What makes a church beautiful?

Is it slick worship slides? Well-dressed families? Stunning stained glass? Perfect pews? High-quality music? Good looking and well-respected members of the community?

What if your church uses old hymnals? What if the families are broken? What if the walls are sullied and the seating busted? What if the organ is out of tune or the soprano squeaky? What if your people are less than perfect and their lives a bit messed up? What if you don’t like your church?

The church isn’t beautiful because of its position in society or its pretty facilities, families or frills. The church is beautiful because of what God is doing in, through and with it.

How to lead in a time of crisis -- three axioms for leaders

What do you do when the deuces hit the air ducts? Sometimes, things don't go according to plan. In those moments of crisis it's easy to curl up into a little ball or overreact and cause more fallout.

How can leaders navigate a time of crisis with their church, organization, or community? Here are three axioms -- timeless truths -- from seasoned leaders to help you chart the course. 

Five Ways to Combat Ministry Burnout

As many of you know, I started my service as an ordained Lutheran pastor in June. While I am nowhere near "burnout" I have been challenged, and comforted, in my early days as a minister by reading That Their Work May be a Joy: Understanding and Coping with the Challenges of Pastoral Ministry by personal friend/mentor Kurt Fredrickson and his colleague Cameron Lee. 

Reflecting on their work and hearing news from friends and family from around the world of professional ministry I wrote a post this week on FIVE WAYS that congregations can avoid seeing their pastors and leaders burnout before they are able to bless the community. 

Should our worship go digital?

Should our worship go digital? That's the central question behind my latest post for the Lutheran Church Extension Fund's (LCEF) "Leader-to-Leader" blog. 

Integrating my own experiences worshipping online with recent research about tech trends and church I suggest FIVE REASONS you or your church should consider "digital worship."

Here's an excerpt:

“However, there are those who remain skeptical. There is a fear that in our “cyber sanctuaries” digital worshippers will miss the authenticity of face-to-face interaction. There is a concern that virtual ritual lacks real substance, presence, or legitimacy.”

I am here to suggest that there are FIVE REASONS these fears may be overblown. Read the rest of the piece at LCEF's Leader-to-Leader blog to learn more...

Confession of a Millennial Church Curmudgeon

I confess, I’m a Millennial church curmudgeon.

Of course, the stereotypical image of a “church curmudgeon” is the bad tempered elderly man, arms crossed, complaining about how the music is too loud and the pews too soft.

And then there’s me. Donning a bow tie and skinny jeans, with dark-rimmed glasses and a pair of loafers, I strut into your church with one mission — to judge you and your ministry. I’ll nit pick your artwork, or lack thereof. I’ll chastise you for not having online giving and pontificate to my friends over brunch how your church is from the Stone Age because your website isn’t up-to-date. And, fair warning, if your slides are just one second off…sorry, but that’s tantamount to undoing the work of the cross.

*Read more at LCEF's Leader-to-Leader Blog