In 1906, Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto noted 80% of Italy’s land was owned by 20% of the people. He became somewhat obsessed with this ratio, seeing it in everything. The 80:20 ratio of cause-to-effect became known as the Pareto Principle. The Pareto…
Today, a brilliant and encouraging post from our teammate Jaime Hlavin, written to encourage pandemic-weary pastors and ministry leaders. Enjoy ~ John One beautiful sunny day in March, I received a text from a friend who hadn’t yet been back…
Getting Comfortable with Disappointing People Jesus more than once disappointed people. They thought He came to overthrow the Romans and reestablish Israel’s governmental rulership In Luke chapter 12 He refused to referee a dispute between two brothers regarding their father’s…
God answers every prayer with “Yes,” “Wait,” or “No.” The last response is always the most difficult one to receive, and can be flat-out heartbreaking ~ Rick Warren I’m going through a little stretch right now where God has said…
“We’re grieving the loss of what was, Pre-COVID.” “We had so much momentum in March, and then . . .” “People have disappeared and we don’t know where they are.” These statements from pastors reveal a common thread: Leaders are…
No amount of money will ease all of your anxieties if you leave trusting God out of the equation. Jesus said worry chokes the life out of what He’s planted in us. And elsewhere He commanded us: “Do not worry,…
“Lord, I’m hurting this morning.” Ever prayed that prayer before, or some version of it? I’m not talking about physical pain here—rather, about emotional pain. Especially the variety that issues from disappointing relationships. You know, the kind of pain that…
Disappointment is the gap between our expectations and our reality. The bigger the gap, the more disappointment we feel. The more disappointment, the more pain we experience. Nowhere does disappointment seem to rear its head more than in relationships. When…
What do you do when ministry doesn’t work out the way you envisioned? When your expectations are swallowed up by disappointment? How do you react when you feel more like a firefighter (or a babysitter) than a leader? Have you…
