The importance of order cannot be underestimated. Disorder and chaos are not the best environments in which we thrive. Likewise there is nothing wrong with routine in and of itself. Indeed some find great safety in the familiar. Risk.is reduced, the likelihood of things going out of control are minimised. This is comforting and a […]
Read More Gatekeepers: Overcoming Potential Challenges In Church DevelopmentThere is a difference between being submissive and being a walk over. It’s a pity in a day and age that scoffs at anything less than being forward, confident and fully assured that taking a back step, being submissive and seeking to understand others is considered weak. It’s a pity because time after time it […]
Read More Gaining Favour Increases Influence By Being CompliantIt will come as little surprise to discover, I am not the most sociable of people. Some people thrive on social settings. They love nothing better than being in the middle of all the hub of activities. They feed off the buzz of interactions. It works for them. Fine. My make up is not that […]
Read More Gatherings: The Joy Of Sharing Quality TimeIt was not my favourite job. My attitude didn’t help. I felt it was beneath me. I felt it was not fitting for one of my abundant talents and capabilities. (You can tell I am used to being modest.) Thankfully I had a sobering experience that snapped me out of my pompous attitude. As I […]
Read More Getting Used To Being In Strategic PositionsWhen I look at what worked really well over the brief course of my life, I find a lot of it is down to the power of group work. There is something brilliant about three or more people gathering and committing to work together on a joint cause. I get the impression church is meant […]
Read More Groups: A Whole Greater Than An IndividualMy Dad is my example in presenting a calm, considered response to situations. I have no recollection of my Dad having a fierce temper. I have little recall of him raising his voice or needing to shout. I’m not saying these things didn’t happen, I’m saying I can’t remember him doing these things. My memories […]
Read More Gentle Replies Defuse Explosive Situations Creating OpportunitiesDon’t you ever let up? Why don’t you give me a break. I just need some time off. There are some things that just appear relentless. Like life and its issues. Understandably we want some relief from the persistent nature of it all. Jesus offers that relief with these words, Come to me, all you […]
Read More Growing Pains 7: Kingdom First – Kingdom AllWhilst exploring the existence of God, the question was asked: why are we prone to worshipping idols? Living in 21st Century Britain, idolatry is not overt. Even church-goers are not obviously the worshipping type. Church attendance appears fairly obligatory and functional. Scratch the surface, however, and familiar forces emerge that people devote their energies and […]
Read More Growing Pains 6: Jesus Alone Is LordIt is not uncommon to start something and not end it. It is a thing to applaud when someone completes something they started. Usually the reason why they complete a task is because the outcome is worth the effort. The challenge of faith in Jesus Christ is to hold Him as the prize worth focussing […]
Read More Growing Pains 5: Focus On The PrizeGrowing up naturally is interesting. There is a stage where trust in a parental figure is a given. Until something happens to suggest otherwise, it’s all good. Trust in the figure is virtually absolute. Yet something does happen and as we get older the certainty of trust begins to change. In modern British society, it’s […]
Read More Growing Pains 4: By Faith It’s Possible
Life With CD 