Life
6 Ways To Be Smarter About Difficult Conversations
What is the essence of ministry? How do you define it? A definition we’ve come to appreciate at our church goes like this: Ministry is a series of difficult conversations. The easy stuff works itself out. But the entrenched patterns, the destructive habits, the corrosive relationships, those don’t seem to go anywhere. Until there’s a…
Read MoreHow To Provide Pastoral Care Without Burning Yourself Out
I still remember the time I was snared by an article written by Carey Nieuwhof, “How Pastoral Care Stunts the Growth of Most Churches.” Carey writes, “If pastors could better handle the issue of pastoral care, many more churches would grow. Caring for 30 people personally is possible. Caring for 230 is not. Many pastors…
Read More10 MORE Things I Would Change
I left my tenure as a local church pastor over three years ago to become the district superintendent of EDA Move. A few weeks back I wrote about some things I would change if I were a pastor again. Now, you’ve heard the statement that goes, “experience is the best teacher.” For the most part,…
Read More4 Ways To Live A Fluid Life
Can I be honest with you? I like routine. I can eat the same meal at the same restaurant every week — enjoying it as though it was my first experience. I strategically set my car keys in the same place every day when I arrive home. I pick up my green tea at the…
Read MoreSummertime and The Lust Comes Easy
Temperatures climb. Daylight extends. Kids finish school. Families take vacations. And you might even roll up the sleeves as you mow the lawn to work on that tan. Ahh, summertime. Before living in Pennsylvania, I pastored at a church in Tucson, Arizona. We would often joke that Tucson had only two seasons: hot and hotter.…
Read MorePeace for the Busy Leader
I’m one of those “Type A” people who loves to be busy and has to be careful that I don’t take on more than I should. One of the reasons I love ministry is that it’s diverse and provides opportunities to interact with people, problem solve and coordinate ministries. I’ve always seen busyness as a…
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