Whether it's a Sunday School Class, a Bible study, a Life Group/Small Group, or even a recovery meeting, one group member poses a unique set of obstacles: The Oversharer. You know who I'm talking about. People who, with good intentions and a genuine heart, share too...
Ministry is like most occupations: there are times when, in the immortal words of Johnny Paycheck, when you want to take this job and shove it. So what do you do when you're a pastor and Mr. Paycheck is singing to you? For you? Well, as a survivor of a few of those...
I've been saying it so much to staff recently that they've begun repeating it back to me with wry smiles.The most important part of your job is not your job. It's helping this team be the best team it can be.Inspired by Patrick Lencioni's Five Dysfunctions Of A Team,...
At last week's Leading Edge event in Kansas City, the project's benefactor said something interesting to our table:If you see a CEO on TV advertising his company's product, don't buy the stock. It's obvious he doesn't get it.My mind immediately went to Lee Iaccoca &...
No, I'm not teaching on reproduction. I'll let others handle that.But I've been mulling over something a pastor said about pastoral ministry:We teach what we know, but we reproduce who we are.I'm pretty confident that I can do the first part. There are some subjects...
I got some good leadership advice at the Y the other day.I was speaking with someone about the business that he owns and operates. He summarized its success by saying, "I'm smart enough to hire people smarter than me." I like that.In many ways, I've lived it at Good...
There is a marvelous pattern in the book of Proverbs:let the wise listen and add to their learning,and let the discerning get guidance. (1:5)The way of a fool seems right to him,but a wise man listens to advice. (12:15)He who listens to a life-giving rebukewill be at...
Someone said the most interesting thing to me at lunch this week. Perhaps you've heard it before, but I found it helpful:Most leaders manage by exception. Good leaders manage by expectation.Leaders who manage by exception are unclear in their direction and often...
Best line uttered by one of the teaching team members at Christ Fellowship Church:"It's not what you do; it's what you do with what you do."In other words, it's not enough simply to pull off a big event -- that's what you do.The heart of ministry lies in the follow up...
As you read this, I am with 25 other United Methodist pastors from Western North Carolina receiving in depth training from the leaders of Christ Fellowship Church in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.It's part of a year-long leadership development program sponsored by the...