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Chapter 3: The benefits of reduced work stress
Leadership Principle #3: Productivity increases when organizations celebrate core strengths, reduce non-core operations, and eliminate distractions. "'These are … the appointed feasts of the …2012-01-24 - Tom Harper -
How much “Klout” does a church leader need?
There's a relatively new website out there called Klout.com. Heard of it? Klout actually measures your online influence. Your Klout score takes into account how much you post to Facebook, how often …2012-01-23 - Mitch Todd -
6 things you DON'T/DO want said about your church
Churches want, and rightly so, for their extended communities to speak well of them. These days, a lot of time and money goes into promulgation of good PR about the local church—particularly …1 comment2012-01-21 - Doug Lawrence -
Leadership by Plan B
Most leaders receive due recognition for the great decisions they make. They are often lauded for the ways they have led people and organizations to change. But what if change is extremely difficult …2012-01-20 - Thom Rainer -
Is It Time to Rest?
When is it time to push, and when is it time to rest? The New Year is a time when our culture tells us to push on with those new resolutions, but winter is a time our bodies may want to slow down and …2012-01-20 - Margaret Marcuson -
Creative Collaboration
Creativity is a blessing and a curse. Creativity led Pastor Ed Young, Jr. and his bride to place a bed on the roof of their church. Their bed-in drew attention far and wide to Pastor Young's new book …2 comments2012-01-18 - David Bowman -
Chapter 2: Have you had a dream that's died?
Leadership Principle #2 Because external forces control the birth, death, and resurrection of dreams, leaders shouldn't dwell on what might've been. "…It would have been better for us to serve …2 comments2012-01-18 - Tom Harper -
Chapter 1: Creativity is still a one-brain affair
This is the first post in a series of chapter summaries from Leading from the Lions' Den: Leadership Principles from Every Book of the Bible. Leadership Principle #1:Creative leaders coax the best …2012-01-12 - Tom Harper -
Laughing Matters.
When I was 8 years old, I won the Saline County Fair talent show in Michigan. My challenger was a bratty girl with a big stuffed animal singing "what's up pussycat". When it was my turn, I walked …2 comments2012-01-11 - Mitch Todd -
Missional Communities
I've been watching the missional movement now ever since Alan Hirsch landed on our shores and spent a couple of days at my place. And I've watched the evolution of the movement during that time. The …4 comments2012-01-11 - Bill Easum -
3 Episcopalian "secrets" about worship
You may think that worship in the Episcopalian church is mostly about ritual, but you'd be wrong—as it turns out! My wife and I have been honored by the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas to give …2012-01-11 - Doug Lawrence -
Journeys to Significance
Journeys to Significance is one of the more interesting books to come along in a long time. Based on the life of the Apostle Paul and his journeys, Cole explores the various stages in life a leader …2012-01-11 - Bill Easum -
When hubris comes to church
For nearly the past three decades, I have been studying the life cycle of churches. I continue to be amazed at how certain patterns play out repeatedly in most churches. Yet, I am also challenged to …2 comments2012-01-06 - Thom Rainer -
How Well Do You Listen?
How well do you listen? I've come to realize that I practice selective listening. When I was a pastor, I was pretty good at listening when I visited people in the hospital or had a conversation …2012-01-05 - Margaret Marcuson -
How to Reframe Your Resources
What are your resources? The end of the year and the beginning of the new year are a time when many institutions and families look at what they have financially (or don't have). We are programmed by …2011-12-30 - Margaret Marcuson -
4 leadership lessons a 5-year-old taught me
If you learn something profound, it ought to change the way you live, right? Sometimes, though, as Paul lamented, we quickly divest ourselves of the knowledge and go right on doing exactly what we …2011-12-30 - Doug Lawrence -
Announcement Time: A Highlight Of Worship?
I have an announcement to make: I love announcement time. Really, I do! I wouldn't want to worship without it. But I know so many church leaders who treat announcement time as a waste of time, a …1 comment2011-12-28 - Mitch Todd -
A Tragic Distraction
In Something by Tolstoi author Tennessee Williams tells the story of Jacob Brodzky, a shy Russian Jew whose father owned a bookstore. The elder Brodzky wanted his son to go to college. But Jacob …2011-12-23 - Greg Morris -
Leadership by looking in the mirror
I recently spoke at a place where I had not been in years. Many of the same people from years ago were still there. I noticed something disturbing about these people: they had really gotten old! I …2011-12-22 - Thom Rainer -
Proclaiming Christmas
The Little Drummer Boy first came into my life when I was six years old. A cousin had a record player with a red 45 RPM single of that song. I stood perfectly still and all alone in the playroom and …2011-12-20 - David Bowman
