Boundaries: When to Say YES, When to Say NO, To Take Control of Your Life by Henry Cloud and John Townsend (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1992). 304 pages.

Since our focus in this first edition of “Church Over 40 e-News” is YOU, the person called to lead renewal in an older congregation, we offer this book as a survival guide. In Boundaries the authors challenge our tendency to work too much, neglecting important relationships and our health in the process. “We need to set mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual boundaries for our lives to help us distinguish what is our responsibility and what isn’t.” (p. 25)

Proverbs 4:23 warns, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.” We have seen many promising renewal processes derailed by leaders with boundary issues. These leaders failed to guard their hearts, with devastating consequences for themselves, their families, and their congregations.

Boundaries can help you set and maintain healthy boundaries and deal with common boundary problems. We read and discussed the book with a group of pastors, and they all found it beneficial. One said, “I’m almost 50 years old, and I would give anything to have known these things 30 years ago!” Ah well, we grow too soon old and too late smart. Chapter 5, “Ten Laws of Boundaries” is a wonderful primer on developing healthy relationships with God and others. A video curriculum is available for group use; you may wish to use it with your team or leadership group. Scripture is woven into the main ideas of every chapter. Leaders with healthy boundaries can guide their congregations to greater health and vitality. Start with you!