With every question that’s not a question, the defensiveness escalates and in the blink of an eye, the damage is done.
Reflection Roundup: Pandemic Realities
Scott Sauls writes, “Christians possess resources in Christ to pursue harmony between individuals and groups who could not possibly come together, let alone love one another, outside of Christ.”
Good Vibes
At my workplace, we have a jar with the phrase “good vibes” emblazoned on the side. Next to the jar are colorful strips of paper and a pen.
Needing the Eyes of Elisha
We must do a better job of learning to see how God is at work. We aren’t called upon to wage war in the way of the world. It’s not all up to us. We don’t need to fight fire with fire.
Reflection Roundup: Cultural Reflections
In order to imagine ourselves in difference-making positions, we all need models in place, models who look like we do and who don’t all look like each other.
Developing Resilience
Of all the challenges and crises that exist in congregations today, the one that I want to name here resides with leaders themselves.
Integrity Is Integral … and Gritty (Part 2)
Integrity is gritty – it is hard, it takes effort, it’s often a chore. And integrity is a never-ending process: it takes a lifetime to build, yet mere moments to destroy.
Reflection Roundup: Painfully Simple
God desires to be found, to be known. Though God is not far from us, God doesn’t make God’s will difficult to discern; we do.
None of Self
I revisited this old hymn and was floored by the lyrics as they described a spiritual journey we all must travel if we desire to be in relationship with God.
Unleash the Awesome
I’ve promoted myself from the communication evangelist to the unleasher of the awesome. The promotion is well deserved, not because of my awesomeness, but because of yours.
Reflection Roundup: Hospitality
Radical hospitality calls us to ask ourselves what amount of our own preference might we be willing to sacrifice to create space for the perceived need of another.
Did God Give Me COVID?
For the great dis-ease among us and in us may not be the pestilence itself, but the way we react to, ignore, and weaponize the suffering of others.
Five Questions With Stacey Losher
Many children’s ministers are working alone, and this space is designed to give support, encouragement and spark new ideas!
Reflection Roundup: Prolegomena
Does a reluctance to ask for help translate to a theology of prayer? It may. This week, 10 other “first things” take the place of the pride that binds.
What Dying People Want – and Need – to Talk About
I spend a lot of time in hospitals, hospice, and living rooms talking with people about dying. I have noticed that often they worry about things of a spiritual nature.
Five Questions With Austin Wright and Shawn Johnson
Small churches must answer the question, “How can we, as a small church, be faithful to what God has called us to be faithful?”
Reflection Roundup: All Is Prayer
Unity with God means moving through the world in constant communion: every bit of news, each conversation, every gaze met, offered up in prayer.
Praying for People as a Leadership Practice
How much of our leadership practice is prayer – prayer for people who live in our neighborhoods and cities? What of our decision-making?
Integrity Is Integral (Part 1)
People want to follow leaders who present themselves as they truly are, not as they believe others want them to be.
Reflection Roundup: The Many Faces of Empathy
Friday is National Lemonade Day, so buy an extra cup and share it in Jesus’s name, confident that it makes a difference for eternity.