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Danny Recommends: Flash Papers

Every so often we dip our toes into a series called Danny Recommends:, posts that tip you off to the stuff that I…you know. The recommendations might be products for use in your ministry, resources that will...

How to Serve a Stealthy Guest

All of us in hospitalityland have faced the problem of the stealthy guest: the person who wants to lay low, fly under the radar, and do everything possible to keep from being known. But as...

Notes from a First-Time Pops

One week ago today, Merriem and I became grandparents. The call came shortly before midnight on Monday: Alyssa and Austin were heading to the hospital. Lil’ Bean – the nickname given to our yet-to-be-born grandchild...

The Problem with Powder Kegs

Explosions are rarely a good thing, but never more so than in leadership. When a leader explodes … out of anger, frustration, unmet expectations, whatever … it’s more a reflection of the leader than whatever...

Staying Engaged When You’ve “Been There, Done That”

If you’ve been in ministry for any amount of time, you’ve been there. (And if you haven’t, hang on: your day is coming.) You’re entering into another ministry cycle with the same type of event,...

Easter at Walnut Creek: a Look Back

All of our lives are marked by watershed moments: those days, seasons, or seconds that serve as a crystal-clear marker of God’s faithfulness. Easter at Walnut Creek was one of those moments for me. From...

Top Ten Quotes: Essentialism

Occasionally I’ll pick up a book that’s been recommended to me by multiple people over the years (“What do you mean you haven’t read that?!? I thought you claimed to be a reader!”), and realize...

Easter at Walnut Creek: What to Expect

This Sunday, our church will gather in one spot at one time for the first time in almost nine years. To say we’re excited is a crazy understatement. It’s been a dead sprint for the...

The Eleventh Hour Easter Checklist

*quietly clears throat* Hi. It’s me, Danny. And I’m talking to you on the Tuesday of Passion Week. That’s five days before Easter. If you’re a church leader, you may be freaking out just a...

6 Best Practices for Your Skeleton Crew

We’ve talked before about the importance of a skeleton crew: a small team of volunteers who are fully present for the full service, caring for guests who show up late. Your skeleton crew is a...

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