Gifted for Leadership

Leaning into Thanksgiving Clichés

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:46:20 -0600

Thanksgiving: that time of year when dreams of stuffing, jello molds, and bean casseroles reign supreme. The season for finding a circle of people with whom to give a toast, say a prayer and give abundant thanks. Momenta to reminisce and recall God’s provision, even in hardship. A holiday filled with good practices for us frantic Americans. And while I honor these traditions and believe the sentiment behind this holiday is so very close to...

Re-Thinking Conflict

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:55:55 -0600

“If you had a whole day free what would you do?” The question came to me in a small group setting, and the answer came immediately to mind: “I’d go somewhere beautiful to sit and think.” You see, I’m addicted to thinking. Though I can’t go somewhere beautiful for the day right now I have been thinking. Thinking about conflict. I’ve googled for the definition, for quotes, and for concepts. I’ve asked people what comes...

Cannibals in Christendom

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:42:29 -0600

I come from a long line of cannibals. My ancestors loved to chew up (and sometimes spit out) people. Mine was a particularly heinous group that made no distinction between “them” and “us.” Members of our own family were just as likely to fall victim as were others. Imagine the tensions that arose when we gathered—each one wondering who might be served up next. In their defense, my family lived in darkness. Then, the frigid...

Grounded

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:06:13 -0600

“It doesn’t matter what happens next, it’s not going to bother me.” I confidently exercised my faith aloud to the disbelieving passenger next to me. He snorted, as though he understood something I didn’t. “We’ll see about that.” My husband and I’d been up since three in the morning to catch three different planes which would eventually land us back into the arms of our three waiting children. And they’d been waiting more than a...

Confessions of a Money Changer

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:05:28 -0600

What would Jesus say about our cashing in on women's ministry?

While visiting a very close friend, I agreed to help with her church’s women’s ministry event. I expected to prepare hospitality tables, fill vases with flowers and serve coffee and muffins. It’s what we often do in women’s ministry. Instead, I was directed to the makeshift market that had been set up in the lobby. Eight-foot long, cloth-covered tables were fashioned into a large rectangle. The speaker’s collection of books, teachings, recordings and—most surprisingly—jewelry covered...

Putting Complainers to Work

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:23:04 -0600

I am a firm believer in open-book management—the practice of openly communicating financial details broadly across organizations. When I took over an intact department, I sought help in establishing a good approach to open-book management from a good friend and expert in the topic, Chuck Kremer. Chuck recommended an approach for sharing success stories, setting goals, and tracking actions along with in-depth review of the financial statements. These steps consumed nearly an hour a month—taking...

Life, Doctrine and Women's Ministry

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:20:36 -0600

Whether through books, Bible studies, retreats, or conferences, a central focus of women’s ministry has been on the practical dimensions of Christian living, either presupposing the theological understanding of the audience—which isn’t always wrong to do—or simply neglecting to ground the practical in a richer theological framework. Of course, I’m not suggesting we aren’t teaching women Scripture, but in the rush to fill in the blanks, we aren’t teaching women to handle the Word as...

Journeys into Leadership

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:28:55 -0600

The other weekend I ran into a guy (literally) who had stopped short to turn around as we followed the masses out of a church sanctuary. “Sorry,” he said, looking disheartened and eying the crowd. “I was supposed to have a group following me.” “No problem,” I laughed. “’Nobody behind me’ is the story of my life…..” And it really is. I can’t tell you the number of times in my life as a leader,...

The High Cost of Cheap

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:19:03 -0600

I love a bargain. Whether I’m buying clothing, groceries, or other supplies, I enjoy knowing I got a deal. I can even dress it up in spiritual clothes, claiming I’m being a “good steward” of my resources by being thrifty. Unfortunately, cheap sometimes has a hidden price tag. The prices of certain goods—from soccer balls to candy bars—are low because the people who produce them are paid little or nothing for their labor. The laborers...

Women: Mission Critical

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:49:09 -0600

Each of us wants to believe that we matter. That we have something to offer. That our contributions to building God’s kingdom are needed and valuable. But as I travel the world speaking to women in ministry, I have found a substantial obstacle to seeing that happen. One might think the biggest barrier would be convincing men that women are needed for this assignment, but that’s not the most difficult challenge. A greater challenge seems...

Electronic Anonymity

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 20:32:45 -0600

Have you ever tried to navigate a sticky relationship via computer? Perhaps a disagreement with a friend or a dicey situation at work? You sit down, the desk chair creaks a bit, your fingers start flying. At first you type out of fear or with a good streak of indignation. The keys are clicking fast and hard. You stop, re-read it. Too harsh. Backspace, backspace, backspace. Start again. Having this conversation face-to-face has definitely crossed...

Shepherd Lessons

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:20:01 -0600

In researching for Scouting the Divine: My Search for God in Wine, Wool, & Wild Honey, I spent time with a shepherdess named Lynne in Oregon. During my time in wet fields among the flock, I opened the Scriptures and asked Lynne how she read particularly passages not as a theologian but in light of taking care of her flock. Her answers changed the way I read and understand Scripture—bringing new depth and richness. Yet...

Disarming for Jesus

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:22:21 -0600

I have a confession to make. I like pop music. And not just the Miley Cyrus, High School Musical flavor. I like the beat thumping, chorus humming, and—dare I say it—booty-shaking kind. There it is. I am a woman in my early 30s, with three children and a minivan. I run a Christian counseling practice and a women’s ministry. People look to me for soul direction and depth, and in my spare time, I like...

Going Deeper in Relationships

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 21:06:04 -0600

All I wanted was a friend. A best friend. My family had just moved from Northern Maine to suburban Philadelphia after my 5th birthday. Friends, I thought, I‘d finally have friends. Who doesn’t want a best friend, or long for a lifelong friend? You know, the kind you make in kindergarten who stays loyal and true for a lifetime. I don’t know about you, but neither “best friend” nor “lifelong friend” is on my friends...

The Joy of Communion

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:09:09 -0600

Every night, I ask my two-year-old son a question: What should we thank God for today? In the months we have engaged in this practice, Quinn’s thanksgivings have included noodles, his friend Lily and raisins. One night during Lent, perched on my lap in the dark of his room, Quinn returned my question with one of his own: “I eat Christ?” I was sure I had heard him wrong. So I asked my question again....