last night, i asked you what you’d like to hear if you were attending a breakout session or workshop about burnout.

“how do i say no?” was probably one of the most answered responses.

so…now i get to ask you, why can’t we say no? should we say no? how can we discern when to say no?

you are going to a conference.

you decided to attend a breakout session on burnout.

what do you need to hear in those 45 minutes?

stories from survivors? statistics? practical steps? broad things to ponder?

no stupid answers…anything is possible.

what helps you?

I just noticed my book has dropped in price to just a little over ELEVEN DOLLARS! I had no idea until I just logged in and saw it tonight.

What the heck? A hard cover for not even twelve bucks? The Amazon and Zondervan people must have gone crazy.

Even though the book doesn’t ship until until February, remember, Amazon has a price lock! If you order it now, you lock in that price. And I honestly have no idea how long it will stay at $11.55. It’s kind of like a slot machine. But not.

Just thought I’d let you guys know! Book pimping over for now! Have a great weekend.

But first…here is one last excerpt…

As much as we may want to, we can never rid ourselves from our past – the good or the bad. And regardless of how normal or even how terrible your past might be, you have experienced those things for a reason. The successes, the failures, the joy and the pain are all beautifully woven together to make you who you are at this moment.

By taking our focus off of the dysfunctions of our past, and changing it to how God can work through us using our journey as a whole – our history, our present, and our future – we are less likely to burn out. Any time we become less and He becomes more, it’s His power being perfected in us.

You can preorder the book below.

**A few Facts About the Book**

• It’s a hardcover with no jacket. Along the lines of Rob Bell books, but with a little different shape.
• It includes questions and a study guide to help you walk through your own personal journey of healing from (or preventing) burnout.
• Several leaders contributed “Second Opinions” to the book (their own thoughts on aspects of burning out and restoration) including Bill Hybels, Wayne Cordeiro, Perry Noble, Mike Foster, Gary Kinnaman, Brandi Wilson, Matt Carter, Shawn Wood, and Craig Groeschel wrote the foreword.
• It will be somewhere right around 200 pages. We are shooting for 192.
• It will be chock-full of creative artwork and design on the inside.

So all that AND more for $16.99!

This is so exciting on many, many levels. Just a little over a year ago, the website for Mad Church Disease launched and people began sharing their stories..thousands of people! Thank YOU!

Now, a year later, well…here we are! If you preorder Mad Church Disease now, with Amazon, if the price goes any lower after you order it today, you will lock in the lower price (because…correct me if I’m wrong…but I don’t think it charges you until it ships, which will be February 1, 2009).

I’d like to announce the Mad Church Disease website will be completely relaunched later this year, and will include a forum for pastors, church leaders, their families, and volunteers to dialogue and encourage each other to pursue a holy, healthy ministry.

**CASE ORDERS**

If you would like to purchase a case (40 or more books) there is a 30% discount! Please email me and I will get you hooked up.

And it would rock if you could spread the word!

Some more tidbits from Mad Church Disease. This is from a survey conducted by Ellison Research.

71% of all ministers admitted to being overweight by an average of 32.1 lbs. One-third of all ministers were overweight by at least 25 lbs, including 15% who were overweight by 50 lbs or more.

Two-thirds of all pastors skip a meal at least one day a week, and 39% skip meals three or more days a week.

83% eat food once a week that they know they shouldn’t because they’re unhealthy, including 41% who do this three or more days a week.

88% eat fast food at least one day a week, and 33% eat fast food three or more days a week.

50% get the recommended minimum amount of exercise (30 minutes/day, three times a week). 28% don’t exercise at all.

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Anyone surprised?

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EDIT: According to the center for disease control, the percentages for adults over 20 years old:

- 66.3% are overweight or obese with 32% being obese (30 pounds or more).

So it seems the pastor sub-section might be a little higher than a national average.

When someone invests into the unique call that God has placed on your church, there’s no stopping them. They’re inspired by what the future holds.

It’s vital to the health of whatever team you are leading to clearly and consistently communicate that calling with your team. God has placed you there for a reason, and he’s placed them under your care because he wants all of you to carry out this calling together.

Proverbs 29:18 says this,

“Where there is no vision, the people perish.” (KJV)

Many times, the word “vision” in this verse has been misinterpreted to mean “goals” or “plans.”

The word “vision” in this verse actually means “divine guidance” or “revelation.”

And without divine guidance, people will perish. As important as it may be to be on the same page with your goals and your plans, without relying on God for wisdom and guidance that only he can provide, your environment will fall apart.

Matthew Henry’s Commentary says, “How bare does a place look without Bibles and ministers! And what an easy prey is it to the enemy of souls! That gospel is an open vision, which holds forth Christ, which humbles the sinner and exalts the Saviour, which promotes holiness in the life and conversation: and these are precious truths to keep the soul alive, and prevent it from perishing.”

Without true divine guidance, we scatter. Our unity is broken.

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[this is an excerpt that may or may not be cut from Mad Church Disease. thought i'd give yall a little peek as i finish editing this week].