by Amanda Box In a recent Bible class, the discussion included reflection on how to handle situations in which we disagree with behaviors that don’t align with Christian values. It’s quite the dilemma, and I appreciate the struggle. We want to show Jesus to others in an authentic and effective way, but we haven’t […]
Archive for Listening
by Kerri Smilie It hit me at Panera. I was having lunch with one of our small group leaders, checking in on how things were going with the women in her group. “I love leading my group, and now that I’m a bit older than the girls, I feel even more confident. I mean, […]
Authors : Kerri Smilie
by Rachel Collins Every generation, it seems, feels the younger generation is [you fill in the blank.] Whiny? Annoying? Entitled? Clueless? The BBC put this article out several years ago that humorously cited this phenomenon dating back several generations. It’s easy to feel defensive when we hear their complaints. It sometimes feels like an […]
Authors : Rachel Collins
by Steven Carrizal The pastoral role of church leaders is a calling that puts us on holy ground as we are invited into a space of vulnerability. It is also a role for which it is easy to continually feel ill-equipped no matter how much training or experience a leader has in such situations. From […]
Authors : Steven Carrizal
by Jon Anderson One of my first clients, while doing my internship for my graduate degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, was a guy whose wife had left him for another man. His response was to spend every free moment from work, night and day, stalking her. This went on for several weeks so […]
Authors : Jon Anderson
by Jay Jarboe “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening” 1 Samuel 3:10 I am finishing the third sabbatical of my 44 years in ministry. I requested my first one in a previous ministry. I knew I was tired, doubted my purpose, and questioned my effectiveness in ministry. Those three months gave me time […]
Authors : Jay Jarboe
by Kaley Ihfe When my large family gathers at my parents’ house, we talk loudly, often interrupting one another. A few don’t insert themselves into the noise; instead, they wait until someone asks them about their lives. If we never ask, we never hear their perspectives or find out how they are doing. Within […]
Authors : Kaley Ihfe
by Amanda Box Church leaders have no small task in finding a way forward for our church families. There will always be intense controversies and difficult challenges on every front. That’s part of what it means to lead people who care deeply and who aren’t shy about saying so. In these moments, when leaders […]
Authors : Amanda Box
by Kaley Ihfe At this moment, trust between people feels fragile and sometimes impossible. We have information coming at us constantly that is meant to evoke outrage or fear – no matter what side of the political aisle we are on. It doesn’t take much for disagreement to turn into suspicion or for differences […]
Authors : Kaley Ihfe
by Jon Anderson Until we moved to another city a few years ago, my wife and I were part of a large church for over 25 years. For the last 14 of those years, I served as an elder. During that time, our church went through several critical seasons. Two of those seasons went […]
Authors : Jon Anderson
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