There is a movement arising and gaining momentum that is without precedent in human history, a movement grounded in hope. I believe we are graced with the opportunity and challenge to live the most significant and meaningful lives ever lived…
Read MoreGiving Up on Finding Christian Community?
In a culture where individuality, self-reliance, and self-confidence are so prized and where disillusionment with the Bible or established religion have pushed so many out on their own, a special word about our need for one another and Christian community…
Read MoreCreating Something Beautiful for God
Mother Teresa of Calcutta once noted that the aim of her often messy and challenging work with dying and forgotten persons was simply to do “something beautiful for God.” Today, in the midst of the ever-changing demands of twenty-first-century ministry,…
Read MoreThe Impossible Task of Ministry
As all leaders of Christian congregations understand, when we speak of the cross we are talking about more than the crucifixion on Good Friday. Speaking of the cross is really shorthand for the whole drama of salvation. The cross is…
Read MorePlease, Not Another E-mail! Understanding the Hidden Costs of E-mail’s Demanding Nature
For the last several years I have been lamenting the fact that I seem to have less and less time for worship preparation, frequently finding myself finishing my sermon on Saturday instead of Friday. I had ruminated about the cause…
Read MoreCENTERview: Encountering God through a Shared Silence
Silence. In a noisy world, folks from various faith traditions are craving it. Groups from Bridgeway Community Church in Fishers, Indiana regularly take silent retreats at the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky, made famous by Thomas Merton. An adult Sunday…
Read MoreThe Voice of Silence: Creating Community through Silent Prayer
During a Developing Spiritual Communities class I was teaching at Episcopal Divinity School in Burlington, Vermont, my students and I were considering the role of silent prayer in worship when we became distracted by concerns over the noise of children…
Read MoreEntering the Blogosphere: One Church's Journey from "Heaven Forbid!" to "Why Not?"
Back in 2003, I attended a big convention focused on issues in the emerging church. To my dismay, the first question many people asked after “Where are you from?” was “Do you blog?” I didn’t, and to be honest I…
Read MoreUnburdening Ourselves: E-Mail Management Tips from the Experts
The need to manage our e-mail has spurred a number of authors to write entire books on the subject. If books aren’t enough, e-mail management experts are available to offer further training through their seminar programs and consulting services. And…
Read MoreEntering the Blogosphere: One Church’s Journey from “Heaven Forbid!” to “Why Not?”
Back in 2003, I attended a big convention focused on issues in the emerging church. To my dismay, the first question many people asked after “Where are you from?” was “Do you blog?” I didn’t, and to be honest I…
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