October 22, 2009

Butterflies

From Greg Bowman

  Speaking in front of a large audience. Taking your driver’s test. Interviewing for a job. Traveling internationally for the first time. Waiting for your first date to arrive. Proposing to your future spouse. The night before prom. The night before your daughter's prom.

There are events in our lives that inevitably cause butterflies. You know what I mean. Read more...

September 1, 2009

Digital Jet Lag

From Bill Donahue

 "How many of our most joyfilled memories have been created in front of a screen?" asks John Freeman in the Wall Street Journal, Aug 21, 2009. Warning of the the dangers of breakneck communication and email addiction Freeman asserts, "The speed at which we do something changes our experience of it." Hmmm. Read this post verrry slowwwly. Read more...

August 17, 2009

Sermon-Based Small Groups

From Greg Bowman

I still remember the day I realized for the first time what it felt like to be a member – not staff – in a church. I was in my twenties, in my first ministry, and was preparing a message for the weekend. In a moment mixed with clarity, surrender and frustration, I realized the futility of saying anything at all that Sunday. I could have given the message of a lifetime and it would have made no difference.Why? Read more...

July 23, 2009

Unanswered Questions

From Greg Bowman

  Wow! We were blown away with your responses yesterday on our conference call with CCN. We were planning on 80 registrants – we had over 600! Originally intended to be a preview of the content of Mindy Caliguire's talk at the fall event, the conference call turned into a discussion on spiritual formation. Read more...

July 16, 2009

Leadership’s Challenges

From Greg Bowman

 Jim Clemmer, a management guru, sums up a challenge most leaders face. “In the midst of tumultuous change, many … are confusing ‘busywork’ activity with results. Missing what's really important to long-term growth and development, they allow themselves to be tyrannized by short-term urgencies.”

Can you relate? It’s a new way of phrasing an old challenge that’s always going to be with us.

For your small group ministry, this challenge presents itself in a few key areas. Read more...