Church leadership bedrocks Are we leading out of expectations or principles? by N. Graham Standish I’ve been working with a pastor for a number of years, helping him invigorate a somewhat stagnant church. We’ve talked about a lot in the process, and the results of our conversations are showing signs of breathing new… Read more »
November 16, 2018
Hopeful Church
Church leadership bedrocks Are we leading out of expectations or principles? by N. Graham Standish I’ve been working with a pastor for a number of years, helping him invigorate a somewhat stagnant church. We’ve talked about a lot in the process, and the results of our conversations are showing signs of breathing new… Read more »
From sacrifice to equity A Revised Common Lectionary resource for November 11 by Magdalena I. García ‘Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! They devour widows’… 
What Do I Know Of Joy Four Reflections by Ken Rummer What do I know of joy? I know the feeling of walking out of the doctor’s office, fearing the worst but finding out it’s not that but something much less scary, something treatable, not life-threatening, and the doctor says, “Go. Live.” and the… 
No substitute for love A Revised Common Lectionary resource for November 4 by Magdalena I. García Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that ‘he is one, and besides him there is no other’; and ‘to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and… 
Take heart A Revised Common Lectionary resource for October 28 by Magdalena I. García Jesus stood still and said, ‘Call him here.’ And they called the blind man, saying to him, ‘Take heart; get up, he is calling you.’ – Mark 10:49 Read the full lectionary passage here A blind beggar sitting by the roadside… 
A gospel of surrender A Revised Common Lectionary resource for October 21 by Magdalena I. García ‘For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.’ – Mark 10:45 Read the full lectionary passage here When we step on colleagues to climb up… 
Psalms: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Experiencing all of the emotions By Rebecca Lister A friends and I have been meeting regularly to pray, share, laugh and read. We decided to try reading the Psalms together, underlining certain verses or phrases that reach out to us, wondering at their sheer beauty and… 
Is Our Leadership Stuck on Chapter 5? … or are we stuck writing the same church story? By Graham Standish How are you at writing gripping stories? Are you like me? Do you get author envy when you read great stories? While reading certain authors such as C.S. Lewis,J.R.R. Tolkien and J. K. Rowling I’ve… 
Presented To A girl and a Bible By Ken Rummer “Did you write this?” I glanced at the page. Squarish letters in black ink with variable width strokes. Just the kind I used to make with a chisel-end pen. Just the kind I inscribed on numerous baptismal certificates and wedding records over the years…. 
The Trail An Invitation by Ken Rummer There’s a trail I’d like to show you, the one that passes behind our place. It was part of the appeal of the property for me. For some reason, “By the High Trestle Trail” seemed like an address of some distinction. Now I get to live here….