How many times have you felt stuck in the middle of an argument by two people that you love? You can see both sides of things, but there’s an impasse and the relationship appears to be falling apart, or the opportunity will be lost and at no small cost to those involved. In the case Read More
Category: Communicating
Without it, we have assumptions.
Communication Assumptions are Deadly!
Are you being challenged in your relationships? Whether that relationship is with your spouse, your friend or a congregational member, making assumptions about what they “really” mean – can be deadly. The death of many a relationship has been caused solely by blind assumptions regarding motives and intentions. As a leader in a church, or Read More
Is it Racial or Behavioral?
Yesterday I received, along with a host of other people, a string of Tweets from someone we all know and love dearly. This sweet man was visiting a city that he was not completely familiar with. While there, he decided to take a walk and, as is his nature, became deeply engrossed in his thoughts Read More
How To Be Relevant in Your Communications
It seems obvious enough, but somehow, this issue of relevant and effective communication gets lost when it comes to communicating spiritual matters. When you are in a computer store, shopping for a new computer, your salesperson will assess where you are in your knowledge of electronics and speak to you accordingly so that you can Read More
Listening to What is Not Being Said
There are moments when we are in the heat of a discussion and tempers flare, that the art of listening slides to the rear of our minds. Emotions boil up, over and out, carrying acid thoughts and accusations. When listening ends, we take to heart only what we EXPECT to hear, not what is actually Read More
Un-conditional Love – Oh Really?
“Sweetheart,” the young mother said, as she leaned over her teenage daughter sitting on the couch pouting. “Don’t you understand that God and I love you UN-conditionally?” “If that’s the case then you’d let me do what I want to do and it would be okay, right? the daughter replied. “Well, that’s not what I Read More
My Journey … Part 5
Perhaps the most unsettling thing I’ve encountered in my Christian walk has been thinking that I had something figured out – only to discover there was ‘more to the story’. As a young Baptist girl, I was taught the belief of “once saved, always saved.” That blanket statement stayed with me for years – even Read More
My Journey … Part 4
Fast forward many years… I’m standing on the platform with the praise team. Singing is a joy to me, and unlike my cartooning talent, my musical talent is passable, but not nearly as gifted or refined. As the pastor’s wife, I felt incredibly honored and blessed to be working with one of the most gifted Read More
My Journey … part 2
Raised in the Conservative Baptist Church, I was taught that once we are saved we are always saved. One Sunday, at about the age of seven, the Sunday School teacher was explaining that to us in class. It didn’t seem possible, so I asked her, “If this is true, then what happens if I get Read More
How Can I Be Submissive When I Know He’s Wrong?
There are two very powerful concepts that are being addressed in the question asked above. The first is regarding SUBMISSION and the next is whether or not someone is WRONG. To understand the intent of something, we have to understand the position of the statement. When we look at something from a perspective of “law” Read More