If you’re a leader you can’t escape it—you will be criticized. Criticism is aimed at leaders because everyone (including leaders) is imperfect and hurting and hurting people end up hurting others. At the beginning of one’s leadership journey it’s very difficult to try to separate personalized criticism into a truth or untruth category–criticism jumps straight to personal hurt.…
In part one of this series we took the time to talk about areas in the pastoral leaders’ lives that will help them be the person God has called them to be. Now it seems appropriate to address areas that can be detrimental to the pastoral leader.…
Sometimes I wonder if I complain too much. It seems that I’m not very good at being content. There are days that I love what I’m doing and feel blessed that God is letting me do it, but even little things get in the way of me being truly joyful.…
Planning can enhance your ministry and extend your impact. Even if we manage to carve out some think-time, the actual planning portion is STILL TOUGH! It can be difficult to know where to start. What should change? What stays the same?…
Planning can enhance your ministry and extend your impact. Even if we manage to carve out some think-time, the actual planning portion is STILL TOUGH! It can be difficult to know where to start. What should change? What stays the same?…
Two statements that we both talk about a lot are: (1) the world is often a discouraging place, and (2) people are hungry for encouragement. Teenagers are surrounded by discouragement and are desperate for encouragement (just like most of our adult friends—but that’s another topic for later).…
“Oh, excuse me, I didn’t know you were meeting with someone in here.” (Later that day) “I don’t know what happened: She was crying, and the next minute she was sobbing in my arms, with her face buried in my chest!”…
“Let’s roll.” “C’mon you guys!” “Hurry up!” “You guys are lagging behind.” “Keep up.” “Stay together.” “We’re going to miss our train!” These are phrases that I often find myself saying and repeating when leading a group—whether it’s on a missions trip in another country, in New York City, or even right here in Smithtown.…
How much of your time and energy is spent on big programs? How much of it is spent on trips and retreats? If you’re like me, then much of your time is spent on those things. And there’s great value in those parts of youth ministry.…
Surrender. What a “losing” kind of word. White flags. Giving up. Captive in enemy territory. Someone told me this week that I wasn’t very good at surrendering. I scoffed. “You’ve obviously never seen me play Monopoly…or try to win an argument with my wife…or endeavor to lose 20 pounds.…
