I am a content creator and storyteller based in Florida, where I work for OneHope. I love digital and content marketing, writing, and the occasional doodle.
A few weeks ago, I got to write an article about a church that is embracing a new name and renewed mission. It is a great example of why renewal is always possible.
I love writing about these articles because it shows that it is never too early for a restart. Here’s another great example from last year. In each case, because someone had hope, a vision, and the courage to begin again, good things began to happen.
There is a lot of pressure when you have the responsibility for running the presentation during a church service. And it doesn’t help when the worship leader goes with the Spirit. Such an experience inspired me to write and draw this worship slides pressure cartoon.
I have been on both sides of the screen. There have been times when I am in the congregation and I have been distracted by the erratic timing of the slides. I have wondered, “What in the world is the operator thinking? Is this even the same song?”
Last month, I got to interview a pastor about a new ministry his church launched. I enjoyed writing it because it challenged some preconceived notions about how a ministry should serve its community. Here is a link to the Hope in Surprising Places Article.
I love the chance to write an article where faith and hope are present. As I’ve written before, I used to mix up the two terms. But it’s evident in the article that this church is bringing hope to its community through the active use of faith.
We’ve all had to wait for something. We may have a dream or goal that isn’t happening as fast as we’d like. But how about waiting for forty years? Lack of patience and faith is why Moses heard a lot of complaining!
A big test of our faith in a dream or goal is our patience. When we look forward to something, we can’t wait for it to get here. We may have to save, labor, and plod ahead to reach a goal. Yet, our estimate of how long something takes can be way off.
Listen first, speak last.
Peter Drucker in The Effective Executive, page xxiii
I did not expect to find “listen first, speak last” in a book on business leadership. But there it was. Peter Drucker elevated it to a rule for executives to follow.
This didn’t play into my stereotype of the brash, bombastic, self-assured, influential executive. Aren’t leaders supposed to be the boss and have people do their bidding? At least that was the excuse I used when I tried to reason why some are leaders and others are followers.