Making a good thing better
How do you make a good thing better? How do you use creativity and technology to solve problems? image credit: CreationSwap user Cody Jensen Know what you’re good at. Many people are trying to be all things to all people. You can’t really accomplish that goal. And you won’t really find a client base […]
Beware the seduction of ambition
image credit: Creative Commons user JapInTheGap Ambition is a double-edged sword. When it is God-directed and Spirit-managed, it can bear tremendous fruit. When it is restrained by humility, ambition can be a powerful motivator. But when it is hijacked by self and ego, it can leave a wake of destruction in its path. I […]
God’s strategy for your success, part 3
This is the third installment in a four part series. Today, I am going to look at another one of the principles of success. In the last two issues, I discussed the first three principles: 1. Be clear in your direction 2. Be confident in your desires 3. Be committed to your decision This month, […]
What to Stop and Start in 2012
Stop ignoring the dysfunction Many churches and ministries suffer from I like to call “terminal niceness”. We just aren’t very good at hard conversations. For the most part we are polite, sensitive, and hate conflict. So, we beat around the bush and make nice. One of the byproducts of our “terminal niceness” can be […]
The Gospel-centered small group leader
image credit: Creation Swap user Josiah Kopp When it comes to talking about the marks of a true follower of Jesus, it’s no surprise that Paul starts out talking about love. Literally, Romans 12:9 says, “Let love be without hypocrisy.” This is significant because the hypocrite has one thing on his mind: What will […]
A Pastor must be in a small group
A pastor must be in a small group. You need to show your congregation that small groups are so important for spiritual growth that even you belong to one. This allows you to share about your experiences, such as how being in a small group helped you during a difficult time or how the small […]
God’s Strategy for your Success, part 4
This month I will be discussing the final principle for success. To recap, the first four principles are: 1. Be clear in your direction 2. Be confident in your desires 3. Be committed to your decision 4. Be corrected by your defeats Now, the final principle. 5. BE CONSCIOUS OF GOD’S DEPENDABILITY. Joshua 1 is […]
Replenish Your Soul: What Kind of Old Person Do I Want to Be?
What kind of old person do you want to be? It’s a question you never think about in your twenties, rarely in your thirties, and only occasionally in your forties. But at least in my case hitting the big five-zero caused me to ponder this question with great frequency. Turning fifty flipped an inner switch; […]
Image Management
Image management. There’s nothing particularly wrong with those two words, but when you put them together and give them to a ministry leader, it is a deadly cocktail. Image management is what we begin to do when our inner world becomes separated from our outer world. If the outward and inward are not integrated, we literally […]
What’s On Your Mind: Part Three
This month I will continue to look at how you can stay mentally fit by looking at some practical suggestions. 1. SCHEDULE SOME THINK TIME EACH WEEK. Every week, you need to schedule some alone time with the Holy Spirit. Sit down, get alone, get quiet, and think. Don’t read, don’t talk, don’t listen to […]
