As an Executive Pastor I became well acquainted with my own stress related responses as well as of those I worked with. I observed that under stress we tend to choose one of five courses of action: Fight, Flight, Flock, Freeze, or Appease. These approaches can be observed in tense meetings, confrontations, conversations…..any anxiety inducing circumstance. Often we have a... Continue Reading
Under the right circumstances, all leaders are susceptible to voicing or acting on their worst impulses. We each have a deeply seated dark side characterized by impure motives, emotional outbursts, and ungodly behavior that surface as impulsive words and deeds in the face of leadership responsibilities and pressures. It is in times such as these that we need someone who... Continue Reading
Most of us will admit to having difficulty at times in hearing God and discerning His heart and mind in the moment. Yet, Scripture tells us that God is closer to us than our very breath, and that His Spirit is in us and around us. Fortunately, there are many spiritual disciplines, exercises, and practices that the Spirit can work... Continue Reading
I invite you to engage in a contemplative spiritual practice with a familiar Eastern Orthodox prayer, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” The Jesus Prayer is mirrored after the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in Luke 18:9-14, where the tax collector said, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” The Jesus... Continue Reading
Spiritual reading is reading with an inner attentiveness to the movement of God’s Spirit in our outer and inner lives. With that attentiveness, we will allow God to read us and to explain to us what we are truly about–Henri Nouwen Guido of Arezzo, a Benedictine monk in 11th Century Italy, defines spiritual reading as “a sustained receptivity to a... Continue Reading
“Storm on the Sea” As a spiritual practice, read Mark 4:35-41. Place yourself in the boat with the disciples, becoming one of them as you read. Look at the picture icon of Storm on the Sea. This icon illustrates the peaceful space in Jesus. Icons are “prayer helps” that have been used in the church for centuries. They are not... Continue Reading
Meditation, yoga, and other stress-reducing therapies teach that slowing down and focusing on the timing and pace of our breath can have positive effects on our body and mind. A recent study in the Journal of Neurophysiology may support this, revealing that brain regions linked to emotion, attention, and body awareness are activated when we pay attention to our breath. This study... Continue Reading
Like most people of faith, over the years I have practiced various forms of prayer and have settled in on a few that are the most meaningful. One of those I call “prompted prayers.” I refer to them as prompted prayers because they are prayers that are brought to mind by some cue, usually something visual. For centuries, those of... Continue Reading
January is a great time to consider our spiritual growth plan for the coming year. In the coming weeks I will share several spiritual practices you may wish to add to your daily spiritual regimen. I define a spiritual practice as “a regular rendezvous with God with no other agenda than to know and experience His presence and love.” A... 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
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
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