In the last four verses of Psalm 85, we read: Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven. The Lord will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest. Righteousness goes before the Lord and prepares the way for God’s...
You’ve snapped it onto a clipboard and passed it around at your church board meeting, or your youth committee meeting, or your congregational gathering, at least three times … and it’s still empty. (Or, the few folks who signed up did so out of what...
By now you may have seen the ill-fated Apple ad that accompanied the release of their new iPad. Entitled “Crush,” it showed artistic tools – musical instruments, paint and canvas, and all manner of whimsical creativity – literally being crushed into the “thinnest iPad yet.” ...
32 Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. 33 With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,...
In the last two weeks we have been exploring a conversation triangle – one way of visualizing where church board discussions get stuck and how they can be helped to move deeper. Every group conversation has at least at three points: content, individual experience, and...
Last week, we shared a conversation triangle, a diagram that can help you analyze where your church board meetings get ‘stuck’ and improve the flow of discussion in future meetings. At their best, church board meetings move dynamically among the three points that form this triangle:...
This happens in church board meetings. A discussion is going well, with many contributions, and then one member speaks up, powerfully and at length, about how the issue has impacted them personally. It touches on their grief, fear, pain – something deep and very difficult. ...
Quick survey: what in your life is mostly the same as it was, say, 10 years ago? Hopefully, relationships have endured and grown, along with other values, convictions, and callings you deem essential. But what about other, less crucial things? Do you have the same...
Ah, the Oscars. Viewers of this year’s award ceremony were treated to a naked man presenting the Best Costume award, a seemingly confused Al Pacino announcing the Best Picture winner, a five-star tribute to Barbie’s Ken … and a botched In Memoriam. Every Academy award...