Kel and I love our home church. For the past 11 years we’ve been fortunate to attend Nappanee Missionary Church where Dave Engbrecht serves as the senior pastor. Since Kel and I have focused a lot of our work and writing on missions and global youth, NMC’s missional emphasis resonates with us. Recently Dave spoke on courage (from Joshua 1) and I thought it was full of helpful concepts.
He said that we develop confidence in our life from (at least) three sources: read more…
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I’ve always watched leaders in action. I am drawn to those who can take adverse circumstances, rally dissonant voices/people together, and foster a general consensus to lead forward. Most leaders have strong drive, intense focus, and work extra hard to accomplish tasks.
I remember watching Ronald Reagan during my teenage years and I was always fascinated that he spent much of his downtime on his ranch … clearing brush. Why would the most powerful person in the world choose to do one of more mundane tasks over and over? And on purpose?
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I am fairly apolitical, which frustrates the people around me who care deeply about their particular party. So, I know I’m wandering into dangerous waters here for those passionate about politics. My issue is that I am drawn/convinced about some principles and, when I look up, they don’t align neatly with our current political divisions in America. Then I become curious as to how the shouting back and forth of “conservative” or “liberal” helps us move forward with some very complex problems facing our country and world.
In fact, as I look back over the two administrations (from very different parties), they don’t look very different to me. They both spent us into a large debt on programs, wars, and agendas that mattered to them and ended their term with a broken trust with the American people. Both at a time where either President could have earned significant trust with the people and left a legacy.
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Courtesty of @istockphoto/@pastie
I remember the first time I ever preached a sermon in a church. I kid you not, as I walked up the steps of the platform, a series of hidden emotions surprised me. Scenes like memories from church history flooded my mind as I neared the podium. I thought of Matthew 16 when Jesus declared to Peter and the others the authoritative and missional role his Church would have in the world. I thought of John Wesley and the circuit riders who worked so diligently and faithfully to plant churches throughout my country. And I thought of my dad, a pastor who I watched minister faithfully and effectively for years in his local communities. I knew that I was participating in a rich tradition … and taking on a great responsibility. And I wanted to do my best with that opportunity.
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I suppose it’s tradition to assess life at each turn of the annual calendar. I don’t usually make resolutions of significance at New Year’s Eve – well at least any more than my weekly “this week I’m going to get better at….” promises. I’ve done well at the common ones: More exercise (thank you CrossFit!) and eating healthier. However, I have felt challenged to solidify some foundational activities in my life for this new year.
Inspired by the movie, “EAT PRAY LOVE”, I asked myself what three actions I wish to develop more in 2012 and I came up with Pray. Listen. Read.
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I recently had Intelligentsia coffee (our favorite at the Linhart house) at Quincy’s with Adam McLane, self-described “wearer of many hats” but most noted recently for his work with Youth Specialties and now with the Youth Cartel and McLane Creative. I shared with Adam some observations from a recent leadership process where the group I was helping couldn’t make a decision that was different from how they’d always done things before. The boundaries were the same as when we started the process and the categories were static as well.
We chuckled about those ‘other’ people out there who can’t change. Hmmm. Ha. Heh heh.
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The recent attention given to intergenerational ministry, Orange, Sticky Faith, and family-based youth ministry has prompted me to look at what we do in ministry through a new lens. If you stop to examine how often we youth and children’s workers work (often unaware we’re doing so) to become surrogate authorities/parents to children & teens, you’ll be surprised at what you may discover. I recently talked with parents of a teen who had scheduled a special family celebration for him and his grandparents on the same night as his youth ministry’s small group. When the teen texted his small group leader, the response was emotionally charged and questioned the boy’s ‘commitment’ level. Commitment to what? (small group) Over what? (parents and grandparents) And who will be committed to this boy four years later?
So, I’ve been looking at common practices in a new light. I wonder if we trust parents and families. I wonder if we want families to be a primary source of faith development (see Deuteronomy 6 for more on that, though). Not sure I have it all figured out yet, but I’ve run across some cool ideas like this one:
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