Divine Guidance Through Community (Part 2)

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 3:38 pm By Guest Contributor

Part 10 of series: How Does God Guide Us? In my last post, I began to explain how God guides us through Christian community. This sort of discernment happens especially in the context of intimate relationships: small groups, prayer partnerships, or spiritual direction relationships. For example, several years ago, my wife and I were going through a difficult time in our marriage. Linda was pretty unhappy with our relationship. I, on the contrary, was fairly satisfied with how things were... Read more

Sunset at Laity Lodge

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 3:38 pm By Guest Contributor

I thought you’d enjoy this photo of a recent sunset at Laity Lodge. It was taken by my son, Nathan, from a ridge above the Lodge itself. Click on the photo for a larger version. Read more

Divine Guidance Through Community

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 3:38 pm By Guest Contributor

Part 9 of series: How Does God Guide Us? Today, I’m getting back to my series: How Does God Guide Us? You can find the first eight parts of this series here. So far I’ve shown that the Spirit of God guides us through circumstances and Scripture. But, as I have admitted, both circumstances and Scripture can be variously interpreted, and we all have a tendency to shape our interpretations to fit our personal biases. If I really want something,... Read more

Technology and Culture: Could Smart Phones Make Keys Obsolete?

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 3:38 pm By Guest Contributor

Could smart phones make keys obsolete? Yes, say Matt Richtel and Verne Kopytoff of the New York Times. In their recent article, “Tools of Entry, No Need for a Key Chain,” the writers show how technology related to smart phones is beginning to take away the need for keys. And not just keys. Before too long, you may be unlocking your car with your phone, not that keyless entry device that hangs on your keychain. In fact, on freezing cold... Read more

Praying for Political Leaders from “The Other Side”

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 3:38 pm By Guest Contributor

Praying for Political Leaders from “The Other Side” 1 Timothy 2:1-4 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. 1 Timothy 2:2 Yesterday, I offered a reflection in light of the celebration of Independence Day in the United States. Focusing on a passage from 1 Timothy, I encouraged us to pray for our leaders, and then offered a prayer for my leaders. Today’s... Read more

A Prayerful Reflection for the Fourth of July

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 3:38 pm By Guest Contributor

A Prayerful Reflection for the Fourth of July 1 Timothy 2:1-4 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. 1 Timothy 2:2 Today is Independence Day in the United States, a day of patriotic celebrations for citizens in my country. I thought it would be appropriate for me to offer a reflection that is appropriate for this day, even though quite a few... Read more

Sunday Inspiration from The High Calling: How Will the World Know God is Great?

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 3:38 pm By Guest Contributor

How Will The World Know God is Great? Psalm 70:1-5 But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, “God is great!” Psalm 70:4 Psalm 70 calls those of us who have been saved by God’s grace to worship God by shouting repeatedly “God is great!” David envisions the people of God gathered together, in which they celebrate the goodness and power of God. We experience... Read more

What Does Success Mean for a Worship Leader?

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 3:38 pm By Guest Contributor

Yesterday, I considered what successful worship might be. Today I want to build on that foundation by offer some suggestions about what it might mean for a worship leader to be successful. Let me start with something obvious but essential: Successful worship leadership facilitates successful worship. If you are a worship leader, you have led well if those who have followed your leadership have offered themselves to God genuinely. Notice what successful worship leadership is not? It’s not creating an... Read more

Mother Teresa CEO: “Pay Attention to the Janitor”

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 3:38 pm By Guest Contributor

As a participant in the Patheos Book Club, I recently read Mother Teresa, CEO: Unexpected Principles for Practical Leadership by Ruma Bose and Lou Faust. This book focuses on eight basic leadership principles derived from Mother Teresa’s work with the Missionaries of Charity, an organization that focuses on caring for the poorest of the poor. The authors, Bose and Faust, believe that these principles can be employed by leaders in a wide variety of settings, to great effect. (Bose knew... Read more

Successful Worship?

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 3:38 pm By Guest Contributor

For many years, I have been on the editorial board of Worship Leader magazine. I also write regular column for the magazine entitled Lyrical Poetry. In this column, I take one jewel from the treasure chest of the Psalms and consider its relevance for worship and worship leaders. (By “worship leader,” I am thinking about anyone who helps in leading corporate worship, including: choir directors, band leaders, organists, guitar players, preachers, lay liturgists, etc.) In an upcoming issue of Worship... Read more