MY BLOG
Practical Help for Ministry Leaders
I've often felt stuck, and I imagine you have too. If so, you can probably visualize the situation. Like a beautiful apple that just sits there on the tree, almost ripe but not quite. Another day goes by, another 2 days. Then a week. It’s ready. A single drop of dew...
The time “between assignments” can be our worst. For an Enneagram 3 like me, it can be maddening, anxiety-producing and nerve-racking. Why? Because I’m not moving. I’m not producing. I’m not accomplishing. I’m not checking boxes. I’m not...
Our culture doesn’t care about Jesus.
I know, it sounds irreverent—but it’s true. The prevailing posture of our nation is rapidly equalizing on this issue, especially in a post-COVID world. As we all know, the coronavirus has only accelerated changes that were already in motion....
A lot of churches are stuck and they don’t know why.
Trust me, I know this from experience. Years ago at my church we felt like we had examined every possible cause for our “slow-to-no” growth. We attended all the best conferences, read all the best books, and used all the best...
The very fact that we’re leaders means we have to chart the course and make bold steps toward the destiny God has designed for us.
The problem is … it doesn’t always work. Change is a scary proposition for most people, and so it’s not always received with the enthusiasm...
Leading change in the church can be terrifying. No amount of advice, pep talks or planning can prepare you for the feeling that you’ve just jumped off a cliff. That’s because you know you’re trading safety and security for the dream of something bigger. You’re trading...
Their eyebrows go up every time I talk about it.
“Am I allowed to do that?” “I don’t see how I could make that happen.” “Is it worth it?”
A few years ago I had the great privilege to host two California friends for a Portland workshop called Multiply...
If you don’t get a handle on your anxiety, it’s going to eat you alive.
Especially in a season like this.
Just when it seems like the world is settling down, more chaos and turmoil and division erupt. Like clockwork. The solution to your anxiety is not waiting for things to calm down....
Making an impact doesn’t have to take a toll. As I write these words I’m in the middle of one of the “three-day study breaks” I’ve put on the calendar for this year. And let me tell you … it feels weird. I’m sitting in a coffee shop on the...
I’ve always been inspired by the leaders that seem to move from season to season gaining energy, vitality, ideas and excitement. Have you ever wondered how they do that? How do they keep up with the demands and stay ahead of growth?
The secret is, those leaders have something unique....
Leaders are most vulnerable when they are introducing change. And guess what leaders spend most of their time doing? That’s right … introducing change! It’s no wonder leadership can be intimidating.
There are a few predictable problems that often stall out, short circuit or...
My first experience at IKEA was magical. The giant, waving flags outside the massive, blue structure with yellow, giraffe-sized lettering made me feel like I was walking into a theme park.
We entered through the front door and I instantly felt drawn in. It wasn’t just because of my...
