PODCAST EPISODE 290: HOW TO HEAL DEEP PAIN – INTERVIEW WITH JOSH SPURLOCK – PART 1
Today we welcome to the mic our good friend, Josh Spurlock. Josh is the founder of My Counselor Online, a platform providing faith-based counseling to individuals and couples around the globe. With a heart for healing and years of clinical experience, Josh brings both...
PODCAST EPISODE 289: NAVIGATING ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE WITH CONFIDENCE – PART 2
We’re so glad you’ve joined us for Part 2 of our conversation on navigating organizational change. In today’s episode, we dive into three more essential behaviors that will help you confidently and compassionately pastor your people through the necessary changes that...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT PODCAST EPISODE 288: ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE WITH CONFIDENCE – PART 1
Today’s episode kicks off a two-part conversation where we unpack six key behaviors that help leaders navigate organizational change with greater confidence and clarity. Whether you are leading through a season of transition or preparing for what's ahead, these...
PODCAST EPISODE 287 – THE VULNERABLE LEADER – INTERVIEW WITH JASON HOLDRIDGE PART 2
Today, we welcome Jason Holdridge back to the mic for part two of our conversation on leadership and vulnerability. In this episode, Jason opens up about his gripping journey with anxiety and how he’s navigated it while leading a vibrant church. The conversation wraps...
PODCAST EPISODE 286 – THE VULNERABLE LEADER – INTERVIEW WITH JASON HOLDRIDGE PART 1
Today, we welcome Jason Holdridge to the mic. Jason is the lead pastor of Impact Church in Lowell, Michigan. In this episode, we dive into Jason’s personal faith journey, his calling into vocational ministry, and the unexpected twists, surprises, and growth he’s...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 285 – SIX INSIGHTS FROM JOHN’S VACATION – PART 2
John and Laura had an amazing four-week break in February this year, enjoying warm weather, sunshine, and a relaxed pace. And while taking in all that goodness, God dropped six inspirational thoughts into John’s mind and heart. In today’s episode John and Jim unpack...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 284 – SIX INSIGHTS FROM JOHN’S VACATION – PART 1
John and Laura had an amazing four-week break in February this year, enjoying warm weather, sunshine, and a relaxed pace. And while taking in all that goodness, God dropped six inspirational thoughts into John’s mind and heart. In today’s episode we unpack three of...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 283 – DE-SIZING THE CHURCH – KARL VATERS INTERVIEW – PART 2
In today’s episode we welcome Karl Vaters back to the mic to continue our conversation around his compelling book, De-Sizing the Church. Today Karl reveals what he is most optimistic about and most concerned about regarding pastors and the local churches they serve....
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 282 – DE-SIZING THE CHURCH – KARL VATERS INTERVIEW – PART 1
In today’s episode we welcome Karl Vaters to the mic to discuss his bestselling book, De-Sizing the Church. We dig into Karl’s research on the church growth movement and explore how discipleship and integrity are the answers to every problem a church encounters....
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 281: FINISHING WELL
It’s not easy to finish. It’s even less easy to finish well. With the attrition of well-known ministry leaders over the past several years, you can begin to wonder, does anyone finish well? The good news is that with intentionality, God’s help, and the help of our...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 280: STRESS & YOU
If you have answered the divine call to pastoral ministry, you have signed up for both a fulfilling and stressful journey. The top contributor to pastoral burnout? The ongoing stress of the role. In today’s episode we work through five of the most stress-inducing...
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...