Twenty Core Values to Guide You (in tough times)
Here are twenty core values that guide me every single day. Especially in tough times. 1. Remember your call. When things get tough, remember why you chose to do what you do. 2. Keep your primary relationships strong 3. Tend your soul 4. Get better every day 5. Add value to the lives of others.Continue reading “Twenty Core Values to Guide You (in tough times)”
Thinking About Returning to On-Site Church?
If you have not been to on-site services at your church since the pandemic began and are considering returning, here are seven thoughts: 1) Churches are running way less than half what they did per-pandemic; there is more room for distancing than you probably think. 2) Most churches have taken substantial measures to keep peopleContinue reading “Thinking About Returning to On-Site Church?”
SURVIVING IN THE FISH BOWL
Lay people who love God often have romantic ideas about vocational ministry. They think it will be like getting paid to go to an endless church camp. The reality is that vocational ministry IS very much like church camp; WORKING at a church camp! Employees cook meals, wash dishes, mow the lawn, maintain the property,Continue reading “SURVIVING IN THE FISH BOWL”
Four Little Things (A Movement of One)
Thinking a bit. I wonder if four little things we all can do might help the state of our world: 1) Let’s clean up our language. There is just no need for it. Leave yourself something to say when you get really mad. Bad language disrespects everyone. 2) Let’s tap into manners. Please and thankContinue reading “Four Little Things (A Movement of One)”
Seven Post-COVID Questions for Churches (that need to be asked right now)
Louisville, Illinois. 1984. I was about half-way through my first year of teaching history at North Clay Jr. High School. I was twenty-two. It was time for parent-teacher conferences and I needed some advice. I had never been on this side of things before. I dropped by the room next door for some counsel fromContinue reading “Seven Post-COVID Questions for Churches (that need to be asked right now)”
What We Want to Hear (A Perspective on Race)
When my daughter Lydia was in high school we didn’t really talk much. We spent time together but we didn’t really talk. In fact, I used to joke that the words she most often spoke to me during her teen-age years were, “Dad, is mom there?” and that was over the telephone. When we didContinue reading “What We Want to Hear (A Perspective on Race)”
Churches: Get Your Defense Off the Field!
COVID is like a bad headache that just won’t go away. Regardless of your opinion on why people have headaches, how to prevent headaches or how to properly treat headaches, one reality remains. We have a collective headache. Right about the time church leadership couldn’t get any harder; it got harder. About half of churchesContinue reading “Churches: Get Your Defense Off the Field!”
When Love Finds its Proper Place (everything else will too)
Paul planted the Corinthian church in March of 50 AD on the middle leg of his Second Missionary Journey. The church was in the right place at the right time. It was also left in the hands of gifted leaders. There was no ceiling on the potential of the Corinthian church! Seven years after leavingContinue reading “When Love Finds its Proper Place (everything else will too)”
Eight Steps to Owning Monday (by noon)
Eight Steps to Owning Monday (by noon) Many people dread Mondays. I don’t. I try to own Mondays and I try to do it by noon. A good Monday is like a birdie on hole number one; it does not guarantee a great round (or week) but it is a fantastic start that can’t beContinue reading “Eight Steps to Owning Monday (by noon)”
Another Look at Psalm 23 (Leadership, Ovis Aries, COVID-19 and the Great Shepherd)
Back in what my grandson the New One called the “back olden times” I often did music for summer church camps. A signature song was called, “I just want to be a sheep.” The song was terrible so everyone loved it. Every now and then, someone sends me a message and reminds me of thoseContinue reading “Another Look at Psalm 23 (Leadership, Ovis Aries, COVID-19 and the Great Shepherd)”
Navigating the Rapids (Never Quite Like This)
Some years ago when my kids were at home, we decided to go white water rafting on the Big Pigeon River in North Carolina. In our orientation, the guide spoke of the dangers that lay ahead and how important it was to do what he said. He mentioned three sets of rapids in particular thatContinue reading “Navigating the Rapids (Never Quite Like This)”
A PASTORAL LETTER (Reopening our Churches)
A PASTORAL LETTER: When Will Christ Church Re-Open? On Friday, the President declared houses of worship “essential” and demanded that Governors allow worship services (provided such houses meet CDC guidelines). Some may have interpreted from that announcement that Christ Church would immediately re-open; it is a bit more complicated. First of all, the President askedContinue reading “A PASTORAL LETTER (Reopening our Churches)”
Leadership in the Roaring 2020’s
Leadership in the Roaring 2020’s will continue to be an ongoing process of navigating a jagged series of unpredictable no-win scenarios. This is not an anomaly; it is the new normal. We are going to have to get used to it. Effective leaders will have to be: 1. laser focused on their mission 2. empatheticContinue reading “Leadership in the Roaring 2020’s”
Enough
Have you “had enough” of this whole COVID-19 thing? “Enough” is an interesting word. When we can stand no more we declare that “We have had enough” or “Enough already.” When things are going well, we may say that “We can’t get enough.” In times of need, “We don’t have enough.” I have become convincedContinue reading “Enough”
Pastors Are Not Ministry Mutants (COVID-19 Edition)
In my early days in ministry, I thought of the Apostle Paul as a Ministry Mutant. He was wholly different than regular people and was Holy Ghost hardwired for the rigors of ministry. This was absurd. By making Paul “nothing like me” I conveniently excused myself from being “anything like Paul.” As long as PaulContinue reading “Pastors Are Not Ministry Mutants (COVID-19 Edition)”
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