Tag Archives: church staff

Before You Criticize Your Pastor…

By caryschmidt | March 15, 2010

Ever noticed that some people relish the criticism of pastors? Like kids and candy—they addict themselves even though it’s rotting something in them. While choosing voluntarily to stay under his leadership, they commit themselves to finding and exploiting every possible imperfection. I’ve never understood this thinking. Selecting a pastor, only to proceed to condemn the [...]

Posted in christian life | Also tagged biblical living, danger, leadership, local church, ministry, satanic, team | 5 Comments

8 Reasons to Follow a Great Leader

By Cary Schmidt | February 1, 2010

Everybody, in some respect is a leader, and everybody is a follower. Few are called to be the key leader. Many more are called to follow and support a key leader. For instance, a family may have many members but should have one father. A team can have many players (and leaders) but only one [...]

Posted in leadership | Also tagged leadership, ministry, productivity, team | 1 Comment

Implementing Your New Year Plan

By caryschmidt | December 19, 2009

The “final article” on the new year planner has become two. First—let’s discuss putting it into practice. In the next article—thoughts on developing an organizational system that works. (Click to read the first and second articles in this series.)
So you’ve spent several hours or days mapping out vision, goals, projects, events, calendar, details, and tasks—now [...]

Posted in productivity | Also tagged leadership, media & tech, ministry, organization, productivity, technology, time management | 4 Comments

More on Developing a New Year Planner

By caryschmidt | December 17, 2009

Thank you for responding to the article on the contents of a new year planner! Many of you have emailed and asked for the sample planner mentioned at the end of the article. In finalizing my planner the past couple days, I’ve decided to do two more articles related to planning the new year. This [...]

Posted in productivity | Also tagged ministry, organization, productivity, time management | 4 Comments

Overworked or Under-Appreciated?

By caryschmidt | November 20, 2009

In today’s staff meeting, Dr. Mark Rasmussen shared this humorous and sobering reminder of how good we really have it! I’m not sure of its source, but it’s a great reminder!
If you ever start to feeling overworked, over-regulated, under-leisured, under-benefited—take heart. This notice was found in the ruins of a London office building. It was [...]

Posted in humor | Also tagged humor, productivity, time management | 1 Comment

How to Write Readable Emails

By Cary Schmidt | September 18, 2009

Have you ever received an email that, at first sight, completely sent your brain into a revolt? Funny. Regardless of the message or your affection for the sender, your brain just wants to immediately hit “delete”! Why?
Perhaps some basic things made the email appear to be a huge mental hurdle—long lines, huge paragraphs, and a [...]

Posted in productivity | Also tagged communication, organization, productivity, technology, time management | 8 Comments

Why Leaders Need More Communication

By Cary Schmidt | September 14, 2009

WARNING: Failure to communicate frequently and effectively will bring distrust, tension, and grief in any valuable relationship.
A large percentage of our problems in work, family, and ministry could be attributed to communication failures—either miscommunication or a lack of communication. Everybody has people in their lives with whom they should work at communicating more effectively and [...]

Posted in featured, leadership, productivity | Also tagged communication, leadership, local church, ministry, team | Leave a comment

The Right Spirit Toward Spiritual Leaders

By Cary Schmidt | July 11, 2009

There are two very different attitudes towards spiritual leaders. Some Christians seemingly never see anything good, and in fact have given themselves over to criticism and fault-finding. While other Christians opt to be prayerfully and joyfully supportive and encouraging toward leaders. Which position have you taken in life? Just a couple of quick thoughts to [...]

Posted in christian life, leadership | Also tagged danger, leadership, local church, ministry, team | 2 Comments

New Website and Book—Church Still Works!

By Cary Schmidt | June 23, 2009

One of the Most Important Books I’ve Ever Read!

Striving Together Publications is happy to announce the new book Church Still Works from Paul Chappell and Clay Reed—available July 13! (And sooner for Amazon Kindle.)
This is one book every Christian and local church leader should read and re-read. It is fascinating, encouraging, biblical, and challenging. Clay [...]

Posted in books and resources | Also tagged book review, leadership, local church, ministry, striving together | 1 Comment

Honored to Work with a Winning Team

By Cary Schmidt | June 22, 2009

What an awesome privilege it is to work on a team with incredible, talented, godly, committed people! The people I get to work with truly are great, in every sense of the word. Over the past week, I have been reminded, humbled, and sincerely blessed over and over again at the spirit and heart of [...]