I have been appointed to serve as the lead pastor at First United Methodist Church in El Dorado, KS beginning July 1. I am writing a series of posts about this transition. One of the more common questions that I have received is: What is Nicole going to do? My wife, Nicole, is an ordained elder in the United […]
I have been appointed to serve as the lead pastor at First United Methodist Church in El Dorado, KS beginning July 1. The news was announced at El Dorado and Resurrection West on Sunday. El Dorado is a city with a population of about 13,000. It is located just off I-35 about 30 minutes east of Wichita. […]
Happy Birthday Nicole!
I wish my wife, Nicole, the very happiest of birthdays today! I am grateful for her in so many ways.
Today, I want to wish a Happy Valentine’s Day to my lovely bride, Nicole. I hope that your day is great – without or with a valentine.
When looking to make progress on important issues, there may be technical problems and adaptive challenges. In either case, you may be able to find a solution. Kansas City District Superintendent, Mike Chamberlain, reminded clergy at one of our district gatherings that if you can’t find a solution, it’s not a problem. It is a […]
At one of my favorite coffee shops, I overheard a group of students say to the barista, “We’re going to work here when we get old enough.” I was struck by the power of this statement. The environment and culture is so enjoyable that someone would want to work there in the future. Not just […]
Last week, someone shared with me an insight that they had gained serving as a volunteer at Resurrection. You can’t lead beyond the leader. If you are not ultimately responsible for a ministry area, worship service, congregation, or nearly any other grouping of people there is always some limit on what you can implement. The […]
I am excited to share the news that we have hired Sarah Newberry to be the Director of Worship Arts at Resurrection West. Next week, I am hoping to share a bit more of the process with you. Until then, I wanted to pass along the update that Pastor Molly shared the news via email […]
I appreciate a well told story. Telling stories is one of the most effective ways to lead a community or congregation. The church that I serve, Resurrection West, is a member of the Olathe Chamber of Commerce who recently released a video to promote Olathe. This model could be effective for a wide variety of […]
One of my favorite podcasts is the HBR IdeaCast. Episode 283, The Right Mindset for Success, focuses on the distinctions between a fixed and growth mindset. One of the most helpful portions was about supervision and management. This list, from Carol Dweck, describes the methods and message that a manager or leader could give to […]
I have had the privilege of spending time with Ray Pitman, a member of Resurrection, over the past several months. Several years ago, I officiated at the funeral for his wife, Betty, and we reconnected this summer when I lead worship at Leawood one Saturday night. I found his perspective on capacity to be particularly […]
I have had the privilege of spending time with Ray Pitman, a member of Resurrection, over the past several months. Several years ago, I officiated at the funeral for his wife, Betty, and we reconnected this summer when I lead worship at Leawood one Saturday night. He has shared with me over and over his […]