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Harold Church, Stoughton

In the year 1653, when all things sacred throughout the land were being destroyed or being profaned this church was built for the glory of God by Sir Robert Shirley whose singular praise it was to have done the best of things in the worst of times

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1. Challenges that can come our way

ME

God

Traditional Radical

Human nature

Colleagues Authority

Family

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We cope - escape

God - stop praying

Traditional/Radical - fail to love all

Colleagues - withdraw

Authority - ignore

Family - neglect

Human nature - ignore needs

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We give way....God - fail to link God with reality

Traditional/Radical - uncritical identification

Colleagues - spend too much time on them

Authority - excessive defference

Family - into safe warmth

Human Nature - allow fantasy world to develop

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By insulating ourselves

Building a tough exterior

Adopt worldly methods of leadership

Try to control everything

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Escape

Into new work

Into fantasy

Into ‘burn out’

Into breakdown

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Acceptance

Self knowledge

God knowledge

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Idealisation

Deprivation

Compensation

Competition

Idolisation

Depression

Hope and disappointment in

ministry

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Proverbs 13.15

Can lead to oppression and depression

In every disappointment there is a vulnerability

Hope is to our spiritual well being what the immune system is to our bodies

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Hope

Hope is the joyful anticipation of the goodness of God and any area of our lives that does not joyfully anticipate the goodness of God is under the influence of a lie

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Luke 22.32

I have prayed that your faith may not fail

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What do we do?

Look to Jesus - Hebrews 12 - Mark 4.35

Jesus is holding it altogether

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Attention - listening with respect

Incisive questions - removing assumptions that limit ideas

Equality - treating each other as thinking peers/giving equal turns and attention

Appreciation - practicing 5 to 1 - appreciation to criticism

Ease - offering freedom from rush or urgency

Encouragement - moving beyond competition

Feelings - allowing sufficient emotional release to restore thinking

Information - providing full and accurate picture of reality

Place - creating a physical environment that says - you matter

Diversity - adding quality because of the differences between us

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Manage your energy - not only your time

Organisations are demanding ever higher performance from their work force - people are trying to comply but the usual method of putting in more hours has failed - they’re getting exhausted, disengaged and sick - they are defecting to healthier jobs

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The idea in practice

Enhance your sleep by setting earlier bedtime and reducing alcahol levels

Reduce stress by engaging in cardio vascular activity at least three times a week - strength training at least once

Eat small meals and light snacks every three hours

Learn to notice energy loss

Take brief breaks away from you desk every 90 - 120 mins

Physical energy

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Defuse negative emotional emotions

Fuel positive emotions in yourself and others by expressing regular appreciation

Look at upsetting situations through new lenses

Emotional energy

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Reduce interruptions by performing high concentration tasks away from phone and email

Respond to voice mails and emails at designated times of the day

Every night identify the most important challenge for the next day and make it your first priority when you arrive at work

Mental energy

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Identify your sweet spot activities - those that give you feelings of effortless absorption and fulfillment

Allocate time with the Lord to receive

Live your core values

Spiritual energy

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How companies can help

Build renewal rooms

Subsidize gym membership

Encourage managers to gather employees for midday workouts

Suggest that people stop checking emails during meetings