January 2013 – Page 4 – 300 words a day

Reviewing the state of the church

In the old days, people in our church came to church on New Year’s Day. They heard about the state of the church. Now that happens on the first Sunday of the new year. I loved our pastor’s approach this year. You might consider it yourself, whether you are leading an organization or yourself. His […]

by Jon Swanson

Making an intentional change that will help in five years.

(I’m following up on yesterday’s post about planning how to grow.) If you want to have less self-centered pride in five years than you do now, here’s one thing to say: If I am sitting in a meeting, and I feel a need to speak up, then I will count to five and say, “Am […]

by Jon Swanson

In five years.

(This was first posted a couple years ago. I wish I’d done this exercise then. I’d be two years down the road.) “What do you want to be true of you as a leader in five years? What do you want your wife to say about you as a church leader? What do you want […]

by Jon Swanson

Every Monday this year

There is still time to make this statement: “I’ve done this every Monday in 2013.” All you have to do is one of these: Tell your child/children you are grateful they are alive. Ask God for wisdom for the decisions you have to make this week. Drink a large glass of water. Read Psalm 19. […]

by Paul Merrill

Say good things

Solomon was about to build a temple. He knew that he needed help. His neighbor, King Hiram of Tyre, had cedar trees and expert manpower that Solomon required to build the temple. Solomon asked Hiram if he could send some help with this compliment: “As you know, there is no one among us who can […]