Monthly Archives: March 2014

Six-Pack (61)

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Welcome to the latest edition of the Six-Pack, delivered right on time! Grab your coffee, choose your comfy chair, and settle in!

This week’s collection features the usual mix of ministry, faith, and anything else that piqued interest. I think you’ll be pleased, provoked, and pushed.

If six ever feels overwhelming, start with my two *Picks of the Week*, and move out from there.

For a steady stream of such links, follow me on Twitter to the right of this post.  Sharp quotes and solid articles are tweeted 3-4 times daily.

Today’s edition:

1) Dallas Willard Changed My Ministry Forever (*PICK OF THE WEEK*)
Dallas Willard’s books (particularly “Divine Conspiracy”) will forever hold spots on my “best of” list. Looks like Chris Nye might agree as he reflects on the late author and teacher impacted his life and work.

2) The Secret Pain of Pastors
For Churchleaders.com, Philip Wagner considers some of the challenges faced by those in ministry roles. Friends of mine have faced every one of these in huge doses — I know a few firsthand myself.

3) Are Sex and Religions Natural Enemies? (*PICK OF THE WEEK*)
I like to think about religion. I like to think about sex too, sometimes I visit some website about it too. Naturally, this article struck my chords then. I think some of the basic premise is a bit goofy, but there are fascinating bits in here, all the same.

4) Here’s How Maria Popova Writes
I’ve long been fascinated with how creative people create — artists, musicians, writers, whatever. Here, CopyBlogger caught up with writer Maria Popova. There’s some great stuff in this interview.

5) The Disney Recipe
When Jeffrey Katzenberg became the head of Walt Disney Studios, he was given the task of fixing what was broke. For direction, he turned to archived wisdom from Walt Disney himself. He learned a few things. You might too.

6) How Much Can an Extra Hour’s Sleep Change You?
This study, summarized by BBC, says: Quite a lot!


May your week ahead be filled with life, as you seek the One from whom it flows!

leaveacommentYOUR TURN: Your input makes this post better!

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  • Why that one?

Direct others to the best of the bunch with a quick comment.

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Thursday Thanks (6-10)

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fiveEach week (I aim for Thursday), I’ll use this space to list five things (items, experiences, people, whatever) for which I’ve been recently grateful. Consider it my “blessings count”. Ann Voskamp’s famous challenge to list 1000 gifts seemed daunting — I’m committing to 500, a two-year venture from when I started last week!

1) Guacamole
I’m looking at a bowl of the great green stuff as I type. My wife turned an avocado into a bowl of creamy, garlicky goodness with her magic wand, and it’s easy to be grateful for.

2) Feet
Today we took our girls skating for the first time. One loved it; the other not so much. I was reminded of all the marks of learning this winter skill — pushed-beyond-the-limit balance, dependence on another (me in this case), and sore feet. But there’s something pleasant to me about having skates tightly tied, compacting feet inside those bladed boots. And for whatever reason, slipping my skates off made me think, “Man, I’m glad I have feet to hold my skates in place!”

3) Frozen
For “family night”, we rented this movie off of our Apple TV. It’s cute with some great songs, and it tickled my daughters’ hearts. And that tickles mine!

4) Water
When given a list of drink options, the most classic choice on the menu is not typically mine. But this glass beside me with its few ice cubes inside — it’s hitting the spot. And the heated version that will spray on to my head before bed tonight — I’m particularly fond of it!

5) Chiropractors
Two weeks ago, in our hockey finale, I damaged/tore some cartilage in my ribs. It was terribly tender for a week. One week later, it’s nearly healed up, thanks to a perceptive chiropractor and his trusty ultrasound gun. Consider me amazed!

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  • What’s one thing you’re particularly grateful for this week?

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Stoke Your Passion

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A little girl does some sweet back-seat conducting of her church’s choir!

What are you that passionate about?!

The Reader

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Alcohol commercials are typically bent toward mindless humour or veiled innuendo. And then there’s this beauty:

Six-Pack (60)

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Welcome to the latest edition of the Six-Pack, delivered right to you! No need to grab it from your snow-covered front step or venture to the mailbox. It’s arrived!

This week’s collection features the usual mix of ministry, faith, and anything else that piqued interest. I think you’ll be pleased, provoked, and pushed.

If six ever feels overwhelming, start with my two *Picks of the Week*, and move out from there.

For a steady stream of such links, follow me on Twitter to the right of this post.  Sharp quotes and solid articles are tweeted 3-4 times daily.

Today’s edition:

1) The One Thing You Have to Stop Doing if You Ever Want a Harvest (*PICK OF THE WEEK*)
Ann Voskamp: That woman can write. And this piece displays that small message by beautifully communicating a far larger one.

2) 23 Things We Learned from “The Matrix” Commentary
Matrix fans will need to read this. Others? Maybe.

3) The Innovation of Loneliness (*PICK OF THE WEEK*)
This short video is a powerful and thoughtful exploration of how our “Facebook world” is changing who we are and how we function.

4) Turning Around a Church is Really Tough
With most churches plateaued or declining, most pastors I know need to read articles like this.

5) John Mark Comer and the Multi-Site Church
Scot McKnight highlights a recent conversation on the need for sound theological thought within our pragmatic decision-making processes, using multi-site churches as a case study.

6) Baylor’s Extraordinary Season and Lives Changed
Baylor is still alive in this year’s March Madness bracket. But after a horrendous 2-8 start to their season, the real story unfolded off the court in this tale of transformation, with a Canadian connection.


May your week ahead be filled with life, as you seek the One from whom it flows!

leaveacommentYOUR TURN: Your input makes this post better!

  • Which link above was today’s best-of-the-best?
  • Why that one?

Direct others to the best of the bunch with a quick comment.

[You can subscribe to this blog via RSS or email, in the upper right corner of this page.]