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When I started the new blog New Shepherds Orientation in January 2015, I emailed many elders and their wives. These were my questions: What did you learn during your first year serving as an elder that might be helpful to new shepherds? What did you learn during your first year serving as the wife of…
Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High, by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler; Copyright © 2012 by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, and Ron McMillan; published by McGraw Hill; New York; Kindle ISBN: 978-0-07-177132-0 My take-away from this book is when you are initiating a difficult conversation, make it easy for…
Who’s gonna fill their shoes?Who’s gonna stand that tall?Who’s gonna play the OpryAnd the Wabash Cannonball?Who’s gonna give their heart and soulTo get to me and you?Lord I wonder, who’s gonna fill their shoes? Max D. Barnes and Troy Seals wrote the song, “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes,” released by George Jones in 1985. They…
Jesus said faith as a mustard seed could move a mountain: Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you (Matthew 17:20). I’ve found that principle helpful and now…
I was “trying out.” I had preached and was answering questions after services. A kind, gracious, dignified, older lady asked, “If you come here to be our preacher, how much visiting will you do?” It was a conflicted congregation. An unintentional interim had left a few months before. He followed a loved preacher who had…
The Way of the Shepherd: 7 Ancient Secrets to Managing Productive People, by Dr. Kevin Leman and William Pentak; Copyright © 2004 by Kevin Leman and William Pentak; Zondervan, Grand Rapids ePub Edition January 2009 ISBN: 978-0-310-54312-1 This is a fable about a graduating MBA asking advice from his major professor as he takes his…
It’s time to appoint elders or deacons. We read the instructions of Paul to Timothy and Titus in the Bible: 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1. All say this person must be “the husband of one wife.” But what if his first wife died and he remarried? Does he have one wife or two wives? What if…
I haven’t been writing for this blog since December 17 last year. I’m planning to start again. One post a month for this blog and one a month for Between Preachers. I plan to continue the fifth Tuesday “Mustard Seeds” from Books. January 6, 2015, was the first post for the New Shepherds Orientation blog….
When I started working with churches between preachers nearly thirteen years ago, several people, said, “You should write a book on interim ministry.” I started the blog Between Preachers in January 2016 which became the book released last week. Between Preachers is now available in both paperback and Kindle on Amazon. Order your copy: [su_button…
A few months ago I heard a new expression: “one elder and one decoy.” A preacher friend was describing a situation in a congregation. Most of us have seen it. There were two elders. One of the elders moved, died, or became disabled. The church didn’t want to be without an eldership. They searched and…