Free
Resources
Developed over more than 30 years of coast to coast church and pastoral leadership, these resources are available at no cost.
Feel free to download, copy or modify in any way that expands the Kingdom of Christ in your
area of influence.
Check here on a regular basis as
additional resources will be added often.
For convenience these resources are
grouped into the categories below:
> Published Articles with Real World Application
> Biblical Living in 21 Century America
> Simple Biblical Guidelines To Common Questions
> Time Tested Church Policies and Procedures
Published Articles With
Real World Application
Clear Priorities
Drive Good Decisions
As XPs, our lives are a massive, interconnected web of relationships and responsibilities. We are faced with decisions nearly every waking hour of every day. From little things like "Which staff pastor should I take to lunch today?" "If I turn right as this traffic light, will I get...
If Nothing Changes...
Nothing Changes
Change is hard. No, I mean real change is really hard! Oh sure, we all dream, imagine or wish that something in our lives will be different or better tomorrow; but taking the steps necessary to make that happen...that's really hard! How many times have I used the statement that "insanity" is defined as doing the same thing over and over but expecting...
Living In The Hallway
Is A Nightmare!
As XPs, our lives are a massive, interconnected web of relationships and responsibilities. We are faced with decisions nearly every waking hour of every day. From little things like "Which staff pastor should I take to lunch today?" "If I turn right as this traffic light, will I get...
Roles, Responsibilities and Decision Making
At some point in the life of many churches the roles and leadership responsibilities of the "staff" and "board come into question and need a thoughtful review. This seems especially true in multi-staff non-denominational settings. In the early days of such churches, the vision alone is.....
A Contrarian's Journey Through Staff Evaluations
As XPs, our lives are a massive, interconnected web of relationships and responsibilities. We are faced with decisions nearly every waking hour of every day. From little things like "Which staff pastor should I take to lunch today?"..."If I turn right as this traffic light, will I...
The One Thing
You Need To Know
Quick...what's the single key difference between checkers and chess? Both have two players, alternating moves, the same board and both need advnced strategic thinking...now if you are already sying, "Hey, I know, it's obvious" then, according to Marcus Buckingham...
From Vision To Execution
Wherever you go today, everyone is talking about vision. Vision is the current buzzword. It's the discussion in boardrooms in executive offices and in managment-consulting firms. It's the leading topic of discussion in synods and in board of elders meetings...
Changing Our Church Name
Richland Bible Church is located in the small West Michigan town of Richland, about 9 miles northeast of Kalamazoo. The church was organized in March of 1983, when 75 people came together to form a new congregation...
Biblical Living
In 21st Century America
There are 4 stages to building your Family Legacy Model.
A family can enter into this
process at any stage.
Because God is faithful, they can trust Him for a positive legacy for their family even if they are beginning at
Stage 2, 3 or 4
Step 1 - Build your Model
Step 2 - Identify your Milestones Step 3 - Assume your role of Mentor
Step 4 - Pass on the Mantel
"Simple Life Skills"
Biblical How To(s)
For Real Life
In The 21st Century.
The driving goal of Simple Life Skills is to enable believers to practically access the wisdom of Christ's people with skills that can be integrated into their lives and passed on from one person to another.
How do I forgive someone who
hurt me?
How do I view myself the way
God does?
How do I live according to my priorities?
How do I make Godly decisions?
The Journey Home
We are not citizens of this world trying to make our way to Heaven; we are citizens of heaven trying to make our way through this world.
That radical Christian insight can be lifechanging!
We are not to live so as to earn God’s love, inherit Heaven and purchase our salvation. All those are given as gifts; gifts bought by Jesus on the cross and handed over to us.
We are to live as God’s redeemed, as heirs of Heaven, and citizens of another land: The Kingdom of God...We live as those who are on a journey home; a home we know will have the lights on and the door open and our Father waiting for us when we arrive.
That means in all adversity our worship of God is joyous, our life is hopeful, our future is secure.
There is nothing we can lose on Earth that can rob us of the treasures God has given us and will give us.
Jan Karon is an American novelist renowned for her Mitford series, a collection of 14 Christian-themed novels written from 1994 -2017 set in the fictional town of Mitford, North Carolina. Father Tim is an Episcopal priest there and the main protagonist in the series.
Karon authored “Patches of Godlight”: Father Tim's Favorite Quotes (2001), a companion book that compiles his cherished quotations.
Her book credits this quote to: “The Landisfarne, via The Anglican Digest”. It is widely attributed by others to an article titled “We live as those who are on a journey home” from The Anglican Digest, a publication known for its devotional and theological content.
This piece has been cited and shared across various platforms, including blogs and church newsletters without a specific author's name. It is not authored by John Ortberg although he has written extensively about the same theme.
America's
21st Century
Unrecognized Existential Threat
America is facing a largely unrecognized existential threat, imperiling our democracy and way of life.
Take a deep dive beyond mere political divides into the core issues facing our country. Gain new perspective from my research which unveils the real causes and power behind a world that seems to have lost its moral bearings and our uniquely American democracy that is struggling to re-establish its traditional values and virtues.
The election of President Trump has enormous momentum and support for a return to traditional conservative values; unfortunately it will be short-lived. Political solutions cannot resolve spiritual issues. Some of the most disturbing "achievements" of the progressive left may disappear from the headlines for a season, but do not be deceived, they will re-emerg with even greater urgency and destructive power.
