Browse Blog Post
7/14/2010
170. Fishing
I’m writing this during a two-week study leave along the South Texas coast. This is where I’ve come the last few years for brief periods to work on my books. Each day I spend several hours writing, interspersed with periods of walking, running, reading, swimming, and sleeping. Occasional
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7/6/2010
169. Growing Deeper
Methodism began as a way of life rather than as a denominational system. John Wesley’s passion was leading people to follow Jesus, and his genius was developing patterns and support systems to help people walk with Christ. Wesley believed we cooperate with the Holy Spirit in our own spiritual
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6/21/2010
168. It Takes What It Takes
I recently listened to a podcast interview with a Catholic priest whose ministry focuses on young people involved in urban gangs. Many of the tools he uses derive from the recovery movement, including wisdom gleaned from Alcoholics Anonymous. He used a maxim that I’ve heard before to describe
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6/1/2010
165. Transforming Existing Congregations
Early last year I was asked to write a chapter for a book, The Future of the United Methodist Church—Seven Vision Pathways, to emphasize the importance of Transforming Existing Congregations. I shared some brief stories about congregations in Missouri and about some of our strategies and appro
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12/14/2009
151. Only if…
At our Annual Conference session in June, Rev. Emanuel Cleaver II (Assistant to the Bishop for African-American Leadership Development) provoked us to think in fresh ways about our human tendency to grumble and avoid work rather than to take responsibility and fulfill tasks. He showed us the thick r
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12/7/2009
150. The Progress Bar
Every time I download a photo, upload a file, or scan my computer for viruses, I find myself mesmerized by the progress bar. The progress bar is the horizontal meter graph that moves from 0% to 100% as the computer processes a task to completion. With a small file on a fast computer, the progress ba
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11/12/2009
146. Haiku
Some months ago I was present for a worship service during which the pastor opened with a lengthy list of announcements. The time given this task seemed disproportionately generous and distracting from the tone of the service. Later, as the pastor spoke to the children, he seemed to get lost in his
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10/13/2009
143. Pruning
Recently while teaching in a congregation, I recounted many of the scriptures about fruitfulness. Vines, branches, seedtime, harvest, soils, vineyards, trees, fruits—the Bible is replete with stories that lift high the notion that God expects us to use what we have received to make a positive
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5/11/2009
127. What’s Your Letter Say?
A colleague from another conference told me about a District Superintendent who has focused his teaching and leading on the Five Practices as he has conducted charge conferences, district training events, and pastoral evaluations. To sharpen the self-reflection of congregational leaders, the Superin
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2/16/2009
115. The Field
“So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit.” (Galatians 6: 9 from The Message)
With binoculars in hand, I entered the field seeking a better angle to see the mix of sparrows
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1/28/2009
111. Five Temptations of Pastoral Leadership
A well-crafted book title captures the imagination, stimulates curiosity, and invites us to fill the gap between what we think it means and what the author really has to say. Recently I saw the title, "Five Temptations of CEO’s" at the bookstore. I didn’t pick up the
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1/12/2009
106. Connections
I’ve heard about the Congress on Evangelism for years, but last week was the first time I ever attended. I was invited to speak on the Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations, and later on Risk-Taking Mission and Service. In fact, the Five Practices provided the umbrella theme for the e
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12/22/2008
102. Following our Hopes While Wrestling with our Fears
I recently heard a brief devotion focused on Luke 1: 26-38, the scene where the angels foretell the birth of Jesus to Mary. The pastor humorously reminded us that in scripture, whenever you hear the words, “Be not afraid,” then watch out! Something huge is about to happen.
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12/17/2008
101. Christmas Gifts and Christmas Offerings
As the ushers moved forward with their plates in hand during a crowded Christmas Eve service, the pastor said, “We’ll now receive the offering, which will support the apportionments our church owes.” There was no further explanation, no description of ministries, no connectio
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9/22/2008
88. Practices of Vegetable-ful Congregations!
Over the last couple weeks, I’ve heard dozens of stories about small churches focusing on the Five Practices, and about the new ministry initiatives that have resulted. A few of my favorite come from right here in Missouri.
For instance, Marvin McMurry UMC in St. Joseph began to think a
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8/18/2008
82. Got Fruit?
I smile whenever I hear about the many creative ways congregations make the Five Practices their own. An original and locally developed idea has personal ownership, reveals imaginative engagement, and uses the gifts and insights of volunteers.
For instance, a long-time friend told me about ho
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6/30/2008
70. Passion for Ministry
At our annual conference this year, six pastors took turns describing their context for ministry, the challenges they face, and one or two innovative responses in their efforts to renew and strengthen their ministries. The creative responses ranged from starting a hip-hop service, developing a permi
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5/12/2008
63. Seeds with Wings
As I was hiking with my two sons this past Saturday morning, we noticed a number of large trees dispersing their seeds in a most fascinating way. I don't know the type of tree, but the seeds were pea-sized with a single extending leaf-like structure about the size and shape of a large dragonfly wing
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3/31/2008
49. Easter Celebrations!
On Easter Sunday, I attended a couple different churches in St. Louis with my family. What a delight and joy! We heard great music and wonderful stories and reflections about the meaning and power of Christ's resurrection. We even shared in the launch of a new birth, the beginning of a con
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2/22/2008
43. Losing Sleep and Windows of Opportunity
The other day I was speaking about the Five Practices to pastors and laypersons from the GateWay North District of the Greater New Jersey Conference. (This is the most diverse district of the United Methodist Church in the US, offering ministries with eleven language and ethnic groups!). A
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2/20/2008
42. Roast Duck and Getting Things Done
As I was enjoying dinner with some lay members of the conference the other day, one of them asked about some of my hopes and plans for the future of Missouri United Methodism. I outlined what I have repeated so many times before, including a special emphasis on new church starts, creating a culture
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2/13/2008
40. The Road from Inspiration to Fruition
While driving this past weekend to a Bishop’s Confirmation Days event in St. Louis, I made a brief stop at a roadside rest area. As I walked around in the crisp morning air, I paused to read an historical marker commemorating the Interstate Highway system. It told a story I’d never heard before
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2/1/2008
37. Assessing Hands-On Mission Projects
While attending a recent meeting, I had a delightful opportunity to renew an old friendship, and to catch up on her various ministries as a layperson in a large congregation. She has a heart for missions, and offers her time, talent, leadership, and support to numerous excellent local church a
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1/30/2008
36. The Fruit of Someone's Ministry
The College of Bishops met in Dallas the last couple days, and one evening after dark I found myself walking by the Perkins School of Theology Chapel. I felt pulled inside, and soon found myself sitting alone on one of the pews facing the chancel, focused on the cross so beautifully lit in a manor t
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1/7/2008
28. Signs of Fruitfulness Project
Every time I go to the doctor, the visit begins with a familiar ritual. It doesn’t matter if I’m there for a flu shot, a sore throat, a general check up, an unexplained pain, a twisted ankle, or a serious illness. The visit begins with cuffing my arm, taking my temperature, cou
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12/17/2007
25. Five Practices in Europe and Eurasia Churches
A District Superintendent from Serbia moved to the microphone and began to tell the story of one of her congregations that was offering exemplary Risk-taking Mission and Service toward alcoholics and their families. We all listened for the voices of our translators through headphones as she tol
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11/2/2007
10. Fruitfulness More Than Numbers
Andy Bryan wrote a good-humored blog entry about the use of the Five Practices in his congregation and among his colleagues. He coined the verb “to Schnase” to describe those times when he or someone else would use a quote from Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations. He talked about “S
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