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I am intrigued, guided, informed, strengthened, weakened, and sometimes made wiser by observing, making, breaking, and changing rules. I’m not discussing in this post rules in the Bible. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind (Philippians 3:16, NKJV). I…
The sixth New Shepherds Orientation Workshop was with the Puyallup Church of Christ in Puyallup, Washington. We had the training sessions in the Holiday Inn Express in Seattle, Washington. I was touched and encouraged. Although two of the elders were involved in deaths close to them, they were present for most of the training. One…
The fifth New Shepherds Orientation Workshop was conducted with the elders, ministers, and spouses of the Smyrna Church of Christ, Smyrna, Tennessee, February 23-25. We met at NHC in Murfreesboro Friday night and Saturday. We enjoyed a delicious meal together at The Chop House Saturday night after closing the workshop at 5:00. I stayed over…
I’ve worked with many shepherds who start with a great vision of their work. “We want to get out of management, details of the business, caring for the building, controlling finances, and become shepherds. We want to know the sheep, lead them, help them, and encourage them.” Often within three months the shepherding goal is…
I’ve never been busier — church, family, work, children, grandchildren, and other things coming up. I just don’t have enough time.” How does a busy person exhibit excellence when there’re so many choices and chores? Is it possible? Here is the thesis of my post: If a job, ministry, task, or project is something I…
When new shepherds are appointed, they usually go by former shepherds’ rules which are often unconscious, unspoken, but understood. A pattern has been set about agendas (or lack of), who speaks when, prayers (number and time), how the group makes decisions, and how much deacons’ work elders do. Orientation is usually coming to the first…
How do you present the budget in your congregation? Is it simply a business transaction? Do we do it as we’ve always done it — look at last year’s budget, increase it by 7-10%, and tell everyone what they need to give this year? Gail and I have been living on a budget for nearly…
“I get tired of hearing the same preacher Sunday, after Sunday, after Sunday. In two years (from 1998), I’ll have been at Berry’s Chapel seven years. In the year 2000, if I could have three months off to travel, listen to other preachers, rest, and do some special study, it’d be a great blessing to…
A friend asked if I’d come to his congregation to conduct a workshop on setting goals for the church. I replied I’d rather conduct a workshop on setting individual goals. Unless leaders have developed and use a plan to grow individually, they probably won’t lead the church in developing a plan to grow. How can…