Each Monday, I post a number of links to articles, posts, etc. I recently read. The ones cited are those which I think may interest you. Let me encourage you to subscribe to the e-mail updates of the posts on my blog (if you haven’t already. Or, let me encourage you to subscribe to the… Continue reading Monday Start (Resources for the Week)
Tag: Ministry
Ministry Inside.76
Expectations are everything! So what do you expect? This is a huge issue for many ministers. Far too many of us have very unrealistic expectations of ourselves, our work, and the congregations we serve. At this point, someone might want to quickly interject, “But I think we ought to have high standards. Isn’t the bar… Continue reading Ministry Inside.76
Ministry Inside.75
Did you know that ministry can make you feel as if you are losing your mind? Ok. Maybe it is not supposed to be that way but I do know many people who have experienced this. I certainly have at times. I am going to list four ways this happens and next week will give… Continue reading Ministry Inside.75
Ministry Inside.74
I was once at a conference with mostly ministers and other church leaders in attendance. A friend of mine came in late the first evening. The room was full but there was an empty seat on a back row. The guy took this seat. Meanwhile, the conference began and our host proceeded to welcome us… Continue reading Ministry Inside.74
Monday Start (Resources for the Week)
Thinking about your life? Gary Thomas is a writer whom I have enjoyed for a number of years. This past weekend, Charlotte and I were a part of a marriage seminar with him. Outstanding! You might enjoy some of these free resources from his website. I continue to be amazed at how much money Americans… Continue reading Monday Start (Resources for the Week)
Make a Difference By Showing Up
Why not consider one of the most powerful ways of loving someone? This week I participated in the funeral of longtime Baylor baseball coach Mickey Sullivan. He was a member of our congregation. The funeral was held at Baylor Ballpark. Former players and former coaches spoke (along with the present baseball coach, Steve Smith) as… Continue reading Make a Difference By Showing Up
Monday Start (Resources for the Week)
Thinking about ministry? The Subtle Art of Sabotaging a Pastor by Jared Wilson. Killing the clergy softly: Congregational conflict, job loss, and depression by David Briggs. (Thanks to Scot McKnight.) There is so much truth to this. I have seen it often, particularly in congregations that value peace above anything else. As a result, they… Continue reading Monday Start (Resources for the Week)
Ministry Inside.72
What causes ministry to be draining? 1. We can lead out of our anxiety (“Did anyone complain this morning?”) instead of our conviction (“How did God work in the life of the congregation this morning?”). Such leaders live in a constant state of reaction. For them, a good Sunday morning is when no one complains.… Continue reading Ministry Inside.72
One of the Most Powerful Tools for Any Leader
You have a tool at your disposal that can make an incredible difference in the life of your child, spouse, congregation, or the people you work with. Your encouragement can make such a difference in the life of another. Yet, for some reason, some people seem to make no effort to encourage another. Instead, they… Continue reading One of the Most Powerful Tools for Any Leader
Monday Start (Resources to Begin the Week)
For the past several Mondays, I have been posting a number of links to articles, posts, books, etc. that I have found helpful. (You might consider subscribing to this blog by e-mail. You can subscribe here.) For Your Thinking You might enjoy reading this post by Michael Barber, a young Catholic scholar entitled “New Document… Continue reading Monday Start (Resources to Begin the Week)