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In an interview H.B. London, Jr., did with Dr. Engstrom, he addressed the subject of change. Here is what the wise old man said: "I think that human kind is resistant to having things differently than they are presently. We like our comfort zones and we don't want our comfort zones changed too rapidly…

This is hard to admit, but I learned this principle form Michael Corleone in “The Godfather (Part II).” In the midst of great trials, he traveled to his boyhood home in New York. An old friend asks Michael how he intends to handle all his problems. Michael responds, “Pop taught me many lessons in this…

Transition is like a low pressure area on the organizational weather map. It attracts all the storms and conflicts in the area, past a well as present. This is because transition “decompresses” an organization. Many of the barriers that held things in check come down. Old grievances resurface. Old scars…

There are several benefits of such intentional effort at reconciliation. At the rudimentary level, no one, neither pastor nor parishioner, enjoys going through life nagged by what-ifs of unresolved conflicts. Even where the brokenness cannot be fully mended, no matter how good the intentions to do so,…

It is not as rare as one might think, or hope, that congregations sometimes call similar pastors (sometimes even in physical appearance!) time after time. And no one should be surprised that the same congregational problems keep arising pastor after pastor in such circumstances. Likewise, some pastors…

Out his experience in moving with children, a pastor colleague of Naomi’s gave her some wish counsel concerning her children: that she make sure not to tell them that the move was something God had decided and about which she had no choice. This sort of buck-passing evasion of both responsibility and…

The continuation of anything depends on its changing, just as staying upright and traveling straight ahead on a bicycle depends on making constant steering adjustments. Refusing to make those little changes would not produce “stability” but, on the contrary, would rapidly lead to the loss of balance…

In many people it seems to take about six weeks for a mental image to change to correspond to a new reality. People don’t really feel at home in a new house until they have been there about six weeks. A Layman’s Guide to Psychiatry and Psychoanalysis, Eric Berne, page 20

What makes an organization resistant to change? I think it’s familiarity, getting comfortable with the way things are. Also, most leaders of change don’t understand the concerns people have when they go through change. Their first concern is for information – “Tell me what you’ve got in mind; let me…

Here are two questions for the departing pastor to ponder: What do you know now that you wish you had known when you started the pastorate you are now leaving? As an act of gracious collegiality and Christian fellowship, why not share this information with your successor? Ten Commandments for Pastors…

“I find that there are three stages in all religious movements; The first is the fighting stage, when people are few and humble, and lean on God for support. At that stage they all fight and try to overthrow the teachings of men, as the Jews did as recorded in Deut. 7. “The second stage is the stage…

The best time to think about your retirement is before your boss does. How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free, Ernie J. Zelinski, page 7

Everything is in readiness. The tree is trimmed. The cards taped to the door frame. The boxes stacked in glittering disarray under the tree. Why don’t I hear chimes? Remember the small boy who made the chimes ring in a fictional story years ago? As the legend went, the chimes would not ring unless a…

It is sometimes said that the inability to change the past is one of the limitation that God shares with us. The best we can do when it comes to leaving a congregation is to bring the past to as complete and whole a conclusion as possible, so that all may rejoice in what has been good, learn from what…

When the Last Child Leaves The last one cleaned his bedroom out; He left today at five. There was not much to talk about; His car backed down the drive. This is the first night they all slept Behind some other door. This is the first night these rooms keep Our children safe no more. They never were our…