Barnabas File

I was recently in a group where we were invited into a time of Centering Prayer.     The host asked each of us to select a “sacred word” as a focus for this time. Of course, I chose two works: “living water.”    This a significant phrase for me both inspirationally and theologically.   I grew up on the Gulf Coast and spent many summer days on the beach, both swimming in and observing the Gulf of Mexico.  The expanse of the Gulf reflected for me the immensity and power of God.  Its vastness spoke of God’s omnipotence and omnipresence.   In my more mature years, I have come of appreciate another source of water--mountain streams.  The flowing grace of a stream with its gentle mummering, calls me to consider the intimacy of God.  I accept and glory in the majesty of God, but most days I need to feel the closeness of God.   There are a couple of references that encourage me in this thought.   The  Didache ...

Courtesy of Pinnacle Leadership Associates Friend and colleague Mark Tidsworth is rolling out a new process for churches titled Crossing Thresholds.     In a nutshell, Mark is designing a way for churches to identify the “invisible barriers” to a church’s missional movement, changing those to “thresholds for crossing.” He states, “Once a threshold is crossed, churches and their leaders experience relief and release, moving into new seasons of freedom with ease of movement.”    Part of this process is a design of six steps for creating a strategy to cross thresholds (see diagram). From time to time, I will take the opportunity here to comment on some of the thoughts these steps provoke for me.  Please note these are my responses and do not necessarily reflect Mark’s thinking!   One of the dynamics that Mark addresses is Identity and Deconstruction.  One strategy step is “Collective Exploration.”   For me, an essential key for co...

Holy God, we acknowledge our need for your presence in our lives daily. We share our concerns, place them in your hands, and listen for Your Voice.   For those who have lost loved ones in recent days and still feel an emptiness in their lives. . . Lord, hear our prayer. For the homeless, the jobless, and those who barely survive on the margins of society . . . Lord, hear our prayer. For refugees, immigrants, and those who are misplaced . . . Lord, hear our prayer. For those whose lives are threatened by mindless war and violence each day . . . Lord, hear our prayer. For political, charitable, and ministry leaders who confront the problems of our world. . . Lord, hear our prayer. For the family and friends who love and support us . . . Lord, hear our prayer. For the People of God who are called to be light and salt in this needy world . . . Lord, hear our prayer.   And we thank you, God, for the reminders of your presence in the ordinary things of life.   For the touch of ...

I was at a meeting a short distance from our local hospital, when my wife called and asked me to come to the maternity ward at quickly as possible.    The daughter of a longtime family friend was there to deliver her first child, and there were complications.   When I arrived at the maternity ward, I learned that the mother had delivered a healthy baby, but she had died.  The grief on the floor was palpable.  Not only family and friends were in tears, but the medical staff was stunned.  This was meant to be a place of celebration not grief.  Our pastor had been called by the family, but he found himself ministering to the staff as well as the family.  The chaplain was there to provide support for all.   I was reminded of this when we recently welcomed a new great grandchild into our family.  Like her sister, she came several weeks early. Both mother and daughter are well, but the baby had to stay in the Nata...

Holy God, we acknowledge our need for your presence in our lives daily. We share our concerns, place them in your hands, and listen for Your Voice.   For those who have lost loved ones in recent days and still feel an emptiness in their lives. . . Lord, hear our prayer. For the homeless, the jobless, and those who barely survive on the margins of society . . . Lord, hear our prayer. For refugees, immigrants, and those who are misplaced . . . Lord, hear our prayer. For those whose lives are threatened by mindless war and violence each day . . . Lord, hear our prayer. For political, charitable, and ministry leaders who confront the problems of our world. . . Lord, hear our prayer. For the family and friends who love and support us . . . Lord, hear our prayer. For the People of God who are called to be light and salt in this needy world . . . Lord, hear our prayer.   And we thank you, God, for the reminders of your presence in the ordinary things of life.   For the touch of ...

Dr. Richard C. Halverson (1916-1995), chaplain to the U.S. Senate, is credited with this statement made in 1984 in a speech before the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church:  “In the beginning the church was a fellowship of men and women centering on the living Christ. Then the church moved to Greece, where it became a philosophy. Then it moved to Rome, where it became an institution. Next it moved to Europe where it became a culture, and, finally, it moved to America where it became an enterprise.”   This statement may be a bit harsh but, in many ways, our churches tend to function today more as businesses than as spiritual organisms.  For example, when the stewardship committee of a church sends out a letter encouraging congregants to invite people to church in order to “meet our budget,” the church has lost its focus.  When the building committee becomes more interested in maintaining the physical facility than serving the community, prio...

What makes a coach--life coach, leadership coach, etc.--a “Christian” coach?  I have often said that it is not about the questions the coach asks of his or her client, but the worldview that the coach brings to his or her work. As Luther is reported to have said,  “The Christian shoemaker does his duty not by putting little crosses on the shoes, but by making good shoes, because God is interested in good craftsmanship.” On further reflection, I think that there is another dimension that the Christian coach brings to the coaching conversation: the coach’s understanding about how God might be at work in the life of the person who is being coached.  If the Christian coach is to be faithful to his or her calling, the coach realizes that there are three persons involved in the conversation: the client, the coach, and the Spirit of God. I try to remind myself of this is in a couple of ways.  First, before coaching sessions I try to set aside a...

When a church finally realizes it is time for a change, the attitude is often, “Let’s just bite the bullet and get this done.”  In other words, we realize that this is needed, so let’s not waste time on reflection or preparation, let’s just act. There are times when expediency is important--an opportunity for a new ministry comes along and requires immediate action or a crisis requires a snap decision.  Most of the time, however, the church has time to address change with an appropriate time for discernment and choice. When it comes time to consider changes that are truly transformational, Jim Herrington and his colleagues writing in Leading Congregational Change suggest that you take the time to assure that your church has a base of spiritual and relational vitality.  If these core strengths are not present, change may rip your church apart. Spiritual and relational vitality are two dimensions of a single reality that Christ taught in this...

The writers of the Psalms are very transparent about their feelings.   In the 150 chapters of the book, one can find hymns of praise, celebration, wisdom, and anger.   Those expressing personal anger are usually called psalms of lamentation.   They are very candid—beseeching God to regard and deal with the problems of the psalmist and/or the people. They sometimes sound like they are accusing God for their problems but they usually come back to acknowledging God’s care. Most often the writer strikes a balance as in Psalm 9:13-14, NRSV: “Be gracious to me, O Lord . See what I suffer from those who hate me;  you are the one who lifts me up from the gates of death,   so that I may recount all your praises,  and, in the gates of daughter Zion, rejoice in your deliverance.” In this psalm, the writer also uses the term “enemies” to refer to those who cause the writer suffering.   Too often, we think that this approach of dividing h...