The Way

This phrase, "Take Me to the Edge" is a theme for a new campaign at our church, Hermitage Hills. I know that it is a phrase in a worship song sung by some group that our pastor heard a few months ago but I don't know the full story behind it but Poly gave us a short explanation in his message on 2/5. This phrase, "Take Me to the Edge" is an interesting one to me. Aristotle says, "the mind never thinks without a picture", so the picture I get in my head is an experience that happened almost a year ago when I bungee jumped in New Zealand. It was a cool morning but sunny and beautiful and I was nervous on the ride over to Kawarau Bridge , the home of the original bungee jump. I was trying to play it cool in the van, but I was shaking and not because it was all that cold in the van. I was nervous and even somewhat afraid. (If you know me well, you know that heights are not my forte.) Shelbi, Mark, Wilson and I had already paid for the bungee jump ahead ...

Recently I have been reading a book called Crucial Conversations that I am finding to be very beneficial not only in a work setting but in all relationships. This morning in our team devotions this book was mentioned again and then it was asked, "What instances in Scripture come to mind where you see crucial conversations take place." It was a good exercise and one of the things that I was reminded of was the issue of trust and how trust is pretty foundational in relationships and in crucial conversations. I remember running across some key elements to trust that I have shared in conferences and in conversation. I would like to give proper credit to the source of these but they really are a mash up of things I have discovered and learned so it is not intentional not to cite sources. Keys to Trust - Tell the truth. Always. - Be transparent. Always. - Extend trust and respect. Always. - Be vulnerable. Always. - Don't play games with people. Ever. - Keep your p...

When I think of seasons, there are many images that come to mind. The natural, physical weather seasons definitely can paint a picture whether it be Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall. Most of you who know me, know that warmer seasons are too my liking. As I get older, people talk about seasons of life. Sondra and I are now out of the child-rearing season for the most part and definitely out of the child-bearing season unless God decides to play a practical joke. Sports have their seasons as well and I know many of my friends are huge college football fans, but college basketball is my favorite season. I like football. I love basketball. It is a good season right now for me. Go MIZZOU! Ministry has seasons too it seems. And, at times, those seasons are not clearly marked like the seasons in a year or the seasons of life. These ministry seasons can get a little murky at times and actually confusing if one is prone to focus on the situations/circumstances rather than the One who c...