
Tweet How do you get your boss to notice you? I once was asked a genuine question by a young man entering a new job as an entry-level leader. He…
Tweet How do you get your boss to notice you? I once was asked a genuine question by a young man entering a new job as an entry-level leader. He…
Tweet After a great day of teaching, Jesus faced the critics. There’s a lesson here for every leader worth remembering. Consider this story: And when Jesus had finished these parables,…
Tweet I understand, firsthand, some of the pressures, frustrations and joys, which are unique to the role of a senior pastor. Approximately half my readers are in ministry and half…
Tweet In over 20 years in vocational ministry, I have learned the job can be an emotional roller coaster at times. We have to learn to balance the highs and…
Tweet I came into ministry later in life after over 25 years in the business world. I’ve now almost been in ministry as long as I was in business. (not…
I read an interesting story from the life of the Biblical character of David again recently. The story says a great deal about leadership and what is required to successfully lead.
Here’s what I read:
When David was told, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are looting the threshing floors,” he inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?”The LORD answered him, “Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah. But David’s men said to him, “Here in Judah we are afraid. How much more, then, if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!” 1 Samuel 23:1-3
Notice David had a vision…a word from God. This was prior to David being the reigning king. He had been anointed king by God, but did not yet have the position. He was hiding from Saul. He had no kingdom of his own. This new assignment was scary, his army was questioning him, and the future was unknown.
Have you experienced a situation like this as a leader?
Thankfully David’s story had a happy ending: (Imagine that…God put him up to it.)
Once again David inquired of the LORD, and the LORD answered him, “Go down to Keilah, for I am going to give the Philistines into your hand.” 5 So David and his men went to Keilah, fought the Philistines and carried off their livestock. He inflicted heavy losses on the Philistines and saved the people of Keilah. 1 Samuel 23:4-5
This story prompts some thoughts on leadership:
Tweet Pastors and spouses can find true friends. Really, they can. Of course, people talk. People gossip. People love to share what they hear. And that’s true of what they hear…
This week I had two people email through my blog asking for suggestions when interviewing with a church for a staff position. I am thinking it could be an issue worth addressing.
Having sit on both sides of the table, here are 7 suggestions:
If a pastor is not careful, the weight of everyone else’s problems will take precedence over the issues and concerns of his immediate family. I see it frequently among pastors I encounter. There have been seasons of my ministry where this is the case, especially on abnormally stressful days.
I decided years ago when I was a small business owner, serving in an elected office and on dozens of non-profit boards that my busyness would never detract from my family life.
Here are 7 ways I attempt to protect my family from the stress of ministry.
Tweet Having participated in two church plants as a planter, and now working with church planters on a regular basis in a coaching capacity, I know first hand the fears…