leading from within

• Do You Have Your 2013 Plan? - 01.17.2013

  It was a hot humid day. The event had ended. I was carrying our equipment to our truck. Given the enormity of the Gaylord hotel property in Nashville, I tried to take it all in one trip. So I slung bags over both shoulders, filled my small hand truck and pulled our keyboard on wheels. It took all of my energy but knowing my car was in the parking lot just adjacent to the exit, I knew I could tough it out.

   

• The Perfect Present - 12.22.2012

  It was Mother’s Day. The speaker said Mother’s Day is not a source of celebration for everyone. Many mothers have lost children or unable to have children. I listened. My heart hurt for those women. That was years ago. A part of me now dreads Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day. Then there’s Christmas.

  Christmas lights illuminate my spirit. Christmas movies give me great joy. It’s a Wonderful Life and Elf are two of my favorites. I love Christmas. Yet, like many people, my pain also multiplies at Christmas. At times my life doesn’t seem so wonderful. For many depression, negative thoughts and overall mental anguish throbs. As a dad who suffered the sudden unimaginable loss of his daughter, may I humbly offer a few suggestions on surviving this Christmas and other holidays?

   

• Helping a Team Member to Grieve
  Tips from a Dad with a Raw Broken Heart - 05.19.2012

   “Close your eyes. Raise your hand if you have experienced a tragedy or serious illness in the last five years.” Half of the audience raised their hand. “Keep your hand raised if that has happened in the last two years.” 10-15 hands remain. “Now, of those remaining, keep your hand raised if your loss was the death of a spouse or a child.” Only 3-4 hands remain. “Now keep your hand raised if you lost a beautiful 28 year old daughter named Amy that was one of the godliest people you have ever met.” That was the way I introduced the topic of grieving to my audiences at every High Impact training event this year.

   

• ATTRACTivity, does your ministry have it? - 12.03.2011

  Most of us want to be attractive. At least we don’t want to be unattractive. We want our ministries to be compelling, to draw more families, singles, members, volunteers, or donors. We want more people to visit our website, Like Us on FB and follow our tweets.

   

• Volunteer Equity? Three ways to build it. - 09.26.2011

   Volunteer equity is the value that exists in an organization based on volunteer capital and effectiveness. Volunteer equity is not just the number of volunteers that your organization possesses but also it is the commitment and effectiveness of your volunteer teams.

   

• The night I fell in love?...with the word of God - 04.01.2011

  I hung up the phone. Mark, a friend, was on his way to pick me up to take me to another bar and a place where I often gambled. I was sixteen. They weren't checking I.D.s much in those days in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Months prior I had made a commitment to Christ and some changes had started to take place.

   

• This Year I'll Play Without My Helmet - 09.11.2010

  As the summer turns, American football is not the only endeavor that kicks off its season. Ministry activity explodes in the fall. Whether to serve the homeless, care for families at our church or love children by collecting shoeboxes, leaders are preparing themselves and volunteers to enter the playing field.

   

• Getting over the Thieving Green Monster - 06.24.2010

  A friend of mine left his ministry position with no future job in sight. Within weeks he landed a new position on a posh ministry pillow replete with endless resources. My heart demanded to know, how could that be? This isn't fair. My trek of faith has been painful, arduous, full of crying, and waiting. It seems like we never possess enough resources to accomplish the vision. Why did he get it so easy?

   

• Four Things I hate about Faith - 05.24.2010

  Learning Christianity and leading volunteers has been that way for me. Slowly, very slowly, I learn that I must set aside every natural tendency to make room for the faith reality. No, that's not right either. Actually, God pries my fingers open until I, out of desperation, let go of my natural tendencies. I cry as He takes them away. I hate the process. Let me give you a few examples of my natural notions that desperately need Spirit-led faith contortion.