No one likes to be criticized. As human beings, we all have an innate need to protect ourselves – not just physically, but also emotionally. We want to be liked. We want to be respected. We want people to agree with us, pat us on the back and tell us how well we are doing. Get your FREE E-book: Don’t … Read More
Zero Distractions: How to Work in Blocks of Time
Pastors wear so many hats–preacher, counselor, human resources manager, maybe even plumber–that it may seem impossible at first to group similar tasks into blocks of time. Many of us are so accustomed to jumping from one activity to another that it would be hard to break the cycle. But for renegade pastors, working in blocks of time is a great … Read More
Leaders Protect Their Hearts
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” — Proverbs 4:23 (NLT)
Hudson Taylor on the Importance of Praying While Working
“I have seen many men work without praying, though I have never seen any good come out of it; but I have never seen a man pray without working.” — James Hudson Taylor (May 21, 1832 – June 3, 1905) was a pioneer in reaching the unreached for Christ. He was unlike any other missionary of the 19th century (or … Read More
Between Doing And Delegating – The Essential Step To Overcome Pastoral Burnout by Karl Vaters
You can’t do everything yourself. And you can’t delegate tasks to people who haven’t been discipled. They have to be equipped first. When it comes to leading people, many pastors fall into one of two opposite traps. Doing everything themselves, or delegating tasks to people who don’t do them well. Many pastors swing wildly between the two. Here’s why. What … Read More
Living a Fully Engaged Life: The Ultimate Demonstration
Jesus is the ultimate demonstration of God’s engagement in our lives. He is the visible representation of God’s engagement. God sent Jesus to live a perfect life, to die on a cross for our offenses, and then to be raised from the dead–all so that we could be in relationship with him and have new life, both here and in … Read More
Don’t Miss the Last Church Systems Boot Camp of the Decade!
You’re one of the first people to hear this — it’s some pretty big news about this year’s Boot Camp. This will now be my eighth year leading the Church Systems Check-up and Boot Camp. And what I want to share with you is, it will be the last Boot Camp of the decade. That’s right, the next one after … Read More
Maximized Systems = A Maximized Church
Have you ever held a newborn baby? Have you counted tiny fingers and toes or watched a little chest move up and down, drawing breath for the first time? That baby may be a bundle of joy for his parents, but, in reality, he’s also a bundle of something else. He’s a bundle of perfectly formed, intricate systems that are … Read More
Tired of Routine Tasks? Here Are 4 Ways to Handle Them With Efficiency
Most average pastors have at least one area in which they struggle to “touch it once”: physical mail, cleaning, email, clothes, cleaning. If you recognize yourself in any of these examples, you need to learn the Touch It Once technique. It’s simple: when you see a small, routine, or mundane task that needs to be done, just do it. Do … Read More
People Rejoice Over Godly Leaders
“When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan.” — Proverbs 29:2 (NLT)