LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 279: THE PAIN & POWER OF PRUNING
Growth, while often desirable, is usually accompanied by pruning, both in our personal and pastoral lives. And pruning often is joined by pain. In today’s episode John and Jim outline four reasons pruning brings more fruit at home and at the church we lead. Growth...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 278: THE POWER OF NO
In the Gospel of Luke Chapter 12. Jesus was teaching a crowd of people when some random guy interrupts Him with this: “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed Me a judge or an arbiter between you?” This...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 277: THE UNHURRIED LEADER
Hurrying seems to be our national pastime. And pastors are among the biggest hurry-ers. The question is—how do we deal with the tension between our God-given assignment and His call to stop hurrying? How can we be productive without always being on the move?...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT PODCAST EPISODE 276: THREE TEMPATIONS OF LEADERSHIP
Leadership is a journey fraught with peril. Numerous temptations lurk. In today’s episode John and Jim explore three less talked about, more subtle temptations that threaten to sneak up on and ambush a leader. 3 Leadership Temptations: Wanting everyone to like us....
HOW TO BEAT THE MID-WINTER BLUES
The shiny newness of January has dulled. It’s cold and dreary in the Midwest and many of our New Year’s resolutions have long been abandoned. The lake effect snow of winter in Michigan can be pretty bleak. We can go weeks without seeing a glimpse of the sun. The snow...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT PODCAST EPISODE 275 – THE LEADER’S NEED TO PIVOT
One of the hardest things to do for most lead pastors is to separate from work. We know this from personal experience. We’ve had to work hard as lead pastors to shut off work once we arrived at home. Failure to pivot leads to overscheduling, overcommitting, and...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 274: LEADERSHIP & FORGIVENESS – PART 2
How we forgive is a harbinger of leadership fruitfulness and longevity. In part 2 of Leadership & Forgiveness, we focus on extending forgiveness to ourselves, and four powerful forgiveness principles we need to know. The better we get at forgiving, the healthier...
HARNESSING THE ENERGY OF CORE VALUES
In our last post two weeks ago, we unpacked why vision. What it is, why it matters, along with several pointers on how to get started. Once you gain vision clarity for the church you lead (that process could take 6 months or more), it’s our belief the next hill to...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 273: LEADERSHIP & FORGIVENESS – PART 1
Here’s something most pastors didn’t learn at college: Difficult people go to church. The 2nd thing they didn’t learn: Difficult people can cause a great deal of harm. In today’s episode we dive into a two-part conversation around why getting better at forgiveness...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 272 – HARNESSING THE ENERGY OF CORE VALUES – PART 2
Last week we began a two-part conversation on the irreplaceable role core values play. Core values answer the question, how. How do we behave on our way to the end zone? Core values provide the fuel that thrusts our organization toward its God-given vision. In today’s...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 271 – HARNESSING THE ENERGY OF CORE VALUES – PART 1
In the past two episodes we focused on vision development and vision-casting. Vision answers the question, where? Today we begin another two-part conversation on the irreplaceable role core values play. Core values answer the question, how? How do we behave on our way...
CASTING YOUR VISION FOR 2025
Ah . . . the New Year. A brand-new Day Planner (if you’re old school and love the feel of physically crossing things off a To Do list) and bright, shiny pens and highlighters to fill that space with plans and dreams. An empty whiteboard just waiting for you to squeak...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 270 – CASTING YOUR 2025 VISION – PART 2
It is the third week of 2025, and last week we started a two-part series about casting your 2025 vision. In episode 269 we considered seven vision development principles, and the four components of a one-page vision script. In today’s episode we continue our...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 269 – CASTING YOUR 2025 VISION – PART 1
It is the second week of 2025, and we thought it would be a good idea over the next several episodes to revisit the ideas of vision casting and values development. In today’s podcast we explore part one of a conversation around a most important leadership skill:...
THE BEAUTY AND EXHILARATION OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION
In today’s post Jaime Hlavin challenges those of us who love Jesus to recommit ourselves to the Great Commission . . . making disciples. Take five minutes to read her inspiring story and then more importantly, decide to follow through. Enjoy ~ John. Nearly thirty...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 268: JOHN’S BIGGEST AHA’S OF 2024
Leading From Alignment Episode 268 – John’s Four Biggest Aha’s of 2024 In the first episode of 2025, John and Jim unpack the four biggest lessons John learned in 2024. We hope these four “aha moments” will inspire, encourage, and challenge you. Aha 1: The ministry I...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 267: PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR OWN YARD
Human nature leans toward noticing problems with other people while being blind to our own. Jesus identifies this tendency when He asks: “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” This tendency...
WHY ARE SOMEONE ELSE’S WEEDS BOTHERING ME SO MUCH?
It’s frighteningly easy to ignore the things in our own lives that need adjusting, and instead focus on what needs adjusting in other people. The words of Jesus in Matthew 7:3-5 address this: “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT PODCAST EPISODE 266: THE POWER OF FORTY
In 1900, the Ford Motor Company commissioned a series of tests to determine how long a workweek should be to optimize productivity. Ford discovered the “sweet spot” was 40 hours per week. If you are a pastor, a 40-hour work week is likely a pipe dream. But the...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT PODCAST EPISODE 265: THE NUMBER ONE CONTRIBUTOR TO BURNOUT
In episode 263 we discussed the seconding leading contributor to pastoral burnout . . . isolation. In today’s episode, we consider the top contributor: The ongoing and immense stress of the role. Stress comes with the pastoral assignment, so what is a leader to do?...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT PODCAST EPISODE 264: EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE & YOU
What is it like to be on the other side of you? Your answer can be a leading indicator of your emotional intelligence level. Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand your emotions, the emotions of those near you, and the impact your emotions have on the...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT PODCAST EPISODE 263: THE TRAP OF ISOLATION
The second leading cause of pastor burnout is isolation. All of us need people in our life who energize us, refresh us, make us laugh, who we can have mask-off community with. Leadership is too hard to do alone. In today’s episode John and Jim explore two major...
A PASTOR’S MOST COMMON LEADERSHIP LID
Years ago, a young lead pastor made his first staff hire. He brought a youth pastor on from out of state. Right from the start there where all kinds of red flags: The youth pastor made no effort to learn the culture of the church—which was historically a very...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT PODCAST EPISODE 262: A PASTOR’S MOST COMMON LEADERSHIP LID
We believe the top limiting leadership behavior is the inability or unwillingness to have tough conversations with those you lead. In today’s episode we unpack six practical steps that will help you find the sweet spot between the tendency to bully and the tendency to...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT PODCAST EPISODE: HOW TO LET YOUR TEAM HELP YOU
How many lead pastors get in the way of people stepping up to serve just because the pastor tries to do it all? In today’s episode, John and Jim explore three master keys to getting out of your team’s way and releasing them to help share the ministry load. Three...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT PODCAST EPISODE 260: IMPLEMENTING A SUCCESSION PLAN
One of the most vulnerable times in an organization’s life is when it is transitioning from its current senior leader and passing the baton to the next one. In today’s episode John and Jim explore a high-level plan for a senior leadership transition. They answer two...
HOW TO LET YOUR TEAM HELP YOU
When my husband was a lead pastor, at any given moment he could be found straightening chairs in the worship center, stacking cups in the cafe, or fixing scuff marks on the walls. He cared so deeply about our church that he was significantly invested in every aspect...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT PODCAST EPISODE 259: ARE YOU OVERSTAYING
Churches can experience two extremes when it comes to lead pastors: pastors who leave prematurely, or pastors who hang on too long. In today’s episode we unpack four powerful questions and four practical steps to help leaders discern if a necessary ending is nearing....
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT PODCAST EPISODE 258 – JESUS’ INVITATION TO WEARY LEADERS
In last week’s episode 257 John and Jim explored a leader’s most important assignment . . . building a strong inner life. In today’s episode they piggyback on that idea today by unpacking a practical way to get arrive at a stronger inside life . . . responding to...
WHEN TOO MUCH ACTIVITY IS A SIGN OF SOMETHING DEEPER
In his book, The Emotionally Healthy Leader, Peter Scazzero focuses on the importance of cultivating a strong inner life. As a pastor, author, and the founder of Emotionally Healthy Discipleship, he contends doing so will transform the church, organization, and teams...