Revitalize Your Church

After leading or participating in over a thousand board meetings, I've concluded that the most effective boards have figured out how to do the following things well: B --  Believe:   Operate by faith rather than fear.  Prayer for guidance is essential.  When faced with a big challenge, what you do next reveals what you really believe about God. O --  Optimize:   Look for ways build up, strengthen and move forward.  Focus on the possibilities, rather than the problems.  No nit picking or circle spinning. A --  Argue:   Perhaps I should say "argue constructively."  A good board is not just a bunch of rubber stampers.  Neither should it be a collection of cantankerous cranks.  On a healthy board, divergent viewpoints are encouraged and expressed positively.  The best outcomes occur after the various perspectives are weighed.  There's a way to disagree agreeably, keeping the unity of the Spirit in t...

The quality of life is not a matter of luck - but of choice! Some choices don't make much difference - like "What should I wear today?" (Although some people take an extraordinarily long time deciding this!) Other choices can change the entire course of life - like "Who should I marry?" or "How does God fit into my life?" Sometimes small choices can turn into disastrous outcomes: "Should I cheat?" "Should I take this drug?" “Should I visit this website?” "Should I protect myself and tell a lie?" "Should I go out with this person?" Think it through! Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdick invented the following six-point test for making excellent decisions: 1. Does the course of action you plan to follow seem logical and reasonable? Never mind what anyone else has to say. Does it make sense to you? If it does, it is probably right. 2. Does it pass the test of sportsmanship? In other words, if everyone foll...

There is a huge difference between working hard and doing the hard work.  By keeping ourselves busy with overwhelming responsibilities, a multitude of tasks, and packed schedules, we have an excuse for avoiding difficult conversations and hard decisions. If things are sagging, don't defend yourself by pointing out how hard you are working.  Instead, ask yourself whether or not you've been avoiding the hard work.

Here are 16 questions to help you as you face major decisions. 1. What is the real, bottom line issue here? 2. What would be most honoring to God? Have I prayed about it? 3. What are the pro's and con's? (Write them down.) 4. What do your respected advisors say? 5. What factors push you towards "yes"? Are they noble, upright, positive, and true? 6. What factors push you towards "no"? Are they noble, upright, positive, and true? 7. What new problems does the decision bring? (Every new plan brings new obstacles.) 8. What is the right thing to do? 9. T.H.I.N.K. (Is it True, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary, & Kind?) 10. How will this decision impact other people? (both positively and negatively) 11. What have other, wiser people done in similar situations? 12. Do I have all of the information necessary to make a good decision? 13. Is the timing right? 14. Is this a "long haul" decision or a temporary fix? ("band aid" solutions...

“It is not bigotry to be certain we are right ; but it is bigotry to be unable to imagine how we might possibly have gone wrong.” -- G. K. Chesterton

The quality of life is not a matter of luck - but of choice! Some choices don't make much difference - like "What should I wear today?" (Although some people take an extraordinarily long time deciding this!) Other choices can change the entire course of life - like "Who should I marry?" or "How does God fit into my life?" Sometimes small choices can turn into disastrous outcomes: "Should I cheat?" "Should I take this drug?" “Should I visit this website?” "Should I protect myself and tell a lie?" "Should I go out with this person?" Think it through! Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdick invented the following six-point test for making excellent decisions: 1. Does the course of action you plan to follow seem logical and reasonable? Never mind what anyone else has to say. Does it make sense to you? If it does, it is probably right. 2. Does it pass the test of sportsmanship? In other words, if everyone followed this same course ...

Usually, it’s not too difficult to make a good decision. Most decisions we make can be determined by plain old common sense. The CEO of a major corporation once said, “95% of the decisions I make could be made by any intelligent fifth grader. I’m paid the big bucks for the other 5%.” Of course, as we have seen lately in the news, some CEO’s are paid the big bucks and make crummy decisions anyway! An intelligent fifth grader understands values such as honesty, uprightness, and compassion. Nevertheless, there are certain decisions in life that are not the “slam dunk” variety. Sometimes, it’s really hard to know what to do. When faced with a difficult decision, here are a few points to ponder: Have you prayed about it? God can give you wisdom beyond your own for this situation. Most people panic first and pray later, “God, get me out of this mess!” It’s much better to pray first, and then you won’t have to panic later! What is the bottom, bottom line? When all else is said and don...

John Maxwell recently posted an outstanding article on decision making in challenging times: Crises Call for Critical Choices

My friend, Lola, gave my family a container of wild rice that had been harvested by her late husband, Russell. I tried to cook it -- but the results weren't very satisfactory. I called Lola to ask her advice. She replied, "Wild rice -- boil thrice! For it to taste right, you need to bring it to a boil three times." Aha! That's the way it is with problem solving too. Difficult decisions are like wild rice. Usually, the first boiling is not enough for a satisfactory solution. We need to go back and mull over it some more -- boil it a couple more times -- and then, we'll have something!

How do church leaders arrive at the decisions they make? 1. Tradition: Often, this decision is made by indecision. We just continue to do what we've always done. If it worked in the past, it should work today. There are a lot of empty churches that have operated this way for years. 2. Emotion: We make decisions based on who will get upset and/or how strongly somebody feels about the issue. Whoever has the strongest emotion wins the day. 3. Pragmatism: If it works for today, let's do it. This is a "consumer oriented" approach. 4. Selective Theological Interpretation: This is usually used by a pastor, or a long tenured church member, searching for Bible passages to support #1 and/or #2 as an argument against #3 -- or sometimes visa versa. 5. Biblical Mission: While staying true to Scripture (the Great Confession) , making faith-inspired decisions based on the Great Commission (Go make Disciples) in the spirit of the Great Commandment.