How to Complain
Preface: if you’re a pastor (or you’re a human), you’re going to receive criticism. And if you’re a pastor (or you’re human), you’re going to give criticism. So if you’re gonna do it, you might...
Category: Learning Curve
The Morning After: A Call to Humility
Stop gloating. Stop grumbling. Start praying for the man who has been appointed to lead our country. Don’t idolize him. Don’t demonize him. Just intercede for him and his task ahead. ...
Calling All Connections Pastors
Connectors gonna connect. Back in 2003 when I started in the brand new role of Assimilation Pastor here at the Summit Church, I had one thought on my mind: “Does assimilation have one ‘m’ or...
You Never Leave Middle School
…or at least that was the famous saying of a student pastor I used to work with. His theory was that we never really leave behind the self-concious insecure zit-focused weirdness that seems to punctuate...
Mechanics vs. Organics
I’m not a big fan of mechanical change. That’s what happens when we add to our spiritual, physical, or vocational disciplines because we’re s’posed to. (If you’re not from the south, “s’posed to” is a...
Target or Mindset?
I just wrapped up a phone call with an old friend who is a pastor in another state. He’s serving at a new church, maneuvering new challenges, and trying to figure out the age-old question...
Turn Your Leaders Loose
One of my First Impressions shift leaders snapped this picture on Sunday and sent it to me. He was impressed. I was beyond impressed. I think you will be too: This is a diagram that...
Flashback Friday: Overcharging for the Gospel
What can you learn about grace vs. works from your kids? Plenty… I own a 14 year old entrepreneur. Well, “entrepreneur” may be too nice of a word. “Con artist,” “swindler,” “shyster” … those are the words...
Vision & Thanksgiving
Last night was our church’s annual Vision Night. It’s a time we look forward to every year as we gather to celebrate what God has done, and look with anticipation to what he is going...
Preparing for the Onslaught
We’re in the middle of the fall attendance surge here at the Summit. College students are back, families are returning from summer vacations, and people from the community are hitting one of the two times...
