Welcome to Wandering & Wondering!
Just in time for Christmas, it’s your latest edition of the “Saturday Six-Pack”.
Typically centered on faith or ministry, you’re sure to find some who-knows-what tossed in!
If having a half-dozen options paralyzes you, begin with my two *Picks of the Week*, and move from there.
For a steady stream of such links, follow me on Twitter ( @JasonBandura ) to the right of this post. Sharp quotes and solid articles are tweeted 3-4 times daily.
Today’s edition:
1) A Circle of Honour
One of the most powerful acts you can carry out in your relationships is to initiate experiences in which those around you are appreciated, honoured, and admired… and they know it! Great piece from Leadership Journal.
2) Seven Questions with Scot McKnight (*PICK OF THE WEEK*)
Here, David Kinnaman and Scot McKnight take a look at recent Barna research on Christian women today, particularly women’s levels of satisfaction within the church. Whatever your own take on women’s roles in the Church today, Scot offers compelling perspectives on the research. Men and women alike, your comments below on this piece could start a fascinating discussion.
3) The Paradox of Advent
This reflective prayer vividly describes the real wonder of the Christmas season. Thanks for sharing, Scotty Smith. If you need one more worthwhile tweeter to follow, @ScottyWardSmith will do you well.
4) Six Reasons a Pastor Should Work a Month in Advance
Mark Pierce makes a few compelling (yet brief) arguments for why more pastors might wish to pursue this approach to preaching. Read it before you wonder, “But how would I ever pull that off?” Then Google a quote about a will and a way. Then decide what your next step might be.
5) Best Mac Apps of 2012
For Mac-lovers who enjoy finding new programs and such, this list may provide some enlightenment. If anything, the list made me realize that I use my iPhone for a lot of things that I don’t even address on my computer. Several of these apps were also focused on more creative folks than myself.
6) How Social Media is Destroying Productivity (*PICK OF THE WEEK*)
An article featured in last week’s Six-Pack contained this line: “What information consumes is rather obvious. It consumes the attention of its recipients. Hence a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention.” And a poverty of attention is one of the impacts of social media. This infographic (by ChurchMag) portrays the stats most interestingly.
Merry Christmas to all of you! May your week be unusually full of an awareness of just how very close God has come.
Blessings on you, my friends.
YOUR TURN: Direct other readers to the best stuff with a comment below, or weigh in on what you read. Your input makes this post better!
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