John Jensen blogs about a number of topics and relates each of them to "what Jesus has to do with it all." Recently, he wrote a post titled "Ten Things I would say to the Church (if they listened to me)" featuring the following items: Love God, love one another, love your neighbor, everyone is your neighbor . . . What you do (orthopraxy) is as important, if not more important as what you believe (orthodoxy) . . . Stop trying to get the world to come into your church, and get your Read More …
Preferred Frequency for Communion / Lord’s Supper / Eucharist (#0436)
The Presbyterian Church USA recently shared the results of their research about the preferred frequency of the sacrament of Holy Communion, which suggests "most Presbyterians worship in congregations that celebrate the Lord’s Supper once a month, and most like that frequency." Additionally, the research shows: Three-quarters of members, elders, pastors and non-pastoral ministers are part of a congregation that celebrates the Lord’s Supper once a month. Seven in 10 Read More …
Review of Mysteries of the Jesus Prayer (#0435)
Meet the Author Norris J. Chumley, Ph.D. is a bestselling author, an Emmy-Award-winning executive producer/director, and professor. He serves as Executive Producer and Director of Media for the Columbia University Institute for Religion, Culture and Public Life and as Chairman of the Board of Manhattan Neighborhood Network, the nation’s original and largest public access television system. Chumley has created and produced hundreds of commercials, made-for-television Read More …
A Proposed Intergenerational Covenant (#0434)
The Reverend Dr. Frederick W. Schmidt, Jr is an Episcopal priest who serves as Director of Spiritual Formation and Associate Professor of Christian Spirituality at Southern Methodist University, Perkins School of Theology in Dallas, TX. Recently he wrote about the need for better intergenerational relations. Toward that end, he offers a proposed intergenerational covenant, which includes these words: For Older Generations You are old enough to be "stuck Read More …
Overcoming Deference (#0433)
Ron Ashkenas is a Senior Partner of Schaffer Consulting and an internationally recognized consultant who writes extensively on organizational change. His recent article, "The Dangers of Deference," published on the Harvard Business Review blog considers the prevalence of deference to authority within organizations. Recognizing "that managers at all levels need their people to add ideas, provide different perspectives, and challenge them" he offers the following suggestions Read More …
The First Rule of Social Media (#0432)
Michael Buckingham is the founder of Holy Cow Creative (a church creativity and design studio) and the creative director for the Center for Church Communication and Church Marketing Sucks. Last week he wrote about the importance and power of the question mark in social media. He writes: The very first rule of social media that I put in place with the churches I work with: There should be more question marks than periods on your page. Now of course this is a rule of Read More …
Consider a Workflow Audit (#0431)
Seth Godin is the author of twelve books that have been bestsellers around the world and changed the way people think about marketing, change, and work. He recently blogged: Go find a geek. Someone who understands gmail, Outlook, Excel and other basic tools. Pay her to sit next to you for an hour and watch you work. Then say, "tell me five ways I can save an hour a day." Whatever you need to pay for this service, it will pay for itself in a week. So What? Almost everyone wants to work Read More …
Signs You’re Failing (#0430)
Steve Ingold, High School Director at Cornerstone Fellowship in Livermore, CA, wrote a guest post on Josh Griffin's top-ranked youth ministry blog, More than Dodgeball, about signs that indicate a youth minister is missing the mark. Ingold's list of thirteen items includes: … if I put the ministry ahead of my relationship with God. … if I put the ministry ahead of my relationship with my wife and family. … if don’t invest in meaningful friendships outside of youth ministry Read More …
Free College Education? (#0429)
The cost of college education continues to rise faster than inflation and even faster than medical care. While many people are aware of the issue and a fair number have started conversations about reform, there has been very little experimentation with less costly models. One creative new model seeks to go beyond simply reducing tuition by eliminating it. The University of the People launched in 2009 as a one of a kind tuition-free online university. According to Kevin Read More …
Review of Erasing Hell (#0428)
Meet the Authors Francis Chan is a pastor, international speaker, and best-selling author. He founded Cornerstone Church in 1994 and served as its lead pastor until stepping down to focus on his writing and speaking. Chan currently serves at Cornerstone as a non-staff elder. In 2004, he launched Eternity Bible College. Chan is the author of several books including Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God (2008); Forgotten God: Reversing Our Read More …