Pastor’s Kids Need Prayer and so do yours!
Raising kids is the hardest thing I've ever done. If you have kids, you know what I am talking about. It takes a level of energy, intentionality and selflessness like nothing else. Yet, there is nothing more rewarding than investing in the souls of the kids God has entrusted to you. Through the last few months, I've grown so aware of...
Get Control of Your Time When Others Demand It
You want to make today great... at least better than yesterday. But you know that it will probably full of the same old chaos. You dread driving home with disappointment. You hate the feeling of being out of control of your own life. What if this could change? What would it look like for this day to be more productive...
Tips and Templates for Performing a Wedding
One of the joys in my pastoral ministry has been to prepare people for marriage and then stand at the end of the isle with them as they make their vow for a life of love. Weddings are special. Each one is full of life-long memorable moments. Every wedding I have done has been as unique as the couple that...
Unraveling the Confusion Around Church Ministry
Many people today claim to be Christians but are not on mission for God. They attend church as if it is a social activity. Sadly, the church has moved into entertaining Christians, rather than mobilizing Christ followers to fulfill God’s designed purpose for their lives. This has happened for several reasons: We have a lost view of the biblical purpose of ministry. We...
3 Questions To Ask at Every Meeting
Meetings have become a regular part of my life. I spend most of my day in meetings with other people. I spend a lot of time meeting with my staff or elders. I also meet with people in the church who have (1) concerns that they would like to share, (2) hopes that they would like to express, or (3)...
Focus: The Secret Weapon of Every Leader
I used to want to be skilled at everything. That was maddening. As time as passed and I've matured, I realize that being the jack-of-all-trades is not that glamorous. It is better to be masterful at a few things than proficient at everything. As a leader, it is important for me to "do only what only I can do"—Andy Stanley said...
A Leader’s Powerful Role of Inquisition
Questions are more than just a way to make conversation. As I start my new role as the Senior Pastor of Grace Chapel, I have been asking a lot of questions. From the very first day, I was asking questions like "where's the bathroom?" or "where do we keep the staples?" But as a leader I also have asked deeper questions,...
Five or Less Sentence Email Replies
Email has a way of controlling our lives. Think about it, we can get in the rut of doing nothing but responding to hours of emails every day. As fast as I return one email, two to three (literally) come in to replace it before I push "send". A few years ago I came across a website calling for a disciplined...
Following the call of the Lord
I have something exciting to share! Two days ago I received a call from the Grace Chapel elders. They were all on speaker phone, calling me from an evening elder meeting. Brian Moe, the chairman of the board, spoke for them all and said, "We are calling to tell you that we have had a unanimous vote to invite...
7 Essential Ways I Balance Work and Family
As a leader and pastor, one of my greatest struggles to is balancing time between work and family. Everyday this is under attack as the demands of the urgent things in my life try to eclipse the important. In order to ensure that I am staying balanced, below I have listed 7 disciplines I maintain regularly. Ways I Am Maintaining...
Creating a Work Culture Where People Want to Stay
Have you ever hated your place of work? Maybe you loved your job, but the place you perform the work is less than desirable. I've been there too and had to muscle through. If you relate to this struggle, this article is for you. Or perhaps you are a manager and a leader in an organization. If so, your employees...
The Secret to a Highly Productive Day
What side of the bed did you wake up on? Mornings are really important to me, so I guess you could say that even if I don’t wake up on the right side of the bed…I get there as soon as possible. I choose to start off the morning well because I have learned that it has a great impact...