"Merry Christmas!" "Season's Greetings!" "Happy Holidays!" "Joyeux Noel!" "Frohe Weinachten!" "Feliz Navidad!" Take your pick! All kinds of traditions bring a different nostalgic greeting to mind. I grew up with 'Merry Christmas' and occasionally the German version in different settings. I once worked with a church that prided itself on its German roots, and that … Continue reading Have a Merry Christmas!
Trust me…
What exactly do you mean by that? I use the term 'trust' often. It shows up in the Bible more than a few times, so it makes its way into teaching and preaching; when it comes to team building or workshops on getting along, people will point to trust as a key item to work … Continue reading Trust me…
Welcome here! Will you be hosting or guesting with us?
I know I have talked about welcome a lot, and in person I talk about it even more. In fact, I list it as one of the top values in any work we do with people. It marks our spaces and is one of the biggest critiques of any space we enter whether for work, … Continue reading Welcome here! Will you be hosting or guesting with us?
‘Tis the season for gift-giving
Does Christmas gift-giving stress you out? I know it does for many people, while others seem to gain a whole new energy supply when they gift shop...or make...or give. Is it the occasion? The situation? The person or group? Maybe that all changes your view of gift giving. Does it change how you receive gifts? … Continue reading ‘Tis the season for gift-giving
What’s in the Pepsi bottle?
Do you have any gathering traditions? As we approach Christmas I am reminded of a few great gathering stories my family loves to share. For some of you, the month of December, and maybe even the first half of January are filled with gatherings for different reasons. Now that both of my parents have passed … Continue reading What’s in the Pepsi bottle?
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
Gift exchanges and Gift givers!
It's Christmas week! I love gift giving, and I like gift getting. 2020 has caused plenty a moment for us to think of the grim and the sad in life. It is difficult for us to look at the gifts that we have received through a year like this. But we need to; it reminds … Continue reading Gift exchanges and Gift givers!
Celebrating a Human Saviour
Christmas is the time to meet Jesus in the flesh. Meeting your heroes, seeing them 'in the flesh' means more than finding a picture online. They become real -- good or bad. Being in the flesh comes to mean we are real and human. It is hard to imagine anyone in the room without their … Continue reading Celebrating a Human Saviour
