As leaders, we want to do things with excellence. But what does that truly mean, and what does it take to achieve? I recently witnessed a display of excellence that brought tears to my eyes. We were having concrete steps installed at our cottage and didn’t know the expertise of the landscapers. I had a […]

Some of the most ordinary things in life are actually extraordinary when we take time to ponder them. So let’s think about seeds—both physical and spiritual. And then let’s do something with them. Last week I planted marigold and sunflower seeds in a container of peat pellets. I was pretty amazed when just a few […]

A deep current of passion runs through the soul of most leaders. But just like the current of a river can ebb and flow, a leader’s zeal can too. How can we keep the flow strong and well-directed? Last fall, God used a documentary on a worship band to deepen my love for Jesus. As […]

Go ahead and breathe a sigh of relief… this won’t be a gluten-free blog! I’m referring to your corporate spiritual body—the body of Christ in your spheres of influence. As a leader, you’re familiar with the built-in limitations of your own gifting and the need to have team members with different giftings. But let’s take […]

This is the famous question Jesus asked Peter, James, and John, after they fell asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane: “Could you not tarry one hour?” Jesus could rightfully ask this of us, His twenty-first century disciples. As busy leaders, we often push aside prayer when we’re pressed for time. But just like the disciples, […]

It’s my conviction that the first priority of any Christian board meeting is to authentically engage with Jesus. The second is like it—to actively uphold the ministry’s mission at each meeting. Instead of assuming our mission is central at board meetings, let’s make it so. As leaders, we distill our board meeting agenda to issues […]

Most Christian leaders worship, but aren’t worship leaders per se. So how do you lead your team to actively honor God when you don’t have a degree in music? And, more importantly, how do you follow God’s lead during a time of worship? Let’s take a look. A small group of leaders gathered for a […]

The other day I dumped a forgotten bucketful of damp rags into the washer, and they smelled like crazy. The same can be true of our strengths. Left unchecked, they take on a foul odor.     One of my leadership strengths is vision. I readily see into the future and have lots of ideas about […]