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Leading On Empty
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MSRP: $19.99
Price: $14.00
You Save: $5.99 (30 %)
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| 10 or more | $12.60 |
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Wayne Cordeiro found himself paralyzed by burnout. He had been in
ministry for 30 years, and 10 years after founding what is now the
largest church in Hawaii, he found himself depleted. Wayne took a
season out of his growing ministry to recharge and refocus on the truly
important. He was able to get back in touch with his life, get back in
proper balance, and re-energize his spirit through Christ in a way that
propelled him forward to greater levels of service. Pulling no
punches, Wayne talks about the walls leaders must break through and how
to move on with integrity. Included are ways to care for oneself
physically and emotionally as well as spiritually.
From the Inside Flap
Are You Leading on
Empty? It was a balmy California evening. I had gone for a jog before I
was to speak at a leadership conference. I still can't recall how I got
there, but I found myself sitting on a curb weeping uncontrollably. I
couldn't tell if it took place suddenly or gradually, but I knew
something had broken inside. I remember lifting my trembling hands and
asking out loud, "What in the world is happening to me?" I had been
leading on empty. That incident began a three-year odyssey I could
never have imagined. It was a journey through a season of burnout and
re-calibration that would radically change my lifestyle, my values, my
goals, and even adjust my calling. Are you leading on empty? If you're
a church or ministry leader, you probably identify with Wayne
Cordeiro's experience of being overwhelmed by the demands of ministry.
At times you may find yourself depleted of energy and longing to escape
the constant pressure. In Leading on Empty, Wayne Cordeiro candidly
shares his experience with the hope that it will encourage others
headed down the same path. He was able to get back in touch with his
life, get back in proper balance, and allow God to reenergize his
spirit in a way that propelled him forward to greater levels of
service. Learn from his experience how you can continue a fruitful
ministry. Better yet, take advantage of Wayne's helpful advice early on
and avoid burnout altogether.
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Product Reviews
| (2 Ratings, 10 Reviews) |
Average Rating:
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For Leaders and Laymen
Kimfurd
(Alabama)
5/8/2009 5:01 PM
"Learning the difference between a concern and a responsibility may save your ministry, your family, and your sanity." (p. 74)
Leading on Empty is a book filled with common sense ideas about living a life intentionally and effectively without burn-out. If burn-out has already occurred in your life/ministry, then Leading on Empty will serve as a guide to come out of the darkness that comes with emotional/physical burn-out. This book was written by a pastor for others that serve in ministry full-time, but I think it teaches a practical approach to living that can be applied to any vocation and to any believer's life.
Cordeiro uses his own time of burn-out and depression to take the reader step-by-step through ideas and Bible principles that bring the right things into focus and allow any believer to live their lives RICH in family, their marriage and their relationship with God. I think it is important for the lay person to realize that pastors are sinners saved by grace just like they are, and that even though they are called to lead other believers, they are still vulnerable to human weakness, exhaustion and yes, even depression. Even though I am not in ministry leadership, I have worked closely with those who are, and I think they would appreciate the information and common sense ideas found in Leading on Empty.
Cordeiro encouraged leaders to focus on the things in life for which there is no compromise. The focus begins in God's Word, and goes on to include taking care of your own health, your family and your marriage. I love the SOAP acronym for Bible Study that he suggests! (I actually do this myself!) S - scripture, write it down; O - observation, write down what this scripture is saying to you; A - application, make personal application in your own life; P - prayer, write down your requests/ conversation with God.
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Realistic & encouraging - mostly for senior leaders
Becky Laswell
(Austin, TX)
5/8/2009 4:57 PM
I read "Leading on Empty" in less than two days! Wayne Cordeiro's narrative is engaging, his descriptions of burn-out are realistic, and his motivations to get help are inspiring. He uses more analogies than I prefer, and his solutions seem to target one type of leader, but overall it's a very readable book that should help people.
The early chapters were most helpful. Through realistic examples and teaching from Scripture, Cordeiro covers the warning signs for depression and burnout, then addresses how he recognized those in himself and sought help. I've worked in ministry leadership for about 7 years, but I'm not a senior pastor. I could see myself and others in his examples. These chapters could be read by Christians who are leaders in business/etc. though they'll have to re-frame ideas to fit their situations.
I was mostly craving practical suggestions. I found a few in the later chapters, but these chapters (even more than the earlier ones) seem to be written from the perspective of a Senior Pastor. Since that's not my role, these chapters were a little unsatisfying. I had to constantly filter his writing thru my situation, which was a little frustrating.
I'd love to see a revised edition that offers general principles (alone, without drawing applications for pastors just yet). Then, add chapters for overcoming burnout from three different perspectives: senior church leaders, other church staff, and also lay-leaders (or Christians leading in business settings). These groups all experience burnout that impacts our churches/families, but solutions are different (i.e. we can't all take an extended sabbatical).
Overall, while the final chapters left me a little unsatisfied, I'd still recommend the book highly. If you're a church staff member, even if you aren't the "senior" leader, this book is worth reading to be more familiar with the problem of burnout.
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Lead and Live Fully!
Rod Shimabukuro
(Honolulu, HI)
5/8/2009 4:56 PM
Having been a leader in the marketplace for over 10 years and an associate pastor for over 20 years, I will never lead or live life on empty, if I practice the principles Wayne pens in this book. One honorable advantage I have to succeed in this endeavor, is watching Wayne in action as a pastor on his staff. Trust me, you are receiving innovative tools and a vault full of rich, life changing wisdom from this book. You will never have to worry about leading on empty if you read, meditate on and live by these life transforming principles! Lead and live life to the full!
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Highly Recommended
Mark L. Edwards
(Ipswich, Australia)
5/8/2009 4:55 PM
I highly recommend Wayne Cordeiro's book - his narrative on `Leading On Empty" is funny, intimate, personal and very confronting. This book is an excellent read - full of practicalities for anyone who leads in any capacity. Cordeiro's writing style ensures that you are on his very personal journey with him - my friends who have read it feel the same way I do.
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Significant!
Neil Johnston
(Eugene, OR)
5/8/2009 4:54 PM
I would have finished 'Leading On Empty' in 2-3 days but my wife picked it up after Day One. She is a homeschooling mom of 6 and involved in the Foster Care system where we live (we've had a handful of children placed with us in the past 18 months). She's also a pastor's wife. 'Leading On Empty' gave her handles to describe the depletion in her own life and the very real danger of burnout for our family.
Having finished the book myself, she and I now have some common language to help one another along and to fight for our family.
For me, the second half of the book was like the first. Every page was significant! Even the quotes from famous people and the 'Reflections' from other leaders added weight and inspiration to Wayne's message. I pray that I am wise enough to implement the lessons learned through Pastor Wayne's life (as vividly described in this book). The insight and practical suggestions are all here, but I am the only one who can choose this intentional way of living for my life and ministry.
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