Because You Can’t Edit a Blank Sheet: Developing a Bent Towards Action
Perhaps you’ve heard the old quip, “When all is said and done, far more is said than done.” A lot of my world revolves around words, making sure that ideas are well tested before being put into action and that the language around their implementation is likely to give them wings, rather than relegating them to the “never in a thousand years” basket. In that journey I hear so many words, and often long that instead of another talk fest we would have an action fest. There is something about the Nike slogan “Just do it” that inspires. It’s about...
Read MoreBecause every yes is also a no…
Some throw away lines stick. I was listening to an interview with Richard Foster of Celebration of Discipline fame and when asked why he declined most speaking invitations he said,”Because every yes is also a no,” and then elaborated that each engagement he said yes to was a no to his wife and family, a no to time alone with God, and a no to the contemplative, reflective person others wanted him to be. Every yes is also a no. My yes to comfort food is a no to my healthy body; my watching one more TV episode is a no to waking early enough for prayer; my yes to a spurious invite is...
Read MoreManaging Monday with Richard Foster – Take 3
Richard Foster (1942 – ) is an American theologian and author in the Quaker tradition. His 1978 book Celebration of Discipline has sold over one million copies, and has perhaps been more influential than any other book in helping those in the evangelical stream of Christianity to rediscover and experience some of the spiritual disicplines that have nurtured the church for centuries. He has also written significant books on prayer and simplicity. This is our third look at some of his reflections… They are worth pondering at the start of a new year If worship does not propel us...
Read MoreManaging Monday with Richard Foster – Take 2
Richard Foster (1942 – ) is an American theologian and author in the Quaker tradition. His 1978 book Celebration of Discipline has sold over one million copies, and has perhaps been more influential than any other book in helping those in the evangelical stream of Christianity to rediscover and experience some of the spiritual disicplines that have nurtured the church for centuries. He has also written significant books on prayer and simplicity. This is our second look at some of his reflections. In their own way, they are suitable for Christmas. The purpose of silence and solitude is...
Read MoreManaging Monday with Richard Foster
Richard Foster (1942 – ) is an American theologian and author in the Quaker tradition. His 1978 book Celebration of Discipline has sold over one million copies, and has perhaps been more influential than any other book in helping those in the evangelical stream of Christianity to rediscover and experience some of the spiritual disicplines that have nurtured the church for centuries. He has also written significant books on prayer and simplicity. We will look at some of his insights over the next few weeks… The discovery of God lies in the daily and in the ordinary, not in the...
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