Do you feel stressed?

Yesterday I woke up feeling grumpy.  A few days before that, I got out of bed feeling a bit low emotionally.  Last week I woke up feeling so tired, I just wanted to roll over and go to sleep again.  Anyone relate? The amount of stress in our lives creeps up on us without warning and suddenly we are aware of emotions that we aren’t used to.  We have no idea why we feel this Read more about Do you feel stressed?[…]

Are you engaging in ‘caring connections’?

I have a challenge for you this month that I believe will inspire you and make a measurable difference in your life.  It will only take an hour/month and a little initiative to get it going.  OK – here it is: Start a group of 3 or 4 people that you connect with and who are willing to meet for an hour each month to have ‘conversations on purpose’.  This can be in person or Read more about Are you engaging in ‘caring connections’?[…]

Are we in danger of causing Jesus to sigh?

In Mark 8, Jesus is talking with the pharisees or rather they are arguing with him and putting him to the test.  They are looking for a sign from heaven to prove his authority in what he is declaring as truth.  In response Jesus breathes a deep sigh and leaves without giving them any specific sign that they are looking for. What a sad verse. I wonder sometimes, if we are causing Jesus to have Read more about Are we in danger of causing Jesus to sigh?[…]

Are you living in liminal space right now?

We have just come to the close of perhaps one of the most memorable years that we will ever experience.  We are all tired of hearing about the pandemic and COVID and masks and social distancing.  We want it all to end and there is fresh hope with the acceptance of vaccines happening all over the world.  However, we aren’t there yet. We are in a liminal space.  We haven’t come to the end of Read more about Are you living in liminal space right now?[…]

How do I develop resilience?

For the last year Rite and I have experienced difficulties on every ministry trip we have made, with challenges like fires, earthquakes, cyclones, missed connections, floods, and cars breaking down. Let me share one experience.  We had planned a trip to Canberra for a leadership development course.  We were waiting for our flight and the announcement was made that due to fires, the flight was cancelled.  I called our contact and said ‘sorry there’s no Read more about How do I develop resilience?[…]

Do I have permission to lament?

This month, I have asked my wife, Rite, to write on the topic of lament.  During our Europe/Africa meetings, Jonny Clark spoke about lamenting and in our current global pandemic, it is an important subject. During my Lent readings, I was meditating on John 11:33-35 from the passion translation: “When Jesus looked at Mary and saw her weeping at His feet, and all her friends who were grieving, He shuddered with emotion and was deeply Read more about Do I have permission to lament?[…]

What changes are we to embrace as we continue in this crisis?

How are you doing now that we have reached the 6 month marker into this pandemic? Most of the people I talk to are doing ok considering what has happened. The challenge is that under the surface is an insecurity about the future, an inability to plan anything for sure, a sadness at the many losses of lives, loss of businesses and jobs, a struggle financially, pressure with kids at home and a level of Read more about What changes are we to embrace as we continue in this crisis?[…]

What needs a necessary ending in your life?

Do you need to end something?  I think we would all agree that we are over COVID 19 and want it to end but it seems to be re-emerging in country after country.  The end isn’t in sight yet.  Some endings are out of our control.  Some of us like to end things that are in our control, but perhaps a little too quickly – like important but tedious activities, relationships that cause tension and Read more about What needs a necessary ending in your life?[…]

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