Bill’s interview of Sheryl worked through a variety of topics.

On loss and resilience:

I’ve looked forward to this session, after listening to Krista Tippet
interview Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant regarding their book: Option B.
Her learnings through the untimely death of her husband shaped their book
on resilience. 

Reflecting on her book, Option B, no one in the middle of grief believes it
will get better. No one. In her book, she identifies 3 “p”s in the grieving
process:… Continue reading →

Bill, founder of Willow Creek Community Church, Willow Creek Association and the annually hosted Leadership Summit, began his opening talk reminding us that “whenever a leader gets… Continue reading →

Bill, founder of Willow Creek Community Church, Willow Creek Association
and the annually hosted Leadership Summit, began his opening talk reminding
us that “whenever a leader gets better, everyone wins.”

Getting better requires commitment.

Early in his talk, Bill underscored the value of humility of the leader.
The leader cannot grow, develop or improve without humility. When humility
is embraced, we can… Continue reading →

We use this word, care, easily and often throughout the day.

* “Do you care if I have a cookie?”
* “I don’t give a care.”
* “I care, just not enough to do anything about it.”
* “I care for you.”
* “Be careful!”
* “He should be under a doctor’s care.”
* “I don’t care.”

Care is defined as a noun: the provision of what is necessary for the
health, welfare, maintenance, and protection of someone or something;
serious attention or consideration applied to doing something correctly or
to avoid damage or risk. It’s also a verb: feel concern or interest; attach
importance to something; look after and provide for the needs of.

Maybe it’s just as easy to miss actually caring for someone as it is to
say, “I don’t care for… Continue reading →

We use this word, care, easily and often throughout the day.

* “Do you care if I have a cookie?”
* “I don’t give a care.”
* “I care, just not enough to do anything about it.”
* “I care for you.”
* “Be careful!”
* “He should be under a doctor’s care.”
* “I don’t care.”

Care is defined as a noun: the provision of what is necessary for the
health, welfare, maintenance, and protection of someone or something;
serious attention or consideration applied to doing something correctly or
to avoid damage or risk. It’s also a verb: feel concern or interest; attach
importance to something; look after and provide for the needs of.

Maybe it’s just as easy to miss actually caring for someone as it is to
say, “I don’t care for… Continue reading →

My last post centered around how we respond to the LOSS of human life.
Honestly, sometimes we don’t do so well. 

Today’s focus is the flip side. The redemption side. This is pure JOY.

This past weekend one of our artists shared vulnerably and transparently a
piece of her story. Just 5 years ago she was in a dark place of depression
that led her to the edge of a bridge where she intended to end her life. 

But… Continue reading →

My last post centered around how we respond to the LOSS of human life.
Honestly, sometimes we don’t do so well. 

Today’s focus is the flip side. The redemption side. This is pure JOY.

This past weekend one of our artists shared vulnerably and transparently a
piece of her story. Just 5 years ago she was in a dark place of depression
that led her to the edge of a bridge where she intended to end her life. 

But… Continue reading →

No one can understand the place the human mind and soul go when overtaken
by depression. Unless you’ve been there. Whether a season or a lifetime
condition, mental illness is just that: it is an illness. And if that dark
place of depression leads to such despair that taking one’s life seems like
the only sensible thing to do – well, only those who’ve sat on that ledge
can truly know that soulish agony.

I sat with a young man last week at a hospital where he was working his way
back from attempting to take his own life… Continue reading →

No one can understand the place the human mind and soul go when overtaken
by depression. Unless you’ve been there. Whether a season or a lifetime
condition, mental illness is just that: it is an illness. And if that dark
place of depression leads to such despair that taking one’s life seems like
the only sensible thing to do – well, only those who’ve sat on that ledge
can truly know that soulish agony.

I sat with a young man last week at a hospital where he was working his way
back from attempting to take his own life… Continue reading →

You don’t intend to not be ready. You really want everyone to feel welcome.
You even have some greeters at the front door. People are shaking hands,
and they appear to be friendly. 

However, every weekend people walk into churches across America and feel
less than welcome. They don’t know what to do or where to go. They feel
like strangers.

Here are 10 reasons you and your church may not be ready to welcome new
guests to your weekend service: 

1. Your culture is developed for “family” and every weekend is a
reunion. Unfortunately, guests can sense when they aren’t treated as
family.
2. You have a “friendly” church. Unfortunately,… Continue reading →