LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 183: A RESPONSE TO ASBURY
In today’s episode John and Jim explore what God is up to at Asbury College and at college campuses across our country . . . and what our response to these goings-on might be. You can listen to the pod here. Here is the video version. Show notes are below: What should...
THE SIMPLE YET AMAZING POWER OF ALIGNMENT: INTRODUCTION
Leading well is hard. Navigating the journey through the euphoria of high moments and victories also involves traversing the heartbreak of low points and failures. The good and bad are often interspersed moment-to-moment. Your health as a leader is a key contributor...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 182: INTERVIEW WITH CHRIS BROOKS- 3 LEVELS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
In today’s episode, Pastor Chris Brooks returns to unpack three ways a church can impact the communities they serve: Community Service, Community Development, and Community Empowerment. You can listen to the audio version here. Here is the video version. Show notes...
STAY ALERT
Congratulations! You’ve made it to the final segment of our series on Unshakable You: 5 Choices of Emotionally Healthy People. Hopefully, by this point you feel well-equipped to take on the task of keeping yourself in a good mental and emotional place. It’s not...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 181: INTERVIEW WITH CHRIS BROOKS- PART 1
Caring for the health of those who serve alongside us in ministry is one of the most important responsibilities a pastor has. In today’s episode John interviews Pastor Chris Brooks, lead pastor of Woodside Bible Church, about the staff care effort at Woodside, and how...
REFUEL EMOTIONALLY- PART 2
Last week took a deep dive into Choice #4 in John Opalewski’s book Unshakable You: 5 Choices of Emotionally Healthy People. We spent a great deal of time learning how to refuel emotionally. We will finish unpacking this choice today. In last week’s post, we focused...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 180- RUNNING ON A FULL TANK- PART 2
In today’s episode John and Jim wrap up their seven-week focus on mental and emotional well-being by unpacking two powerful pieces of a preventive plan to help you get and stay healthy. You can listen to the pod here. Here is the video version. Show notes are below:...
REFUEL EMOTIONALLY- PART 1
We are over halfway through John Opalewski’s Unshakable You: 5 Choices of Emotionally Healthy People. Some of these five choices involve very difficult work and can feel overwhelming and even exhausting at times. You’ll be happy to hear that in this week and next...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 179- RUNNING ON A FULL TANK- PART 1
Today’s episode is the sixth in a series of pods focused on the subject of mental and emotional well-being. Barna reported in April of 2022 that 42 percent of lead pastors were seriously considering quitting the ministry. The main drivers? Stress . . . isolation . . ....
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM ABUSE- PART 2
Sometimes it is impossible to avoid unpleasant people. We may work with them or attend school with them. They may also be part of our families. If those people are toxic, learning to navigate those relationships while maintaining our own emotional health and not...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 178 – PROTECT YOURSELF FROM ABUSE
We’re currently in a series of pods on mental and emotional health. We’ve talked about becoming our own best friend; telling our anger where to go. Today we’ll focus on the subject of protecting ourselves from people whose mission in life is to hurt us. You can...
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM ABUSE – PART 1
The word bully conjures images of the schoolyard ruffian pounding the lunch money out of a poor, defenseless soul. Add the modern-day equivalent of a middle school student enduring social media harassment at the fingertips (or thumbs) of a cyberbully. We tend to hope...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 177 – TELL ANGER WHERE TO GO – PART 2
In today’s episode John and Jim continue their conversation which started in Episode 176 . . . Telling Anger Where to Go. All of us experience anger. We get and stay healthy by processing it in a way that honors God and frees us from the suffocating grip of bitterness...
TELL ANGER WHERE TO GO- PART 2
Last week we talked about telling our anger where to go. We encouraged an honest appraisal of our anger and then we examined unhealthy expressions of such. In Unshakable You: 5 Choices of Emotionally Healthy People, John Opalewski says, “In Ephesians 4:31, the apostle...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 176- TELL ANGER WHERE TO GO- PART 1
In today’s episode John and Jim continue their series of conversations on mental and emotional wellbeing. Today’s pod focuses on the most human of emotions . . . anger . . . and increases our understanding of this emotion’s ability to complicate our life if we don’t...
TELL ANGER WHERE TO GO – PART 1
As we continue our series on Unshakable You: 5 Choices of Emotionally Healthy People, be sure you’ve taken a moment to catch up on the previous installations here and here. The foundational step mentioned in the previous posts: Become your own best friend. Once we...
PODCAST EPISODE 175: BECOME YOUR OWN BEST FRIEND- PART 2
Summary: Anxiety and depression are at epidemic levels in the United States. And leaders are not immune. In today’s episode, John and Jim continue their conversation around how to become your own best friend without becoming a self-centered narcissist. You can...
BECOMING YOUR OWN BEST FRIEND- PART 2
Last week we began talking about the mental health crisis that our world is experiencing, and we noted that Jesus-followers aren’t exempt from the battle. Over the next several weeks, our goal is to help you become the most emotionally healthy and unshakable version...
PODCAST EPISODE 174: BECOME YOUR OWN BEST FRIEND- PART 1
Summary: It’s February, and here in Michigan it’s the dead of winter, and often the height of Seasonal Affective Disorder. In today’s episode, John and Jim kick off a series of pods centered on the mental/emotional wellbeing of leaders with the subject: Become Your...
BECOME YOUR OWN BEST FRIEND – PART 1
Mental health issues are no longer lurking in the shadows like they have in decades past. A light is shining on this crisis and revealing a significant need for help and resources. The number of Americans reporting symptoms of depression has increased over 400% since...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 173: WHY VALUES?
A church or a business won’t get to their end zone without fuel—the culture created by meaningful values provides that fuel. Core values are behaviors. If vision answers the question where, values answer the question how. How do we behave around here? You can listen...
WHY VALUES?
In last week’s post we explored the subject, Why Vision? We talked about the magnetic power vision exerts on an organization, and how to begin imagining a vision and then casting it. Vision is about destination. In football terms, it’s about the end zone. Today I want...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 172: WHY VISION?
Vision is about destination. Vision speaks to where you and the organization you lead are ultimately heading over a period of time. Using a football metaphor, vision is the end zone. The audio version of today’s episode is available here. Here is the video version....
WHY VISION?
Vision is about destination. It speaks to where you and the organization you lead are ultimately heading over a period of time. Using a football metaphor, vision is the end zone. When we mention vision, some leaders perk up. Others clam up. A few want to throw up....
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 171: THE THREE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS I LEARNED IN 2022
Can you believe it’s 2023? Blink, and here comes another year. A year full of opportunity . . . surprises probably . . . and likely, some challenges. We think one of the best things a leader can do with a new year is to take stock of the prior year. In today’s...
INCREASING YOUR TEAM’S ENGAGEMENT
Your team is the most important asset in the organization you lead. But this is true only when they are engaged. In 2017, according to a Gallup State of the Global Workplace report, only 15% of employees worldwide were engaged at work. By engaged, Gallup means...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 170: INTERVIEW WITH PAUL FEUERSTEIN – PART 2
Summary: In today’s episode John and Jim welcome Paul Feuerstein back to the mic. In Part 2 of their conversation, they unpack some of the biggest challenges facing leaders today, and practical things leaders can do about those challenges. You can listen to the audio...
THE THREE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS I LEARNED IN 2022
At the end of every year, I take time to reflect on the three most significant lessons of the year. My intention is to internalize those lessons and carry them into the next year. Here are the most important things I learned in 2022. I hope one or more of them speak...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 169: INTERVIEW WITH PAUL FEUERSTEIN – PART 1
Summary: In today’s episode, John and Jim interview Paul Feuerstein, lead pastor of Helena First in Helena Montana. Together they unpack six axioms that are common to leadership no matter the size/demographic/location of the church you lead. You can listen to the...
THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR – PART 2
Today we welcome Jaime Hlavin back to the blog for Part 2 of her Holiday miniseries, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year. In today’s post, Jaime pivots to the personal side of the Holidays, and outlines a few healthy boundaries that will help you get more joy out of...