Maximization: The church and its ministers and ministries operate at optimal levels of effectiveness and efficiency

Two Questions That Should Be Addressed in Decision Making

In the “5 W’s and 1 H Method for Decision Making” we examined a process for thoroughly analyzing any decision. Another relatively quick and simple approach for producing a comprehensive and in-depth analysis for decision making is to address the two questions that should be answered before making any decision, What Is? and What If? Both questions are helpful in... Continue Reading

The Time Crunch Process – Four Steps To Cope With Overload

Every church I visit, it seems that ministers keep getting busier. The work backs up, quality goes down and stress increases. There simply aren’t enough hours in the day. When faced with an overload situation people try to cope in a variety of ways, some that are healthy and some that are not. Causes of the Time Crunch Problem Because... Continue Reading

Six Exercises To Determine Your Priorities

The key to time management is priority management. Focusing on a few priorities allows you to experience the counterintuitive biblical principle of “less is more.” Not only does focusing on less allow you to experience less stress and more joy and meaning in your work and life, but you are more productive because “focus expands.” The more time you spend... Continue Reading

Job Prioritization Stair Step

A church leader’s job today is a lot like gardening. There is always something else that needs to be done. Typically the first solution we see is to work longer hours and require others to work longer hours. This goes on until higher turnover and burnout results. The second solution for the enterprising leader is to read time management books... Continue Reading

When Ministry Pruning You Better Wear Gloves

After moving to Northern New Mexico and discovering several fruit trees and rose bushes in my back yard, I am still learning to appreciate the necessity and skill of pruning. I easily cut off the dead and dying branches but it feels counterintuitive and I often lack the courage to cut back live limbs. I am still learning to trust... Continue Reading

20 Questions To Discern Good From Best

“Good is the enemy of great” is the first sentence of Jim Collins’ business best seller, Good to Great. Collins goes on to say, “and that is one of the reasons that we have so little that becomes great.  We don’t have great schools, principally because we have good schools. We don’t have great government, principally because we have good... Continue Reading

How I Improved My Prioritization Skills

Do you ever become so overwhelmed with your “to do” list that you become paralyzed? Most of us in the ministry are prone to take on more responsibility than we should. Unable to say no we routinely squeeze one more commitment into already packed schedules. With numerous bases to touch every day, it is common to race through the day, struggling to... Continue Reading

My True Hero is Forrest Gump!

  I find it intriguing that virtually every time the disciples got a little full of themselves Jesus put a child in front of them. Through the visual aid of a child Jesus appears to be saying that the only people who can recognize and appreciate what he’s talking about are the ones who come to him with the mind,... Continue Reading