Stretching physically prepares you for greater activity. It has important benefits like developing your flexibility and range of motion, increasing blood circulation, and even improving your performance in physical activities Just as an athlete would never train without stretching, leaders should not lead without stretching. To avoid circumstances that stretch us is to intentionally choose…
The Value of Your Valentine
(For Guys Only) Here is my best advice for a better marriage: Value your Valentine! This is the litmus test. I can tell you how your relationship is going with your wife by how much you value her, period. Guys, the reason your wife married you is that she felt valued by you. And I…
Great Quotes from our Midwinter Retreat
This week is our annual Midwinter Retreat in Newport. It’s a time when pastors and ministry leaders and their spouses carve out time to take a deep breath and reconnect—with each other and God. Our speaker this year is Rick McKinley. He is the founding pastor of Imago Dei in Portland, Oregon. With our theme…
Social Media Etiquette & Ethics
Social Media is here is stay. We can’t ignore it. 79% of Americans have some kind of social profile. It is something we need to utilize in communicating with the church and the world around us. However, just like any tool, it can be used for good, or it can be used to destroy. LET’S…
Why It’s Tougher to Grow Sunday Church
Gone are the days when you could do a bit of advertising, open the doors of the church, and see people stream in. Many of us “old-timers” may come up with some pat answers like you need to work harder or go back to the good ole days of revival meetings, but the fact is,…
One Essential for Effectiveness
We’ve started 2020 with the challenge to slow down and reflect. Take time to pray and plan. Don’t rush into this new year (see New Year blogs). However, failure is inevitable if all we had were good intentions and plans. There is one essential we must possess in order to be effective – it is…
Clarity for the Church in 2020
Planning and goal-setting are good things. That old saying is true – “If we aim at nothing, we’ll hit it every time.” Planning is good because God plans. The Bible says that He has plans to help you succeed and give you hope (Jeremiah 29:11). We are called to work with Him in what he…
20/20 Vision
Happy New Year! A new decade! 2020! Wow! As we begin this new year, one of the most important things we can bring to it is clarity. The fact that it is 2020 reminds us that we all need 20/20 vision. The American Optometric Association states that “having 20/20 vision does not necessarily mean you…
The Carols of Christmas
The First Noel MERRY CHRISTMAS DAY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS! Today is the day we remember the birthday of Jesus, the first noel. Did you know that one definition of Noel is “birthday” originating from a French/Latin word? So when we sing The First Noel we are singing “The First Birthday” of Jesus. LET’S TALK This…
The Carols of Christmas
Silent Night “Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht. Alles schläft einsam wacht… “ These are the first lines of the original Silent Night, written and sung in the German language. Believe it or not, I remember this carol being sung in German at my grandparent’s home church in New Sarepta, Alberta. LET’S TALK This carol was first…
The Carols of Christmas
Joy to the World One of my fondest memories of Christmas growing up is singing carols. As much as I like contemporary Christian music, I still cling to the songs of Advent. To me, they are timeless. So leading up to Christmas, I’ll be blogging about some of the backstories of these Yuletide hymns. LET’S…
Surviving the Season
Somehow the “happiest time of year” has become the most “stressful time of year.” With all the demands and expectations just mentioning the word “Christmas” can tense us up. It shouldn’t be that way! Honestly, when we attempt to redecorate the entire house, send meaningful hand-written correspondence to our full contact list, make fiddly cookies…
