It can be very hard in the world of instantly expected results to understand that spiritual formation always takes longer than we thought it would?in our own lives, in the lives of those we care about, in our faith communities. Below are a couple excerpts from Jean Grou?on this theme: See by what a series […]
Leading Like Jesus
In this season of reflection and writing, I?ve been focusing a lot on Jesus. I wonder about how He led. Did he do it like a modern C.E.O.? I also think about the structures of His community. Were they mostly organizational structures or organism structures? Business or community? What kind of structure best supports the […]
First, Second or Third Hand Experience?
It has been almost 30?years since my theology professor at Simpson College started each class reading from a little book by Helmut Thielicke, A Little Exercise for Young Theologians. I few years ago I?re-read it and remembered why I liked it back then. At one point, he is talking about the problem of a ?merely […]
The Leadership Practice of Embracing Weakness
Recently, the Lord led me to journal my life in the spirit of how Paul was describing his life in chapters 11 and 12 of 2 Corinthians. What follows is my journal entry humbly shared to encourage you in your journey. A suggested spiritual exercise is given at the end. Lord, I feel led to […]
Practicing God?s Presence at Work
I?ve often shared insights from Baron Friedrich von H?gel, a spiritual director from last century. I’ve so appreciated his writings. (Eugene Peterson calls him one of his key literary spiritual directors, so I feel in very good company). In the collection of spiritual letters to his niece, von H?gel answers her complaint about being overwhelmed […]
Leadership Practices: Answering Negative Thoughts
I have shared before that there is a cluster of negative thoughts that feel like constant and irritating adversaries. I?ve elsewhere called them the four horsemen: anxiety, fear, self-doubt and insecurity. In my less awake moments, I see them like the ring wraiths riding those dark horses in Lord of the Rings. In my more […]
Not Enough Horsepower?
?His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the speed of a?runner; ?but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love (Ps 147:10-11 NRSV).? The Lord is not watching for how much horsepower I produce or how fast I can […]
