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Business Sense
“As a pastor, I feel pretty good about most aspects of my responsibilities (spiritual, preaching, pastoral care, etc.), but I’m recognizing a deficiency in the business-side of ministry. I don’t have a business background, and I realize there’s a lot I need to know in those areas. I’d love to hear seasoned pastors share a few tips about the business lessons they’ve learned relative to their leadership in the church. Could you please share some “business sense” with me?” Read the responses.
Ten Traits of Spiritual Fathers
Tony Cooke
Dr. Howard Hendricks said, "Every disciple needs three types of relationships in his life. He needs a ‘Paul’ who can mentor him and challenge him. He needs a ‘Barnabas’ who can come along side and encourage him. And he needs a ‘Timothy,’ someone that he can pour his life into." Read the article.
New Worship Release: Zion
Laura Cooke
Our daughter, Laura, has released her first solo album, an EP with five original songs.
• Order your CD from our bookstore.
• Listen to a brief sample of each song.
• Download the album from iTunes.
Band of Brothers: Why Accountability Matters
Pastors Mike Kalstrup, Monte Knudsen, and Dan Berry
Statistics are clear regarding the ‘occupational hazards’ that go along with ministry life. The thoughts and feelings of loneliness and isolation are all too real. You can be surrounded by crowds and congregations, and still feel as though no one is there to support you; that’s why having good friends in the ministry to provide encouragement, support and accountability is so important. Many are no longer in the ministry because they had not developed this vital ‘safety net’ for their lives. Read the articles.
Great Thoughts for Mother's Day
Booker T. Washington said, "In all my efforts to learn to read, my mother shared fully my ambition and sympathized with me and aided me in every way she could. If I have done anything in life worth attention, I feel sure that I inherited the disposition from my mother."
Read all the Great Thoughts.
To Opt Out or Not to Opt Out (Part 1 of 2)
By Mark Helland, CPA
Pastors have several key tax issues that make them uniquely different from other American taxpayers, including the housing allowance, self-employed treatment for W-2 wage earners and the ability to opt out of the social security system. These three issues create a great deal of complexity for pastors as they make decisions that have long-ranging consequences for their financial well being. In my view... Read the article.
Pastor Gerald Brooks Honored by Morehouse College
My friend, Pastor Gerald Brooks of Plano, TX, was recently inducted into the Martin Luther King Jr. Board of Preachers at Morehouse College (Atlanta, GA).
“...if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it” (1 Corinthians 12:26). To watch a larger version of the celebration video, click here (04:41).
Tony recently taught four sessions at Charis Bible College (Andrew Wommack's Ministry) in Colorado Springs, Colorado. "Reflections from the Finish Line" deals with the eight categories of relationships that Paul identified in the last chapter of the last book he wrote (2 Timothy 4). It was in cultivating the positive relationships and protecting himself from the damaging effects of negative relationships that Paul was able to finish his course with joy. Click here to watch these sessions."
Follow-Up Article to “Personality Disorders in the Church”
We recently made available a two-part audio interview with Dr. Doty on “Personality Disorders in the Church.” Be sure to read Dr. Doty's article summarizing this information, and you can still order or download the full audio interview from our bookstore.
Tre Nuovi Articoli in Italiano
- Mettere in Pratica: La Chiave per una Comunicazione che porta Trasformazione
- Guidare in Riserva: Riempire il Tuo Serbatoio e Rinnovare la Tua Passione
- Gesù e la Gabbietta per Uccellini
Read all of our quotes by visiting our Quotes Page.
PURPOSE
"We need to learn to set our course by the stars, not by the lights of every passing ship."
- Omar Nelson Bradley
APOSTASY
“I consider that the chief dangers which confront the coming century will be religion without the Holy Ghost, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, politics without God, and heaven without hell.”
- William Booth
TEAMWORK
“In speaking of his first national championship team (1964), Coach Wooden said, “they… probably operated as much as a team as much as any team I have ever seen.” He also said, “Ironically, my players that year weren’t all that close off the floor. They certainly varied in how much they liked one another. After a game or practice they all went their separate ways, but they were completely loyal to each other on the court. No one tried to be a star. They were non-assuming and accomplished far more than anyone expected.”
- John Wooden
CHALLENGES
“There are no great people in this world, only great challenges which ordinary people rise to meet.”
- William Frederick Halsey, Jr.
KINDNESS
“The kindest word in all the world is the unkind word, unsaid.”
- Unknown