Below are links to the Top 10 most popular Sacred Structures posts in 2019. Check in next week for the Top 10 Free Resources in 2019. Merry Christmas! Can You Recognize Narcissism When You See It? How Can Church Leaders Remain Accountable? Church Leader, Your Congregation Expects You To Make These Decisions Focus On The Future: How To Foster Staff... Continue Reading
In the article What Does It Mean To Be Open Minded? we examined the definition and characteristics of open-mindedness. In this article we take a look at the benefits and steps you can take to become more open-minded. First, what are some of the benefits of being more open-minded? Gaining Insight: Challenging your existing beliefs and considering how new ideas... Continue Reading
As my wife and I have aged, we have consistently observed that as people grow older they either become more open or more closed, more flexible or more rigid, looser or tighter, broader or narrower. Simply put, people continue to learn, grow, and cultivate new experiences or they become stuck or even regress. We have also observed that our culture... Continue Reading
In these urgent times, the Christian Church cannot keep avoiding what Jesus actually emphasized and mandated. Practical, practice-based Christianity can no longer be ignored by Christians who were never told Christianity was anything more than a denominational belonging or belief system. The stakes are too great. “It is the very love of Christ that now compels us” (2 Corinthians 5:14).... Continue Reading
Every leader has experienced it….the end run game. One of their direct reports takes them out of the loop and heads straight to the next level leader or peer. From experience as a Church Executive Pastor I can tell you this is a regular occurrence in churches, and a real organizational challenge to navigate. In football, an end run is... Continue Reading
One of the most frequently read prayers by those seeking peace and comfort is attributed to Francis of Assisi. Saint Francis is the patron saint of ecology, animals, non-violence, and peacemaking—because he understood that the entire circle of life has God at the center of it all. In Francis’ world, the sun, moon, animals, plants, and elements all show reverence... Continue Reading
There is a sobering story for leaders in Victor Hugo’s novel, Ninety-Three. The story concerns a young ensign on a wooden military sailing ship who is given the responsibility of caring for a large rolling cannon. One of his jobs was to keep the cannon lashed securely to the deck to prevent it from rolling around and causing damage that... Continue Reading
Toward the end of the movie “Charlie Wilson’s War,” there is told one of my favorite stories. A CIA officer, played by Philip Seymour Hoffman, cautions the Wilson character, played by Tom Hanks, not to be too sure they have done something glorious in helping to chase the Soviets out of Afghanistan. To make the point, he tells the fable... Continue Reading
In the article, All I Need to Know About Being an Executive Pastor I Learned on West Wing,all we looked at the similarities of the relationships of the President and his Chief of Staff and the Pastor and his Executive Pastor. In this article we continue with that analogy by sharing insights from Chris Whipple’s book, “The Gatekeepers: How the... Continue Reading
I find myself frequently surprised by how many people are unaware that the word “scapegoat” has biblical origins. Or how the term is foundational to the understanding of Jesus’s crucifixion. Further, how few recognize just how prevalent “scapegoating” is in the church. For example, when things go south, pastors routinely blame the lack of lay leadership or the ineffectiveness of... Continue Reading
Leading from behind sounds like a contradiction in terms. But, Kelly Wendorff of EQUUS Inspired, says that horses effectively do just that. “The lead horse positions themselves behind the ones they want to guide or lead and literally pushes them ahead. The reason for this is it allows the horses being led to be in front so they can gain... Continue Reading
In this second of three articles on the recent Gallup study on employee burnout, we explore the role church leaders and supervisors play in reducing and preventing staff burnout. Gallup’s research shows that a crucial element in whether or not workers experience burnout on the job is how supervisors treat their employees. Supervisors are responsible for fostering positive employee... Continue Reading
Jim is a Church Organizational Leadership and Management Coach, Consultant and Trainer. Throughout his career Jim has demonstrated a passion for showing Pastors and Ministers how to use organizational tools for church and personal growth and health.
More About Jim“For I may be absent in body, but I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see how well ordered you are and the strength of your faith in Christ.” Colossians 2:5