It is such a lonely job, we’re told. There’s such a burden and a pressure that others cannot appreciate and don’t carry. It is such a task that often things have to be done to relieve that weight. It is certainly not to diminish the real weight of responsibility of those positions. There is a […]
Read More Does It Have To Be Lonely At The Top?You can’t afford to be vulnerable. If you are then someone sees that as weakness. Not only that others will see that as juicy morsels for gossip. Lots of speculation and analysis on the vulnerability which is not about building character and supporting growth – it’s purely for entertainment and often that smug sense of […]
Read More The Protective Armour: When You Can’t Afford To Be VulnerableI still forget sometimes how easy it can be to upset people. Something I take for granted in overlooking, someone else gets offended at. This is not about me justifying my actions or suggesting others are too sensitive. It’s a reflection on my behaviour and the impact it can have on others. Yep, I should […]
Read More Taking Relationships SeriouslyNotes from a conversation with a very important friend of mine inspire this blog entry. (Thank you, Lorna.) You ever been shifty? By shifty I mean behaviour suggesting underhand activities and motives. I have been shifty on a number of occasions. I was watching an episode of Law and Order: Criminal Intent. Nichols is chasing […]
Read More Say What You See; Transparent FellowshipTherefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. (Acts 6:3) Recently I had the opportunity to observe a national church conference elect its executive board. Taking in the proceedings and following on from my post about reference to personal examples, […]
Read More How Would You Choose Those To Serve?What I love about community and what I love about family is the opportunity you have to sit down over a cup of a beverage of your choice and be real with each other. I remember going through a tough stage in Stoke-on-Trent and my dear friend Andy opened his home up to me. Indeed […]
Read More The Church, Community and IdentitySkeletons in the closet. What a wonderful phrase and a concept that says so much about our tendency to not be completely transparent about who we are. It doesn’t have to be anything major, but it’s enough for us to store it away in the hope that no one will ever choose to investigate that […]
Read More Skeletons in the ClosetSo still on the relationship trip that we’ve been on for a few days now and there’s something marvellous about the relationship we develop with God that moves us beyond piety and pretence to desperation and admitted nakedness. It’s easy to put on masks for the public but in prayer to develop a knowing of […]
Read More I Need You Now – Smokie Norful
Life With CD 