Tuesday means, its time for the links. As always the case, I entrust to you different things I have read or found in the past week for your reading, thinking, and reflecting pleasure. This week’s categories are: Church and Ministry Thought and Leadership; Cross-Sector Collaboration; Leadership Thought, Practice and Theory; Neighbor Love; and Miscellaneous Thoughts and Reads.
Church and Ministry Thought and Leadership
Pastor Keith Anderson offers a good and helpful starting place for helping engage and equip the youth of the church to be “digital disciples.”
You might have noticed recently a series of posts on what it means for the church to be welcoming, etc., on this blog. Here is another post that was shared by a friend that might inform an upcoming post in this blog’s series on what it means for the church to be welcoming, seeking, inclusive, etc.
I have mentioned Humble Walk Lutheran Church before. Today I want to share with you information about their new music album which I entrust to you as proof that the church is finding a way to sing about the goodness and stories of God in new and meaningful ways.
Here is a great reflection on “what does it mean to be church together?” What do you think? Thoughts and comments on this might be used to help craft a new blog post, so I would love to hear your perspectives.
Here is a helpful reminder about “meaning it” by Tripp Hudgins. If you are going to be a church, “mean what you say, and say what you mean.” A new building, the latest shining glitter, etc., is not going to attract anyone to your church (or at the very least engage them). It is the actual work and ministry that will grow them as participants in the body of Christ, and welcome them, support them, and engage them for the long term.
If you are a Lutheran, or at least have an appreciation of Christian (and particularly Lutheran) theology here is a helpful summary of the thoughts, theology, and implications of Gerhard Forde.
David Lose is helping celebrate and remember the Reformation fittingly this week on his blog with a special series. Here is the first post in this week’s series.
Cross-Sector Collaboration
If you follow this blog regularly then you have already seen this TED Talk by Michael Porter. If you haven’t, please do check it out. If you want to read my summary of the talk, you can find that here.
Leadership Thought, Practice, and Theory
You have seen recently a little more about how I am a sports fan. I only mention this on this blog though when my sports interests align somewhat with this blog’s topics. This past week Larry Stone of the Seattle Times offered a great look and remembrance of two of Washington’s greatest football coaches who were fantastic leaders in their own rights- Frosty Westering (at Pacific Lutheran University) and Don James (at the University of Washington). I entrust it to you for your reading pleasure.
Ben Lichtenwalner makes the case for why now is the time for servant leadership. What do you think? As for me, I couldn’t agree more.
Shawn Murphy explores the “Irrelevance of Profit-Driven Leadership.” He concludes that “purpose and believing in people’s ability to do great work is what is needed in today’s workplace and business environment.” To this I say, Amen!
Have you ever taken the Myers-Briggs? I am assuming you probably have. So I offer this to you from Geek in Heels as a way to hopefully offer some light hearted fun in the midst of your work week as you compare your personality to some of the big characters in Star Wars.
Have you ever wanted or needed some extra steps to feel more confident in your leadership? Here are 10 Steps from Becky Blalock.
Neighbor Love
Last week Jim Wallis penned this blog post on “The most controversial sentence” he ever wrote. It has received a great amount of traction lately, and so I offer it here just in case you haven’t seen or read it yet. It’s an important read for reflection.
Have you ever thought about congregational based organizing? If not, this might be a good read from The Lutheran especially in thinking about what it means to be the church and to do its work in the world.
I have provided links regarding Malaria a few times in the past month. This article by Sonia Shah comes from Foreign Affairs, and it asks an important question, “why does malaria persist?”
Did you know that there have been 17 school shootings in the past year? Victoria Starr offers an important reflection and pause about this. How do we respond? What are we called to do in light of this?
If you are in a congregational setting, with November beginning at the end of this week, it is high time for planning Advent and even Christmas practices in a congregation. Here’s a golden nugget from two years ago that might give some room for ideas and imagination around supporting the neighbor during this time of year, but also to do so from a helpful stewardship perspective.
Last week I included a post by my friend Hannah in the links. This week I am going to share two. She is starting a series on her blog about why women need to do theology. I couldn’t agree more. Here is the introductory piece of the series. Here is the second piece.
I had the pleasure of seeing Brian McLaren in person this past month as part of a panel discussing the future of the church. Here he shares a paper by Giles Parker meant for discussion pondering the question “Can you hold a Biblical View in support of homosexuality and gay marriage?” What do you think?
You may not know it, but the Red Cross is turning 150 years old. In remembrance and celebration, here is a set of pictures chronicling that history of humanitarian action from The Guardian.
Part of showing love to our neighbor, is to acknowledge them for who they are without ignoring their self-claimed identity. One of these identities is one’s faith or religious view/understanding(s) (or absence of). Paul Brandeis Raushenbush offers an important reflection given news and celebratory interactions in the past couple of weeks.
Miscellaneous Thoughts and Reads
If you are a history buff, or like any story that has to do with airplanes and airports, check out this story.
One of my favorite shows of all time was Chuck. I know it was nerdy, only lasted five seasons, and was kind of a mix of comedy and spy show, but it was really the first show my wife and I fell in love with together. So, it holds a special place in my heart. Here is a story about how Zachary Levi, the actor who played Chuck, is also really a nerd in real life.
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I hope you enjoyed this week’s links. If you have questions, or comments please share in the conversation. Also, if there are subjects of interest you would like to see included in the links, please just let me know. Have a blessed week!
Timothy Siburg 