Category: Uncategorized
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Reinventing the Wheel
We spend a lot of time, energy, and resources “reinventing the wheel.” I see it most often in disaster recovery. Each community affected by a new disaster has to figure out how to navigate their recovery, starting from scratch. “Reinventing the wheel” is also a common occurrence in ministry, business, leadership, and even raising a…
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New Book Coming Out Soon
After the explosion in 2013 I discovered that each time there is a disaster, the affected community has to “reinvent the wheel” and learn from scratch how to manage their recovery. I spent the next decade or so studying recovery and working with people who were leading through recovery. I wrote “the book”Anchor Point” in…
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How Should I Give to Disaster Relief?
I often have people ask about which organizations they should send money to after a disaster. The best way to decide is to recognize that there are 2 main phases of recovery: short-term disaster relief, and long-term disaster recovery. The best way to give is to support both of those phases. First, give to immediate…
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Church Growth or Church Health?
Is the church an organization or is it an organism? How we answer that question determines how we view “success” in the church. If it is only an organization, numerical growth is a valid expectation and means of evaluation. If, however, the church is a living organism, growth is not nearly as important as health.…
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Old Testament Summary
Reading the Old Testament can be challenging sometimes, because it is not always chronological and it contains a variety of genres. That can make it difficult at times to understand the context or the purpose of a particular passage. A few years ago a teenager who was leading a Bible study during lunch at his…
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“Ain’t Nothing As Over As Christmas”
The holiday has passed. The festivities have ended. Wrapping paper which once hid wonderful mysteries and adorned thoughtful gifts now clutters a cold floor. The stockings that were hung by the chimney with care now lay empty and forgotten on the hearth. The guest room is empty once again. The house is strangely quiet and…
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Thanksgiving: Motivations and Methods
Psalm 100:1-5 (English Standard Version) 1 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! 2 Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! 3 Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.…
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If
I recently came across an old note written in my grandmother’s hand. The words on that old, yellowed sheet of paper reveal a timeless wisdom: If you want to dodge wrong, do right.If you want to jump high, don’t live low.If you want the world right, start with yourself.If you must publish someone’s faults, publish…
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Our Place
The instruments are quiet.The final notes have faded.The last amen no longer echoes.The room changes when the people are gone.It’s just You and me at Your house. The emptiness of pews and aisles make You seem even closer.In the stillness I sense You moving.In the silence I hear You speak.Thank You for meeting me here
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Plumb Lines for Ministry
(Except for some minor revisions, this article first appeared in Common Call Magazine, published by the Baptist Standard.) When Six Flags Over Texas started its second season in 1962, one of the most popular attractions was “Casa Magnetica,” also known as “The Crooked House.” It was so popular, it remained active longer than most attractions…