and how they spend quality time with God. 


Heidi Rogers Melton
Tennessee
  3 kids, ages 16, 13, & 7
Spending time with God begins for me at 5:30 in the morning while everyone else is sleeping, usually for 45 minutes. 
I accomplish so much more in the day when I start the day right. It has become a non-negotiable for me. 
I read a daily devotion and my Bible. I'm the earliteen/youth class teacher at church, and a counselor for Pathfinders. 
In addition to being a mom, and the pastor's wife, I serve on the regional Women's Ministries committee, and I'm the NE Tennessee area coordinator for Women's Ministry leaders in our denomination.

Share what you do to get personal time with God in a comment below!





© CLUTCH, 2009-2010 unless otherwise sourced.
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through the pain

>> October 20, 2010


You may be out there today hurting at a level so deep, many do not understand. Maybe you have gone through a tragic loss, were betrayed by the one closest to you or are experiencing the worst financial situation you have faced to date.

I want you to know you are not alone.

While others may not know what you are going through, God does. While others may not feel the heartache you are experiencing, the Lord knows. Life has a tendency to throw serious curve balls; completely unexpected. I want to encourage you today that whatever you are going through, God is going to pull greatness out.

Look past your pain and focus on the Word of God. Even if you feel you have been run over by a truck and all you can utter is "one word", close your eyes and utter the name of "Jesus."

I'm reminded of the hymn, I need thee... Lord, I need thee, every hour I need thee... it's Him that can heal your heart, your mind, your emotions and hold you like none other.

When you're "in ministry" there is not always the opportunity to talk to someone about what's going on. I encourage you today, through your pain, put some worship music on and talk to Him - the author and finisher of our faith, the Balm of Gilead. There is purpose in your pain, look for it, don't waste it.

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EMPOWER CONFERENCE 2011

>> October 19, 2010

If you live in the Dallas TX area, or if you've been looking for a PW conference to attend next year, check this one out.

The EMPOWER CONFERENCE 2011, hosted by Devi Titus and the Global Pastor's Wives Network, offers a variety of speakers, workshops and entertainment especially for PWs.

It's taking place next February, at the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas. You can find out more and register online here: http://www.gpwnempower2011.com/.


 If you've ever been to a GPWN conference before, we'd love to hear about your experience.

© CLUTCH, 2009-2010 unless otherwise sourced.
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digging into devotions - a miniseries (Nancy Witt)

This is part of a mini-series featuring profiles of PWs about their devotional life and how they spend quality time with God. 


Nancy Witt
Georgia
3 grown children, 3 grandchildren
How do I make it happen? First thing in the morning is when I love spending time with my Lord most. I get up 2 hours before any appointment and pray, read the Bible and/or a devotional book or study a specific topic. 
 
Often throughout the day, as time permits, I listen to sermons I've downloaded from the internet. That seems to keep Jesus as my focus during the day. Before going to bed I usually have a short devotion and prayer. 
 
Years ago I committed to spend as much time or more with my Saviour than I do watching or listening to TV or Radio. It has proven to be a real blessing.
 
Besides being married to the preacher, I'm involved with Women's Bible Study, Vespers Coordinating, Spotlight on Bible Ministry, giving away gospel books at the Flea Market on weekends. I also give Bible Studies during the week and do PowerPoint presentations for the Worship Service each week to help the service flow smoothly. 
 
Spending time with my Lord is always the highlight of my day.
 
Share what you do to get personal time with God in a comment below!

© CLUTCH, 2009-2010 unless otherwise sourced.
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CATALYST 2010 update

>> October 15, 2010

In case you've never heard of it, Catalyst is a multi-denominational Christian leadership conference held in Atlanta every October. This year, more than 13,000 leaders and pastors from all denominations gathered together to worship, learn, and fellowship.

This year was the first time I've gotten to go, and I think more of us should be there next year! I'll be honest, I only made it to the first day (this pregnancy has got me too tired and sick all the time to marathon through both days). But I believe that I heard what God brought me there to hear.

Andy Stanley, from North Point Church, gave the opening lecture. He wasted no time getting down to business and challenging our addictions to appetite. All kinds of appetite. Not just gluttony, or sex, or fame. He nailed the deeper ones, too. The insidious ones that disguise themselves as "spiritual desires". Stuff like, longing for more responsibility, wanting to be envied, lusting for more visibility.

You know the times when we say things like "God, I could serve you so much better if my church were just BIGGER!!!! And wealthier. And...."

He brought us back to the story of Isaac and Esau. When Esau was so overwhelmed by his hunger, so focused on his stomach, that he voluntarily traded his entire birthright for a bowl of stew. Because appetite makes you focus on one thing until everything else goes blurry, even when that thing isn't good for you. You HAVE to have it.


If your leadership decisions are dictated by your appetites, sooner or later you WILL trade your future for a bowl of stew.
It got me really thinking. Made me want to pray Paul's prayer of contentment (Philippians 4:10-12) - no matter where I am, no matter what my circumstances. God, make me content!
 
Of course, it doesn't mean that you don't want your church to grow, or that you don't want your family to be healthier, or that you wouldn't like to be able to pay all the bills - at the same time! But it does mean that we won't go lusting after what God hasn't given us right now.

I needed to hear it. And I'm glad I went.

© CLUTCH, 2009-2010 unless otherwise sourced.
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dear abigail::what about over-sharing, blackmail, and witchcraft?

>> October 13, 2010

Dear Abigail,
I'm writing with emotion after a conversation with my husband, so please bear with me. A lady in our town prayed for a bible-believing pastor to come, for about 20 years.

Not long after we moved here (my husband's first pastorate after seminary), she heard of him and realized her praying had worked. Here he was: God's gift to her. She is a very dedicated Christian and very spiritual, I have no doubt. But she has tried some things that make me feel enraged.

My husband happened to mention in passing that we own some of the Harry Potter books and movies. It does not bother us. I do not believe that by reading well-written FICTION that I am going to start holding seances instead of bible studies. She believes that having it in our house is holding him back spiritually and blessings are not coming because of it.

She proposed to give us a large amount of money for student loans IF we agreed to several of her terms: including getting rid of anything Harry Potter, reading a book on Spiritual Housekeeping, and more. After counseling with other pastors and mentors, we declined her offer. They advised that if she wants to give money as a gift without strings that would be fine, but not with a list of conditions.

The issue has now come up again. This morning she told my husband that she cannot continue to worship under him unless he gets rid of the Harry Potter. He keeps thinking to the verse in Corinthians (forgive the paraphrasing) about when a weaker brother struggles with something, we should give up that something as well. I always thought that this teaching meant "if you go out to dinner with a good friend who's an alcoholic, don't order a drink". Not "if a parishioner thinks the color on the walls is detrimental to our spirituality, change it"!

I'm quite upset about this. I truly feel that she is acting in an un-Christ like manner. I don't think my husband is a worse Christian or a worse pastor because of a novel that sits on our shelf. I'm worried about where this could lead.

Does this mean we remove all things magical, like The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe? Do I get rid of every book written by a non-Christian author? Do I refuse to let my best friend of over 20 years in our house because she is recently divorced? What happens if we choose to homeschool our soon instead of sending him to the "blue ribbon public school" in town?

I feel that if we decide to get rid of certain things, like Harry Potter, it should be our choice of what's best for our family and our house, not because someone has a different opinion. I hate the boundary this lady has crossed into our personal life and I hate the rift this is driving between me and my husband. We have a very good marriage and I certainly don't want something like this to change that.

Thank you, dear Abigail, for your listening ear.

Sincerely,
Veronique

Dear Veronique,

This woman's actions have obviously got you steaming, and for good reason. Pastoral families often face tougher "private" choices than any parishioner, because of our life in the fishbowl.

I see three separate issues in your letter: the sharing, the blackmail, and the material. Let's deal with the sharing first.

At the beginning of ministry, many young pastors (and wives) have grand notions of being totally  open with their new congregations. There is lots of buzz about transparency in ministry today. Now I would never urge you to be two-faced, or secretive, or opaque to the people in your church. We need to be consistent, trustworthy ministers of integrity. But families who have pastored for a few years will almost all tell you that they had to learn to keep family information at home - with the family.

Your husband probably had no idea that his passing mention of Harry Potter would cause such a firestorm. And you can't always know what will trigger such reactions. But there is a cultivated art to learning how to be warm, friendly, approachable and interested in people - without over-revealing the details of your family's private life. You never know what some people will do with personal information about you. Discretion is often the better part of wisdom as a pastor's family. You know the text: "Be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves." (Matthew 10:16)

Now, about the blackmail.

It is never okay for a church member to hold your husband, his ministry, or your family hostage based on their personal opinions and convictions. You would never do that to them, right? The offer of money in exchange for gaining control over your family life is completely unacceptable. You were absolutely right to graciously decline her offer.

When she came back, saying she could no longer worship under your husband's leadership, I'm sure that hurts. But it is still her choice. Your husband can not, and should not, sacrifice his integrity just to make her stay. If he can say, in his heart, that he has done everything appropriate to encourage her to stay, and she still chooses to leave, then he needs to be at peace that God will sort it out in His time.

Caving to her forceful manner and spiritual extortion will only open your family and your ministry to all kinds of manipulation and distortion in the future. Acts 5:29 is especially applicable here: "We ought to obey God, rather than man."

And finally, the material.

While I would strongly urge you not to make lifestyle choices based on intimidation from church members, when someone raises a lifestyle question that challenges you it's always wise to be SURE that your choice is okay with God.

Many might disagree, but I do not believe that Harry Potter and CS Lewis fall into the same category. You shouldn't be in any danger of needing to toss out The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. CS Lewis openly acknowledged that his allegories were designed to illustrate the gospel for children, and his use of witches is always aligned with their evil role against Aslan, the Lion who is Christ.

Harry Potter, on the other hand, even though it is a novel - portrays witchcraft as being a good, desirable thing, as long as it is used for good purposes. Each book gets progressively darker, and it tantalizingly familiarizes children with sorcery, making witchcraft seem as innocent as any other hobby or pastime.

Both the Old and New Testaments speak strongly against all forms of witchcraft, leaving no room for fictional enjoyment of it. Deuteronomy 18:10-11 says "Let no one be found among you who... practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead."

Galatians talks about witchcraft too, lumping it in with some pretty ugly sins like immorality, debauchery, fits of rage, orgies, etc. Paul says, "I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:19-21) Acts 19:19 says that people who came to believe in Jesus publicly burned everything they had about witchcraft, including their books and scrolls.

No one can dictate your conscience, and the lady in your church obviously has a controlling and un-Christlike attitude. But while you conscientiously reject her manipulation, prayerfully be sure that God isn't asking you to go ahead and make a different choice for reasons of his own.

~ABIGAIL


© CLUTCH, 2010 unless otherwise sourced.
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digging into devotions - a miniseries (Clara Lou Johns)

>> October 12, 2010

This is part of a mini-series featuring profiles of PWs about their devotional life and how they spend quality time with God. 


Clara Lou Johns
Georgia
2 grown sons, both also pastors
This is my current devotional practice although I have tried many other methods throughout my life.  This plan has been most meaningful for me.

I prefer to have my devotional time in the morning, first thing, before I do anything else.  My mind is clear, refreshed and the house is quiet.  No phones ringing, nobody in the house is yet stirring, and it is peaceful.  Since the children are gone, I chose a comfortable chair in the guest room that has a floor lamp positioned next to it for good lightening.  I keep my devotional paraphrase Bible there and a devotional book that I have selected from our library.

I begin with a short prayer for the Lord to draw near and open my mind to His truth.  I want this to be a time of spiritual growth for me personally.  I have been reading the Bible through from Genesis to Revelation completing it in about 1 ½ years, then I start again.  I will usually read 2 chapters from the Bible and approximately 2 pages from a spiritual book.  

As I am reading, I am writing down things from both sources for which I want to praise God. I write down things that I want God to do for me in my personal spiritual growth, and another short list of things I need him to transform in my character.  I also write down the prayer requests that come to my mind while I am studying and things for which I am thankful.

By the time I finish my study I have a prayer list in front of me that includes:
  • Praising God, 
  • Petitioning God for specific requests, 
  • Asking for God to help my spiritual experience with Him, 
  • Areas of character weakness that I recognize only He can change, and 
  • Thanksgiving for things that He has done for me.  
Pastor & Clara Lou Johns
I usually list about 4 things in each area, except the Petitions.  That can have as many as are brought to my mind.  I then use this list to pray and talk out loud to God and turn it into a conversation with the Lord.
Starting my day like this keeps life in perspective.  I ask God to help me view life from His bigger perspective and then I give to Him the burdens I am carrying because He has said His burden is light, His yoke is easy.
Here's an EXAMPLE:  For years I had a tendency to worry about every problem that occurred with the people in the church. When I started asking God to remove this worry, fear and anxiety from my character, He did so day by day.  I know He took care of it because I have such a different response to these issues now, and the worry part is gone. Praise God, His word teaches us and His love reaches us through this personal time with Him.
Share what you do to get personal time with God in a comment below!

© CLUTCH, 2009-2010 unless otherwise sourced.
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Women in Ministry - Lisa Osteen Comes

>> October 8, 2010

I would like to introduce you to our friend Lisa Osteen Comes. She is the Associate Pastor at Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas under the leadership of Pastors Joel and Victoria Osteen.

Last week she spoke to some of the nations leading Pastors at a Champions Network meeting, where we were in attendance. During lunch, I told her I was going to share her key points with you here on CLUTCH; I hope you enjoy!

1. Jesus was full of the Spirit
2. Jesus was led by the Spirit
3. Jesus walked in the power of the Spirit
4. Jesus always spent time alone with God
5. Jesus majored on 3 things: preaching, teaching and healing
6. Jesus was a people person
7. Jesus was a Man and Minister of compassion
8. Jesus ministered with authority
9. Jesus spoke with gracious words
10. Jesus had favor with God and man

What I love about Lisa is that she knows she is called into ministry, embraces her call and walks in it. She was trained under the leadership of her father the late John Osteen and continues to glean from her remarkable and amazing mother Ms. Dodie.

I know the majority of you are PWs vs. women in ministry, but nevertheless I want to encourage you to use this as an outline to pray for your husbands and their staff.

Confess over them that they have favor with God and man. Pray that when they speak, they use gracious words. That as they minister, they minister in authority. That they spend time alone with God and are led by His Spirit. As a PW you can be your husband's chief intercessor and biggest cheerleader. I know things aren't always easy at home, but make a change starting today.

God has anointed you, appointed you, to be married to your man and walk in the leadership mantel that comes with being a PW.

You can even use this prayer outline for yourself. Thank the Father that when you speak, you speak with compassion, that you love people just as Christ did. I look forward to hearing from you and how God is prompting you to be more like HIM!

I love you & I am praying for your success!

© CLUTCH, 2009-2010 unless otherwise sourced.
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Are you here?

>> October 7, 2010




'Cause it all starts in less than 5 minutes!

© Sarah K. Asaftei, 2009 unless otherwise sourced. Use allowed by express written permission only.

(Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone.)

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CATALYST 2010




Right now, I'm sitting in traffic, as we drive to the Gwinnett Arena to attend CATALYST 2010.

When my PH attended before, I was either recuperating from a car accident or 10 days away from giving birth. Obviously, both excellent reasons to stay home...

But this year I'm going along too! I'm mentally repressing my horrid nausea (yes, our clan is destined to become 4 instead of 3, next spring), the grandparents are babysitting, and here we are!

Are you here too? Did you cone with your PH? If you did, don't be shy - I'd love to meet you! I'm the brunette in black pants, black and white jacket and kiwi green scarf (to match the seasick shade of my skin, hah). And I'm with the extraordinarily good-looking European pastor. :)

Come say "Hi!"


© Sarah K. Asaftei, 2009 unless otherwise sourced. Use allowed by express written permission only.

(Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone.)

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digging into devotions - a miniseries (June Burn)

>> October 5, 2010

This is part of a mini-series featuring profiles of PWs about their devotional life and how they spend quality time with God. 

June Burn
Michigan (originally South Africa)
2 grown kids, 4 grandkids
My ministry is praying for others and giving encouragement to those in need and also helping people in need - widows, young mothers, elderly, children - whoever God puts in my path!  Just being a disciple!

I discovered that to begin making time with the Lord was like beginning exercises - you start doing a little at a time.  Just 10 minutes to start with, and then gradually I became more and more interested in my quiet time so that now one hour is barely enough!.  This means going to bed earlier so I can get up earlier, but the incredible joy I receive makes it so worth it!
When I began, I had no clue what to do.  So I knelt down and asked God to lead me, and He very vividly brought to my mind 1 Corinthians 13.  Since I love journaling, I studied the chapter through verse by verse with all the cross references.  
These days I include several books that I enjoy reading just a paragraph or page at a time and I also choose a book in the Bible to study - I'm doing Genesis at this time and always a Psalm.
After reading, I have a journal where I "talk" to the Lord about what I have read, and I pray over it asking God that the theory I'm learning may be practiced in my life, which brings joy!  Then I have a separate journal where I go through a list of names of those people I'm praying for.
The only time I can do this is from 5-6 AM.  At the end of the day I literally say "Amen" because off and on throughout the day I often decide to meditate on the verses, and the portions I read from the various books. 
I find when I am battling with a negative thought that replacing it with meditating over my devotion drives that negative thought out the back door!
Share what you do to get personal time with God in a comment below!

 

© CLUTCH, 2009-2010 unless otherwise sourced.
Use allowed by express written permission only.
Tweets, trackbacks, and link sharing encouraged.
 

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