Always let them know they are welcome to come back to your church any time. read more 5:00PM EDT 9/6/2018

Here's how one church did it. And many others are starting to do the same. read more 2:00PM EDT 6/8/2018

"If people are thinking that we are grabbing somebody and pulling them in or making them come to us, that's crazy. It couldn't be farther from the truth." read more 5:00PM EST 2/17/2018

It is a privilege to learn at the feet of others, and one that should not be taken for granted but used to its fullest potential.  read more 5:00PM EDT 8/24/2017

Rick Warren would know better than most, considering what his son Matthew went through. read more

5:00PM EDT 10/14/2016

Politics is a challenging subject for a pastor. Remember who you are and who you represent before you speak out. read more

5:00PM EDT 3/23/2016

Briefly, here are some lessons I taught to a group of men recently. I hope they will bless you too. read more

2:00PM EST 11/6/2015

Here is why it's so important for help your church's youth to grasp that they are made in God's image. read more

5:00PM EDT 7/15/2015

How you live your life in your 20s, 30s and 40s matters. Take it from someone who has been there. read more

8:00AM EDT 4/14/2015

Here are seven places where you might find good counseling and simply a sanctuary if you're having a difficult time with your ministry. read more

3:00PM EST 1/5/2015

Here are some gems of wisdom from a veteran pastor to the younger generation. read more

9:00AM EDT 10/28/2014

There are several reasons even you, as a ministerial leader, needs someone to disciple you. Here are a few. read more

9:00AM EDT 9/16/2014

Are you involved in a mutually beneficial mentoring/student relationship? What is holding you back? read more

9:00AM EDT 4/22/2014

Are you preaching, teaching, or both? read more

12:00PM EST 2/20/2014

Find out why older church leaders don't need to think about retreating or retirement as much as they need to begin empowering younger leaders. read more

9:00AM EST 1/29/2014

It’s easy to tell whether a person is giving an excuse. Whether you’re a teacher, a parent or a leader, we’ve all heard excuses from other people that don’t quite add up.

While determining the validity of someone else’s excuse is fairly black and white, it’s not so easy when it comes to the excuses we give ourselves. Oftentimes we give ourselves a lot more slack with our own excuses. It’s taken me years to realize that the excuses I often find “acceptable” can possibly destroy the influence, leadership potential and personal growth I want to accomplish.

Here are three of the most common acceptable excuses I’ve found myself giving over the past few years. But I have recently realized the danger of using them: read more

4:00PM EDT 8/14/2013

My wife Ann and I lead busy lives. Yet, despite the flurry of activity, God has protected us from the ravages of spiritual collapse. One of the reasons is that we’ve been able to keep up a daily personal devotional life. For us, it’s a key to sanity!

Many of us are task oriented. What we DO is the measure of our success. If you ask people why Jesus was successful most will point to the to the things he did. “He healed the sick…cast out demons…raised the dead…preached to the multitudes”…and the list goes on. And yet, there’s an aspect of the Messiah’s life that involved doing ‘nothing,’ but spending time alone with the Father. So significant were these times that all four Gospels mention them.  In fact, Luke 5:16 says that “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” read more

12:00PM EDT 6/14/2013

1. Preach to Yourself
When God has asked me to do something that seems impossible for me, I have to preach to myself to defeat the fear and uncertainty that try to control me.

2. Don't Quit
In a relationship? In business? In reaching your personal goals? Will you give in to fear of failure and quit trying? The important thing to remember when you fail is not to quit. History shows that failure can actually become a catalyst to propel you to success.

3. Take Courage
You have to have courage against all odds. You have to be willing to face down frightening voices and take a risk to move forward into your destiny. You cannot give into the spirit of timidity and draw back when times get tough. read more

9:00AM EST 1/17/2013

There is something about the holiday season that amplifies our feelings. When we are having a good year, we see God’s joy and blessing around every corner.

But then there are the years of loss. This season, there will be people in your church who are grieving deeply. In fact, that person might be you.

Grief has many causes; from the loss of a loved one to the loss of a job. The holiday season seems to also bring out the loss of dreams, and desperation of what might never be.

In this article, I won’t be able to help you make people feel better. Grief is a deep valley that must be traversed at different times of life. However, you should find some new tools here that will help you love the people you walk with in tangible ways and give you the insight to share God’s perspective. read more

9:00AM EST 11/26/2012