Here’s a way to discipline yourself to increase creativity on your team or in your organization…especially during times when money is tight.

When you are ready to make a purchase, ask yourself this question:

If you didn’t have the money, and it was a need you had to address, what would you do?

Recently we had this scenario. I was asked to consider a non-budgeted purchase. I delayed in answering the question, somewhat for this reason and some because I got distracted from answering the question. (The thought, however, was that my delay was intentional.) A few weeks later, I was presented with a different request. They had found a way to accomplish the same need, for one-fourth the cost.

Will this work every time? No, but the use of creativity and innovation can often be avoided if there is enough money in the budget. Tight budgets cause us to look for ways to accomplish our mission for less. When this happens…everyone wins…as there is more resources available for other projects.

What are some ways you have had to be creative because funds were limited?

Winners announced:

@alyssaglick

@bradshim

@heartcures

@kennyinnes

Send me your address and I’ll get you a book. Thanks for reading!

Last week I wrote about living with introversion in the ministry.  You can read

7 Pitfalls of Being an Introverted Pastor

and

7 Ways I Work with Introversion to Protect My Ministry

Each of these posts, and every post I ever do about introversion, creates interest from those who share this part of my personality.  I had several people at church this week comment on the posts.  Apparently, this is an issue worth talking about more!

In an effort to help people, my online friend Adam McHugh, who writes a blog called Introverted Church, is offering his book Introverts in the Church to my readers.

Introverts in the Church is a well-written, helpful and practical book that addresses this issue, which has long been avoided.  Introverts will find themselves encouraged and that they do have a role in the church.  Extroverts will discover some keys to ministering among the introverts.  You do not want to miss this book.

If you would like to win a copy of Introverts in the Church, I am giving away three (3) copies today.

For a chance to win:

1. Comment on this post with your name and/or Twitter name
2. Just for fun, but not mandatory, do you think you are introverted or extraverted?
3. RT this post with something such as “Introverts in the Church giveaway today from @RonEdmondson http://bit.ly/cJlfdx”

I will choose three (3) winners after 9 PM CST today.

Thanks and best wishes!

If a pastor is not careful, the weight of everyone else’s problems will take precedence over the issues and concerns of his immediate family. I see it frequently among pastors I encounter. There have been seasons of my ministry where this is the case, especially on abnormally stressful days.

I decided years ago when I was a small business owner, serving in an elected office and on dozens of non-profit boards that my busyness would never detract from my family life on a long-term basis.

Here are 7 ways I attempt to protect my family from the stress of ministry:

Down time. Saturdays for me is a protected day. I normally work 6 long (up to 10 hours and more) days a week. (I’m wired to work and to take a true “Sabbath”, according to Exodus 16:26 at least, it seems one would have to work 6 days…just saying…Ha!) This also means I agree to do fewer weddings or attend other social events on Saturdays. There are only a few Saturdays a year that I allow this part of my calendar to be interrupted. Pastors, it doesn’t have to be Saturday for you, but there should be at least one day in your week like this. If you are wired for two…take two!

Cheryl and the boys trump everything on my calendar. I always interrupt meetings for their phone calls. If they are on my schedule for something we have planned together it takes precedence over everything and everyone else. There are always emergencies, but this is extremely rare for me…extremely!

Scheduled time with my family. If I’m going to protect time with my family then they must be a part of my calendar. I’ve been told this seemed cold and calculated, and maybe it is, but when the boys were young and into activities with school, those times went on my calendar as appointments first. I was at every ballgame and most practices, unless I was out of town, because it was protected by my calendar. It was easy for me to decline other offers, because my schedule was already planned.

I don’t work many nights. Now it’s just a habit and my boys are grown, but when my boys were young, I also wrote on my schedule nights at home. The bottom line is that I’m a professional. You wouldn’t want my time if I weren’t. Have you ever tried to meet with your attorney or banker at night? Of course, there are exceptions, but as a rule I work 6 full day time hours a week and that’s enough.

I’m not everyone’s pastor. This is hard for members of my extended family or friends to understand sometimes but, I pastor a large church, so if someone is in a church elsewhere I’m not their pastor, simply their brother, son or friend. Obviously, if someone doesn’t have a church at all then this is a different story, especially since our church is designed to reach unchurched people.

I delegate well. We have a great staff. If something is better for them to do, I let them do it. Every event doesn’t require me to be there, nor my wife. I try to support the activities of the church as much as possible, but not at the detriment of my family. I realize smaller church pastors struggle here, but part of your leading may be to raise up and trust volunteer people and entrust them with responsibilities. It also may be to lead people to understand that your family remaining strong is just as important as other families in the church and that part of having a healthy church is having a healthy pastor and family.

I try to stay spiritually, physically and mentally healthy. It’s hard to lead my family well and engage them when I’m always stressed by ministry. This is a constant battle, and requires great cooperation and understanding by my family, but I recognize it as a value worth striving to attain.

Pastors, I hear from you…and sometimes your spouse…often. Some of you are drowning in your ministry and your family is suffering. Many are going to say they have no staff or a small staff, but I would challenge you that I encourage this same approach to ministry for every person on our staff. I would expect no less of a commitment to their family than I have to mine. Ask yourself this question: How healthy is your family? What are you doing to protect them?

Help me help other pastors…Share how you protect your family.

You might also read 7 Ways I Protect My Heart and Ministry from an Affair

Just discovered this Ted video with Billy Graham talking about technology and faith. He’s humorous, engaging, and shares an interesting perspective about how to deal with technology in the future. He’s talking to a secular audience in 1998, but his words are still practical and helpful. The most encouraging part to me was to see the boldness of his talk in the midst of such a crowd.

Enjoy some time listening to this honored man:

Do you have a story or favorite memory of Billy Graham?

Do you wonder what’s next after Facebook and Twitter?

Seth Priebatsch thinks he understands the answer to that question, and if he is right, it will change the “rules” of how we do life, just as Facebook and Twitter have. Watch this Ted video as Seth explains.

Do you think he is on to something?

How do you see this new phase impacting the church and the way we do ministry?

What do you think is “next”?

I posted recently 7 pitfalls of being an introverted pastor. (You can read that post HERE.) In that post I indicated I would share how I address each of these pitfalls to keep them from adversely impacting my ministry.

Here are 7 ways I work with my introversion to protect my ministry:

• I discipline myself to be extraverted on Sunday mornings. Years ago, in my first full-time church, an elderly deacon pulled me aside and said, “Son, if you will make these people feel welcome, they’ll be more likely to return.” I realized that it wasn’t enough to preach a good message, I needed to engage people on a personal level.
• I try to handle correspondence by email as much as possible to cut down on verbal conversation. Just point of information, you will always get a deeper, more engaged answer from me if we are communicating online.
• I see networking as a large part of my success in ministry. As a purpose-driven person, I’m more likely to do that which brings results. Networking has become a leadership value for me.
• I try to capitalize on my strengths. There are some benefits to introversion. I think before I speak. I am less likely to put my foot in my mouth (although it still happens). I usually meant what I said. I am able to spend countless hours in my own thought world, which give me tons of ideas; which, by the way, is a big reason you see me online often.
• My family knows who I am. I am very protective of family time, but they know that I need downtime before I can engage fully. They are respectful of this time, knowing it will be rewarded as we enjoy each other more when I am mentally rested.
• I value my wife and her partnership in ministry even more! Cheryl is an extravert. She loves people and when she is with me I am much more comfortable in an extraverted setting.
• Recognizing the need for people to be involved in my life beyond surface level for my protection and the protection of my family and ministry, I have consistently solicited and allowed a few men to know me into my heart and life who can hold me accountable.

Are you an introvert? How do you keep it from adversely impacting your ministry?

I don’t know about your family, but we’ve struggled in recent years to find good, well-written, and family friendly movies to enjoy together. Hollywood is paying attention and actually looking for ways to partner with the Christian community. Introducing Warner Brothers Studio’s movie “Flipped”, a story which chronicles second-graders Bryce and Juli over a six-year relationship of growing attachment. We get to experience triumph and disaster, family drama and first love, as they make the discoveries that will define who they are – and who they are to each other.

Written and directed by Rob Reiner, who was the director of such films as: Stand by Me, When Harry Met Sally, and Sleepless in Seattle, this movie will entertain all audiences, while leaving some life lessons in the process. Salem Communications, the largest Christian Radio network in the nation has partnered with Warner Brothers to bring a live video chat with director Rob Reiner and actress Madeline Carroll tonight, Thursday, August 26 at 7pm ET on Facebook. Click HERE for a direct link.

In addition, I’ll be giving away a Flipped movie poster signed by Rob Reiner on this site. Simply comment on this post with your name and tell me the last good movie you watched in theaters for a chance to win. (I’ll choose a random winner soon.)

Help spread the word. The more interest we can stir for movies of value, the more likely it is we will see more of them.

I am an introvert. From all public appearances on Sunday morning that surprises many people, but in my private life and with those closest to me there is no questioning of that fact. If anything, I have become even more introverted the larger our church has grown. I can wish I was otherwise, but this is how I am wired. Being an introvert has its downsides as a pastor.

Here are 7 pitfalls of being an introverted pastor:

1. People often think I’m arrogant, aloof or unfriendly. I’m a lot of negative things. Those are not really the main three. I sometimes have to go back and apologize once I hear someone thinks I avoided them. This happens especially with extremely extraverted people.
2. I hesitate to make the connections I should sometimes and miss opportunities to build my network.
3. I’m worn out after a long day of talking and need time alone to rejuvenate, which can impact my family time if I’m not careful. It also leads to people at the end of the day telling me I look tired…guess what? I am!
4. Crowded rooms, which I love in terms of reaching people for Christ, are actually intimidating to me as a person.
5. I’m not as quick-witted when in crowds and sometimes appear awkward on first impressions when I try to be.
6. I realize the need to talk with people…it’s what I do, but wrestling through the introverted tendencies actually adds even more stress to my life.
7. If I’m not careful, and thankfully I’m fairly disciplined here, I will close out people from really knowing me, which subjects me to all kinds of temptations, anxiety and even depression.

How’s that for transparency?

Are you an introvert? Do you see how it impacts your work?

(Tomorrow I will share a post on how I handle being an introvert without injuring my ministry.)

I recently posted an important leadership and life principle I have learned the hard way. When you get a brilliant idea, before you quickly rush to complete it, sleep on it. You can read that post HERE. I want to continue that thought process with another principle that builds from that one. Let me illustrate it with a practical example:

Launching Grace Community Church was an 18-month process from the time I agreed to obey God’s encouragement to start a new church. (I had resisted His encouragement 10 years…but that’s another post.) After we recruited our core team, we asked them to wrestle in prayer months before we had our first meeting or they even officially committed to the vision; then we made them wait 9 months before we ever met as a church. Waiting to implement God’s vision for excited people inclined inclined towards progress was difficult, but the result proved an important principle about human dynamics and organizational development. (That’s a fancy way of saying…waiting sucked, but it worked…)

In a similar fashion, although we knew small groups would be a major part of our mission, we did “test” groups with a few people for months before we allowed the entire church to join a group. We used that time to train leaders, but it also served the purpose to generate enthusiasm among those that had to wait to get in a group.

The principle at work here is what I call The Power of Caged Momentum…

Telling a person or a group of people to wait for something they really want to do and are excited about builds positive momentum. Of course, there is always the balance between waiting too long that you lose opportunity and moving to fast that you don’t build enough momentum. I can’t solve that for you in a simple post. Your situation and experience will be unique to you, but the principle here is important.

Don’t be afraid to make your church, organization or team (or even your family) wait before they get to experience something great. The power of caged momentum may even make the experience and outcome better.

Have you seen this principle at work? I’d love to hear your story.