About 6 or 7 years ago, I attended a church leader’s conference during my time of living in the UK. It was particularly launched by a leader with a desire to train up leaders in today’s world. Yet, to be honest, It was a bit awkward at times, at least for me and those pastors we relate to within in our network.

Why?

Mainly because there were two pastors of megachurches, one leader from a church of 3000 and one leader from a church of 7000, this being quite different from the normal church context of Europe and the UK. In a European context, a healthy church would consist of anywhere from 50-75 adults, while a larger church would consist of 100+ adults. Quite a different scene than what is at times presented on ‘Christian television’ and other marketable places. Continue reading

Jesus made an all-important statement early on in his ministry. Already based in the Hebrew Scriptures (or Old Testament), Jesus was simply re-emphasising an essential characteristic of God’s people:

We are not first and foremost task-managers and busy-bodies. We are first and foremost sons and daughters called to hear our Father.

Yet there are 2 major hindrances to such. There are more that could be considered, no doubt. But I believe these are the 2 major ones that become barriers to hearing the voice of our Father. Continue reading

It’s that time of year again: autumn. This is the season where God displays his beauty in the shades of orange, yellow, red and brown in the leaves hanging from the trees. For me, it is also a time of anticipation as we lead up to the holiday season of Christmas. But in this time, it is also launches a debated day for some Christians. I speak of Halloween, which arrives every year on October 31. Though I no longer live in America, I am aware that it is quite a celebrated day amongst my countrymen and women, or at least their children. The stores are stocked with all things orange and black, not to mention the overflowing aisles of all things candy.

And oddly enough, though I live in Belgium, I hear that if you go into one of the main American communities just south of Brussels, into the city of Waterloo, you will see lots of jack-o-lanterns in anticipation of the day.

Certainly, Christians have debated about this day for years on end. And, no doubt, many Christians would rather decline an invitation to dress-up in a costume and march around the neighbourhood, all with the intent of speaking those infamous words, ‘Trick or Treat,’ at each door that was knocked on.

So, is Halloween harmful, even evil? Or is it just a simple ploy to get some free candy? I mean, can’t we just dress up as clowns or firemen (or Bible characters) in our attempt to collect some complimentary candy? What are we to make of all this hype, for America does know how to hype its holidays? Those are the questions that beg themselves, at least for me. Continue reading

You might have never thought much about it, but when it comes to communication, I think there is a difference between these two all-important words: reacting andresponding.

How do I see them as different from one another?

Reacting seems to be more immediate, jumping to conclusions very quickly, and, therefore, this can lead to heated communication. Here there is a lack of wisdom.

Responding, for me, points more to seasoned wisdom, in the sense of not immediately speaking without first thinking through the implications.

For many, this might simply be a case of semantics. But, as I understand communication, these are two quite different words. One is more helpful (responding); one is not as helpful (reacting). This is true in real-life person to person communication and in the midst of the world wide web (we call it the internet today).

As follower of the Christ, I believe we are called to be responders and not reactors, even when righteous anger is called for in the midst of injustice.