What is the most important staff position at your church? Of course, as a former pastor, I must declare that we cannot function without a pastor. But … [Read more...] about Staffing for Survival
Too Busy NOT to Stop
Over 20 years ago, Bill Hybels wrote a terrific book, Too Busy NOT to Pray. In it he challenged our passive willingness to allow busyness to muscle … [Read more...] about Too Busy NOT to Stop
Ten Insights from 30 Years of Marriage
When it comes to marriage, I chose wisely. I can readily identify with Churchill’s assessment: “My most brilliant achievement was my ability to be … [Read more...] about Ten Insights from 30 Years of Marriage
Are character and competence really that important?
I love what I do. Really. Every day is like a new adventure of learning and exploring the future of congregational and clergy life. While the future … [Read more...] about Are character and competence really that important?
Pastor, Please Stop!
Becoming an effective, emotionally intelligent pastor requires more than delivering a good sermon, making timely hospital visits, and scheduling … [Read more...] about Pastor, Please Stop!
Healing for Leadership Scars
In her work on the surprising power of vulnerability, Brene Brown identified shame as a primary source of our resistance to the risk of wholehearted … [Read more...] about Healing for Leadership Scars
An Old Treasure: The Rule of Saint Benedict and 21st-Century Leadership
“A wise scribe,” Jesus said, “is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old” (Matthew 13:52). There’s … [Read more...] about An Old Treasure: The Rule of Saint Benedict and 21st-Century Leadership
The day the Bodybuilders met the Baptists
I recently attended a national gathering of Baptists that was a stark reminder to me of the desperate need for congregational and clergy health. Some … [Read more...] about The day the Bodybuilders met the Baptists
More Wednesdays, Fewer Thursdays
How quickly our conversations can go from theoretical to all-too-real. On Wednesday, I spent a rewarding day in Tennessee on a retreat with 45 … [Read more...] about More Wednesdays, Fewer Thursdays
