Six-Pack (66)

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Welcome to the latest Six-Pack!

As usual, here are six of the best pieces I’ve recently read, related to ministry or faith or who-knows-what!

If a half-dozen feels daunting, start with the *Picks of the Week*, and move out.

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) Shocking Stats About Preaching
From ChurchLeaders.com, Here are some numbers on a task that plays into every rhythm of every week for me and many others.

2)  Six Heretics Who Should Be Banned from Evangelicalism (*PICK OF THE WEEK*)
Tim Challies recently earned himself all sorts of attention for his series on heretics — that is likely worth its own post. Relevant Magazine jumped on board.

3) 
A missionary died years ago believing his efforts in Congo had been fruitless. Surprise!

4)  The Troubling Trends in America’s “Calvinist Revival”
I’m hardly a Calvinist, nor part of their movement. However, many of the authors and online voices I pay attention to are. Here’s why that concerns Jonathan Merritt.

5)  The Shawshank Residuals (*PICK OF THE WEEK*)
Here is how one of the greatest films ever continues to make money twenty years after its release.

6) There’s No Such Thing as a Culture Turnaround
Ever tried changing an organization’s culture? No small task. From HBR, here is why that is the case, and what you might do about it.

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.]

Thursday Thanks (41-45)

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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 task which will take me two years of weekly posts to complete!

I missed it by a day this week (again), but surely there’s no expiration date on gratitude!

1) Amazon
Tomorrow, we are having birthday party number two for our youngest daughter. We ordered gifts on the mega-website a couple weeks back, and they arrived this afternoon – as on-time as one could hope! (No drones were involved in this delivery.)

2) Parents
My folks spent a couple hours with our children this afternoon, freeing my wife and me for a couple errands and an afternoon walk in the park. Yay for loving parents and wonderful grandparents!

3) Heat
The above-mentioned walk was our way of enjoying the most full-blown summer day of the year so far. What a treat!

4) Frozen Green Tea
Tim Hortons also played a role in the afternoon pleasures, providing the liquid refreshments to go with the sweet company.

5) Ballet
I cannot say that this art form is among those which I appreciate most, but this weekend marks our first recital experience as parents. Our two oldest daughters will play Dr. Seuss-related roles in the year-end performance further for their dance school. Should be sweet!

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  • Did any of this week’s list especially strike a chord with you?
  • What’s one thing you’re particularly grateful for this week?

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

Six-Pack (65)

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Welcome to the Six-Pack, the Victoria Day Long Weekend edition for those of you celebrating in Canada.

As you’ve come to expect, the six links below feature the best online offerings I have recently read, related to ministry or faith, with just enough space left for who-knows-what!

If a half-dozen feels daunting, start with the *Picks of the Week*, and move out.

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) In Prison With Ann Voskamp
Richard Beck confesses to getting a new perspective in a Texas prison.

2)  Q&R: A Nasty Piece About You (*PICK OF THE WEEK*)
Regardless of what you think of Brian McLaren, you’ll be inspired by this response that he gave to one of his critics. Classy and gracious.

3)  Six Unexpected Faith Conversations in Pop Culture
Relevant Magazine has put together this short piece highlighting popular figures who have recently shared thoughts on faith. Hardly profound, but interesting all the same.

4)  How to Stay in One Church for 27 Years
If you’re a pastor seeking advice on longevity, Ronnie Floyd is likely worth listening to.

5)  Toward Recovering Baptism (*PICK OF THE WEEK*)
I was blessed by some recent visits with my friend Kirk at the Pepperdine Lectures. Here, he recounts some highlights of the week, while musing also about some not-to-be-missed facets of baptism.

6) The Wrong Reasons to Write
Jeff Goins helps those who string words together to break free of poor reasons to keep pressing forward.

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.]

Thursday Thanks (36-40)

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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 task which will take me two years of weekly posts to complete!

I missed it by a day this week, but gratitude is a timeless thing, isn’t it?!

1)  Extermination
When spring finally arrived, I found that our yard had a small population of voles (field mice) that had moved in from the grassy area one house away from ours. I hated this. Two repeatedly used traps and several poison pouches later, I’ve not seen a critter in two weeks now. That makes me happy. Dare I exhale?

2) Dirt
Yesterday we dug out a small tree stump, cleaned out old plants and rototilled. There’s something wonderful about soil!

3)  Libraries
I’m sitting in one of these special places right now. I’ve always loved the feel of these book-filled, still-social spaces. For me, they are welcoming and homey.

4)  Smoothies
Many a morning, I use our nuclear-powered blender to beat a pitcher full of fruits and vegetables into a smooth, yummy concoction. I’d been out of the routine lately, and this morning mixture tasted especially great. My stomach had grown fonder!

5) Leather
I’m sitting on a comfy leather chair at the moment. I’m not particularly partial to leather, but I’ve noticed a trend that many of the chairs I call cozy are covered in this material. I don’t need a coat, and I’m not bent on shoes. But leather is a winner for lounging!

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailYOUR TURN: Your input makes this post better!

  • Did any of this week’s list especially strike a chord with you?
  • What’s one thing you’re particularly grateful for this week?

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

Thursday Thanks (31-35)

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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 task which will take me two years of weekly posts to complete!

Sunday isn’t quite Thursday, but I don’t want to fall behind, so here goes!

1)  Words
I love that there are sounds that can embody thoughts, with slant and style and nuance. Written or spoken, language is certainly a love of mine. This is still somewhat shocking to a “math and science” guy in high school days!

2) Green
The park outside my office window has become very green very quickly. The rods and cones in my eyeballs are happy about this change.

3)  Sleeping Children
I love my three daughters all of the time, and their waking moments are certainly the most entertaining. But there really is something priceless about watching them sleep, hearing their breaths and brushing their cheeks and stroking their hair. The words mentioned in #1 above would be hard-pressed to capture the tenderness of such moments.

4)  Haircuts
My last haircut was a couple weeks ago, but I love that fleeting feeling when your hair is just the right length. It doesn’t last long, so enjoy it while you’ve got it!

5) Swish
The church where I work used to be a school building. Basketball nets still hang in our auditorium. Coffee breaks do nothing for me (I don’t drink that stuff), so when I need to get my blood pumping, 5 or 10 minutes of shooting hoops is my activity of choice. It amazes me that the sound and motion of a ball sailing through the mesh never gets old. I have loved that since I was a kid, and I’m sure I will until I’m bracing myself at the free throw line with a walker.

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailYOUR TURN: Your input makes this post better!

  • Did any of this week’s list especially strike a chord with you?
  • What’s one thing you’re particularly grateful for this week?

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