In the 1952 election, Adlai Stevenson expressed his disappointed at losing the election to President Dwight David Eisenhower. He said he felt like a grown man who had stubbed his toe. He added, "It hurts too much to laugh, but I am too old to cry."

Sometimes, as pastors, you can face situations that would be funny if it didn't hurt so much. Every pastor faces ministerial challenges and difficult people. These  circumstances can drain you of energy and enthusiasm in your service for the Lord, not to mention the stress they can place on your family life.

A wise old preacher told me something many years ago that I have tried not to forget. I asked him, "What is the greatest lesson you ever learned in the ministry?" He answered quickly, as if it took him no time to think, "The greatest lesson I have ever learned in the work of God is to never take anything said about me or done to me as being personal." He went on to say, "If it was someone else in your position, the people who treat him the same way. The ministry is not about you, it is about Jesus!"

PastorLife is here to help you minister more effectively and cope better in the work for our wonderful Lord. Keep looking up - and we hope this website helps you do that everyday!

Contact us at the following email address: mminnix@gabaptist.org.

Dr. J. Mike Minnix, Editor

www.pastorlife.com