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David’s army had just won a military victory over a coup led by his own son Absalom, killed in the battle. David turned what should have been a national day of rejoicing into a time of mourning. His general Joab takes a huge risk and “leads up” by telling David to suck it up, that there were greater things at risk in Israel than his personal loss…like the encouragement and leadership his soldiers and people needed at this critical time. David did exactly what Joab said. Tha

Here’s a question I’ve wondered about: in heaven, would I feel any of the restrained feelings I have here about expressing worship? Even when some of us say that worship is not our primary pathway to connecting with God, I wonder: is that an option? And if I make the case that a particular style of worship (pop band…or choir…or pipe organ…or ?) is not the particular method that floats my boat, then what is it that would make me throw my hands up, sing at the top of my lungs:

Years ago we identified 4 critical elements all healthy churches practiced, regardless of size or stripe: Integrity: systems, processes, infrastructure to get the mission accomplished Passion: an energy and enthusiasm for Jesus, his work, and your church Servanthood: an outward-focused culture to serve those beyond the walls Imagination: a capacity and willingness for change and innovation We cover these extensively in the book Elemental Leaders: Four Essentials Every Leader

Every church has a vibe. Your church’s atmosphere is charged with something…or nothing. When thinking about the weekend services of your church—whether in-person or streaming—I would consider five essential vibe intangibles: Participation, Energy, Accessibility, Quality and Flow. Participation Are people engaged? Are they actively listening during the teaching? Are they responding in some way during worship? Is there any attempt to assess people experiencing God in some tan