• Examine Long Term Goals – If you do not know where you are going, you will never arrive. Think strategically daily – Where do I want to be in 12 months – 5 years?
• Examine Daily Plans – The tasks that I am doing either contributes to long term goals or satisfies short-term curiosity. Work at what you want to be doing! Nobody is 100% productive. Do not work yourself to the point of not being able to chase dreams.
• Ask For Help – Nobody does anything of worth by doing it alone. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness – actually it is a sign of respect.
• Engage In Mentorship – Engage with a mentor regularly and mentor others regularly. We cannot grow past our own thinking. We need to gulp daily in order to refresh others.
• Give Yourself A Break – You are human and success is not an overnight sensation. Go easy on yourself when mistakes are made. Look for the general rising slope in life and not the downhill slide to failure.
• Write Down What Happened – Life is a journey so keep a journal. This does not need to be polished; it just needs to be your thoughts and musings and how it felt.
• Build Your Confidence – We all will have a crisis of confidence and we all have to learn to overcome our fears. Engage a mentor for the present and remember what you have already overcome in the past.
• Give Thanks & Compliments – Just as you have a crisis of confidence so do others, compliment people regularly. This daily habit can have a ten-fold return in your life.
• Focus On Others – We are leaving a legacy. We will either be remembered positively or negatively. So remember that all interactions may be your last with that person. Make a lasting impression!
• Get Physical – Exercise is not a curse word! 20-30 minutes of something is better than 24 hours of nothing.
• Quit Something – For everything that you are getting ready to add to your life, purpose to get rid of one thing. Do not keep piling on more work!
• Delegate Effectively – This is scary but it is based upon trust in others. We are not the end of all things in our world.
• Laugh At Yourself Often – Keep humor in your life daily. This will keep you from taking yourself too serious and from believing your own press reports. Become a master at laughing at yourself and making others laugh.
• Sleep – 7-8 hours nightly is needed to keep from destroying productivity and brain cells.
• Continue Life Learning – This is the key to success in life. When was the last time you learned something for the first time?
• Cultivate Outside Interests – Broaden your perspectives by learning something in another discipline of life. Get outside of your own knowing to see a larger swath of life.
• Share Something Profound – Your communication should indicate that you are still learning and growing. Age does not have anything to do with it.

Leave a comment or better yet can you come up with the 18th suggestion?

Adapted from a blog post by Bill Murphy March 24, 2014

I have never met a leader who wants to be a “One-Hit Wonder!”  No leader wants to burn out the same day they succeed. Leadership is about leaving a legacy which will inspire others to excel.

In an older USA Today article about the former Super Bowl Champions head coach Mike Holmgren, his Hall of Fame record is discussed:

• 170-111 overall record in 17 years of coaching
• 15 times he finished first or second in his division
• Molded quarterbacks Joe Montana, Steve Young, Brett Favre, Matt Hasselback
• Coached two different teams (Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks) to the Super Bowl and had three Super Bowl appearances overall
• 1996 Super Bowl Champion with the Packers

USA Today writer Jon Saraceno’s article on Coach Holmgren (and Brian Dodd’s blog) gives us several characteristics of leaders that can withstand the journey and the years of being out front leading others.

1. Leaders that last have stable leadership – Constant change of leadership, ideas, methodology, and contemporization of thought can leave people exhausted and questioning a leaders direction and intent.
2. Leaders that last understand that failure is never final – There will be days of great failure in our lives – days that we ready to quit. Great leaders reach from deep within and press forward against all odds.
3. Leaders that last are decisive – Football requires quick decisive choices, right or wrong. Paralysis by analysis stalls forward motion. The question for churches is to ask, “Is God on our side?” If yes, then act!
4. Leaders that last understand their limitations – Focus on your strengths and hire to your weaknesses. We are not superman – capable of ridiculous feats. Stephen Covey stated; “Keep the main thing, the main thing!”
5. Leaders that last acquire talent – What is your five year growth goals? Who do you need on the team? Bobb Beihl of Masterplanning International stated regularly that we over-estimate what we can accomplish in twelve months and under estimate what we can accomplish in five years. Remember that no leader can lead past their own thinking habits!
6. Leaders that last know how to leverage their influence – This starts by loving people more than your own self love! You have to invest in others in a genuine way in order to have influence to leverage in the first place. The old idiom is true; People do not care how much know until they know how much you care!
7. Leaders who last are devoted to their family – Your family is job #1. No career goals, business, or church development plan trumps your family. End of discussion!

If these seven characteristics are part of your life and daily habit, then you will perhaps become a leader that will last!

Leave a comment below or voice message me at the right-side of this article. I would love to hear your thoughts and start a dialogue on this topic. Share this article with your friends list and Twitter – THANKS!

Have you ever struggled with the idea of bringing in someone as a ministry Coach when you knew that you were over your head? Have you ever struggled with how to convince others on your leadership team that money should be spent on outside assistance? Consider the value of Jethro in Exodus 18 upon Moses or Paul’s impact upon Timothy and Titus. Consider the value that a good Coach can add to your ministry.

1. Experience, expertise, and time are brought to your leadership team. Your leadership team cannot possible stay abreast with the new paradigms that God is blessing and methods that are new and fresh. You cannot hire enough knowledgeable people to keep up with today’s fast pace.
2. Jethro demonstrates the flexibility of being available when needed and disappearing after the job is completed. FLEXIBILITY is required in the needs of today’s churches. The use of the phone and internet offer options for an ongoing coaching relationship that is flexible to a leaders’ time.
3. Fresh perspectives are needed in the ministry. A good Coach offers cross-pollination of ideas and experiences from other similar ministries that allow you to tap into a brain trust of information.
4. Maximum ministry efficiency is provided. This is made possible because of the Coach’s similar life experiences. They are able to devote time on solutions without the distractions of daily ministerial requirements. A good Coach can bring to completion a task in a fraction of the time needed otherwise.
5. A good Coach should bring sound theology to the relationship. A Coach that is grounded in theological training will bring not just ideas to the table, but ideas that are tempered with solid theology that strengthens the Biblical voice of the church.
6. A good Coach will assist you in searching for the answers that are within you. You do not want someone to do your thinking for you, rather, you need someone that can assist you in thinking into your desired outcomes.

Some object to the use of outside assistance to accomplish strategic planning and to develop healthy patterns of ministry due to the cost. The first thing to consider, is our church growing, plateaued, or declining. If your ministry is stuck or struggling in some way, then perhaps the question becomes, “Can we afford not to work with such a person?” Secondly, the issue is who is the cheapest? The old business adage holds true even in the church world, “The bitterness of poor service outlasts the sweetness of low price!” Most would agree that using a theologically trained proven Coach for strategic planning is the best way to go. The question now is, “are you willing to settle for second or third best? Should the Lord’s church settle for second best? Is your ministry worth more than second best?”

Consider the seven reasons that you can afford a good Coach.[1]

1. Rather than ask if you can afford a qualified Coach, the better question is, Can you afford not to work with a Coach? Is your ministry at serious risk? Is it likely that your ministry rests with a wise decision to bring in outside help such as Jethro or a Paul?
2. The benefit of a good Coach should more than pay for the cost of the service. At Shepherds Advantage we will equip every minister with our proven “Prove-The-Tithe” stewardship strategy as a part of every service that we offer. Our goal is to provide healthy Biblical strategies of stewardship in every church.
3. Often there are those who are willing to underwrite the cost of a Coach. Many times there are people whom God has blessed with the spirit of generosity. When a vision need is cast, there are people who may surprise you with their willingness to support you.
4. You get what you pay for and what you value.
5. If you are a small church that wrestles with the cost, consider combining with other churches in the community to share in the expense. What seems unaffordable now is possible when shared between several churches in a community.
6. The need for consulting is the primary issue. If ministerial health can be restored and hope for tomorrow returned, isn’t that what we all strive for?
7. A good Coach is cost effective for any ministry. The cost of a good Coach is considerably less than the salary package of a new staff hire.

Leave a comment below or click the voice message at the right to leave a comment. I am convinced that having a good coach in our life in the 21st century is crucial to spiritual/emotional health.

[1] Aubrey Malphurs. A New Kind of Church (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2007), 188-190.

Thom Rainer recently (9/22/14 Rainer Report Blog) released current data that showed only 17% of the Millennial generation as professing Christ. This represents the lowest conversion percentage of any generation in the history of our nation. So there is a great push to impact this generation just as efforts have been done to impact every generation. We are now emphasizing the “under 40” leaders in order to engage a dialogue of understanding and to implement strategies that are targeted to this demographic.

While reflecting upon my concern for the millennial generation and their conversion to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, I turned my reflection upon the aging of our nations leaders. Specifically the demographic information that states the median age of church leaders is rising or in other words, we are getting older. The median age of senior clergy/congregational leaders is in the mid-50’s according to the National Congregations Study by Duke University.

This data begs the question regarding the younger generations representation in faith-based initiatives. There is a major shift of culture and expectations that is taking place in the church world. I recently came across an article that discussed the fears of growing older. This article provoked some reflective thought. It is true that as we age our habits of life, desires of life, and our capabilities in life change. That is a natural part of the cycle of life. Just as we are concerned about reaching the unreached, what is our level of concern for the aging “brain-trust” of leaders facing new fears and doubts?

I want to offer some thoughts of aging leaders.

• I fear leaving life unfinished. I have not met a leader who does not want to miss anything that God has planned for them. Days may be drawing shorter, but the weight of God’s call takes on a new urgency. I personally do not want to miss anything.
• I fear change itself. While we may have lived life with gusto prior, age suddenly causes us to slow the pace of change in our life. We reflect longer and move slower. Life’s experiences teaches us much wisdom.
• I fear not equipping those closest to me for eternity. We feel secure in our destiny. But the question arises, have we done everything we can to prepare those who matter the most for eternity?
• I fear being forgotten. Not that I will be forgotten as a person, but will my testimony and passion for Christ be remembered? When people reflect upon our life will our words of wisdom still be an encouragement to those who remember?
• I fear not finishing strong. We do hit a point in life that leaving a legacy becomes a driving passion and concern. We all want to leave our mark in life. We desire to keep our mind and spirit young even when our body slows its pace. We desire to maintain a capability to engage intellectual and theological debate. Age cannot take your mind unless you yield to it.

While we are concerned about the lost in any generation, we do not want to lose sight of  Christ’s most important teaching that is not generationally bound – DO NOT BE AFRAID!

Leave a comment or  click on the voice message icon. I will respond to each comment.

In my last post I discussed the growing concern about depression in the ministry. Just this week Pew Research reported that 72% of Americans no longer believe that the church is an influencer in society. Couple that statistic with the fact that 50,000 churches will look for a new pastor within the next twelve months and you have the ingredients of rapid pastoral transitions in search of meaning within their calling. Thom Rainer reported this week also that it takes 86 church members twelve months to gain one new convert for Christ. That is cause for concern!

So, is depression a verb? Is it something that we are doing and if we are doing, then can we stop it? SO THAT I DO NOT MISREPRESENT this topic let me state here and now – depression in any profession is a serious matter! There is no cookie cutter approach to this serious topic. Think about it – leaders in corporations that are depressed can influence the outcomes of subordinates’ lifestyles. Ministers that are depressed proclaiming a “Good News” message may, if we are not careful, influence people’s hope for eternity.

So the question – Is depression a verb? Is it something that you start or stop by altering activity? What are some solutions to this concern? I want to offer suggestions on dealing with this topic and I am not attempting to be comprehensive so much as I desire to provoke thought that will lead to action and resolve.

• At the top of the list for me is to see your Doctor. There is something to be said about a regular check-up and blood work. Our chemical makeup is designed to work harmoniously in a delicate balance of life. It is amazing at how the small thyroid gland can greatly influence mood and demeanor. See you doctor!
• If necessary see a licensed mental health counselor. There are a number of great counselors that approach their profession within a Judeo-Christian perspective. Research, ask questions for referrals, and do your homework in this area. Depression has tentacles that reaches everything from the current back to your childhood. A professional is needed to explore these matters.
• Get CONNECTED to a Christian Coach. Unfortunately, “coaching” has taken a bad rap these days because there is a coach for everything in life. HOWEVER, I am talking about a coach that will assist you in your awareness of where you are in life and who you are in life, guiding you to solutions and action steps that are within you. Coaching to do what I did and get what I got approach is not coaching at all in the truest sense. I believe that every minister who is serious about their calling should be connected to a quality coach. Research in this area will require some time to locate and then connect with a coach. I believe this is more a “long view” approach to ministry and not meant to be a quick fix.
• At the simplest of choices do a self examination of your life-patterns and rhythms. It is amazing at the things we know we should change but habits propel us forward and in fact we create some of our own misery. Have the courage to change things of your life that you cannot in fact change. Be disciplined in all aspects of your life.

Finally so that we do not over look the obvious – the power of meditation and scripture infused with the work of the Holy Spirit in our life will accomplish miraculous things. Here are fifteen (15) scriptures (ESV) to reflect upon as you pray.

Featured Verse

Philippians 4:8 – “Finally, brothers, what is true, whatever is honorable, what is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

God Never Loses Sight of You

1. Deuteronomy 31:8 “…It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
2. Deuteronomy 32:10 “In a desert land he found me, in a barren and howling waste. He shielded him and cared for him; he guarded him as the apple of his eye.”
3. Psalm 34:17 “When the righteous cry for help the Lord hears and delivers them out of their troubles.”
4. Psalm 40:1-3 “I waited patiently for the Lord; He inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.”

Your Trust and Hope is in Him; call Upon Him

1. Psalm 3:3 “But you O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.”
2. Psalm 32:10 “Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the ones who trust in the Lord.”
3. Psalm 37:3-4 ” Trust in the Lord, and do good, dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”
4. Psalm 42:11 “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”
5. 1 Peter 5:6-7 (KJV) “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time; casting all your care upon him; be careth for you.”

He Has Great Plans For You

1. Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
2. John 16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
3. Romans 8:38-39 “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height or depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
4. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
5. 1 Peter 4:12-13 “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trail when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed.”

This article is designed to provoke thought and possible action steps toward solutions. What are your thoughts? Share them below and let us begin a dialogue. I will answer and remark on each comment.

After all we are men and women of faith, power, and action! RIGHT?

“The spiritual shepherds of the faithful, are not supposed to burn out. Ministry leaders, the CEO’s in charge of efficient organizations, are not allowed to feel low. Christians, especially Christian leaders, must never be depressed.” Subodh S Lal.

There are articles pointing to this growing problem among the faith-based leaders – New York Times – “Evidence Grows of Problem of Clergy Burnout”, or Paul Tripp’s Gospel Coalition blog post, “Depression and The Ministry.” Thomas Rainer’s Pastor’s Today Blog reports the rate of depression among ministers is growing at a higher rate than the general population.

SO THAT WE ARE CLEAR the ministry is not collapsing in total today.  There is a growing concern that is worthy of dialogue and understanding causes. Here is are some of my thoughts as to cause:

• Spiritual Warfare – we are in a battle, our spiritual enemy does not want us to succeed as effective servants making a difference for the cross. If ministers are to be damaged from his perspective – so be it!
• Unrealistic Expectations – My doctoral research discovered that the average church member today expects their leader to simultaneously manage up to seventeen tasks. This is NOT REAL!
• Sabbath Breaking – A day of rest does not include cutting grass, painting homes, washing vehicles, and power shopping at the mall. It means totally disconnecting from all digital noise and actually RESTING!
• Comparing Ourselves Among Ourselves – There will always be someone better and bigger. Avoid this debilitating mind game.
• Critics Platform – “In the day when ministers used to……” Don’t you love people who believe they are doing God’s work by tearing you down? The critic never offers positive regard for you or your family. NEVER!

This graph shows how a cycle of depression starts. Take notice of the last step before the cycle goes around another time – “Depressive thinking styles.” Albert Einstein stated that you cannot change your circumstances with the same thinking that created it. At some point you MUST get outside of your knowing to allow another person with a fresh perspective to step into your life.

In my next blog post I am going to address some ways to consider on combating depression in the ministry. Let’s start a dialogue on this topic. What trends do you see? I will go first – respond below. Looking froward to the next blog post!

In the first of three articles in this series, we considered the development of mega churches as a result of shifting from a utilitarian function of moving people to a destination beyond themselves to churches functioning more as the destination. The second article focused upon the churches that were attempting to win the “cool factor” of relevance and how that backfires when you make yourself the destination and not the vehicle to take you to a destination.

This article will focus upon the perception of stability. The cruise industry factors the cost per berth in relationship to the number of passengers it can hold. For example the Seabourn Quest with only 450 passengers costs $540,000 per berth. The world’s largest ship, The Allure of the Seas carries ten times that of the Seabourn Quest at a cost per berth that is less than half. The conclusion for this industry is – “BIGGER IS BETTER!”However these vessels are not as nimble in certain sea conditions and cannot react to market changes as fast as smaller vessels. The size of a vessel is quite efficient as long as the market conditions support that size. They trade efficiency for flexibility.

Consider the church world for similar trade offs. In 2005 when Christmas Day was on a Sunday, one mega church admitted that having a service on this Sunday was not a good use of resources. It takes 90 staff and 700 volunteers to equip a service and then factor in the cost of lightening and heat – the conclusion was it is better to cancel this service due to anticipated smaller crowds. What would happen if one generation decided they want to live in the city and not the suburbs? What if one generation spends its resources on technology over vehicles – how will you overcome the barrier of 30 minute drive-times to get to the suburbs? Does multi-cite campuses with live streaming feed from the main campus solve the issue of efficiency and flexibility?

Large churches and multi-cite campuses all suffer from the same dangerous potential – The Lead Pastor! What if the captains name is Francesco Schettino, captain of the Costa Concordia. What about the recent forced resignation of Mars Hill with its multi-cite campuses? The lead pastor was accused of belligerent leadership and abuse of power. The one glaring issue that “BIG-NESS” over looks is that leadership failure is exacerbated because of the size! The dangerous blind spot is that the larger the operation the more we tend to see it as a “kingdom in and of itself” as opposed nothing more than a vehicle to take us to a destination.

So that I am not misunderstood and so that I will not receive a flood of “hate-mail” from long-time friends allow me to make a few closing remarks. Mega-churches are not going anywhere. They are going to be part of the religious landscape for years to come as the Lord tarries. However, it is not wise to assume that bigger is necessarily better. There are trade-offs and inherent dangers associated with being big. Do not become naive! At the same time allow me to state that smallness is not the zenith of holiness and righteousness. Small churches wrestle with limiting beliefs that prohibits growth and stunts dreams. In either case large or small the church is not the destination, the Cross is! Transformed lives can transform cities before the sounding of the last trumpet of God.