I’ve attended over a hundred churches. Most were visits while searching for “home.” Some were on trips spanning a weekend. And a few were simply to see what goes on in there. Of the “home” churches, there were Christian Reformed, Brethren, Baptist, nondenominational, and Evangelical Free. The circle of “visited” churches stretches to include Anglican, […]
Setting examples
I work with two men who are weeks from turning eighty. They travel the world, zealous for a cause, influencing millions. Both are humble, friendly, sincere, and generous. They live in the present, tell the truth, love their enemies, and view challenges as opportunities. Both attended Moody Bible Institute back in the day, follow Jesus Christ […]
Invasive technology vs. humans
Many of the recent classics feature invasive technology. 1984, Fahrenheit 451, and The Giver come to mind. The speaker on the wall, the camera in the room, the eye in the sky, always watching. Today, we live with all of these things. We’re living the classics. The only difference is who’s watching, and why. In the right […]
Taking root and bearing fruit.
People leave. They leave marriages, families, churches, communities, and companies. Leaving can be innate, as when birds leave nests. It can be natural, as in leaving town for a new job elsewhere. It can even be necessary. Dangers, deprivations, and emergencies insist. But just as often, leaving reveals brokenness. Something isn’t working, so we leave. […]
Seven signs of a productive meeting.
Meetings will make or break your project. Don’t hesitate to shake up or decommission teams that aren’t working out. Here are seven ideals to shoot for. 1. The only people in the room are stakeholders and gatekeepers. They care about the outcome. 2. Everyone knows why they’re in the room. They also know what’s being […]