Each week on the blog I get to share some of what I have seen, read, and found interesting and thought provoking over the past week. To help make sense of all of these links, I have grouped them by the following categories: Church and Ministry Thought & Practice; Cross-Sector Collaboration; Leadership Thought & Practice; Millennials; Neighbor Love; Social Media & Blogging; Stewardship; Vocation; and Miscellaneous. I hope you enjoy these links!
Church and Ministry Thought & Practice
If you are writing a sermon or planning for worship this weekend for All Saints Sunday, check out these thoughts on “All Saints” from Bishop Michael Rinehart, as well as “Saintly Activity,” by friend and professor Rev. Dr. Karoline Lewis, and “Look Twice,” by Rev. Dr. David Lose. Also, check out this lectionary column by Carol Howard Merritt.
Rozella White wrote about “The Role of Church for Such a Time as This.”
In the spirit of the 498th anniversary of the Reformation and in looking at the rise of the digital age, Carolyn Clement put together this great little video, “From Gutenberg to Google.” Definitely watch it and see what you think from the questions posed in it.
Blogger and pastor Clint Schnekloth asked and pondered, “What is Our Reformation?”
Clint also shared about “The Challenging Gift of of Shane Claiborne.”
Friend, pastoral associate, and blogger Stefanie Fauth-Lemke shared a video discussion on “Genesis 3.”
Church and Social Media (#ChSocM) shared transcripts of their past couple of weekly chats, “Denominational & community identity. How do we share what makes us, us?” as well as, “Social Media Sunday and YOU.”
I am excited to share this “Christmas Invitation” from Pacific Lutheran University. Tickets to their annual Christmas concerts go on sale on November 2nd. Check out this link for information, and also look for the great news about an upcoming television special of the concert just in time for Christmas.
Friend, pastor, and blogger Diane Roth shared some thoughts on “Why She Has a Clergy Coach.” Perhaps her reasons might resonate with yours? Check them out and see if a coach might be helpful for you.
Maria Gronholz shared about, “Twelve Cascadian Arts and Faith Organizations to Know About.”
Friend and Augsburg Fortress CEO Beth Lewis shared about, “Discipleship Resources to Deepen Lives of Faith,” as well as a story about Julie O’Brien in “Talent!”
I came across this article by Dr. Rowan Williams looking at, “How Christianity’s Eastern history has been forgotten.”
Friend, pastor, and blogger Tyler Gubsch shared some thoughts and reflections on “The Success of the Church.” What do you think?
Christina Embree wrote and shared about, “Accidental Discipleship: Habits Your Kids Pick Up From You,” as well as “Back to the Future (and by Future, I mean, Present).”
Robert King shared this great look at the “Death and resurrection of an urban church.” Definitely give this a read.
Friend, pastor, and college chaplain Siri Erickson shared this post by Olivia Whitener, “I Am a Mainline Protestant Under the Age of 35. Yes, We Exist.” As another person that fits that category, yes, we do indeed exist.
Cross-Sector Collaboration
Pastor and blogger Jan Edmiston shared about the social sector and thoughts about why she “Hearts Non-Profits.”
Friend and professor Dr. Mary Hess shared this video channel look at “Complexity Learning.”
Social leadership theorist and blogger Julian Stodd shared some more perspective on change, as well as its relationship to authenticity, writing, “Change Curve: Grounding your Authenticity.”
Leadership Thought & Practice
Tanveer Naseer shared thoughts on the importance of “Understanding The Power of Our Words,” as well as a guest post by Shawn Murphy looking at “3 Factors that Prevent Leaders from Creating Workplace Optimism.”
Shawn Murphy also shared a post for Dan Forbes at Lead with Giants highlighting, “6 Leadership Actions that Energize the Workplace.”
Brian Dodd shared a list of “14 Things Leaders do to Breathe Life into a Dying Organization.”
Dan Rockwell shared a number of leadership reflections and pieces of food for thought, including good thoughts on “How to Develop Feelings of Curiosity,” as well as some thoughts on “Nicknames Your Boss Deserves But You Don’t Dare to Use,” and “How Sincere Leaders Sabotage Their Organizations.”
Justin Irving shared part two of, “10 Life Lessons from Youth Sports.”
My friends at LEAD shared, “5 Things I Do to Manage My Life.”
Francesca Gina and Bradley Staats explained about, “Why Organizations Don’t Learn.”
Anne Loehr shared and asked, “Feeling Stuck? Might Be Time for a Crucial Conversation.”
Andrea Edwards asked, “If You’re a CEO and Not on Social, Are You Truly ‘Customer-Obsessed?’” What do you think? At the very least, I think it’s a fair question.
Jasmine Sandler pointed to, “3 Ways Small Business CEOs Need to Use Social Branding.”
Friend, blogger, and communications director Carrie Gubsch shared a couple leadership posts and articles that caught my eye. These included Rachel Botsman’s look at, “The Changing Rules of Trust in the Digital Age,” and Jan Phillips’ post about, “Rethinking Women’s Leadership: Shifting Into a Paradigm of We and Us.”
Scott Guthrie argues that, “The Social Age Needs Real, Human Leadership.”
Jon Mertz at Thin Difference explains that, “Interdependence Empowers Collaboration and Results,” and that “Purpose-Driven is Out. Purpose-Activated Is In.” What do you think?
Also at Thin Difference, Heidi Oran wrote about, “The Introverted Leader.”
Millennials
Stefanie O’Connell wrote about “The Quarter Life Crisis: The Millennial Call to Action.”
If you have some time to watch or listen to some great thoughts on “Marketing to Millennials” from Chelsea Krost, then check out this speech.
Noa Gafni took a look at apparently “Why So Many Millennials Aren’t Into Protest Movements.” What do you think?
Neighbor Love
Friend and program director of hunger education for ELCA World Hunger, Ryan Cumming, wrote fittingly this past week, “It’s ‘Back to the Future Day.'”
My wife Allison shared her recent sermon based on Mark 10:35-45, “You are not Jesus.” Allison thought it was a “weird sermon.” I thought it was powerful and moving. I particularly loved this portion of Allison’s sermon, when she preached, “We are free to not be Jesus. As followers of Jesus, we are freed from the task of being the name above all names. Because being the most independent and the most free is exhausting. But we’re not totally off the hook – It’s not up to us to save the world, but it’s up to us to do the best we can. We are given opportunities and gifts and strengths not to save people, not to fix people, but to serve. We are truly freed, or you could say, “freed up” to serve our neighbor.” Go and read the whole sermon and see what you think.
Friend, blogger, and artist Vonda Drees shared a number of beautiful posts over the past week. These included: “a luminous pause“; “second fiddle“; “perpetual presence“; “home-foundation and future“; “Rise Up, Creative!“; “wild grace“; “why inspires“; “What awakens our soul?“; and “becoming all that i am.”
Rozella Haydee White shared, “A Word on Truth,” her recent sermon on John 8:31-36. Within this Rozella explains why she thinks and believes that, “The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off.”
Friend, pastor, and blogger Frank Johnson shared his recent sermon based on 2 Samuel 6:1-5, “A life of service.”
Friend, pastoral associate, and blogger Stefanie Fauth Lemke shared some All Saints inspired reflections in writing, “Simultaneously Sinner and Saint.”
Social Media & Blogging
Friend and blogger J.W. Wartick shared his version of the links with his “Really Recommended Posts.”
Mickie Kennedy wrote and unpacked about, “The Art of Storytelling on Social Media.”
Friend, pastor, and blogger Aaron Fuller shared an important perspective from Maria Konnikova on “How the Internet Has Changed Bullying.”
Stewardship
Friend and stewardship director Adam Copeland shared about his recent piece in The Lutheran, about “Young Adults and Giving,” which was titled in the magazine, “From Myths to Ministry,” which looked especially at Millennials and stewardship. Check out the post, and see the insights and ideas shared by a number of friends and thinkers. In the interest of full-disclosure, I am thankful that Adam included me in this article as well. Thank you Adam.
The COMPASS blog continued its October theme and focus on how to enjoy a “Frugal Fall” over the past week. First, Matt and Chelsea DeBall shared practical tips and ideas for how to enjoy a Frugal Fall by creating frugal “Halloween decorations.” If you’re still scrambling for some last minute decoration ideas, definitely check these out.
I also shared some thoughts as part of the series on “Why be Frugal,” thinking about both notions of contentment and community within my wife Allison’s and my own life, sense of stewardship, vocation, and faith.
Michelle Schroeder-Gardner shared thoughts on “Why Everyone Should Be Aware of Their Financial Situation.”
Erin at Young Adult Money looked at a list of the “Top 10 Personal Finance Apps and Tools to Use.” What do you think of these?
Vocation
Friend and blogger Julia Nelson invited me to share some “Tuesday Tea Time,” this past Tuesday on her blog with some vocational thoughts and questions. Check them out and join the conversation.
News broke this past week that Judge Jay Roof would be retiring. Well done good and faithful servant in your service and work for justice and the community.
Friend and musician Meagan Grandall and her group Lemolo were recently profiled in, “Lemolo conquer America, one house at a time.”
Tom Jacobs wrote and shared, “Feeling Isolated? Try Choral Singing.”
Friend, pastor, and blogger Diane Roth shared some thoughts about “Stopping in at the Pre-School.”
Miscellaneous
Friend and blogger Tim Chalberg shared some updates and reflections about the Seattle Mariners’ off-season, writing about, “Dipoto’s Delightfully Insane Front Office,” and “Servais at Mariners Service.”
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That concludes this edition of the links. I hope you have enjoyed them. As always, if you have particular questions or topics for me to think about on the blog, please share them. Also, if there are things you would like to see included in the links, please let me know that too. Until next time, thank you for reading and being part of the conversation. Blessings on your week! -TS
Image Credits: The Links; “why inspires“; and “Rise Up, Creative!“
Timothy Siburg 