Making Disciples

I’m a guest blogger!

Check out my guest post “How Does Jesus Want Us To Handle Money?” at Ray Edwards’ website. Ray is a direct response copy writer, a man who is incredibly generous with his wisdom and insight. I’ve profited tremendously from simply following Ray’s blog and podcast for the past year. Thanks, Ray, for the chance to

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Who’s your neighbor now? 4 Answers.

If you’re an intentional interim pastor you’ll eventually have to answer the question. It will come up because you – the deliberate change agent – will challenge your client church to deal with its inexcusable inward focus. Interim pastors provoke congregations to think long and hard about neighbors. When you ask, “What are you doing

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5 deficiencies that stifle church growth

You can quickly and effectively stifle a church’s growth without actually trying. All a pastor has to do is be: Needy – constantly crave the attention and praise of others Inflexible– press on once you’ve decided a course of action, undeterred by new facts Pessimistic – stay vigilant against setback, discouragement or defeat Stoic –

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Giving from the left and right brain

You’re at your first Board meeting at a new client church. You’ve been retained as the intentional interim pastor to help them prepare for the future. The first words from the Chair are, “Pastor, if something doesn’t change, we won’t be able to pay the mortgage next month.” Now what? oblivion9999 via Compfight Interim pastors

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What if Paul was wrong?

This is part of the Synchro Blog April meme. This month we invite you to play the ‘what if’ game with us. Try to imagine that some or all of the Bible narrative is not necessarily true history, but is myth of one sort or another. What sort of effect would that knowledge have on

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Four dangers interim pastors face

I was recently delighted to hear that one of the men in the church I’m currently serving is “wild about your sermons.” I felt gratified and humbled, but only for a moment. Those momentary joys fled when I remembered that he is also wild about “Pawn Stars”, “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” and “Dumb and

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I learned to be a good interim pastor on a sailboat

A reverse Transpac from Honolulu to Santa Cruz, CA on a 32′ Westsail made me a better interim pastor. Image credit: mkperspective / 123RF Stock Photo I was on hiatus between churches when the call came. Someone had heard that I like sailing. Would I be available to help him relocate his boat from Ke’ehi

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10 things you won’t learn in seminary [Updated]

Invariably seasoned and successful pastors who train for a second vocational career as an intentional interim pastor will say, “Why didn’t they teach me this in seminary?” or “Why didn’t someone tell me this thirty years ago?” It’s not their fault. Seminaries can’t teach you everything you need to know about ministry. In fact, they

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