A Ragamuffin Gospel and pastoral expectations

If we consider the church as a consumer body, one that participates by showing up and giving input on how much they enjoy being served, then the place of the visible leader is one of customer service at best.

With a hope and a mission!

As I write these words to you I sit comfortably in the Little Grand Rapids Lodge, considering how blessed I am to finally have this opportunity once again. I had to reschedule a few times due to unforeseen circumstances, I have changed my material a few times, and of course, stressed about whether I would … Continue reading With a hope and a mission!

Palm Sunday and adapting your expectations

Oh the plight to have adaptive expectations… I sat here waiting for the weather to be right for me to fly North. The second trip adjustment in place, I was hoping to finally make it to the workshops I planned months ago. Deep sigh. Trip adjustment number three and possibly number four are now in … Continue reading Palm Sunday and adapting your expectations

Advent and how we love

"What's love got to do with it?!" Tina Turner Ah yes, the title line from one of my favourite Tina Turner songs. The season is festive, and this installment of the Advent season is all about love. It is pretty fitting to talk about love as it seems to fill the whole Christmas celebration! Love is … Continue reading Advent and how we love

Advent and the season of joy!

This is the week of joy in the Advent season. People often struggle with this one, and it impacts how they lead out. There was a study done in Sweden some time back, regarding the happiness people experience in life. Is it found in completing all their goals and getting what they want? Or is … Continue reading Advent and the season of joy!

Advent Peace

"How do we respond when we understand the neediness of our souls?" John Ortberg That is the question John Ortberg asks at the end of one of the chapters in Soul Keeping. I had never really considered my soul needy, but this concept has a lot of credibility. My soul yearns, but everything else seems to … Continue reading Advent Peace

Advent reflections as you lead

So I am a little behind on this one, but as they say, better late than never! The Advent season started last Sunday, so I will post now, and another will follow within a few days. I originally sent this series as a 'Motivational Monday' email series to subscribers. I hope it blesses you as … Continue reading Advent reflections as you lead

A Christmas Wish

What do you wish for this Christmas? I guess this question is a pretty easy one these days, when you consider all that the world is dealing with at the end of 2021. We really thought we would be done with the pandemic by now, and we are bracing for another lockdown; I assumed we … Continue reading A Christmas Wish

To be a Minister of Reconciliation

"Forgiveness is not a decision, it is a process"(DR. CHARLOTTE VANOYEN-WITVLIET) The summer of 2021 has been interesting for all of us. Not quite like 2020 when we were trying to get used to living in a global pandemic, we are now trying to accept when and how it should end. We are all in … Continue reading To be a Minister of Reconciliation

How was your pandemic response?

There are plenty of great ideas and thoughts out there for how you should, or should have, responded to the Covid-19 crisis. No matter how great we are, we probably could have done better. But that's the thing with crisis. You don't get the privilege of planning ahead for it. So what is your metric … Continue reading How was your pandemic response?

Leadership on Maundy Thursday

So what image do you consider on Maundy Thursday? There are many different practices and household connections made on the day before Good Friday, and each person reflects in their own way as they enter the Easter weekend. Traditionally this is the time where we reflect on Christ displaying His love for His people as … Continue reading Leadership on Maundy Thursday

Faith in Isolation

"That's what you do in a herd." That, of course, is the famous line from Diego the sabre-toothed tiger in the classic movie Ice Age. Diego, after travelling with Manny the mammoth and Sid the sloth throughout the story, becomes protective of his former prey. He becomes part of their herd and risks his life … Continue reading Faith in Isolation