Personal and leadership frustrations are intertwined. The pressure comes from several directions: our insecurities, our children, our spouse, the church board. But who we are as a person ties it all together.
— Leith Anderson

Preaching that Sunday was the last thing I wanted to do.

The church where I'd been serving as a part-time associate had indicated they would put me on staff full time. A few days after my seminary graduation, however, I was terminated. The congregation held a business meeting and voted me out.

I was devastated. Charleen, my wife, and I were so anticipating seminary's end and full-time ministry. We also needed the income. Without a job, the short-term financial picture looked bleak.

The senior pastor went on vacation, and I was scheduled to speak the following Sunday, four days after receiving my pink slip. Since it was too late in the week to recruit a pinch hitter, the congregation asked me to fill in for the vacationing minister.

So I did, despite the awkwardness of ...