No one should ever have to stand alone in their suffering or their shame. Instead, we need to become a safe harbor for those who are floundering; this is our sacred calling.
All by Daniel McGraw
Moral Injury and the Power of Lament
Moral injury can cause us to turn inwards due to guilt, grief, or shame. Lament exposes dark deeds to the light and brings God’s mercy and grace to bear.
Moral Injury and the Power of Reconciliation
Peter has not lived up to the person he claimed to be, and because of this incongruity, he has experienced a moral injury.
Moral Injury and the Power of Forgiveness
I want to delve into moral and spiritual injury, looking at ways that we as Christians, ministers, pastors, counselors, and chaplains can respond when we encounter it.
A New Light Has Dawned
But into the darkness, God sends his light. It’s what he has been doing since the beginning. “Let there be light” were the first words spoken.
Integrity Is Integral … and Gritty (Part 2)
Integrity is gritty – it is hard, it takes effort, it’s often a chore. And integrity is a never-ending process: it takes a lifetime to build, yet mere moments to destroy.
Integrity Is Integral (Part 1)
People want to follow leaders who present themselves as they truly are, not as they believe others want them to be.
Diversity of Perspective
A truly multiethnic, multigenerational, and multi-perspective church values, discusses, encourages, supports, and implements ideas and dreams that flow from all echelons of the congregation.
The OODA Loop and the Overflow of the Heart
How can we apply the OODA loop – observe, orient, decide, act – to congregational leadership?
The Importance of Operational Pauses
In a world that values productivity – doing more and more – Jesus reminds us that faithfulness is greater fruit than fame. There’s always work to do … so we must begin in prayer.
Leadership for Innovation
We have spiritualized or prioritized the methods over the mission to the point that we think they are one and the same.
Leadership Requires Listening
As we talk about taking initiative – getting things done quickly, efficiently, and innovatively – the reminder at the end is stark: learn to listen!
Braving the Wilderness or Returning to What Is Known?
When we aren’t sure what to do or where to start, we go back to what is familiar, comfortable, “normal.”
We Need a Ministry of Presence
What this person needed was someone to take the brunt of their anger, who would sit with them while they screamed.
COVID-19 and Controlling Our Responses
Our idea of control is an illusion. We have very little say in what happens around us or to us; we only have a say in how we react and respond to the challenges that we face.
When it Comes to Stress Management, What’s Even Better Than Cake?
Regardless of what is going on right now, may you find comfort, strength, and hope in the one whose yoke is easy.
Renewed for Ministry
One of the characters in the Bible who has impacted my life most profoundly is Elijah, because there is so much we can learn from his life and legacy.
The Blessing of Giving Up
What would you be willing to lay aside for the good of someone else? Would you be willing to give up your seat? Your lunch? Your comfort? Your time? Your money?
Trust
We live in an age of distrust, which has profound implications for the church as an institution, for us as people, and for leadership.
Little Things Matter
Little things can change the entire story. And if you aren’t diligent in the little things, can you be trusted to pay attention to the big things?