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Church leadership isn't just about having the right title or sitting in the right meetings. It's about stewarding God's people with wisdom, humility, and genuine care. Yet too many well-intentioned leaders find themselves making critical mistakes that undermine their effectiveness and hurt the very people they're called to serve. After years of coaching church leaders and witnessing both spectacular successes and painful failures, I've identified seven recurring mistakes that

Your teenager just added another song to their playlist. The bass drops, the melody hooks you, and suddenly you're wondering: "Should I be concerned about this?" Music shapes hearts, minds, and souls more than we realize. Every beat, every lyric, every message flowing through those earbuds is forming your family's worldview. As Christian parents and teens navigating today's music landscape, we need practical tools to discern what builds faith versus what tears it down. Dr. La

Your teenager just showed you a hilarious TikTok that's gotten 50 million views. Your eight-year-old is obsessed with a YouTube channel that all their friends watch. Your family group chat is buzzing with the latest meme that everyone's sharing. Sound familiar? Welcome to the wild world of viral content, where trends explode faster than we can evaluate them. As Christian families, we want to stay connected with culture without compromising our values. But how do we know if th

You signed up because you wanted to serve. You felt called. Maybe it was the children's ministry, the greeting team, the worship band, or the parking lot crew. Somewhere along the way, that "yes" became your identity, and now you can't remember the last time serving felt like joy instead of obligation. If Sunday morning has started to feel more like a weight than a gift, you're not alone. And you're not failing. You might be burning out. The good news? Recognizing burnout ear

Walking into a church for the first time takes courage. More courage than most of us remember. Think about it: a visitor doesn't know where to park, where the bathrooms are, where to sit, or whether anyone will even acknowledge they exist. Their palms might be sweaty. Their kids might be fussy. And somewhere in the back of their mind, they're wondering if they made a mistake showing up at all. Your greeter team stands at the intersection of that anxiety and the love of Christ

You didn't sign up for leadership because it looked easy. You stepped into it because you sensed a calling: a pull toward something bigger than yourself. Maybe it was a nudge from the Holy Spirit. Maybe someone saw potential in you before you saw it in yourself. But somewhere between the vision and the execution, things got complicated. Meetings piled up. Expectations multiplied. And slowly, almost invisibly, the way you lead started drifting from where it began. Here's the g

Your phone buzzes. Another match. Your heart does that little flutter thing, and you wonder: Could this be the one? Dating apps have revolutionized how we meet people, but for Christian singles, they've also created a minefield of emotional traps, spiritual compromises, and heartbreak. You want to find love, but you also want to honor God with your dating life. Good news: you can do both. After years of coaching Christian singles through the digital dating world, I've seen th

You know that feeling when you've been going through the motions: showing up on Sundays, saying your prayers before meals, maybe even reading a devotional here and there: but something still feels... shallow? You're not alone. So many young professionals and growing Christians hit this wall where faith feels more like a checklist than a life-changing relationship with God. Here's the good news: surface-level faith isn't a permanent address. It's a pit stop. And with the right

Proverbs 4:23 tells us, "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." It's one of those verses we've all heard a hundred times: maybe on a coffee mug or a throw pillow at your grandmother's house. But here's the thing: most of us are getting it completely wrong. Guarding your heart doesn't mean building a fortress around your emotions and keeping everyone out. It means protecting the source of your life: your emotions, desires, decisions, and faith:

Guarding your heart isn't about putting up a "Do Not Enter" sign, nor is it about building a fortress around your feelings. But it is about practicing godly wisdom, setting boundaries, and keeping Christ at the center of every relationship, friendship, and interaction. Let’s look at the top seven ways Christians (yep, even the most devoted ones!) get this wrong: and what you can do today to start guarding your heart with confidence, courage, and joy. Mistake #1: Getting Emot

You've heard the verse a thousand times. Proverbs 4:23 tells us, "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Sunday school drilled it into your brain. Your youth pastor probably quoted it during every dating talk you ever sat through. But here's the thing: most of us have been doing it wrong. We've turned "guarding your heart" into building emotional bunkers, shutting people out, or pretending we don't have feelings at all. That's not what God int

You show up on Sunday. You scroll through a devotional app. You say grace before dinner. And yet: something still feels off. Like you're going through the motions but never really getting anywhere. Sound familiar? Here's the truth: most believers aren't stuck because they lack faith. They're stuck because they've settled for a faith that never demands anything from them. A faith that fits neatly into a busy schedule but never transforms their Monday morning meetings, their Fr

As Christian parents, we want to protect our children's hearts and minds while still allowing them to enjoy quality entertainment. But let's be honest, movie screening can feel overwhelming. With hundreds of films releasing each year and streaming platforms constantly adding new content, how do we make wise choices without becoming helicopter parents? After years of helping families navigate entertainment choices, I've noticed the same five mistakes popping up again and again

Young Christian leaders carry an incredible burden and blessing. You're called to shepherd God's people, cast vision, and create lasting kingdom impact. But here's the reality: most young leaders stumble over the same seven predictable obstacles that can derail their ministry before it truly begins. The good news? These mistakes aren't career-ending if you recognize them early and take decisive action. After years of coaching emerging leaders and watching both spectacular suc

You've got a stack of leadership books on your nightstand that's taller than your coffee mug. You've highlighted every "game-changing" principle and downloaded every leadership podcast. Yet somehow, you still feel like you're spinning your wheels when it comes to actually leading people effectively. Here's the truth bomb: The greatest leadership manual ever written has been sitting right there on your shelf this whole time. It's called the Bible, and it contains leadership st

Starting your career as a young Christian professional feels like stepping into uncharted territory. You're passionate about making a difference, eager to integrate your faith with your work, and ready to change the world. But here's what nobody tells you: good intentions and spiritual enthusiasm aren't always enough to navigate the complex world of Christian leadership and professional ministry. After years of coaching young believers and watching them stumble through the sa

You've got the passion. You've got the vision. You can see exactly what needs to change in your workplace, church, or community organization. But somehow, things aren't clicking the way you expected. If you're a young professional stepping into Christian leadership roles, you're not alone in feeling this frustration. After decades of coaching emerging leaders across Memphis and beyond, I've noticed the same patterns showing up again and again. The good news? These mistakes ar

Dating as a Christian can feel like trying to solve a Rubik's cube blindfolded while riding a unicycle. You know there's a right way to do it, but somehow every move seems to make things more complicated. If you've ever wondered why your dating life feels more like a series of awkward coffee dates that go nowhere, you're not alone. After years of counseling singles and married couples, I've noticed the same patterns showing up again and again. Good people with great hearts ma

Another leadership seminar. Another "breakthrough" workshop. Another one-size-fits-all training program that promises to transform your leadership style in three easy steps. Sound familiar? You've probably sat through dozens of these generic leadership programs, taking notes on productivity hacks and management frameworks that barely scratch the surface of real transformation. Meanwhile, your team still struggles with the same issues, and you're left wondering why these expen

Starting your career as a young Christian professional in leadership feels exciting and overwhelming at the same time. You're eager to make an impact, serve God's kingdom, and lead others well. But here's what many don't tell you: the transition from follower to leader comes with unique challenges that can derail even the most well-intentioned servants. After years of coaching emerging leaders and watching countless young professionals navigate faith-based leadership roles, I