By Jim LaDoux Henri Nouwen's book, A Spirituality of Living, delves into the depths of spiritual life, drawing from his rich experiences as a pastor, theologian, and spiritual guide. Here's a detailed summary of each chapter along with discussion questions:CHAPTER 1: SolitudeIn this chapter, Nouwen emphasizes the importance of solitude as a foundational practice for spiritual life. He explains tha...  Read More

By Jim LaDoux Scott Cormode, author of The Innovative Church, suggests that the church as we know it is calibrated for a world that no longer exists and needs to recalibrated in order to address the questions that animate today's congregants. Scott Cormode explores the role of Christian practices in recalibrating the church for the twenty-first century, offering church leaders innovative ways to e...  Read More

By Jim Ladoux Teams That Thrive by Ryan W. Quinn and Robert E. Quinn is a book that explores the dynamics of successful teams and how they can achieve peak performance. Here's a brief summary of each chapter of the book along with some considers I've been asking about the teams I lead, coach, or participate in. 1 | The Four Pillars of a Thriving TeamThe authors introduce the concept of thriving te...  Read More

By Jim LaDoux The book by Kathleen Smith, Everything Isn't Terrible: Conquer Your Insecurities, Interrupt Your Anxiety, and Finally Calm Down, provides a wealth of insights on how to live a less anxious and more fulfilling life that’s guided by principles that reflect our true self.  Using Bowen Theories, it reflects an approach for managing anxiety by looking at our relational systems where we re...  Read More

By Jim LaDoux Thriving congregations pay attention to the shifts taking place in life and ministry and find ways to successfully navigate their way toward a preferred future of being church in times of constant disruptions. Listed below are 6 facets of ministry I see church leaders embrace to support vibrant faith and a vital congregational culture.FACET 1 | THEY LOOK FOR GOD AT WORK IN THE WORLDM...  Read More

By Jim LaDoux Thriving congregations recognize the importance of positioning people for maximum impact. Your onboarding process helps people start strong and engage in ministry more quickly and effectively.Listed below are sample orientation checklists. Use the information below as a guide for customizing the onboarding process for your members and leaders. You may wish to ask current staff and le...  Read More