If you are not sure how to answer that question, use this to help you make an honest evaluation of your life and ministry.

Workaholics have damaged and destroyed more families than alcoholics, especially among leaders in the local church. I meet pastors all the time who work incessantly at building God’s house while ignoring their own. All the while they justify their long hours with phrases like “this is just a season and will not always be like this” or “God has given me a big assignment”. Meanwhile, back home, their spouses and children get what is left over at the end of the day.

How do you know if you have become addicted to work and performance? What are the signs that you may be out of balance? Here’s a few to consider.

•1. You have not taken a full day off from ministry in more than a month. When was the last time you turned off your phone and refused to check work emails for an entire 24-hour cycle?

•2. You have not taken more than five days of vacation in a long time. Five days is what it takes for me to detox from the demands of ministry. I cannot even rest and regenerate until the sixth day. If all you have taken are a few days here and there, your physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual tanks will eventually run dry.

•3. You feel guilty for not attending every event at the church. When was the last time something significant happened at your church and you stayed home instead of attending? I know this will be shocking news to you, but your team is capable of doing stuff well without you looking over their shoulders.

•4. You have a high turnover on your team. Workaholics demand the same performance from those around them as they do of themselves. Typically, workaholics hang around each other, like alcoholics, and enable each other to continue their destructive behaviors. All those who cannot keep up with the frenetic pace are quickly discarded.

•5. You are constantly frustrated that you are not growing fast enough. Workaholics are obsessed with numerical measurements of growth. Even when attendance is growing, it is never fast enough for workaholics. Their identity is wrapped up in performance and results, instead of the internal spiritual maturity that is most important to God.

I was once a workaholic and it almost cost me everything. I am guilty of all five symptoms listed above, but I have been restored to a balanced life that allows me to work hard at the church I love while not sacrificing my family on the altar of ministry. Be diligent at your job, using your time wisely, but remember to rest well, stop feeling guilty for the occasional nap, and spend time alone with God. Talk to Him about stuff in your heart instead of what is happening at the church building. It works, believe me.

From the blog by Brady Boyd

TUESDAY, JULY 20, 2010

MONDAY, JULY 19, 2010

We had a pleasant surprise when we met up with our host pastor this morning. We had planned on doing street programs as we had done every other day, however he told us we had the opportunity to go to a local High School. Though some people in government were saying no Christian groups were allowed into the schools, this principal opened the doors to us.

When we arrived at the public school we found the kids on their "recess" (about a 45 minute break between classes). They were all out in the common area outside and several were playing volleyball. After watching for a few minutes we asked if we could play and they were excited to accommodate.

We played volleyball with them for quite some time (they have different rules - ie: no 3 hit limit) after which the English teacher asked if we could play basketball with some of their guys. We were happy to accommodate. The sports interaction helped to build a relational bridge with the students and was of course fun at the same time.

Our team divided into three groups and went into three separate rooms. This allowed for a little closer interaction and dialogue with the students. We talked about life in the US and allowed them to ask questions. They wanted to know what snow felt like. They were also interested to know what we did at school if we weren't allowed a "recess" between our classes as they have.

We found that our cultures are quite the same. We all like sports and music. Some like school and some don't. Most of us use our phones for texting, and just like us, they get in trouble for texting in school too.

Another similarity in our cultures is that teenagers must make choices every day. These choices affect us and the people around us. As we talked about these choices we told the kids that the most important choice we will make in our life is if we will follow Jesus Christ. It is not about what church they go to, but if they have made Jesus the Lord of their life. We told them that every one of us had already chosen to follow Christ with our lives and invited them to do the same. In almost every classroom when we asked for a show of hands of those who wanted to follow Christ we had a strong response.

The pastor was very pleased with the progress and connections our team made. The English teacher said of all the groups he's had come into his class over the years, he felt ours was the best.

Total, we were in front of 8 different classes. We played volleyball, basketball, boys "soccer" and girls "soccer."

After lasagna for supper most of the team joined at the pool for some fun games and our ever popular synchronized diving.

We look forward to having a strong last day of ministry on Tuesday.

I just received the Jan-June BGMC Giving report and I'm excited to see we are ahead of our total compared to last year over $31,000. However, I don't want to get into a comfortable state that BGMC will just continue on without additional creativity and passion from you - the leader.

Please consider the following ideas to help your kids continue to make a difference for BGMC.

Have a decorate your buddy contest - have each kid come on Sunday with their barrel full and decorated. Have a contest and award for the heaviest (only money inside, and whatever else outside).

Help get pastors and business men at our fundraising events
- Pierre Pheasant Hunt (flyer) in September
- Mexico Deep Sea Fishing Trip (flyer) in January 2011

Once you arrive at the event location all of your expenses and activities are covered provided you make a commitment to raise/contribute funds to BGMC over the next few weeks. The projects for the Pheasant Hunt start at $1,200 and in Mexico they begin at $5,000.

We are working on finalizing our list for both of these events now - please email me the names of pastors and business men who have confirmed.

Set your own faith goal.
- Christie and I are setting a faith goal for BGMC and invite you to join with us to lead your kids in that way.
- When you make a goal you speak about BGMC with more passion and understanding because you know what the kids are experiencing as well.

Do something insane!
- We've seen people shave heads (Brian Anderson in Hill City)
- Swallow Gold Fish (Ashley Anderson)
- Sky Dive (in other districts)
- Take the Polar Plunge (me next Feb if we raise the money)
- Live on top of billboards or buildings (in other districts)

Would you be willing to look foolish and lay it all on the line to raise some money for missions?

Talk with your pastor about a Sunday offering.
Set up a date now for later in November/December to invite the adults to match what the kids have raised and given throughout the year.

Be creative.
We serve a creative God. I know he'll give you your own ideas to make a difference for BGMC!

SATURDAY/SUNDAY JULY 17/18, 2010

FRIDAY JULY 16, 2010

This morning we arrived at our first ministry location ready to minister in a school only to find that the government just passed a law that schools were not allowed to have religious assemblies during school time. We prayed that God would move in spite of this ruling and some way open the door for us to reach the school children.

As we began our first program with about 30 children. Midway through our second song we began seeing uniformed children walking by. A few leaders invited them over and many stayed for the presentation and received Christ as their Savior.

This was the first miracle of the day. God didn't open the school for us to enter, instead, He brought the students to us.

After lunch we loaded the bus for our third program of the day. As the driver attempted to start the bus we heard a clicking noise. The starter was not working. As the driver and some of the El Salvador men started troubleshooting our team gathered and asked God to work a miracle.

Within minutes the bus started and we were off for our third of four programs for the day.

We ministered in a city called Wasopa (spelled something like that) in some new locations where the church was hoping to connect with some children to start another outreach location. These programs were successful today!

Our day ended by stopping at a local shop for chocobananos. These frozen treats are a standard treat of the kids in El Salvador. We figured for $0.10 each we could splurge and treat the entire team. :) It was a great treat.

Supper included steak, tortillas, rice, and beans. A favorite for sure.

If the rain/lightning stops we'll be taking another dip in the pool! :)

If your ministry is looking for a weekend opportunity that can fit into your budget. Source Ministry's Urban Immersion Trips can provide a unique, eye opening experience of missions in the urban setting of downtown Minneapolis. Source has been reaching out to the marginalized, skeptical, and homeless youth since 1995.

"Our goal is to be a Missional Community embracing the lambs and looking for the prodigals who want to return home; existing at the crossroads of culture providing hospitality and impacting this hurting, skeptical, and diverse culture through prayer, urban outreach, the Fallout Arts Initiative (Fallout Urban Art Center & Art Co-op), transitional homes and Urban Ministry Training."

Compassion 48: Urban Immersion Trips create exposure, hands on experience and interaction that reveals the reality of the needs in Minneapolis. Processing with staff who have years of experience and currently live and work in the city. This allows uniquely impacting processing times with groups - a powerful experience that you will never forget.

Working in the most diverse neighborhood in the country:
- Poverty - homeless shelters & the cities largest homeless meal within 4 blocks
- Internationals - over 100 languages spoken within 1.5 miles
- Arts - MCAD, Mpls Institute of Arts, & Children’s Theatre across street

Workshops, Trainings, & Outreaches:
- Shelters, food shelves, drop-ins, and free meals
- Creative presentations, testimonies, and video documentaries
- What does the Bible say about the poor?
- "How to connect with individuals"
- "What can we do, right here, right now?"
- Holistic Impact: "what can I (or my church) really do?"
- Worship, prayer, processing, "How to impact your own neighborhood”

www.sourcemn.org

THURSDAY JULY 15, 2010.

Today was our first full day of ministry and the team did fantastic. We are working in Apopa which is about 30 minutes outside of San Salvador. Though most of the team was struggling to remember what the motions were to the dramas and songs they did an outstanding job.

Their energy level has been up the entire time and their attitude says "let's make this one the best yet." They've been working hard, sweating a lot, and chugging a lot of water.

During one of the programs today we learned of a woman who has cancer in her womb, we were able to pray for her and believe God is working on her behalf.

We concluded the night with team devotions and taking a dip in the pool. It was a welcome refreshment from the long day in the sun.

We look forward to our ministry tomorrow.

Our training day went very well. In the morning we learned several song routines including the all new Mi Rey Jesus. This staple song was totally remixed this year and is done with all new choreography. The team did great paying attention to learn the moves to that and other songs. We also learned some fun dramas and some great ministry routines.

After we completed our training it was time for a dip on the pool and lake/volcano. The water was a nice refresher from being hot and sweaty as we learned the routines. Supper provided a great cheeseburger supper followed by time in the prayer fortress.

At the prayer fortress we spent some time "laying down the weights that so easily entangle" so that we can "race toward the finish" unhindered. There was a great prayer time last night and we are excited to see how the Holy Spirit will direct us when we are out in ministry today.

Pray for the team today as our first programs always feel a bit uncertain as we try to remember the moves to the songs and understand the flow of ministry.

Everyone here is healthy and doing good.

Thanks for your prayers.

Mark