Each Monday we evaluate the Sunday services, asking ourselves four simple questions: 1) What went right? 2) What went wrong? 3) What was missing? 4) What was confusing? This is a wonderful exercise for us to go through each week, because it helps us to get better. And as we know, when we get better, we get bigger (i.e., God blesses us with increased gospel influence in our region - which is just what we want). But there's a very important aspect of this evaluation time that we don't … [Read more...]
Core Four: Innovate
In 2023 we placed a major emphasis on our Core Four – the four core behaviors we want to see in all New Day staff. Last year we shared what the core four was and gave out prizes to help reinforce the behaviors we wanted to see. Now unfortunately, we can’t keep the prize wheel going, but I do want to keep the momentum going, so this year I’m going to cover one of our core four each quarter. And today we’re covering “innovate,” which is the sequel to “educate.” We educate ourselves by reading … [Read more...]
State of the Union: February 2024
Every year, early on in the year, the President of the United States delivers a state of the union address to the country, which serves the following three purposes: Well, this is basically what I aim to do today. Last Thursday I had my first Drive and Think day of 2024 and I gave a lot of thought to the following questions: And today I want to share the answers to those questions, beginning with "What season are we in?" Since our vision is to fill our region with Jesus-loving, … [Read more...]
A Biblical Basis for Seeking Wise Counsel
I dedicate a good chunk of time each month to seeking wise counsel from other leaders who are more experienced, have greater knowledge and lead larger churches than our own. Here’s ten reasons why: If you lead anything, it is imperative that you regularly seek wise counsel. People who have already done whatever it is you're looking to do... Listen...when we fail to seek wise counsel the result is pain. Personally, I like avoiding pain. Personally, I like being successful. … [Read more...]
The Daily Check-In
As you all know, if you’re full-time at New Day, you’re required to do a daily check-in with your supervisor, sharing your high-level priorities for the day. And today I’m writing on this topic because if you’re not careful, you can easily begin viewing the daily check-in as a chore, that’s for your supervisor’s benefit, instead of as a very helpful tool (for your own benefit). Now just to be clear, the daily check-in does indeed serve a purpose for your superior. It lets him/her know … [Read more...]
Why We Fail to Raise Up Other Leaders
Every church leader knows the story of Exodus 18 - how Moses used to do everything himself, but then switched to raising up others to help lead. It's hard to read a book on leadership or attend a pastor's conference without someone covering this all important topic. But what so few ever mention are the manifold reasons why most leaders never make the switch. Well, I'm so happy to have finally come across a book that specifically addresses this issue, called The Multiplication Effect by Mac Lake. … [Read more...]
My Drive and Think Days
If you look at my Google Calendar you'll see that I carve out four days per year (once per quarter) to just drive and think. In this post I'll share how this came to be and why you should do the same. I believe it was 2021 that I was called for jury duty. I didn't bring my laptop because I assumed I'd be busy deciding someone's jail sentence or innocence. But guess what? I wasn't selected! I was chosen instead to sit in a room all day, in case they needed an alternate or in case a new jury … [Read more...]
To Stop Doing List
Of the thousands of things I've learned from Nelson Searcy, one of the most impactful has been learning to make a to stop doing list. We all know about to do lists, but not nearly as many people understand the importance of having a to stop doing list. And here in December is the perfect time of the year to pull it out and add to it as many things as you can. I do this every year. As one year comes to a close, I begin reflecting on what I've been doing over the last year, asking "Is this … [Read more...]
Setting the Example: Purity
The apostle Paul instructed a young pastor named Timothy “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12 ESV This is the same instruction the apostle Peter gave. Addressing pastors he wrote “As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. … [Read more...]
Staff Working Remotely
Philosophically, I am against full-time staff working from home. Here’s why: We read in Mark's gospel "And he [Jesus] went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons." (Mark 3:13-15 ESV) From this passage we learn that Jesus had a chosen method for developing those who would become the … [Read more...]
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