Category Archives: Uncategorized

Another Kind of Cabbage

When I was in seminary I completed a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) in a hospital setting one summer.  My particular assignment was on a heart specialty floor where I related to patients and families identified as CABG recipients.  In the vernacular of the medical profession CABG (pronounced “cabbage” – though it has nothing to do with a vegetable) stands for Coronary Artery By-pass Graft.  In other words these folks (the cabbage patients) were having heart by-pass surgery. They were on that floor due to heart trouble.

In John 14:1 Jesus says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.”  That was not always a good verse to share as a hospital chaplain on the CABG floor!  Heart trouble had landed the occupants of that floor in those rooms.  Often they were there post heart attack – perhaps the most troubled condition our hearts can physically endure.

Of course Jesus wasn’t addressing the physicality or anatomy of the human heart muscle when he shared these words in John 14:1. Continue reading

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Filed under Hope, Ministry, Pastors, Uncategorized

Blowin’ in the Wind

“The wind blows wherever it pleases.  You hear its sound,
but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.
So it is with everyone born of the Spirit”. – Jesus (John 3:8 NIV)

In the world of cycling, even for an amateur like myself, you soon learn that the wind is both your friend and foe – maybe even on the same ride.  Spring rides have a way of reminding you of this truth.  On a recent ride, going east to west, I looked down to see the speedometer hit 30 mph (with the aid of both a tail wind and downhill path), but coming back (west to east) I had a hard time mustering 10 to 12 mph against the head wind and that same hill.  On that particular ride the wind was my friend and my foe.

I’ve also learned that wind is rather fickle.  It can come at you from all directions. Continue reading

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Filed under Christian Faith, Cycling, Uncategorized

More Than Just Another Week

Palm frondsHoly Week begins this Sunday, April 9th as Christ followers all over the world observe and celebrate Palm Sunday and cross the threshold into the week of Jesus’ Passion.

To much of the world it will be just another week.  Cable news networks will squawk about government investigations and stream “breaking news” banners across screens. World governments will flex muscle and attempt to wield influence over war torn and troubled lands.  Everyday folk will get up, go to work and try to make a better life for themselves and their families.  Children will go to school.  Spring will make another run at grabbing a toehold and offering weather to match the calendar.   And, in the midst of all that and more, we will remember and revisit the path our Savior walked during his last days and hours in Jerusalem.

It’s a pilgrimage journey we are invited to make during this week. Continue reading

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Filed under Christian Faith, Holy Days, Spiritual Formation, Uncategorized

Webinar: “Leadership with Questions”

You can watch our FREE archived webinar “Leadership with Questions” produced by Judson Press here.

Webinar Description: Do you ever grow tired of being expected to have all the answers? What if you tried leading others with questions? What if, through questions, you helped others find the answers to the challenges of church life and personal discipleship? 

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Filed under Christian Faith, Leadership, Pastors, Uncategorized

FREE “Leadership with Questions” Webinar

Webinar picA FREE Webinar titled “Leadership with Questions” will be made available through Judson Press on Tuesday, April 4th at 1 p.m. EST.   This webinar is being led by authors Dan Cash and Bill Griffith using material from their book 8 Questions Jesus Asked: Discipleship for Leaders.   Here’s a summary of what will be covered:

Do you ever grow tired of being expected to have all the answers? What if you tried Jesus’ approach of leading others with questions? What if, through questions, you helped others find the answers to the challenges of church life and personal discipleship?

In this webinar, authors Dan Cash and Bill Griffith will help you understand the importance of using questions to guide, develop, and move others as they lead and help facilitate faith formation.

Register for this webinar.

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Filed under Christian Faith, Leadership, Uncategorized