From Joel Greenwood: Youth Pastor, Fairview Missionary Church

I know that this isn't going to be the first time you have ever heard about this topic, but it's importance merits repeating often.

A doctor who is sick cannot take care of his/her patients. As youth ministers, it is way to easy to get involved in doing good things that we forget to do great things. C.S. Lewis says that it is easy to get rid of the hurtful things in our lives in order to focus on the best things, but it is much harder to not allow great things to get in the way of doing the best things. Ministry is a great thing, but taking care of our personal health is the best thing.

Have you ever been in an airplane? If you have, you remember the speech the flight attendant takes you through about the seat belts and other things. The one that stands out to me is that they make it clear that if the cabin loses pressure and the oxygen masks come down, you are supposed to put yours on before you help anyone else.

Now it might seem like a heroic thing to run around the plane and help as many people as possible with your last breath, and it would be, but how many people could you help ...20, 30, if you were really good? What if you put on your mask first and were able to walk around with it? You could save everyone on the plane!

I want to encourage you to make sure your personal relationship with Jesus Christ takes priority over your ministry.

I had the opportunity this week to get alone with God in the woods for a three-hour chunk of time and it was more refreshing than anything else. I feel re- energized to do ministry, be a better husband, and a better father!

Take time to make sure you are healthy this week, even if it is a couple hours of solitude with God!