1 00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:08,600 Welcome to today's broadcast of lead to serve a leadership 2 00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:13,300 podcast with Ed Taylor, welcome again, to another addition to 3 00:00:13,300 --> 00:00:17,300 today's edition of the lead to serve podcast. 4 00:00:17,500 --> 00:00:19,800 My name is Ed Taylor. I'm the pastor here at Calvary 5 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:23,700 Church in Aurora, Colorado have the privilege of serving with 6 00:00:23,700 --> 00:00:28,600 many wonderful women and men in Ministry to this community and 7 00:00:28,600 --> 00:00:31,800 Beyond. This is season number four of 8 00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:36,200 our podcast and four season. Number four, we have had a 9 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:39,300 guest. I have had a guest with us as we 10 00:00:39,300 --> 00:00:42,800 talk through things 50. Yes, you heard that correctly, 11 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:48,900 50, 50 years of ministry, experience, much of them. 12 00:00:48,900 --> 00:00:54,000 Most of them as a senior pastor as a lead pastor, but almost all 13 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:59,400 of them in some sort of pastoral type Ministry, if you would 14 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:01,200 welcome again. And we want to welcome you 15 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:02,800 again, Bob. Clay Camp. 16 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:05,600 Welcome, brother. Hey, it's a joy to be a part of 17 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:07,600 this is just glorious. Yeah. 18 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:11,200 The feedback on this season has been really good, especially in 19 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:15,700 this dialogue of talking things through your point of view, my 20 00:01:15,700 --> 00:01:18,700 point of view, our point of view, and it's been really good 21 00:01:18,700 --> 00:01:22,100 to have you and the mindset that we have with the podcast is 22 00:01:22,100 --> 00:01:25,600 exactly what the name means lead to serve. 23 00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:30,100 I guess we could have called it serve to lead as well, but But 24 00:01:30,100 --> 00:01:31,900 it flowed better with lead to ideas. 25 00:01:31,900 --> 00:01:35,300 This be a good servant under the Lord, we're using biblical 26 00:01:35,300 --> 00:01:39,700 principles that is our tool. We're not the type of podcast, 27 00:01:39,700 --> 00:01:43,400 it's going to bring in all these kind of business philosophies or 28 00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:45,700 any things like that. Not that they're good or bad, 29 00:01:45,700 --> 00:01:47,400 that's just not the purpose of our podcast. 30 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:53,100 The purpose of our podcast is to distill from the word to distill 31 00:01:53,100 --> 00:01:56,300 from, maybe some successes that we've had, certainly from 32 00:01:56,300 --> 00:01:59,800 failures that we had to talk about what will make us better. 33 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:02,600 Servants, that will make us better leaders, that will make 34 00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:05,800 us better servants. And on that cycle goes, and 35 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:10,500 that's a good cycle to be in. In our last episode, we talked 36 00:02:10,500 --> 00:02:15,000 about closed doors and open doors, because just felt like 37 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:19,400 the flow of these episodes that we needed to really affirm to 38 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:22,600 you listening in that. Yes, open doors are great. 39 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:26,100 But closed doors are great too even though they are extremely 40 00:02:26,100 --> 00:02:28,700 painful. So if you're just dropping into 41 00:02:28,700 --> 00:02:31,800 the podcast right now, Because somebody recommended it to you. 42 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:35,100 I'd encourage you, we still have, I don't know how long 43 00:02:35,100 --> 00:02:37,600 we're going to have them up, but we still have all the episodes 44 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:41,500 up and you can listen from season 1, but eventually we're 45 00:02:41,500 --> 00:02:44,700 going to take down the seasons and redo them, I think. 46 00:02:44,700 --> 00:02:47,400 But they're all up there. Now, take advantage of them. 47 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:50,400 They're really. I have about, I have 23 years 48 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:53,400 experience here. I'm learning a lot like not. 49 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:56,400 I don't come to you, like, I got it all together, but I have 50 00:02:56,400 --> 00:02:59,400 learned a lot and I have made some significant mistakes. 51 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:03,800 In serving God, in the context of this church in the context of 52 00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:07,400 my previous church. And if you can learn from my 53 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:11,600 successes or failures, and you can avoid the failures yourself, 54 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:15,800 I'd say that's a good deal. Make sure that before we jump 55 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:19,400 into today's topic which is the topic of quitting, we're just 56 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:21,700 going to say, we're going to use the word. 57 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:24,900 Some of you listening in have considered quitting recently, 58 00:03:25,100 --> 00:03:28,900 especially post pandemic. Coming out of some of the 59 00:03:28,900 --> 00:03:32,600 hardest years of of ministry in our generation and the thought 60 00:03:32,600 --> 00:03:34,300 of quitting. I mean, we could always pull out 61 00:03:34,300 --> 00:03:37,200 the statistics, whatever the numbers are pastors are 62 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:41,300 quitting, passers acquitting. If it was thousands of pastors 63 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:47,400 or just one quitting in the flesh is never. 64 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:50,700 Okay. Quitting in the flesh is never 65 00:03:50,700 --> 00:03:54,000 okay, but we'll talk a little bit about that but again before 66 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:57,600 we jump into the topic, I want to remind you that your topics 67 00:03:57,600 --> 00:03:59,800 if you have something you want to hear us talk about. 68 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:04,900 Email me at Ed at Ed Taylor dot, o-- r-- g--, it has to be 69 00:04:04,900 --> 00:04:07,400 dot-org. Ed Ed Ed Taylor dot org? 70 00:04:07,500 --> 00:04:16,000 Or you can always text in 720, 60 80 0, 1 2, 7, 2 0, 6, 0 8, 0 71 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:19,000 0, 1 2, or the website. For our church here. 72 00:04:19,399 --> 00:04:20,700 I'm sure you've already downloaded. 73 00:04:20,700 --> 00:04:23,800 Our app is Calvary Co dot Church. 74 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:27,200 Calvary Co dot Church. You should download the app. 75 00:04:27,300 --> 00:04:30,100 Stay in stay in. Touch with us, especially. 76 00:04:30,100 --> 00:04:33,300 Turn on notifications because I send something out every morning 77 00:04:33,300 --> 00:04:36,600 Monday through Saturday every morning and encouragement of 78 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:39,900 some sort. We send out reminders, we send 79 00:04:39,900 --> 00:04:43,500 out encouragement so get the app turn on notifications. 80 00:04:43,700 --> 00:04:47,800 Okay, Bob, here we go quitting. All right, there's a lot of 81 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:51,300 different angles to take with quitting but let's just go ahead 82 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:55,000 and I had the definition up here a minute ago. 83 00:04:55,300 --> 00:04:57,800 I wanted to have to look it up again so let me just look it up 84 00:04:57,808 --> 00:05:02,400 again and let's talk About this definition of quitting. 85 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:08,300 According to the New Oxford dictionary, quitting means to 86 00:05:08,300 --> 00:05:13,600 leave a place. Usually permanently also means 87 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:20,200 to resign as a job or another another definition which doesn't 88 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:23,100 matter is to behave in a specified way but that's not our 89 00:05:23,100 --> 00:05:25,000 purpose. So I like this Leaf from a 90 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:28,300 place, usually permanently quitting. 91 00:05:28,700 --> 00:05:30,000 I think we have to Define our terms. 92 00:05:30,100 --> 00:05:34,500 Terms. It's never okay to quit In the 93 00:05:34,500 --> 00:05:36,800 Flesh. What are your thoughts on that 94 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:40,000 general statement? Well, I believe that there are 95 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:43,400 seasons where we are very discouraged. 96 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:48,100 What we had hoped would happen is not happening, and it's 97 00:05:48,100 --> 00:05:51,300 coming, it's becoming less, and less. 98 00:05:51,900 --> 00:05:58,800 And a lot of times people quit because they just don't see any 99 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:04,300 hope and Be behind the quitting is a loss of hope that I think 100 00:06:04,300 --> 00:06:10,700 is a core issue discouragement there, their picture of what it 101 00:06:10,700 --> 00:06:13,800 looks like or what it was supposed to look like is not 102 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:17,900 happening and where culture that likes to run from things. 103 00:06:17,900 --> 00:06:22,500 We like to cancel things out and many times we think that just 104 00:06:22,700 --> 00:06:26,100 leaving and running is going to settle it. 105 00:06:26,100 --> 00:06:29,800 But the problem is an internal problems to start with. 106 00:06:30,300 --> 00:06:35,200 And so before we do that, knee-jerk reaction, well, I'm 107 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:37,000 just going to quit that'll show them. 108 00:06:37,100 --> 00:06:40,100 Well, you're going to be, you know, at the end of the day A 109 00:06:40,100 --> 00:06:44,600 year later and you're there on food stamps and and you thinkin, 110 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:50,100 you know, was it really was that really spirit-led or was I just 111 00:06:50,100 --> 00:06:55,200 in frustration, trying to trying to punish them by me living 112 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:57,700 leaving. And so who's being punished 113 00:06:57,700 --> 00:07:04,300 though and and, and so there's It's quitting in the flash means 114 00:07:04,300 --> 00:07:08,900 that you're just doing things on an emotional reaction and not 115 00:07:08,900 --> 00:07:12,000 really thinking it through and taking time for the Holy Spirit 116 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:17,500 to lead you through the internal changes that seem to be going 117 00:07:17,500 --> 00:07:19,500 on. Yeah, I think that I was. 118 00:07:20,600 --> 00:07:27,300 I know that I've watched people quit in times of great 119 00:07:27,300 --> 00:07:30,600 discouragement, whether it's pastoring a church, Ouch? 120 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:34,700 Whether it is difficult, a Ministry in the church, whether 121 00:07:34,700 --> 00:07:38,700 it's a job and related to the season that they're in. 122 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:42,800 And one of the things that God has blessed me with moving, a 123 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:47,200 Colorado is Seasons, you know, Southern California, you don't 124 00:07:47,200 --> 00:07:50,900 really experience Seasons. All that much, except for 125 00:07:51,500 --> 00:07:54,500 beautiful and cold, and beautiful, and warm. 126 00:07:54,500 --> 00:07:56,900 I mean in, maybe rainy, every once in a while. 127 00:07:57,900 --> 00:08:02,500 But moving here to Colorado, there are four distinct Seasons 128 00:08:03,300 --> 00:08:08,100 the seasons come and they go. And for me, the season that I 129 00:08:08,100 --> 00:08:13,000 have to learn to endure of of the for is winter. 130 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:17,200 I'm not a big fan of winter or the snow or shoveling or the ice 131 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:22,500 driving on ice and you, you can make a lot of bad decisions in 132 00:08:22,500 --> 00:08:26,400 winter seasons, instead of saying, no, just understand 133 00:08:26,400 --> 00:08:29,500 this. Season's going to Mass, it will 134 00:08:29,500 --> 00:08:33,600 warm up again. I mean today it's 83 degrees so 135 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:36,500 we're heading out, I'm I'm unbelievable. 136 00:08:36,500 --> 00:08:40,200 I didn't actually get to go out much today but I'm happy that 137 00:08:40,200 --> 00:08:44,300 it's the season of winter seems to be passing with these warmer 138 00:08:44,300 --> 00:08:48,600 days in the sunnier days. But one of the a couple, a 139 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:51,400 couple things, you know, thinking this through, first of 140 00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:56,700 all, I want to talk about Elijah because I think Elijah typifies. 141 00:08:57,500 --> 00:09:02,200 The feelings that we have that can overtake us, you know, the 142 00:09:02,200 --> 00:09:05,600 pandemics really messed with us, whether we realize it or not, 143 00:09:05,800 --> 00:09:08,600 it's changed. Our thinking, we're tired more 144 00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:12,100 often, maybe we re maybe the division that's still ongoing. 145 00:09:12,100 --> 00:09:16,300 I mean, it's now we got a whole new wave of division with the 146 00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:21,200 political climate and the difficult moral climate. 147 00:09:21,300 --> 00:09:25,800 And it's just so polarizing and divisive, but Barna. 148 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:30,700 As I've mentioned before, does a lot of different surveys, a lot 149 00:09:30,700 --> 00:09:35,800 of different, a lot of different insights that they provide 150 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:39,600 statistically and I want to give you the five reasons that 151 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:44,500 pastors are giving these days. This was something in 2022, tour 152 00:09:44,800 --> 00:09:48,100 March. So about a year ago and this 153 00:09:48,100 --> 00:09:51,100 these are the top five reasons why pastors want to quit. 154 00:09:51,300 --> 00:09:54,300 Number one, the immense stress of the job. 155 00:09:55,200 --> 00:10:00,600 Number two, I feel lonely and isolated number three, current 156 00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:04,700 political divisions. Number four, I'm unhappy with 157 00:10:04,700 --> 00:10:09,400 the effect, this role has on my family and five. 158 00:10:09,400 --> 00:10:13,700 I'm not optimistic about the future of my church. 159 00:10:13,700 --> 00:10:16,600 Let me pop a couple ever other ones in there. 160 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:19,200 My vision for the church conflicts with the church's 161 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:22,900 Vision, so he can't lead. And then my church is steadily 162 00:10:22,900 --> 00:10:26,300 declining which it is happening all over. 163 00:10:26,700 --> 00:10:30,200 So there are bona fide reasons but you can see that they're 164 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:33,200 very negative and that's what we're talking about here. 165 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:36,300 Not, we're not talking about those times when it's time to 166 00:10:36,300 --> 00:10:39,500 move on number, what we were talking about last time closed 167 00:10:39,500 --> 00:10:43,900 doors, God is leading you in a new direction that the season is 168 00:10:43,900 --> 00:10:46,800 over and although it might be hard. 169 00:10:46,800 --> 00:10:48,100 You know. It's time to move on. 170 00:10:48,400 --> 00:10:52,100 It's time to try something else. It's God is closing one door so 171 00:10:52,100 --> 00:10:54,000 you can open another. We're not talking about that. 172 00:10:54,600 --> 00:10:56,800 Early. But what we're talking about is 173 00:10:56,800 --> 00:10:59,500 getting to that place of deep, like you said, Bob deep 174 00:10:59,500 --> 00:11:04,400 discouragement deep difficulty. And the example, in First Kings 175 00:11:04,400 --> 00:11:08,300 chapter 19, the example that God gives us a something like, this 176 00:11:08,700 --> 00:11:16,100 is Elijah, great Victory, on Mount Carmel, leads to Great, 177 00:11:16,100 --> 00:11:19,500 defeat in a cave. What are your thoughts about 178 00:11:19,500 --> 00:11:21,900 that? Well, I think after the 179 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:28,200 emotional, No, involvement of what happened on Mount Carmel. 180 00:11:29,700 --> 00:11:34,400 There was this last indication as he's running ahead of ahab's 181 00:11:34,400 --> 00:11:38,600 Chariot. That finally, finally, there is 182 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:42,400 Revival that's going to spark and Israel and he gets down at 183 00:11:42,400 --> 00:11:46,100 the bottom of the hill and he hears this threat from Jezebel 184 00:11:46,100 --> 00:11:50,200 saying by tomorrow I'll have your head and all the sudden the 185 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:56,600 whole expectation collapses and he goes on the run out of fear 186 00:11:56,700 --> 00:12:00,000 and he takes his servant, he takes a serpent with And, and he 187 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:04,100 drops a mop and like Beersheba, the the end of it while he think 188 00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:07,600 stay here, I'm out of here and he never comes back to that 189 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:13,500 server and again, so this guy's is waiting forever and so that, 190 00:12:13,500 --> 00:12:17,600 that depression that disappointment that deep 191 00:12:17,600 --> 00:12:22,200 sadness, so overwhelmed him. It affected his servant to. 192 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:26,800 And when we forget about, who else is affected in the fall out 193 00:12:26,900 --> 00:12:27,800 of it all. Yeah. 194 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:32,700 I like how you mention Emotional because there are facts about 195 00:12:32,900 --> 00:12:35,600 God's call upon our life. As all these episodes are 196 00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:37,800 building one another, we are affirming God's call. 197 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:40,800 We're seeing fruit in the ministry and then something 198 00:12:40,800 --> 00:12:44,000 happens and it can happen in our family. 199 00:12:44,100 --> 00:12:47,900 It can happen in our church. It seems like the emphasis and 200 00:12:47,900 --> 00:12:52,000 these top five things has been culturally the pressures been 201 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:54,700 too much. It's been super hard although 202 00:12:54,700 --> 00:12:59,400 they do mention the family. Is challenging and the the 203 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:03,800 desire to quit and we have to remember, maybe you're listening 204 00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:06,700 in right now and you're wanting to quit. 205 00:13:07,900 --> 00:13:10,400 And we want you to quit in a way that it's not from God. 206 00:13:10,400 --> 00:13:12,200 It's you personally can't do it anymore. 207 00:13:12,200 --> 00:13:15,100 You can't take it anymore. You don't want to do it anymore. 208 00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:20,800 I want to say that. I hope it's a season. 209 00:13:21,500 --> 00:13:26,000 I hope it's a season and I hope you don't make a drastic 210 00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:28,700 decision. I like to say don't make big 211 00:13:28,700 --> 00:13:34,100 decisions on bad days or make big decisions in Bad seasons 212 00:13:34,400 --> 00:13:36,300 that you would talk it through with someone. 213 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:40,100 And get through the difficult. Especially, if you're the your 214 00:13:40,100 --> 00:13:42,200 categories, I feel alone and isolated. 215 00:13:42,600 --> 00:13:44,800 I mean, it's, that's a bummer, we shouldn't be alone. 216 00:13:44,800 --> 00:13:48,900 And isolated, this whole, there is a there, is this philosophy 217 00:13:48,900 --> 00:13:51,700 business philosophy, I learned it when I was in the corporate 218 00:13:51,700 --> 00:13:56,000 world and I think it it might be swirling around in the church 219 00:13:56,000 --> 00:14:01,400 world to, but that's the phrase, It's Lonely at the Top and and I 220 00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:04,300 get it. There is some sense where you 221 00:14:04,300 --> 00:14:07,200 have unique responsibilities and not a lot of people Oh, around 222 00:14:07,200 --> 00:14:09,200 you. But if you're lonely at the top, 223 00:14:09,200 --> 00:14:15,400 that's your fault in many ways. When you are, are serving in a 224 00:14:15,700 --> 00:14:19,300 level of leadership, we have to take the kingdom mindset. 225 00:14:19,300 --> 00:14:24,500 Jesus said that the Way Up Is Down and if I'm ascending to 226 00:14:24,500 --> 00:14:29,100 some role or position, that puts me in an isolated lonely place 227 00:14:29,500 --> 00:14:32,600 where I don't have bona fide friends in my life and, you 228 00:14:32,608 --> 00:14:36,400 know, starting with my spouse and then my children and then 229 00:14:36,400 --> 00:14:38,200 some Pastors are leaders in my life. 230 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:42,300 I can just talk things through. Then part of that is on you, you 231 00:14:42,300 --> 00:14:45,600 know, and I would say that if we were to exegete this passage in 232 00:14:45,600 --> 00:14:50,300 First Kings, 19 with Elijah, why is he, why is he alone in the 233 00:14:50,300 --> 00:14:53,400 cave? Because he went there, he chose 234 00:14:53,400 --> 00:14:58,300 that he ran away, and sure it's hard and it's challenging, it's 235 00:14:58,300 --> 00:15:01,000 emotional, it's overwhelming, but let's be sure. 236 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:04,300 And let's be clear that we can make things harder for ourselves 237 00:15:04,900 --> 00:15:09,900 and not easier. By making fleshly decisions upon 238 00:15:10,200 --> 00:15:14,000 fleshly decisions. It's not Lonely at the Top. 239 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:17,400 If you ask for help and it's not Lonely at the Top. 240 00:15:17,400 --> 00:15:21,100 If you are shepherding, the flock of God that's among you. 241 00:15:21,300 --> 00:15:23,900 And you're like, wow, this is a people that I'm among that are 242 00:15:23,900 --> 00:15:27,400 causing me in the most pain will avoid them and find people that 243 00:15:27,400 --> 00:15:30,400 won't cause pain that love you and support you. 244 00:15:30,400 --> 00:15:34,300 I have a card here. I think of this precious Saint. 245 00:15:34,300 --> 00:15:36,400 I have a card right here on my desk in front of me. 246 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:40,500 It's Those things where I leave things on my desk to remind me 247 00:15:40,500 --> 00:15:44,300 on bad days, but I have a card here from Sister Jeanette and 248 00:15:44,300 --> 00:15:46,400 that's how she signed it. And I'm not going to read the 249 00:15:46,400 --> 00:15:50,800 whole thing on the podcast, but I'm just, she's a thank you for 250 00:15:50,800 --> 00:15:52,600 what you both have done for this church. 251 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:55,800 And it's a card to me and Marie. And she goes on to talk about 252 00:15:55,800 --> 00:15:58,400 just how God has used this little church in her life. 253 00:15:58,700 --> 00:16:01,400 And I know Sister suggested sister Jeanette, I know where 254 00:16:01,400 --> 00:16:04,200 she sits, I know where she's at. I know what service she came up 255 00:16:04,200 --> 00:16:07,100 after Easter. Gave me a big hug to, and, And I 256 00:16:07,100 --> 00:16:09,900 could just say that they're always sister, Jeanette's in 257 00:16:09,900 --> 00:16:14,000 your church, and there are always just, she's just an 258 00:16:14,008 --> 00:16:17,500 encouragement, she is a precious st. 259 00:16:17,900 --> 00:16:21,700 That God has sent to our church. That I know that if I feel like 260 00:16:21,700 --> 00:16:25,000 I'm taking in a Bible study, all I need to do is learn turn to 261 00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:27,400 the left and sister. Jeanette is going to be a 262 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:29,300 mening. Me she her hand is going to be 263 00:16:29,300 --> 00:16:33,200 up affirming the message because she just she's that kind of 264 00:16:33,300 --> 00:16:35,000 she's the one to lock into her head. 265 00:16:35,100 --> 00:16:36,600 Don't worry about blowing. It lock in. 266 00:16:36,800 --> 00:16:41,800 Her you get back on track and you know, I'm using you and and 267 00:16:41,800 --> 00:16:46,500 I just I felt I felt like, you know, that that's your listening 268 00:16:46,500 --> 00:16:49,100 in and you feel lonely. And I'm not saying that there 269 00:16:49,100 --> 00:16:53,600 aren't those times where we do feel alone but you don't need to 270 00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:55,500 stay there. What are your thoughts? 271 00:16:55,500 --> 00:16:57,600 Have you ever had a season where you felt like that? 272 00:16:57,600 --> 00:16:59,800 And how did you handle it? Bob, sure. 273 00:17:00,300 --> 00:17:03,400 Absolutely. I think that there's a core 274 00:17:03,400 --> 00:17:05,900 issue of losing perspective. Mmm. 275 00:17:05,900 --> 00:17:08,099 Yeah. Because I was just like, Elijah 276 00:17:08,099 --> 00:17:13,400 Elijah lost perspective because he felt, he was the only one and 277 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:17,599 the Lord said I've got 5,000. That haven't bowed the knee to 278 00:17:17,599 --> 00:17:19,099 Baal. I've got them reserved. 279 00:17:19,099 --> 00:17:21,500 I know where they are just because you don't know where 280 00:17:21,500 --> 00:17:23,099 they are. Doesn't mean I don't know where 281 00:17:23,099 --> 00:17:27,300 they are and he had lost his perspective and I'm glad that's 282 00:17:27,300 --> 00:17:31,400 in the scripture because Elijah was a man that did these Mighty 283 00:17:31,500 --> 00:17:36,600 Deeds but by the spirit of God upon him and yet, even after it 284 00:17:36,900 --> 00:17:41,000 Mendes Victory. You can have a tremendous 285 00:17:41,400 --> 00:17:45,600 depression at because you lose perspective and it does, it's 286 00:17:45,600 --> 00:17:50,000 not all about you, it's about what the Lord is doing outside 287 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:52,700 of you. Not just with you, I'm reminded 288 00:17:52,700 --> 00:17:56,200 of David and Goliath, right? That the interesting insights 289 00:17:56,200 --> 00:17:59,000 with all that battle, but one thing that David showed us as a 290 00:17:59,008 --> 00:18:03,200 young man is that he had the right perspective, we would look 291 00:18:03,200 --> 00:18:06,300 at David and think, oh, poor David, you're going to be wiped 292 00:18:06,300 --> 00:18:09,500 out your Gonna be crushed, you're going to, if we didn't 293 00:18:09,500 --> 00:18:12,600 know, the end of the story, we'd be all nervous and upset and and 294 00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:14,900 what's going to happen. But it wasn't poor David, it was 295 00:18:14,900 --> 00:18:19,200 poor Goliath because the battle wasn't between David and Goliath 296 00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:23,900 it was between Goliath and God. Yeah, perspective is so 297 00:18:23,900 --> 00:18:27,000 important. Because Fear Can quickly crowd 298 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:28,700 out any kind of faith in our lives. 299 00:18:28,700 --> 00:18:34,000 It can quickly take us from You know, when we, when we lose true 300 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:39,400 perspective, we're being set up for discouragement defeat and 301 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:42,700 ultimately destruction and you're right. 302 00:18:42,700 --> 00:18:46,000 We, you know, in these times of Seasons, especially when you're 303 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:48,700 thinking, you know, there's a silly joke, you know, we you've 304 00:18:48,700 --> 00:18:51,700 heard of Uganda, the same conferences that that I've been 305 00:18:51,700 --> 00:18:55,400 to over the years and there's always a pastor to goes up and 306 00:18:55,400 --> 00:18:59,000 says, well, you know, I wrote my resignation and it's in my 307 00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:03,900 drawer and it's ready to send in And I never really liked that 308 00:19:03,900 --> 00:19:06,200 because it's not a step of Faith. 309 00:19:06,200 --> 00:19:10,200 Don't write your resignation and have it ready to turn in when 310 00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:13,900 you're that doesn't speak of hoopa Monet, or endurance, or 311 00:19:14,800 --> 00:19:17,400 don't do that, don't speak. Don't, don't coddle your 312 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:20,200 discouragement don't make provision for your flesh. 313 00:19:21,300 --> 00:19:24,500 That difficult time doesn't need a letter of resignation. 314 00:19:24,500 --> 00:19:27,700 It needs a brother to encourage you and to remind you of your 315 00:19:27,700 --> 00:19:30,000 calling and what God wants to do in your life. 316 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:33,400 And that this is a Third season but you're going to get through 317 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:36,400 it and you don't need to be prepared to quit because God 318 00:19:36,400 --> 00:19:39,700 doesn't want you to quit. I think of that word. 319 00:19:39,700 --> 00:19:42,900 Who Pomona right where Paul tells I believe Paul was the 320 00:19:42,900 --> 00:19:48,100 author of Hebrews but Paul tells him you have need of endurance 321 00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:51,500 and I mean which one of us hasn't come to that and go. 322 00:19:51,500 --> 00:19:53,300 Yep. That's exactly what I need. 323 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:57,900 And here's what he says, Hebrews 10:36 for you have need of 324 00:19:57,900 --> 00:20:02,500 endurance Hoopa Monet so that you after you have Done the will 325 00:20:02,500 --> 00:20:06,100 of God, you'll receive the promise so he's not even like 326 00:20:06,100 --> 00:20:08,800 not even thinking about doing the will of God, you need 327 00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:11,800 endurance. So that after you like it's 328 00:20:11,800 --> 00:20:15,100 already Beyond, you are going to accomplish God's will in your 329 00:20:15,100 --> 00:20:18,300 life. And I think the purpose of the 330 00:20:18,300 --> 00:20:21,500 podcast today is just for us to say, don't quit man ask for some 331 00:20:21,500 --> 00:20:24,300 help. Don't quit because you're upset 332 00:20:24,300 --> 00:20:28,500 or discouraged or beat up or some of those things that the 333 00:20:28,500 --> 00:20:32,200 Barna report shared. I like all Oh, that's me. 334 00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:35,100 That's me whether there's help you're not alone. 335 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:38,100 Yes. And I look back over my years of 336 00:20:38,100 --> 00:20:42,900 ministry in those seasons were I wanted to quit because I have to 337 00:20:42,900 --> 00:20:48,100 confess, I've had those seasons and looking back on it now it's 338 00:20:48,100 --> 00:20:55,100 because I had lost the full perspective and I started seeing 339 00:20:55,100 --> 00:20:59,900 my own disappointment over in my accomplishments that because I'm 340 00:20:59,900 --> 00:21:04,400 kind of a perfectionist and And in my mind, I have this picture 341 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:09,600 of what success looks like. And so often it's just fashion 342 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:14,000 by the world or by comparison with others and and you're not 343 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:17,700 making the grade in your own mind and you're not resting in 344 00:21:17,700 --> 00:21:21,500 the Lord, you lose perspective and you think, well, somebody 345 00:21:21,500 --> 00:21:24,900 else should take this on because I'm, I've done everything I can 346 00:21:24,900 --> 00:21:29,100 and it and then you accuse people and you accuse yourself, 347 00:21:29,100 --> 00:21:31,500 and you accuse, your wife and your future kids. 348 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:34,100 Kids. I mean, you're just, you're just 349 00:21:34,100 --> 00:21:39,000 in a bummer and there's no, there's no fruit. 350 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:41,700 There's no lights out of that kind of a mindset. 351 00:21:41,900 --> 00:21:45,200 And if you don't pull out of it, it's going to get worse and 352 00:21:45,200 --> 00:21:46,900 worse. And then you start beating the 353 00:21:46,900 --> 00:21:52,400 Block in your messages because it's their fault that things 354 00:21:52,400 --> 00:21:54,700 aren't happening. Like, when you had mentioned 355 00:21:54,700 --> 00:21:58,500 here that the Klein, there's a vision different things like 356 00:21:58,500 --> 00:22:02,200 that. And sometimes you just got to go 357 00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:07,700 take a nap, get some rest or step away a little bit. 358 00:22:07,700 --> 00:22:12,300 Get some perspective back because when you started you 359 00:22:12,300 --> 00:22:15,700 were excited, you didn't care. How many were there. 360 00:22:15,900 --> 00:22:19,800 You were, just excited that anybody showed up and that was 361 00:22:19,800 --> 00:22:25,200 life. And after I remember 15 being in 362 00:22:25,200 --> 00:22:28,100 Scotland and his brother coming up and said, tell me what I'm 363 00:22:28,100 --> 00:22:30,700 doing wrong. I've been here 15 years and now 364 00:22:30,700 --> 00:22:33,500 I'm Back to square one. I'm doing everything myself 365 00:22:33,700 --> 00:22:37,100 people, I'm trying to raise up. They either move away or they 366 00:22:37,100 --> 00:22:39,300 get mad at me and, and it's a god. 367 00:22:39,500 --> 00:22:42,000 What am I doing wrong? You've been in the ministry long 368 00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:43,700 enough to tell me what I'm doing wrong. 369 00:22:44,400 --> 00:22:49,000 And, and I'm hearing this a lot from from people in my 370 00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:51,900 appointment, Ministry going around, helping other pastors 371 00:22:51,900 --> 00:22:59,100 and and it's just coming back in and giving perspective on God's 372 00:22:59,100 --> 00:23:04,100 calling on their life. So, how does Jesus see you right 373 00:23:04,100 --> 00:23:06,700 now? Is he disappointed in you? 374 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:10,600 Or is he is, he just full of joy that you're with him? 375 00:23:11,200 --> 00:23:16,200 And let's take it step by step here and let's break this down 376 00:23:16,900 --> 00:23:22,000 perspective. In my mind, is always a loss of 377 00:23:22,000 --> 00:23:25,100 perspective. It's always the core issue of 378 00:23:25,100 --> 00:23:28,200 starting those quitting conversations in your mind 379 00:23:28,400 --> 00:23:33,300 talking to other people praying. Coming back to getting out of 380 00:23:33,300 --> 00:23:38,000 your environment. I know that there's been a wave 381 00:23:38,000 --> 00:23:42,000 of within our Calvary family. We were never taught this or 382 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:43,800 given this direction, but there's been a wave of 383 00:23:43,800 --> 00:23:47,500 sabbaticals where guys have been running so hard for so many 384 00:23:47,500 --> 00:23:49,200 years. They've never really taken a 385 00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:53,000 break and getting that break is amazing. 386 00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:56,200 It's an amazing thing to pull back and just refresh. 387 00:23:56,200 --> 00:23:59,800 Reboot. I I've learned over the years 388 00:23:59,808 --> 00:24:03,100 that I need to take My time throughout the year, I need to 389 00:24:03,100 --> 00:24:08,600 take my time regularly, when my kids were young with my family, 390 00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:12,300 even when my kids were young with my wife, just me and her 391 00:24:12,800 --> 00:24:16,600 that I could get away, be unavailable, not check my phone, 392 00:24:16,600 --> 00:24:19,900 a thousand times a day, unplug seek. 393 00:24:19,900 --> 00:24:23,300 The Lord of focus on the people who are there in front of me and 394 00:24:23,300 --> 00:24:25,700 people that are most in and I always come back refreshed, I 395 00:24:25,708 --> 00:24:28,800 always come back. Strengthened taking a break is 396 00:24:28,800 --> 00:24:31,800 super important. I mean if it is and if it 397 00:24:31,800 --> 00:24:36,500 becomes a place where man I break his not enough or a simple 398 00:24:36,500 --> 00:24:39,800 little bit of time away, then it would be good to step away for a 399 00:24:39,800 --> 00:24:43,900 season, but guided, you know, I would, I would want you to step 400 00:24:43,900 --> 00:24:46,800 away guy, it for a guided season. 401 00:24:47,100 --> 00:24:49,500 So that you because a lot of times people would just get so 402 00:24:49,500 --> 00:24:52,900 tired and burn out and they'll step away or quit and then never 403 00:24:52,900 --> 00:24:57,000 come back and that's not good. That's not God's will, but maybe 404 00:24:57,000 --> 00:25:00,300 have somebody help you with it, you know, guide you through it. 405 00:25:01,300 --> 00:25:06,300 So that there is a sense where God can replenish you refocus, 406 00:25:06,300 --> 00:25:10,600 you strengthen you and I was reading in that that poll that I 407 00:25:10,600 --> 00:25:13,700 shared with you for Barna, we talked about the top reasons. 408 00:25:13,700 --> 00:25:17,100 Why guys are want a right pastors are wanting to quit but 409 00:25:17,100 --> 00:25:21,200 here's another list. Same poll, they describe it as 410 00:25:21,200 --> 00:25:25,600 Ministry encouragement by pastors who have not considered 411 00:25:25,600 --> 00:25:27,500 quitting. So here are those that haven't 412 00:25:27,500 --> 00:25:30,600 considered it and then they say why why haven't you considered 413 00:25:30,800 --> 00:25:32,800 It. And here's the top five, I 414 00:25:32,800 --> 00:25:37,600 believe in the value of my Ministry. 83% said that I 415 00:25:37,600 --> 00:25:40,800 believe in the value of my Ministry, and that's what you 416 00:25:40,800 --> 00:25:42,600 said, Bob, that's how we started. 417 00:25:42,800 --> 00:25:46,300 I believe that God is using me to make a difference that there 418 00:25:46,300 --> 00:25:51,900 is value in what I'm doing. Secondly, I feel a duty to stay 419 00:25:52,100 --> 00:25:55,300 and fulfill my calling into this ministry, which is what we 420 00:25:55,300 --> 00:25:58,800 talked about a couple episodes ago, finding your call stirring 421 00:25:58,800 --> 00:26:03,100 it up being obedient Thirdly postures did not and that was 422 00:26:03,100 --> 00:26:07,200 75% used. Click that box. 423 00:26:07,400 --> 00:26:14,700 Another one was I'm satisfied in my job 73%. 67% this is number 424 00:26:14,700 --> 00:26:19,000 four said my family supports me well and I would have to say 425 00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:21,600 that I have a family like that. Like all my kids. 426 00:26:21,800 --> 00:26:24,900 Yeah. My wife that we realized that 427 00:26:24,900 --> 00:26:27,400 the calling and maybe that's another episode, how many more 428 00:26:27,400 --> 00:26:30,600 episodes were like, but the calling of God is on a family. 429 00:26:30,800 --> 00:26:32,900 Lee. Not just the man it's a family 430 00:26:32,900 --> 00:26:34,800 calling. Yeah I meant it's not you mango 431 00:26:34,800 --> 00:26:38,300 do it at Emory Emory says you go do it and I'll go do my own 432 00:26:38,300 --> 00:26:40,200 thing. We can't fulfill God's. 433 00:26:40,200 --> 00:26:43,100 We we can't do it that way. It's us. 434 00:26:43,100 --> 00:26:46,100 It's we or nothing. So that's a cool one. 435 00:26:46,200 --> 00:26:48,800 And then the fifth one is this is important work. 436 00:26:48,800 --> 00:26:50,700 I've not been able to accomplish. 437 00:26:50,700 --> 00:26:52,900 There is important, work Ministry work that I haven't 438 00:26:52,900 --> 00:26:57,800 been able to accomplish yet. And I know that if I had to add 439 00:26:57,800 --> 00:27:00,600 1 to this list, I would say in the seasons. 440 00:27:00,800 --> 00:27:04,800 I've wanted to quit because I have had a few times where I was 441 00:27:04,800 --> 00:27:09,700 done, just done and directly related to some of the conflict 442 00:27:09,700 --> 00:27:12,800 with my son's passing and all this. 443 00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:16,400 The difficulties surrounding that, that still exist, part of 444 00:27:16,400 --> 00:27:19,400 that. Just like, and I know that one 445 00:27:19,400 --> 00:27:24,000 of the reasons that I didn't quit is that the Lord affirmed 446 00:27:24,000 --> 00:27:26,300 to me, the seasons going to pass at you. 447 00:27:26,500 --> 00:27:29,500 You're feeling like it right now but you'll get through this, 448 00:27:30,100 --> 00:27:33,400 you'll get through this. This, this will pass and you 449 00:27:33,408 --> 00:27:36,500 know, a lot of these same ones I believe there's value in God 450 00:27:36,500 --> 00:27:39,900 using me, I want to fulfill the call of God on my life. 451 00:27:39,900 --> 00:27:42,100 I want to finish. That's another way of saying I 452 00:27:42,100 --> 00:27:45,700 want to finish. Well I don't want to fall to the 453 00:27:45,700 --> 00:27:47,500 Wayside. I don't want to trip along the 454 00:27:47,500 --> 00:27:51,000 way but we're out of time again. Bob what a great conversation. 455 00:27:51,400 --> 00:27:54,400 Wow. Okay good any final things that 456 00:27:54,600 --> 00:28:00,200 yes I think that many leaders and pastors are afraid to take 457 00:28:00,400 --> 00:28:02,500 us. Radical because they're afraid 458 00:28:02,500 --> 00:28:05,100 that they won't be let back in. Yeah. 459 00:28:05,500 --> 00:28:09,400 And fear fear becomes a major factor in and that's where you 460 00:28:09,400 --> 00:28:12,600 need some outside. Help to help navigate that and 461 00:28:12,600 --> 00:28:15,700 point in, you could share real quick info about your role 462 00:28:15,700 --> 00:28:19,600 employment and maybe give some contact information about what 463 00:28:19,600 --> 00:28:22,300 how to get ahold of how to contact you directly. 464 00:28:22,500 --> 00:28:25,000 Yeah. The Pastor said apart 465 00:28:25,000 --> 00:28:28,900 appointment Ministry at our long long time, Calgary pastors. 466 00:28:28,900 --> 00:28:32,000 And we just want to come alongside side and assist in and 467 00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:36,200 help. And if you're considering taking 468 00:28:36,400 --> 00:28:39,700 a sabbatical because of how many years you've been doing this, 469 00:28:40,200 --> 00:28:43,100 then we'd like to help you set up some parameters and 470 00:28:43,100 --> 00:28:47,000 guidelines and also communicate healthy boundaries. 471 00:28:47,400 --> 00:28:52,000 And so you can contact us at pointman ministries.com. 472 00:28:52,200 --> 00:28:58,000 Po ime n ministries.com and one of the pointman pastors or 473 00:28:58,000 --> 00:29:02,200 myself can begin. Conversation and see where it 474 00:29:02,200 --> 00:29:04,600 can go. And if you're in Ministry, just 475 00:29:04,600 --> 00:29:08,800 serving, maybe you're a mom that's fed up at home or you're 476 00:29:08,800 --> 00:29:13,500 a CEO or I mean, any role that's where the family of God comes 477 00:29:13,500 --> 00:29:15,700 in, there is a uniqueness with pastors and there's a 478 00:29:15,708 --> 00:29:19,700 uniqueness, especially with leadership, senior pastor even 479 00:29:19,700 --> 00:29:23,100 within an elder run churches, there's a pressure put upon the 480 00:29:23,100 --> 00:29:25,800 elders that maybe you feel inadequate for you're the one 481 00:29:25,800 --> 00:29:29,000 that keeps having to deal with everything that's where the body 482 00:29:29,000 --> 00:29:31,700 of Christ comes in. And if you Really have no one 483 00:29:31,800 --> 00:29:34,500 that you think that you can ask for help, you can just contact 484 00:29:34,500 --> 00:29:38,700 us will serve you pray with you. We probably don't have all the 485 00:29:38,700 --> 00:29:41,700 answers you're looking for but we can encourage you, we can 486 00:29:41,700 --> 00:29:45,100 strengthen you, we can pray with you, we can be available to you. 487 00:29:45,100 --> 00:29:49,900 We're a big resourcing church so we can resource you and point 488 00:29:49,900 --> 00:29:53,900 you in the right direction books to read or studies to listen to. 489 00:29:53,900 --> 00:29:58,000 But I am grateful for the longevity of the ministry that 490 00:29:58,000 --> 00:30:01,800 we've been called to and the the longevity Of, you know, the 491 00:30:01,800 --> 00:30:04,600 leading in the the strength of the holy spirit. 492 00:30:04,600 --> 00:30:06,800 So whether you're a senior pastor pointed Ministries, 493 00:30:06,800 --> 00:30:11,500 Pastor Bob in the team, they're truly trustworthy super helpful 494 00:30:11,800 --> 00:30:16,700 or within the context of your church family asked for help. 495 00:30:16,700 --> 00:30:19,600 That's the key you may and if you don't know where to ask for 496 00:30:19,600 --> 00:30:22,600 help email us you can email me, email me directly. 497 00:30:22,600 --> 00:30:27,700 Ed Ed Ed Taylor dot-org? It has to be dot-org Ed at Ed 498 00:30:27,700 --> 00:30:30,500 Taylor dot org or website Calvary. 499 00:30:30,700 --> 00:30:33,800 Co dot church. That's the website for the 500 00:30:33,808 --> 00:30:36,700 podcast as well. And then you can always text 501 00:30:36,800 --> 00:30:47,900 7206, 0800 127 2060 80012. I hope you are encouraged by the 502 00:30:47,900 --> 00:30:50,400 lead to serve podcast. Leave us a route, positive 503 00:30:50,400 --> 00:30:53,700 review, subscribe, subscribe, subscribe. 504 00:30:53,700 --> 00:30:56,700 And then forward this on to somebody, if everybody just 505 00:30:56,700 --> 00:31:00,300 forwarded on to one person exponentially, the audience 506 00:31:00,300 --> 00:31:02,000 would Oh, and just forward it on. 507 00:31:02,000 --> 00:31:03,600 I was I was listening to something. 508 00:31:03,600 --> 00:31:06,600 Well, actually wasn't a podcast. I was listening to a Bible. 509 00:31:06,900 --> 00:31:10,700 I was podcasting a Bible study and I was driving and I just 510 00:31:10,700 --> 00:31:14,600 said, Hey Siri, send this to so and so and and he, and it sent 511 00:31:14,600 --> 00:31:19,300 it amazingly, so it's that easy forward it on. 512 00:31:19,400 --> 00:31:21,100 So some folks can be encouraged again. 513 00:31:21,100 --> 00:31:24,000 Thanks Bob for being with us, you bet, you listening to the 514 00:31:24,000 --> 00:31:27,900 lead to sort of podcast, connect with us until next time. 515 00:31:27,900 --> 00:31:30,500 The Lord bless you. Encourage you in. 516 00:31:30,700 --> 00:31:34,300 And by his spirit, thank you for joining us for this episode of 517 00:31:34,300 --> 00:31:37,800 lead to serve with Pastor Ed, Taylor, a leadership podcast 518 00:31:37,800 --> 00:31:40,800 from Calvary Church in Aurora. Colorado, if you have a 519 00:31:40,800 --> 00:31:43,600 leadership question, you want to hear answered on a future lead 520 00:31:43,600 --> 00:31:47,600 to serve podcast, please email it to Pastor Ed at Calvary Co 521 00:31:47,600 --> 00:31:51,700 dot church and if you like our podcast Please Subscribe rate or 522 00:31:51,700 --> 00:31:54,700 review us on iTunes and share us with your friends on social 523 00:31:54,700 --> 00:31:57,000 media. Thanks again for joining us and 524 00:31:57,000 --> 00:31:59,700 we'll see you next time right here on the lead to serve 525 00:31:59,700 --> 00:32:00,500 podcast.