Jesus Was Always on Vacation: Leading from Freshness Rather than Frazzle
A couple of days ago a longtime pastor friend of mine asked if I would re run an article I did several years ago. So here goes. Too many of the pastors I meet these days look like they just stuck their finger in a light socket. They appear frazzled, dazed, and downright worn out. […]
Tragedy in the Making
I caught a glance at a blog post from Serene Jones, the president of Union Theological Seminary, and was struck yet again at how little surprises me, but I never cease to be amazed. The post is titled “Why Attend Seminary?” and somehow my curiosity was roused and I glanced through her musings. It was […]
Status Updates Matter
I’m always amazed, but seldom surprised, by the content of status updates I see church leaders, especially pastors, making these days. One pastor was apparently having a bad day (or week, month, year, or ministry… I wasn’t sure which) and he let the world know that life pretty much sucked for him. I wondered what […]
For Long-Tenured Pastors
Anyone who has stayed at a growing church for more than 15 years knows that several things are inevitable. Sooner or later you will hit burnout. I did my 10th year. It was so severe that I told my board I wanted to quit. Instead they sent me off for a three-month sabbatical. It was […]
Summer Slump is Coming
The “summer slump” that many declining churches experience is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Most declining churches actually take actions that lead to a summer slump: they combine worship services and the choir takes the summer off. No wonder church attendance is down in the summer. Ever wonder what would happen if your church was a year-round […]
Waiting for the Next Something
On my way back from a church conference, I got on an airplane with more than its fair share of church leaders on it. This particular conference had been wildly popular and the keynote speakers frequently reminded us for the need to be faithful, effective, and efficient. The men and women in attendance seemed to […]