Breadcrumbs

Brothers and Sisters-This has been a busy but productive week. We had our first session meeting of the year, the annual report is printed and ready for distribution this coming Sunday at the congregational meeting, and I got some writing done on my dissertation. Busy but productive. I discussed my intentions for the coming year with the session and I wanted to share this with you. First, we watched this video about Appreciative Inquiry and talked a little bit about the process. I invite you follow the above link to watch the same material. The video is an overview of the process I would like us to start. I explained to the session that we aren't walking in the dark and would be using Mark Lau Branson's book, Memories, Hopes, and Conversations as a guide in this process. Mark's book describes his experience with AI and the second edition includes several examples of churches that have used the process in their context. I know Mark through Zoom conversation and he and m

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” [ 2 Corinthians 3:18 ]  Did you make a New Year's resolution? It's the time of year we look at ourselves and plan for the coming 365 days. The think is, resolutions, transformation, and change are hard. This shouldn't be any kind of revelation or epiphany. I mean, we all go through changes in life. Sometimes changes are pushed upon us and other times we decide ourselves to begin those changes. Regardless of the impetus, change is hard. My doctoral advisor, Alan, talks about our default behaviors and ways of seeing the world. Changing those defaults and developing a new behavior or outlook is so terribly hard because of the ruts we make for ourselves. I know it's that way for me. I came into this new year with the resolution to be more mindful about how I live and the acti