While spending time with Perry a few weeks ago he shared 8 steps Pastors should take to get out of the drained zone and into the dream zone.  Perry also wrote a great post a while back titled the Pastors Pain.

Here are the 8 steps:

1.  Get a schedule that works for you.

  • “I don’t recommend meetings on Mondays.”
  • “Monday mornings, I get up when I want to get up.”
  • “I’m more creative when I’m rested.”
  • “You set your agenda.  Do not let anyone else set your agenda.”
  • “Stop trying to be a freaking hero that works 75 hours a week.”
  • “Don’t apologize for it.”
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2.  Establish a sustainable preaching schedule.

  • Aim to speak 40-42 weeks per year.
  • Try not to speak more than 7 weeks in a row.
  • Plan a preaching calendar.
  • Get your leadership team to hold you accountable.
  • “your church needs your leadership more than your preachership.”-Craig Groeschel
  • normal people forget your message within 24 hours.
  • What our people will remember us for is how we led not how we preached.
  • Don’t let people make you feel guilty about not preaching.

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3.  When you take time off, take 2 weeks off in a row from preaching.

4.  Learn to disconnect and relax.

  • Have a date night with no cell phone.
  • Hang out with the kids with no cell phone.
  • Vacation with your wife one week out of the year with NO Kids.
  • Do something fun.
  • Read Books
  • Attend Conferences

Hawk the Slayer psp
(more tomorrow)

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