It's easy to mistakenly think that My Life is over here (on the left side of the page) - made up of all those little dots - and God is somewhere "out there." When I do that, my center is constantly shifting as the little dots vie for attention and urgency. In that state of … Continue reading Yeah…But How?
'Martha, Martha, the Lord answered, 'you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed - or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.'Luke 10:41-42 We can all identify with Martha’s plea. She is filled with good intentions, busy doing good … Continue reading Abiding and “The One Thing.”
Have you ever considered the possibility that your creative work in the world is ministry when it comes from a place rooted in Christ?
In Acts 17: 24-25 Paul talks to a group of educated, deeply religious Athenians and challenges their understanding of who and what "God" is. "The God who made the world and everything in it is the LORD of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served … Continue reading God does not live in temples built by human hands.
"Let purpose be your bouncer. Let it decide what goes into your gathering and what stays out."Priya Parker, The Art of Gathering As I'm reading through The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker with an eye to developing corporate worship I'm finding all sorts of great ideas and tips on ways to elevate the experience … Continue reading Let Purpose Be Your Bouncer
https://player.vimeo.com/video/259100287 Millennials are flocking to a host of new organizations that deepen community in ways that are powerful, surprising and even religious.The How We Gather Report Convergence began about 12 years ago. So, that is right in the middle of what was commonly referred to as the "Emergent Church Movement" (Click here for a great … Continue reading Millennials Are Changing The Way We Gather
“The way we gather matters. Gatherings consume our days and help determine the kind of world we live in, in both our intimate and public realms. Gathering – the conscious bringing together of people for a reason – shapes the way we think, feel, and make sense of our world…And yet most of us spend … Continue reading Routine is the Enemy of Meaningful Gathering
By Lisa Smith. I’ve been reading different takes on “dealing with” creative people. It makes me laugh to see the advice people give. Usually it boils down to the equivalent of how to keep your pets entertained. “Dangle something shiny or give them treats hidden inside a toy so they don’t get bored.” Or how … Continue reading 10 Ways To “Deal” With Creatives In Your Congregation
By Lisa Smith. It is time to bring the power of the arts to the heart of the church. The arts are one of the most powerful means by which we explore the human experience. Through the arts we mine the deep existential questions of what it means to be human. We ask, “Who am … Continue reading Art, Existential Questions, And the Heart of the Church
By Lisa Smith. There is graffiti painted on the side of an underpass near my neighborhood. In large black and red colors it reads, “Art is Order.” Despite the irony of the tagger’s lack of respect for the order of law, I see it as a signpost declaring something true; on some level art is … Continue reading Art Is Order