My 7 year old is eating a sandwich w/ the booty bread…. Some people call it the heel, What do you call the end of the bread?

This is a quote from Scott Williams, a pastor friend on Twitter. I love his antics and his play on words. He is referring to the end. No matter what you call it, many times we are looking for the "end." This has special meaning to me. I have just gone through three of the hardest weeks of my WHOLE LIFE. A very difficult dark place that felt I would never reach the end. I know many leaders and especially pastors pass through these places, and God is always faithful to see us through. I am so thankful that for me I have finally found the "Booty", I mean the "end", or whatever you call it.

Every leader that has led for any length of time will no doubt encounter a team member who just doesn’t seem to "get it." At first we want to do the right thing; discuss the issue, encourage and give suggestions of how to get on the "right track." However, if that fails, many of us are ready to pull the trigger on them, and start over. We see the effort, struggle & possible loss in spite of our heroic acts, as being a waste. Let me encourage you other wise. When it comes to managing staff, it is already difficult, but some guidelines up front are helpful, here are a few I have found helpful… Continue Reading…

Jesus told Peter that if he really loved Him, he should feed His sheep. We understand as Pastors & leaders we are to feed the sheep God has entrusted to our care. However, if you are in an environment where the un-churched and de-churched gather, you will soon find, many of them are "nasty." In other words, they have a lot issues that need to be dealt with, they need  compassion & unconditional love and acceptance, (I said acceptance not approval, check the dictionary for the difference). And yet at the same time we have to feed them the Word of life in a way that will help them  find and follow God. What & how do we feed them… Continue Reading…

Straight up. I am a small town pastor, with maybe a small town mind. So, I have to describe things in terms most people can understand. I think in the Christian realm, that is even more important. We have been saddled with so many labels and terms, nobody knows what we believe and what we are for. So my suggestion is to describe ourselves or organization in terms that "regular" people can understand, rather than "churchy" words that "churchy" people can’t even agree on what they mean, so don’t use them! Like these…

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I had an interesting conversation several weeks ago with some fellow pastors, and the subject came up about what could a pastor do or not do that was "truly biblical?" In other words, in our cultural context, from a purely, undeniable, strongly supported biblical position, not traditional or denominational or "me"national just straight up bible. So… Weigh in on the following list, if you believe that a pastor could do, believe, act or be there and it would be OK, give that question a "0." If you think it would certainly be unbiblical for a pastor to do that give it a "1." Add up your score and let’s compare notes. Ready…GO!

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Yesterday, some close friends of ours teenage daughter was killed in an auto accident, just down the road from us. Her younger sister was also in the car and is currently in ICU (I think she is going to be alright). This enormous tragedy comes on the heels of a string of attacks on our church body and particular it’s leadership, staff, me (the Lead Pastor) & my family. The attacks from Satan and his host are targeted at deterring or stopping the vision God has given us of  rapid church planting. When I see those I love and care for become targets and suffer, well let’s just say, I am ready for all hell to break lose on the kingdom of darkness…This is what really makes me mad…

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OK. No need to get offended at my list. This is just an occasional opportunity to "go off" on some things that really get under my skin. I know, I’m supposed to be the "Pastor" and be nice and patient and always loving and understanding with everyone. If you are thinking like that please refer to #1 below! And have a nice day!

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It’s hard to know sometimes how you are doing. You aren’t sure if you have what it takes, or if you are doing as well as you should in your area of leadership. That’s when you need a gauge, or a benchmark. A benchmark is a standard you measure against to know if you are making the mark. When it comes to leadership I’ve seen a several of these manifest in great leaders over time… Continue Reading…

As a leader, the more you grow, the more "things" come at you, and vie for your attention. It is a big temptation for some leaders to feel they can take it all on and make it work. However, no matter how you "feel" you only have so much to give out, and when you are empty, you are empty! So the best practice is to say no to the things that will drive you to "empty." We will all have to face stresses that are draining and demanding, but we can’t stay there too long. If we try to run with the low fuel light flashing all the time, we will have nothing to give… So here here are times when it is OK to say no…

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Have you ever been in a"Funk.?"  You know that place right? Where you feel discouraged, burned out, stressed out & give out! Well, I know that place all to well, and it seems I visit that place more than I would like, and more often than I would care to admit. The question is not how to get there (we do that on our own quite well), but rather, how do we  get "OUT OF HERE?" Well, having been there often enough I can speak with experience on some things that have helped me get out, after I fall in… Continue Reading…