Perspectives
It’s Time to Eject Your Mixtape

It’s Time to Eject Your Mixtape

I want to talk now about mixtapes. They were the 1980s version of a playlist, but instead of living in iTunes, they lived on good old-fashioned plastic cassettes. When a cassette broke, you didn’t take it to the Apple Genius bar. You took a number-2 yellow pen­cil,...

Counseling Not Your Thing? You Got This.

Counseling Not Your Thing? You Got This.

Often, one of the toughest jobs a pastor has to do is counsel others. Preaching? It’s in the bag. But counseling . . . “Um . . . I’ll pass,” you say. Why is that? Oh, kindhearted pastors would probably offer a variety of reasons, but let’s be real: With preaching, you...

Why Ministries of Greeting and Hospitality Matter

Why Ministries of Greeting and Hospitality Matter

The ministries of greeting people and showing hospitality may be two of the least recognized areas of church ministry. In fact, many people may not think of them as ministry at all, but they are vital to your church. You will notice I am referring to them in the...

Mediating Clashes Between Young and Old As Times Change

Mediating Clashes Between Young and Old As Times Change

Many smaller churches, especially those that have been around for a long time, have quite a few senior citizens. There may be a good reason for that: sometimes they have been in that particular church for many years, maybe since they were young. Having a good senior...

Do You Have An Ego Problem?

Do You Have An Ego Problem?

You never struggle with an ego problem, do you? No, of course not. Ego problems are for athletes and celebrities. CEOs and politicians. Maybe from time to time you find a head deacon or a retired pastor in your church who thinks their way is the best way, but that’s...

What if You’re NOT Insanely Busy?

What if You’re NOT Insanely Busy?

There are many stereotypes people have concerning pastors: They do not make much money (unless they pastor a megachurch, in which they then make too much money). Most of their week is spent studying and memorizing the next sermon. They are definitely Type B...

A Response To Violence In Charlotte

A Response To Violence In Charlotte

Every night recently, pictures of violence fill the evening news as the riots in Charlotte filled rage on. After I went to bed, I lay thinking about the images and how the violence and disunity must break the heart of God.  I wondered how we – the people of God -...

Responding to Terror in New York, New Jersey, and Missouri

Responding to Terror in New York, New Jersey, and Missouri

We are at war. The world is a crazy, scary place. Children are being sold into slavery, terrorists are attacking innocent victims and no one knows where Isis will strike next. This newest bombing in New York and New Jersey confirms that the U.S. is not immune from...

When People Try to Undermine the Pastor’s Authority

When People Try to Undermine the Pastor’s Authority

This subject is difficult for me because the very thought of it makes me ill. If you have experienced, or are now experiencing, a situation where a congregant or a group of congregants try to undermine your authority as a pastor, you are not alone. I would imagine it...

Managing Volunteers at Church

Managing Volunteers at Church

In the business world, there are managers and employees. Managers normally have the authority to hire and fire at will, and everyone is working for an hourly wage or salary. If an employee doesn’t do the job as instructed, he or she may be replaced. But in the church,...

It’s Time to Eject Your Mixtape

It’s Time to Eject Your Mixtape

I want to talk now about mixtapes. They were the 1980s version of a playlist, but instead of living in iTunes, they lived on good old-fashioned plastic cassettes. When a cassette broke, you didn’t take it to the Apple Genius bar. You took a number-2 yellow pen­cil,...

Counseling Not Your Thing? You Got This.

Counseling Not Your Thing? You Got This.

Often, one of the toughest jobs a pastor has to do is counsel others. Preaching? It’s in the bag. But counseling . . . “Um . . . I’ll pass,” you say. Why is that? Oh, kindhearted pastors would probably offer a variety of reasons, but let’s be real: With preaching, you...

Why Ministries of Greeting and Hospitality Matter

Why Ministries of Greeting and Hospitality Matter

The ministries of greeting people and showing hospitality may be two of the least recognized areas of church ministry. In fact, many people may not think of them as ministry at all, but they are vital to your church. You will notice I am referring to them in the...

Mediating Clashes Between Young and Old As Times Change

Mediating Clashes Between Young and Old As Times Change

Many smaller churches, especially those that have been around for a long time, have quite a few senior citizens. There may be a good reason for that: sometimes they have been in that particular church for many years, maybe since they were young. Having a good senior...

Do You Have An Ego Problem?

Do You Have An Ego Problem?

You never struggle with an ego problem, do you? No, of course not. Ego problems are for athletes and celebrities. CEOs and politicians. Maybe from time to time you find a head deacon or a retired pastor in your church who thinks their way is the best way, but that’s...

What if You’re NOT Insanely Busy?

What if You’re NOT Insanely Busy?

There are many stereotypes people have concerning pastors: They do not make much money (unless they pastor a megachurch, in which they then make too much money). Most of their week is spent studying and memorizing the next sermon. They are definitely Type B...

A Response To Violence In Charlotte

A Response To Violence In Charlotte

Every night recently, pictures of violence fill the evening news as the riots in Charlotte filled rage on. After I went to bed, I lay thinking about the images and how the violence and disunity must break the heart of God.  I wondered how we – the people of God -...

Responding to Terror in New York, New Jersey, and Missouri

Responding to Terror in New York, New Jersey, and Missouri

We are at war. The world is a crazy, scary place. Children are being sold into slavery, terrorists are attacking innocent victims and no one knows where Isis will strike next. This newest bombing in New York and New Jersey confirms that the U.S. is not immune from...

When People Try to Undermine the Pastor’s Authority

When People Try to Undermine the Pastor’s Authority

This subject is difficult for me because the very thought of it makes me ill. If you have experienced, or are now experiencing, a situation where a congregant or a group of congregants try to undermine your authority as a pastor, you are not alone. I would imagine it...

Managing Volunteers at Church

Managing Volunteers at Church

In the business world, there are managers and employees. Managers normally have the authority to hire and fire at will, and everyone is working for an hourly wage or salary. If an employee doesn’t do the job as instructed, he or she may be replaced. But in the church,...

Helping Your Small Group Thrive

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