listening


	Serving in Oneness: Post-Easter Thoughts on Christian Community Posted on April 2, 2013, 2:30 pm \| 3 comments Topics: Why Small Groups? Just before Jesus’ death he prayed, “that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” (John 17:21) Jesus knew that the gospel was going be spread through relationships. He also knew that it had to start with a loving community ... Read more »
	Faith and Fear Posted on October 31, 2012, 8:56 am Topics: Nurturing Faith The song “When I am Afraid I Will Trust in You” played softly in the background as we scrawled pictures of things that scare us (mostly monsters). Seven-year-old Justice was eager to talk about her picture—a scene from a movie she’d seen on TV. “The man was running to get these people,” she said, eyes wide, and voice getting louder with each word. Read more »
	Lies and Listening Posted on August 6, 2012, 10:50 pm Topics: Congregation, Roles Tonight one of my friends asked me how I was doing. I replied "good" in an optimistic voice and continued on with what I was doing. Another friend walking behind me replied, "you know, it's okay if you aren't good". I paused and had to acknowledge that she was right. I had given a programmed response. Are you as quick to lie and prevent authentic conversation? Read more »
	Summertime Reflection Posted on July 23, 2012, 1:06 am Topics: Spiritual Health It's summertime! As this is often a "slower" time in ministry, it becomes a great time to reflect on the past year and look forward to the year ahead! Read more »
	Living As A Follower Of God Posted on June 18, 2012, 10:05 am Topics: Nurturing Faith Living out our Christian faith in the world still isn’t easy. We are left wondering if our response to culture, our job, or our family is appropriate as a follower of Christ. It is easy for us to let our kids and teens think that we have it all together, with lists of things to do and with quick answers to complex questions but lives are much more complicated than that. Read more »
	Truth And Reconciliation Posted on April 17, 2012, 2:46 am \| 2 comments Topics: Community As the church we have the responsibility to act justly - yet we often shy away from complex justice issues. In Canada, a new initiative is seeking truth and reconciliation for those Aboriginal persons and communities that have been affected by attending residential schools. How should we respond as individuals, churches and a denomination? Read more »
	Giving Space For God's Voice Posted on November 29, 2011, 3:11 am \| 1 comment Topics: Roles, Spiritual Health If God is present in each conversation we are having, can we allow his voice to be heard? Or are we too busy inputting our own opinions and advice to actually allow the Spirit to speak. What might happen if we became people who actually let God say what needs to be said...? Read more »
	Do You Ask Good Questions? Posted on November 28, 2011, 11:13 am Topics: Leadership Development, Small Group Leaders Asking good questions is almost an art form in my opinion. I'm talking about well-phrased, intentional, smart questions that open people up to get to the heart of the matter. Smart, well-placed questions can take your small group to a whole new level of sharing and growth. Read more »
	Can I Get Your Attention? Posted on September 5, 2011, 8:19 pm Topics: Teaching I think the first time I saw one of them was in front of the Dominos Pizza. But now I see them all around – people standing just off the street holding signs for businesses. Once I even saw one dressed like the Statue of Liberty. The world is getting so noisy that we need to have people standing by the street to get our attention – it’s the only thing that Read more »
	Processing the Short Term Experience Posted on July 11, 2011, 8:56 am Topics: Short-term mission Coming home from a STM trip can be an exhilarating and scary thing. It is exciting to come home and tell stories and show pictures. Often we have a new purpose in life. But it can be a scary, depressing time as well.I want to give you an idea of what to expect when your STM trip participant comes home... Read more »
	Pastoral Care, Homosexuality and the Elder Posted on June 27, 2011, 2:35 pm \| 7 comments Topics: Pastoral Care The elders care within the congregation is first and foremost the practice of being the presence of Christ. As representatives of Christ every strategy begins with an attitude that says “I am with you and for you.” This attitude is present long before any conversation takes place. There are at least two elements: unconditional love and Read more »
	Good Listening Posted on May 30, 2011, 12:30 pm Topics: Spiritual Formation Perhaps one of the hardest activities of all is listening well. Miroslav Volf in his book Allah: A Christian Response writes that in every conversation of two people there are seven present. Me and You. My image of you and your image of me. My image of myself and your image of yourself. The seventh is God. Read more »
	Persuasive Listening Posted on April 18, 2011, 9:46 am Topics: Deacons What would make a “persuasive listener”? Well, obviously it’s someone who has already listened well to God’s leading and is listening from within God’s presence. Listening from within God’s presence would attune me to the Spirit’s leading and discerning. Read more »
	A Listening Malfunction Posted on February 7, 2011, 3:49 pm \| 1 comment Topics: Community Within minutes my guts started to knot up as he discounted what others were saying in order to push his ideas on the group. Leaders need to listen – nowhere more than in the Church Read more »
	Listening Posted on December 14, 2010, 3:29 pm \| 1 comment Topics: Leadership Thinking before you speak is harder than it appears. Conversation is by nature reflexive: you speak and I reply. It is dialogue. But how is it possible that as soon as you finish speaking, I can begin replying... Read more »