Regardless of your life stage, summer offers a change of pace. For the last several years I've started the summer off with a vacation. Each year I've visited my parents in Florida and have used some of this time away to reconnect with friends. This year my time in Florida included helping my parents shop for some new furniture for their condo, enjoying a number of meals out with family and friends, visiting the beach, and attending worship in a congregation I previously served. It also Read More …
focus
Star Word for 2023 (#2025)
I've resisted engaging in the growing practice of "star words" for long enough. For the first time ever, I've received a star word for 2023: clarity. Clarity Clarity is a word that resonates deeply with me. I trust that my life will be better because of the time I'll devote to achieving greater clarity in 2023. Transition The years 2021 and 2022 were marked by transitions, including new professional roles for my partner (2022) and myself (2021)new home (2022) and renewed Read More …
Keep It Simple (#1952)
Passage for reflection: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 I recently listened as a salesperson spoke eloquently and with great passion. His presentation was polished and perspicacious; his approach was problematic and pretentious. The message he was delivering was likely factually correct, but it was unhelpful. Rather than learning about my needs and tailoring a presentation to address them, he was more concerned with impressing me with his vast product knowledge and sticking to a predetermined Read More …
Is It Time To Stop? (#1020)
Maurilio Amorim is CEO of The A Group, a media, technology and branding firm in Brentwood, TN that consults with some of the country’s largest ministries, leading churches, and Christian publishers. Recently he blogged about his response to an unexpected question. When asked to write down his favorite quote, he shared the following: Every leader must learn that just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should. So What? In the post, Amorim provided a few examples of Read More …
Refocusing (#0661)
Staying focused is an ongoing challenge. There is so much one can do that it is easy to lose sight of what one is called to do. The urgent can override the important and the exciting can trump the routine. So What? Living a focused life requires intentional periods of refocusing. How do you refocus? When? What role does Sabbath play? Do you know yourself and your identity well enough to know when you are living an out of focus life? Do you have others in your life Read More …
In 5 Words or Less (#0502)
Jonah preached what is arguably the shortest sermon in the Bible (Jonah 3:4): just 8 words in the NRSV: Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown! just 7 words in the Message: In forty days Nineveh will be smashed just 5 words in the original language (Hebrew) So What? One need not be long-winded to be effective. The results of Jonah's five word sermon were nothing short of amazing. In our sound bite culture where big ideas are often conveyed or Read More …