True or False: Hiring your friend is a great idea?  On today’s show we tackle the conversation of friendships and whether or not you should hire your friends. Friendships can be complicated as it is, so at what cost do you risk the friendship to have the opportunity to work together? Ben and Lynley share personal stories about their own friendships over the years, how the quote “it’s lonely at the top” has played out in their life, and how the needs for friendships are different for men and women.     Mentions:  Patrick Lencioni book – The 5 temptations of the CEO  Strength to Strength  Listen to The Episode of The Glass House where The Mandrell’s discuss Strength to Strength with JD and Veronica Greear (Nikki can you hyper link this?)  Nick and Meredith Floyd’s interview  on The Glass House  Mark 2  Connect with the Glass House on Instagram HERE  Please email us your questions and feedback to president@lifeway.com

In today’s episode we have an honest conversation with couples Chris and Libby Philips and  Landon and Tara Dowden about their biggest mistakes in ministry. Our guests don’t hold back as they confess to a range of mistakes, including betrayal of a confidence, overcommitment, people-pleasing, and even a fistfight between one of the couples’ own children on the front pew!    Life is messy and ministry life is no different. We hope today’s episode encourages you to  honestly and compassionately confront your own mistakes, knowing that God’s grace is bigger  than our failings.   Connect with the Glass House on Instagram HERE  Please email us your questions and feedback to president@lifeway.com    Mentions:   When People are Big and God is Small by Ed Welch

As ministry leaders we know the order of priorities are God, family, church, but we also know that’s not how it always works. Too often our priorities are distorted due to us living outside of our means with our energy, time, and gifts. Overworking ourselves inevitably leads to affecting the overall mental, emotional, and spiritual health of our family.   Dr. Heidi Warner graduated with her undergraduate degree in psychology and writing from Indiana Wesleyan University, Indiana in 2002 and her doctorate in clinical psychology in 2009 from Bowling Green State University, Ohio. She is passionate about seeing hurting people find healing, hope and freedom from the struggles that hold them back from living life fully. Her commitment to supporting people on their journey through hardships comes from a personal Christian faith and her own journeys through difficult times.    In today’s episode Dr. Heidi Warner challenges us to redefine success, grow in the knowledge of our boundaries, and to ask our family the hard questions. This episode is packed with wisdom and practical resources we hope you can use as you strive to honor God with your priorities.    Connect with the Glass House on Instagram HERE  Please email us your questions and feedback to president@lifeway.com    Mentions:   Episode 3: The Glass House with Derwin and Vicki Gray   Emotionally Healthy Leadership by Pete Scazzero  Boundaries by Cloud and Townsend   The Best Yes - Lysa Terkeurst   Margin - Richard Swenson

In design, it is often said, there should be an unexpected element in every room.  We have decided to lean into this rule in podcasting as well and throw in something completely unexpected. We have asked our producer, Angie Elkins, to completely surprise us with questions that we hope will help you get to know us better, provoke you to think about some things that you have not before, and honestly, just laugh along with us.     We are calling these episodes, On the Spot with Ben and Lynley, because we have no idea what is coming. Today you will hear us answering random questions, but in upcoming episodes, Angie will be surprising us with topics that we know you, as listeners, want to hear more about. We hope you enjoy these. We would love, as always, to hear what topics you would like to hear more about in these On-the-Spot episodes.     Mentioned:  Raphael Nadal’s biography  Julia Louis Dryfus episode with Jane Fonda (Language warning)  The Ride of a Lifetime by Bob Iger  Connect with the Glass House on Instagram HERE  Please email us your questions and feedback to president@lifeway.com

With differing personalities, marital needs, and rhythms of shifting seasons it is inevitable that mistakes are going to be made along the way. We have made plenty of them and today we are excited to sit down with Nick and Meredith Floyd to talk about their biggest mistakes throughout their ministry journey.    Nick and Meredith met when they were both attending Liberty University and have been married for almost 20 years. They have four children together and serve at Cross Church Northwest Arkansas. Nick serves as the Senior Pastor and prior to becoming Senior Pastor, Nick had served at Cross Church for 10 years, and was Lead Teaching Pastor and Staff Leader, teaching weekly at the Fayetteville campus.     Nick and Meredith shared great advice on humbling ourselves to our families and loving one another in a Christlike way. While mistakes are going to happen, our prayer is that as leaders of our ministries and homes, we allow the Spirit to fill us with his grace and wisdom to continue the journey faithfully.    Links:  What if it’s Wonderful  Visioneering Studios  Karen’s Kingsbury’s book: Let Me Hold You a Little Longer  Connect with the Glass House on Instagram HERE  Please email us your questions and feedback to president@lifeway.com

As leaders, we can have dreams, hopes, and visions… but only one of those is going to lead our people. Today’s guest is the brilliant Bryan Rose who shares with us exactly what vision is, how we receive it, cast it, and follow through. Whether you’re leading a small, medium, or large church, this episode is for you!   Bryan Rose is the Senior Lead Navigator and multisite specialist for Auxano. After serving in a pastoral capacity for 12 years, Bryan now enjoys meeting with church staff and lay leaders in helping them discover their ministry’s vision. His facilitation weaves together a strong strategic style with engaging creativity. Bryan and his wife Kelly live in Nashville with their two children.    We know firsthand how overwhelming receiving and casting a vision can be. As you listen you’ll hear five practical steps that you can walk through in creating a vision for your ministry. If you need help, reach out to Bryan at Auxano.com or email us at president@lifeway.com. You won't regret investing in your future!   Connect with the Glass House on Instagram HERE Please email us your questions and feedback to president@lifeway.com

Steve Cuss has become a favorite guest for us here at the Glass House.  We decided to share one of our favorite previous episodes with you today that features Steve and some excellent advice on how to manage change in your ministry. We also talk about managing our own anxiety as leaders and at the end of the episode, Steve gave Lynley some unforgettable advice tht we continue to think about and hear from you, our listeners about. Please email us and let us know your thoughts about this episode.  We love hearing from you. Steve’s book, Managing Leadership Anxiety is available HERE.  Connect with the Glass House on Instagram HERE Please email us your questions and feedback to president@lifeway.com

Forgiveness is something we never graduate from.  It’s an ongoing process of healing that God is working in our lives.  This week, we are sharing a sermon Ben preached at Forest Hills in the Nashville area about his journey with forgiveness.  We pray you’ll be challenged by this word & share it with someone who comes to mind as you listen.    Mentioned:  Total Forgiveness by RT Kendall Episode from the Glass House with RT Kendall is HERE.  Genesis 45- the story of Joseph   Connect with the Glass House on Instagram HERE Please email us your questions and feedback to president@lifeway.com

One of our favorite things, on the Glass House team, is to hear from you.  Today, we’re asking our friend and biblical counselor, Adam Mason to help us answer.  We talk about everything from “what’s your favorite game?” to the responsibilities of the pastor’s wife. We discuss how to get along with other staff members and what to do when you think it’s time to leave your church.  Thanks for listening and remember to share this episode with a friend.  Connect with the Glass House on Instagram HERE Please email us your questions and feedback to president@lifeway.com

The SBC 2023 wrapped just a couple of weeks ago, and one of the highlights for Team Lifeway is always the special breakfast we host for those attending the SBC.  This year, Ben and Lynley invited Phil and Jennifer Rothschild to be their special guest to discuss the importance of making peace with our inner critic.  If this is the first time you’ve listened to The Glass House, make sure you are following the podcast on any platform where you’re listening, so you don’t miss a single episode.    Connect with the Glass House on Instagram HERE Please email us your questions and feedback to president@lifeway.com

Recently Lynley was a guest on the Ministry Wives Podcast with host Christine Hoover to discuss how she and Ben navigated their last transition in ministry.  When God calls us, it doesn’t always mean the transition will be smooth or easy.  Lynley shares with Christine about what went well, what didn’t, and how God’s hand was evident in the transition from being a lead pastor’s wife & children’s director at Storyline Church in Denver, Colorado to Nashville where Ben began to lead Lifeway as the president.   Mentioned in the show: Ministry Wives Podcast with Christine Hoover HERE North American Mission Board Church Planting SEND Network HERE The Glass House Episode 1 - The Glass House is Fragile HERE Strength to Strength by Arthur C. Brooks HERE Connect with the Glass House on Instagram HERE Please email us your questions and feedback to president@lifeway.com

Did you have a hero as a kid that always knew what to do under pressure?  Many of us struggle to know what to do and even struggle with anxiety and fear about big decisions at home and work.  Ben recently preached at Long Hollow Church, in the Nashville area and shared this message based on Jehoshaphat in the Old Testament in the book of II Chronicles.  We thought it was such a timely message for the Glass House listeners, as well.     Mentioned in the show: Montana by Keith Dunnavant HERE II Chronicles 20 HERE I Kings 18 HERE The Power Through Prayer by E.M. Bounds HERE Proverbs 3 HERE Choose Your Own Adventure Books HERE Isaiah 26:3 CSB HERE

Did you know that one of the most undervalued positions inside the church walls is the student pastor?  That was a big surprise to Lynley and I when we heard author Steve Cuss say this.  So we’ve invited Ben Trueblood, the Director of Student Ministry here at Lifeway, and Brian Preston who serves as the student minister at Battle Creek Church in Oklahoma to talk about what it’s like for today’s current student pastors on the front lines with students today. Connect with the Glass House on Instagram HERE.  Please email us your questions at president@lifeway.com

The Glass House can often be a fragile place to live, but when ministry couples experience trauma serving in ministry it becomes an extremely tender place to be.  Pastors and their wives often deal with families in their churches who are forced to face this tragedy, but what do they do when sudden loss by suicide touches their own family?Today Ben and Lynley invited Jason and Sarah Little to discuss the difficult topic of suicide. This is a very open and honest conversation that could be difficult for some to listen to.      Mentioned in the show: Surviving Suicide Loss: Making Your Way Beyond the Ruins book HERE GriefShare Program HERE Romans 8:1 HERE Galatians 6 HERE EMDR Therapy HERE Disappointment With God by Philip Yancey HERE Matthew 11:28 HERE Connect with the Glass House on Instagram HERE.  Please email us your questions at president@lifeway.com

So many of you have requested this topic, so today Lynley and I are joined by Lange and Jamie Patrick who are sharing their story in ministry- with fostering and adoption, after having biological children.  So many ministry couples find themselves in different places when God speaks to them about expanding their family through foster and adoption.  The Patricks’ story will inspire you, as well as lend some valuable insight on how to tackle this inside The Glass House.     Mentioned in the show: The Body Keeps The Score book HERE Reach out to the Patricks at hello@teampatrick.co

Pastors are getting older and young adults are drifting away from the vocation of pastoral ministry. These facts have important implications for the future of the church. That’s why we invited Shane Pruitt onto the show today to discuss his newest book,  Calling Out the Called: Discipling Those Called to Ministry Leadership. It makes us wonder about the future church leaders and their places in the church now- just waiting for encouragement ro step into their calling.  Shane is such a positive and hopeful voice on this topic and Lynley and I were happy to get the opportunity to have this conversation with him    Mentioned in this episode: Calling Out the Called by Shane Pruitt and Scott Pace   Connect with the Glass House on Instagram HERE.  Please email us your questions at president@lifeway.com

Over the years, we’ve been give a lot of advice.  One of our favorite things to do on the show is to ask our guests to share some of the best advice they’ve been given.  Today is the 3rd edition in this special series of episodes.  You may have missed some of these episodes of The Glass House, so we’ve linked them below to make it easy for you to listen.  Enjoy!   Listen to previous guest on The Glass House by clicking their name below: Mike Minter Toni and Carey Nieuwhof Kelly and Gregg Matte Nicole Zasowski Scott and Candiss Fortenberry RT Kendall Veronica and JD Greear Mark and Brenda Croston Jen Wilkin   Connect with the Glass House on Instagram HERE.  Please email us your questions at president@lifeway.com

Partnership between spouses in ministry can be a challenge, but it can also produce extremely fruitful rewards. Today, Ben and Lynley are sharing some of their most vulnerable stories of partnership fails and wins.    Mentioned in this episode:   What if It’s Wonderful by Nicole Zasowski One Man Band by Old Dominion   Connect with the Glass House on Instagram HERE.  Please email us your questions at president@lifeway.com

Today on The Glass House, we are welcoming our friend, former pastor and new author, Mike Minter.  Mike pastored one single church for 48 years in the Washington, D.C. area.  We’ve had many requests from pastors and ministry leaders about doing an episode on how you can know when it is time to quit or move on to a new church.  Answering the question about when the assignment is finished is so hard.  Mike is sharing wisdom on this topic from his new book, Stay The Course.     We’d love to hear your feedback at President@lifeway.com   Mentioned in the show: Stay The Course book HERE   Connect with the Glass House on Instagram HERE.

Today on The Glass House, we are welcoming Mark and Brenda Croston to the show.  Mark serves at Lifeway as the Director for Black Church Ministries, and Brenda is the founder of Simple Truth Ministries, as well as an author, speaker and trainer for Lifeway.  When Mark was pastoring, his first wife died of cancer.  He and Brenda are sharing their story today of how they both experienced deep grief and loss, what it was like for God to bring them together and how that impacted their church.   We’d love to hear your feedback at President@lifeway.com   Mentioned in the show: Connect with the Glass House on Instagram HERE.