Do you have margins in your life? Richard Swenson defines margins as “the space between our load and our limits.” We all need a buffer, a place where we can recharge our batteries, and a space where we can focus on what matters most. LET’S TALK I like the analogy of a cup. If the…
Category: Leadership
Break Down Every Idol
There is a beautiful phrase of surrender from an old hymn. It goes like this: “Break down every idol, cast out every foe. Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” I believe that every one of us grapples with idols. An idol is anything we trust or love more than God. Who…
Leaders Who Last
We all want to be a leader who lasts. We want to be able to say along with the Apostle Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). Sadly, too many of us burn out, bail out, or fall out. LET’S TALK Recently I…
Your Attitude Is Showing
How’s your attitude? The difference between a good attitude and a lousy one can make or break your ministry. I can tell you one thing—your attitude is showing and it makes a difference! LET’S TALK Several years ago, John Maxwell wrote a book entitled The Winning Attitude: Your Key to Personal Key to Success (1992)….
What We Can Learn from 2021
Small Church Leadership Trends As we continue to work through COVID and culture changes, the church is forced to re-examine what it is doing and why. In today’s blog I’m sharing Karl Vaters list of trends he observed in smaller churches. As I read them over, I think they apply to larger churches as well….
21 Questions to Start Your New Year
Happy New Year! This past year has hit us with many things. Many of us are tired, discouraged, and distracted. It may be difficult to even think of New Year’s resolutions when so many things are uncertain. To be honest, I’m not much of a New Years’ resolution type of guy. I do like setting…
Grateful or Grumpy?
You’ve heard the joke: A wife is asked, “Did you wake up grumpy this morning?” She replies, “No, I let him sleep in!” Ha! Ha! Well, I confess, I can be grumpy at times, especially during COVID. Yet, I know that is not God’s best. The Bible says that we are to “give thanks in…
Trust
Trust has always been essential for human relationships. It’s the way God designed us. The dictionary defines trust this way: “an assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.” When we trust each other we give one another the benefit of the doubt. The chaos of the last eighteen months…
Bad Advice
We all have heard it – “Follow your heart!” On the surface, that may seem like good advice, but in reality, it’s the worst advice we can give. Someone said it is as good as telling a person to cross a busy street blindfolded. LET’S TALK So why is following our heart so dangerous? Our…
The Benefits of Consistency
Most of us have COVID fatigue. We are tired. One person said, “The quicker we get rid of these masks, the better.” I get that! I think we are almost there! Through all the ups and downs of this past year, one verse keeps coming back to me, “Therefore put on the full armor of…
Change and Conflict
You’ve heard it said, “The only one who likes change is a wet baby.” Change is always challenging, but is it necessary to move forward in our lives and ministry! Sadly, I have never seen significant change without conflict. The reason is that change involves a different direction. Simply put, If someone doesn’t agree with…
Listen!
Many people assume they are good listeners. But, the fact is, listening does not come naturally. We tend to be preoccupied with our own agendas and feelings. In our rush to get things done, we fail to truly listen. LET’S TALK The Bible says that we are to be “quick to listen, slow to speak…
Coffee with Randall 