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What To Do First to Make a Profit

The PF Women Team at our Annual Team Retreat  ~ 2018 Today on Seth Godin's blog, he said: It's tempting to decide to make a profit first, then invest in training, people, facilities, promotion, customer service and most of all, doing important work. In general, though, it goes the other way. Yes, it does. If you are waiting to make a profit before you do these things, in my experience you're  not going to make a profit. So many organizations, ministries and churches are struggling with financial issues. I know your pain. As anyone who follows our story knows, our ministry was in a ton of debt four years ago when I came on as director.  Since that time, we've gotten out of debt and turned a profit every year.  God has done amazing things through out team, for which we give Him the glory! I find that what Seth is saying here is absolutely true, with one disclaimer. For Christian leaders, spiritual disciplines must always be first. Before we started i...
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More photos from Woodland

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Party prep & fun with friends...

Yesterday we had a good time with our friends Mike & Donna Gibson and Andy & Jill Brasfield as we prepared for Mike's party.   We ate lunch at the Gibson's and told a bunch of funny stories around the table (favorite pastime) and then headed to the America's Packer Museum (location of party) to do a little bit of decorating, the rest of which will be finished today.  We got a private tour of the museum, seeing fascinating cars, two of which were just used for the movie, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and the hearse which was used for "The Godfather."   We were up close to these cars, actually touching them and could even open them up to look inside!   It was awesome.  One car was worth 6.5 million dollars .  I fell in love with a Packard convertible that was black with pink accents.  After decorating we went over to Woodland Cemetary , which is one of Mike's favorite places, where he also volunteers as a tour guide.  I...
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We're here...delay is better than disaster!

Only a quick blog post today...I'm maximizing time with our friends, so writing is taking a back seat.   Yesterday we flew out of Tampa in the afternoon and had what was supposed to be a very short stop in Baltimore -- so quick we weren't supposed to get off the plane.  However, there was a problem with the plane once we landed and it couldn't be repaired in time to leave that day.  So...they took our plane away and replaced it with another.  This whole thing put us about two hours behind and instead of getting to Dayton at 5:30 we got there at 7:30,  however that was JUST FINE with me!  We're rather have them switch planes and be safe anyday!  I'm just glad they are checking the equipment carefully.  I have always said about anything in life, " Delay is better than disaster."   Oh how true that is, in every facet of life! 
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For the love of a friend...

I'm leaving this morning to fly to Ohio for a friend's birthday party.  Why?  Because it's that important to me.  Mike Gibson and I have been friends for 19 years.  We met he and his precious wife Donna when Larry and I were youth pastors at a church in Dayton, way back when I was pregnant with Jordan in 1990.  Our friendship has been characterized by a ton of laughter more than anything.  Mike loves to laugh, and you can't help but laugh with him!  After spending time with Mike and Donna, my sides literally ache from laughing so hard.  Through these years we have found so much to laugh about and share the same sense of humor that often finds us (literally, no exaggeration) falling off of our chairs and not being able to get our composure for a few minutes.  I remember one time at Mike's old house in Beavercreek, something funny was said and we both fell off of the sofa (he on one sofa across the room, me on another) and lau...
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Lessons from Kathryn:
The importance of flexibility

This week in my meeting with Kathryn I learned once again how important a little flexibility is in a working relationship.  When managing employees of the church, I've always been very flexible with personal appointments and needs, such as long as they are not lazy or take undue advantage.  I have no tolerance for laziness though.  I've said it before, lazy people cause me to shake.   This is where valiums, brownies and lattes come in handy. Kathryn is an amazingly flexible manager.  I needed to ask her if we could change next week's meeting times because Larry is preaching at a Campmeeting in Northport and I want to go with him.  I would prefer not to have our weekly meeting on the road, as it's harder for me to engage in conversation.  Truth be told, I don't want to have a meeting with her on the run because I value the meeting too much.  She quickly said, "oh of course..." and moved the meeting to morning....
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Just another...

Some people think pastors work one day a week.  That is so laughable.   How ridiculous is that thinking? Seriously.   Who do they think sets all this up, the church fairy? What does a typical week day look like for me??   Monday is one of the most slammed days and I usually go into work feeling like a truck ran me over.  But we never take Monday off, ever.  Many pastors do and I think it's stupid.  While you are exhausted on a Monday, I believe it's a poor idea to give yourself your most exhausted day of the week.  I think we owe ourselves more than that.  On my day off I want to feel decent so I can actually  do something besides lay in bed.  I want to go to the beach, or on dates with Teeb, or do things with the kids.  Of course some Fridays I end up doing that anyway if I'm just spent.  But most days we do something special.  As far as Mondays, I figure if I'm going to feel bad I ...
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Typical weekend

Thursday night:   Worked full day at church office; Came home and ate dinner, cleaned house; worked fast & furious to wash clothes, get packed, have things squared away for Savanna while we are away, finish up notes for my message for All Church Ministries Conference.  Answer remaining emails in inbox.  Bedtime at 2:00 am.     Friday:   5:30 AM, Rise & Shine!  Shower, take Maddie out, get Savanna up and off to school bus, drink 2 cups of tea, get dressed/ready for day, pack remaining things, head to Lakeland at 7:00 am;  Speakers meeting at 8:00 am;   Speak at ACMC Friday, attend a few other sessions, come back to hotel room and make important career coaching call, see that I don't have the correct number for the client, call my manager (Kathryn) about that.  End up calling her about the phone number, but stay on with her for while talking about life just because I enjoy talking with her....
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