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How will you live?
When you look back at the end of your life, will you have lots of plans or with lots of memories? When you look back when it’s time to move on from your current job, will your thoughts be filled with ideas or with stories?
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Seminary and relational “in-between-ness” (spending time on what really matters)
Seminary can be an amazing time. You’re preparing for ministry. And for one of the only times in life, you’re surrounded by people who believe something similar and are pursuing a similar calling. They may have different backgrounds. They may be diverse. But they have a similar passion. They’re preparing for a similar thing. That’s…
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Slowing down for a while
I’ve been trying to post on a more regular basis around here, but I want to warn you – it’s going to be a little slower over the next few weeks. We’re into the final two weeks of the quarter at Fuller. And that, along with some big events coming up with small groups, is…
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I’d prefer “Purpose-Driven Scrabble”
Don’t know what to get that special someone? What about this?? I didn’t believe it was real, but yes, oh yes, it is. From the product description: “Your Best Life Now by Joel Osteen has sold over 3 million copies and has been on the New York Times and Publisher’s Weekly Best Seller list for…
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A little giddy
I registered for summer classes today, and aside from the event being a major drain on the bank account, I’m excited about the courses. Here’s why: I have high expectations for this class. It’s taught by Alan Hirsch (and … it appears … Eddie Gibbs). I honestly get excited whenever I read anything by these…
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Sharing God’s love when it isn’t easy
It’s so easy to be spoiled and satisfied, isn’t it? I just received an update from some wonderful men and women who are serving God in a very tough country. It’s slow going. It’s not easy work, and it’s not safe. But through their work serving the people (working to build schools, open medical clinics,…
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Be thankful – here and now
There’s always a struggle to not let things you “get to” do become things you “have to” do. God’s used some recent events and conversations to remind me how thankful I am for the place God has put Grete and I and the opportunities and relationships he’s growing around us. For me, it’s easy to…
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Tips for leading group discussions
For some people, leading a group discussion-based Bible study is simple. It just seems obvious. But others want – and need – a little more structure. As we’re working to share leadership in our small group, I’m learning that not everyone’s comfortable with just diving off the deep end without a few quick lessons. So…
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Courage and humility
Wise action often comes down to a balance between courage and humility. We need courage to act – to move forward when God calls and when things need to happen. We need humility to listen and adjust along the way. It involves a healthy tension. In preaching or teaching, it means sharing a strong message,…
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Untested ideas
Sometimes I run into a challenge with blogging. I care deeply about how we as a church and as individuals can spread God’s message and serve the world. I feel called to work within the local church – and it’s something I’m doing right now. But I also feel called to church planting. I’m not…
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Worth reading: Goodmanson, Godin, and Groeschel
+ Drew Goodmanson hits the ball out of the park on two recent posts. He writes here about seeing the church functioning in three dimensions (similar to these). We need to gather corporately, as smaller groups relationally, and as people who are sent – on mission. He adds an interesting plug for the value of…
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Say “no” to conferences
Conferences provide a lot of information with little context. Jordan Fowler has an excellent take on how to really learn over at Worship Trench: There is a better way to learn that is customized to your context … watch-and-ask-over-dinner learning. If you go to a big conference, you are getting good stuff in a shotgun…
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More on “cool”
After writing yesterday about the lure of “cool,” I received an article in my in-box from Catalyst that talks about the same thing. (I, of course, added the bold words for the ADD folks) But here’s a secret I’ve discovered: life is bigger and sweeter than whatever cool has to offer. I once thought cynicism…
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A message within a context
There’s a lot of (legitimate and needed) conversation about how church should be “native” to its culture. We have many different types of cultures even within America, and one of the pastor/church planter/leadership team’s jobs should be to seek and pray about how the Kingdom of God can be expressed within that culture. But a…
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Relief from the heat
So the downside of sunny weather is a bit of heat. And when you don’t have central air (or really any air besides a unit in the living room), that heat can be a little uncomfortable. So yesterday we welcomed a new member of the family. To the left, you’ll see R2D2 the portable air…
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Jon Sampson 