Some of Us Don’t Value the Soul Anymore
During my 50 years of ministry (Yes, 50. That’s not a typo.), I’ve become convinced that most churches don’t put much value on soul. And that saddens me. Why do I say this? Far too often, more than anything else, money defines a person or organization. The old saying “show me your pocket book and […]
Why You Shouldn’t Show Individual Staff Salaries
I’m often asked if the church budget should show individual staff salaries and without hesitation I always say, “NO, not on your life!” Here’s why. First showing all the salaries encourages mediocrity. Why? Because the same mindset that publishes individual salaries also wants to give across the board raises, which is always a horrible thing […]
5 Questions to Discover If You Honor the People God Loves
We talk a lot about honor in our culture in regards to public service and acts of bravery. But why don’t we speak more about honoring one another in daily life? Think about it. How do people perceive you? And in regards to church, does your congregation honor every precious child of God? I feel […]
Spending Time Mentoring Staff
Spending time mentoring staff is one of the most important things a pastor can do. When I suggest to a person I’m coaching that he needs to spend more time mentoring or training his staff, he usually asks, “What does that look like?” Here’s my response. First, you should see yourself as the head coach of a ball […]
All Good Things Must Come to an End
Many of you know that for the past two decades I have been obsessed with offshore billfishing. It’s impossible to give justice to a description of the feeling one gets when a 400-pound blue marlin is coming toward your bait. You see the fin, then the bill, then the crash as the Blue attacks the […]
How to Undermine Church Leadership in One Easy Step
The church had done all the hard work of building a solid foundation. They identified their mission, vision, and values and they developed both membership and leadership covenants. It looked like they were ready to move to the next steps of growth. Enter the nominating committee. There were several leadership positions that needed to be filled, but […]