LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 168- INTERVIEW WITH JOSH SPURLOCK-PART 2
Summary: In today’s episode, John and Jim welcome Josh Spurlock back to the mic for Part 2 of their conversation. Josh is the founder of My Counselor Online, an amazing organization dedicated to the mental and emotional well-being of leaders. In this powerful...
CHRISTMAS THROUGH THE SEASONS OF LIFE
Christmas was magical to me as a kid. The fresh-cut pine tree loaded with lights and ornaments; piles of snow outside; Charlie Brown and The Grinch Christmas specials; holiday kielbasa and raspberry cream pies; family gatherings; opening gifts; no school for two...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 167-INTERVIEW WITH JOSH SPURLOCK- PART 1
Summary: In today’s episode, John and Jim welcome Josh Spurlock to the mic. Josh is the founder of My Counselor Online, an amazing organization dedicated to the mental and emotional well-being of leaders. In this powerful conversation, John, Jim, and Josh unpack...
THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR?
Today we welcome Jaime Hlavin back to the blog! In today’s post, Jaime helps leaders navigate perhaps the busiest time of their work year . . . Advent. You’ll find practical tips to help you keep yourself steady in the middle of “the most wonderful time of the year.”...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 166: HOW GRATITUDE HELPS YOU LEAD BETTER
Gratitude is a choice. A powerful choice The Apostle Paul said: “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” And a bit later he wrote: “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation.” Question is . . . how does a...
WHEN LIFE & LEADERSHIP DISAPPOINT
What do you do when the current season you’re in isn’t working out the way you envisioned? When your personal life, or professional life—or maybe both—seems swallowed up by disappointment? Life doesn’t always work out the way we hoped. And yet we can have hope no...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 165: SURVIVAL TIPS FOR INTROVERTED LEADERS – PART 2 INTERVIEW – JAIME HLAVIN
In today’s episode, John and Jim welcome back to the mic Jaime Hlavin. Together they unpack three additional survival tips for introverts who are called to fulfill an extroverted role. You can listen to the audio version of the pod here. Here is the video version....
HOW GRATITUDE HELPS YOU LEAD BETTER
Gratitude is a choice. A powerful choice Especially in difficult seasons of life. Problem is, gratitude and contentment are unnatural responses for most of us humanoids. Even in normal times (are there such times?) being grateful doesn’t come automatically for...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 164: SURVIVAL TIPS FOR INTROVERTED LEADERS – PART 1 INTERVIEW – JAIME HLAVIN
It’s surprising how many introverted people get called into an extroverted role. In today’s episode, we welcome Jaime Hlavin to the mic. Jaime explores the sometimes head-scratching challenges facing introverts who—surprisingly—find themselves in an extroverted...
MINISTRY & MARRIAGE
Today we welcome Jaime Hlavin back to the blog. In today’s post, Jaime explores the real challenges facing ministry couples, and offers four practical tips to help busy pastors and their spouses cultivate a growing, life-giving marriage. Enjoy ~ John My husband and I...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 163: THREE ESSENTIALS OF A HEALTHY & EFFECTIVE CHURCH
In today’s episode, John and Jim continue to unpack some of the most powerful moments of the Helping Small Churches Thrive Conference, that featured Karl Vaters, a specialist in helping small churches get healthy. In today’s pod, they explore three essentials of a...
THE PERIL OF GROWTH
Ah growth . . . an oft-used word in our world. Many times, an oft-misunderstood word. And our misunderstanding can get us into trouble. What happens when we get the “growth thing” right? What happens when we get it wrong? 30 years ago, I suffered through major...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 162: SMALL IS NOT A PROBLEM, A VIRTUE, OR AN EXCUSE
In today’s episode, John and Jim recap some of the most powerful moments of the Helping Small Churches Thrive Conference, that featured Karl Vaters, a specialist in helping small churches get healthy. No matter the size of the church you lead, this episode will both...
SURVIVAL TIPS FOR THE INTROVERTED LEADER
Today we welcome Jaime Hlavin back to the blog. Jaime explores the sometimes head-scratching challenges facing introverts who have an extroverted calling . . . and what those introverts can do about it. Enjoy ~ John. I am an introvert. I am very comfortable in my...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 161: WHEN JESUS SAID NO
Don’t attend every argument you’re invited to. Jesus said “yes” many times. But He also said “no” on occasion. In today’s episode, John & Jim help us find the middle between the extremes of people-pleasing and people-dodging. Here is the audio link. The video link...
STRUGGLING WITH THE F-WORD
Do you struggle with the F-word? You know . . . when people (sometimes the ones you love most) say or do something injurious? When you feel angry about it and are unsure how to process the emotion? You can’t talk about anger for very long without wandering into...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 160: FOUR PROMISING TRENDS IN THE LOCAL CHURCH – PART 2
Jesus is on the move and building His church today. In this episode, Jim and John unpack two additional positive trends they’re noticing across their network of church clients, and how leaders can ride the wave of these two encouraging currents. Recap Episode 159 –...
THE COMMANDMENT LEADERS DISOBEY MOST OFTEN
When I ask leaders about taking a weekly day off, I’m often greeted with a blank stare followed by uncomfortable silence. Some report they haven’t taken a day off in years. And even worse, a few of these leaders are proud of it. They wear busyness as a badge of honor....
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 159: FOUR PROMISING TRENDS IN THE LOCAL CHURCH – PART 1
Jesus is on the move and building His church today. In a world where bad news seems to rule, we unpack two of the positive trends they’re noticing across our network of church clients, and how leaders can ride the wave of these two encouraging currents. Here is the...
LEADERSHIP & FRIENDSHIP: ARE THE TWO COMPATIBLE?
“You can never have any close friends in the church you lead!” Such was the declaration I heard as a young pastor from many seasoned pastors. I was a greenhorn and didn’t have enough confidence to push back on their strong position. Coming out of college, where...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 158: INTERVIEW WITH ANDREA BASSETT – PART 2
In today’s episode, Andrea Bassett joins John and Jim again to talk about trauma, anxiety, and the damaging lies people tell themselves. Andrea unpacks practical pathways to successfully deal with these three challenges that threaten our well-being. You can listen to...
ACQUIRING THE ART OF PIVOTING
One of the hardest things to do for most leaders is to separate from work. Pivoting from their professional life to their private life. I know this from personal experience. I had to work hard as a lead pastor to shut off work once I entered our home. According to the...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 157: INTERVIEW WITH ANDREA BASSETT – PART 1
In today’s episode, we interview Andrea Bassett, founder of Cora Journey. In this powerful conversation, Andrea explains how traumatic events can result in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and outlines a pathway to help those suffering with PTSD. This is a can't miss...
LEADERSHIP THAT DISAPPOINTS
Jesus—more than once—disappointed people. There, I said it. This profound truth was brought to my attention two years ago while recording a podcast with Josh Spurlock, the founder of My Counselor Online. His words hit like a ton of bricks . . . “Jesus often...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 156: WHEN PARISHIONERS ATTACK – PART 2
No matter how great a leader you are, there will always be a few parishioners who don’t like you and feel it’s their calling to criticize you. In part two of their conversation, John & Jim unpack two more behaviors that help leaders when those they lead attack...
ARE YOU ONLY DOING WHAT ONLY YOU CAN DO?
It was a sunny summer morning, circa June 2019. At the gym, earbuds plugged in, listening to a podcast, when suddenly, my day was rocked by the words of the person being interviewed on the pod: “Leaders need to ask themselves . . . am I only doing what only I can do?”...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 155: WHEN PARISHIONERS ATTACK – PART 1
Criticism hurts. No matter how great a leader you are, there will always be a few parishioners who don’t like you and feel it’s their calling to criticize you. Both Jim and I could recite multiple instances during our tenures as lead pastors where the vocal minority...
The POWER OF SAYING NO
Do you ever struggle saying with “no”? In his 2014 book—The Power of No—James Altucher writes: “How many times have you had to say ‘no’ only to have it cause anguish, arguments, and anxiety? Even the hours, days, and months before you say no you are filled with...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 154: INTERVIEW WITH CRAIG OWENS – PART 2
In today’s episode John and Jim welcome Craig Owens back to the mic. In today’s conversation, they unpack the adjustments humble leaders need to make and why these tweaks matter so much. Review Episode 153: Acknowledge the healthy tension between confidence and...
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR CALLING GETS TOUGH
“God I’m doing everything you’ve called me to do—why are things so hard right now?” Ever thought that? Told God that? I have. And I know I’m not alone. A while back I had breakfast with a friend who has an amazing call on his life. God is using him and his wife in...