Warm hearted but hard nosed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the modern myths is that ministers lead sheltered lives. A person who swears in the presence of a pastor will often stop and say, \u201cOh, excuse me, Reverend,\u201d as if pastoral ears are unaccustomed to such indelicate terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If anything, pastors are more acquainted with the effects of human depravity. Each week brings situations of power, conflict, adultery, and abuse. The Seven Deadly Sins are not just sermon topics\u2014they\u2019re daily adversaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some of the toughest situations deal with people who need help but won\u2019t admit it\u2014or won\u2019t accept it. The man, for instance, who takes his wife for granted, puts his marriage on autopilot, and doesn\u2019t notice or care that his wife is starving emotionally. Or the single woman who bounces from one job (or relationship) to the next, never satisfied, always looking for something else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This book offers real-life stories of ministers who have taken the initiative with people who were not asking for help. It shows the state of the art in \u201cthe ministry of taking the first step.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n