I'm More Than the Pastor's Wife: Authentic Living in a Fishbowl World [Paperback]

Lorna Dobson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2003

Lorna Dobson knows firsthand the struggles and joys of being married to a pastor---and the questions, not the least of which is, 'What is a 'pastor's wife,' anyway?' As her poll of hundreds of women reveals, the wife of a minister is rarely the piano-playing, committee-leading stereotype. With humor, disarming genuineness, personal stories, and wisdom rooted in Scripture, Dobson cuts through the labels. 'How I live has little to do with whether my husband is a pastor; rather, my life reflects my growth, or lack of it, as a Christian.' In this revised edition of I'm More Than the Pastor's Wife, she includes new perspectives as a grandparent, soon-to-be empty-nester, and speaker. Here are frontline insights on -Making friends and cultivating personal support outside the church -Learning to handle expectations and pressures -Balancing time and using your gifts -Supporting your husband and growing closer to him -Prioritizing prayer for your husband, family, and church -Knowing your capabilities and limits -Dealing with 'problem people' and church conflicts . . . and much more!

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Lorna Dobson knows firsthand the struggles and joys of being married to a pastor—and the questions, not the least of which is, "What is a ‘pastor's wife,’ anyway?" As her poll of hundreds of women reveals, the wife of a minister is rarely the piano-playing, committee-leading stereotype.

With humor, disarming genuineness, personal stories, and wisdom rooted in Scripture, Dobson cuts through the labels. "How I live has little to do with whether my husband is a pastor; rather, my life reflects my growth, or lack of it, as a Christian." In this revised edition of I’m More Than the Pastor’s Wife, she includes new perspectives as a grandparent, soon-to-be empty-nester, and speaker. Here are frontline insights on · Making friends and cultivating personal support outside the church · Learning to handle expectations and pressures · Balancing time and using your gifts · Supporting your husband and growing closer to him · Prioritizing prayer for your husband, family, and church · Knowing your capabilities and limits · Dealing with "problem people" and church conflicts . . . and much more!

About the Author

Lorna Dobson is a member of Calvary Church, Grand Rapids, MI, where her husband retired as senior pastor after 18-1/2 years.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (March 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310247284
• ISBN-13: 978-0310247289
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #496,543 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lorna Dobson is a member of Calvary Church, Grand Rapids, MI, where her husband retired as senior pastor after 18-1/2 years.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't Put It Down, July 9, 2005

By 

Heiser Family "Heisers" (Everett, WA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I'm More Than the Pastor's Wife (Paperback)

At first, I really didn't like this book, but I found I couldn't put it down. The more I read, the more I appreciated it. Now I recommend it to all of my seminary wife friends who are married to future pastors. The author shares so much practical experience , I appreciated her desire to share her viewpoint on her role as a pastor's wife.
Some of my favorite parts: "Sorting the Laundry" Mrs. Dobson states, "Working through the responsibilities and commitments of our lives determine who and what comes first is a little like sorting the laundry: you wash the whites and colors seperately, but when you dress, you combine the colors with whites." And also, "No person is pain -free or trouble-free. If we were we could not be effective ministers." And finally, she shares and amazing section on "Caring for My Body" - I appreciate the new insights she shares on caring for the Physical well-being of our bodies (the vessels God uses for His work) with a biblical perspective!!

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars inside look and humorous, April 7, 2000

By 

inez parish (Ohio, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I'm More Than the Pastor's Wife (Paperback)

This book was revealing in the sense that I had no idea how congregations demand things of the clergy. L. Dobson is humorous in her writing and appears to have an intelligent attitude to being a pastors wife. The many anecdotes are as funny as most pulpiteers.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT Book for a pastors wife in training!, August 28, 2008

By 

Idieh74 (WA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: I'm More Than the Pastor's Wife: Authentic Living in a Fishbowl World (Paperback)

Bought this book to use with a friend whose husband has just started Bible college to be a pastor. It's written in a way that makes the reader feel that she is sitting on the author's couch listening to her tell her stories. I highly recommend it!