Monthly Archives: August 2015

The Value of a Triad

The Value of a Triad

  • Posted on August 20, 2015
  • /Under On Q
Finding three Christians to start a Q Place together can be challenging, but it is well worth the effort! A few years ago, Emily Capo Sauerman wrote about her experience with two friends who started a Q Place with her in Chicago. Her story speaks for itself in showing the value of starting with a triad: As for me, I am so thankful for my fellow initiators. Every time we meet I feel refreshed just talking with them. I can see in them a strong desire to share their faith, not because they are supposed to, but because they see their...Read more …
The Cape of Good Hope

The Cape of Good Hope

As my wife, Danielle, and I prepared to buy our first home, we prayed that God would place us in a neighborhood where we could intentionally love our neighbors like Jesus. The initial awkwardness of being the “new people on the block” soon gave way to friendly connections, but we yearned to build deeper community. We prayed for our neighborhood and wanted to extend Jesus’ love to our neighbors. One day, I surprised my next-door neighbor by mowing his front lawn. It only took me a couple extra minutes, but when he and his wife noticed, you would have thought...Read more …
Unconditional Acceptance

Unconditional Acceptance

It is hard to overstate the impact that a genuinely warm welcome can have in a person’s life. Welcoming someone bridges them from being a vulnerable outsider to being connected in relationship. When you accept and include someone, you lay the initial groundwork for a relationship to thrive and grow. Conversely, by not welcoming someone, you shut down a person’s interest or willingness to engage relationally. Welcoming provides a safe environment where wrestling with matters of faith for more than just one quick conversation is acceptable, and dealing with the hardships of life without being judged is allowed. It is...Read more …
On the Radio – Walk the Way

On the Radio – Walk the Way

  • Posted on August 13, 2015
  • /Under Loving
(Photo source: Chattanooga Times Free Press) This is Walk the Way, brought to you by Q Place. I’m Jeff Klein. And I’m Pam Klein. At Walgreens the other day, I looked around to see if someone could answer a question. That’s when I saw an older Caucasian man in his wheelchair, smiling and chatting with a younger Muslim woman. I took note – in light of racial tensions in our country, their easy exchange was precious to witness. What a great reminder of what God wants: Shalom – yes, peace. Restored relationships. Courage. Love. Not too long ago, in the...Read more …
Love your Neighbor

Love your Neighbor

  • Posted on August 12, 2015
  • /Under Loving
In Dave Runyon’s book, The Art of Neighboring, Runyon writes about his journey as a pastor and how that journey led him to his town’s city hall and a meeting with the mayor and the city manager. Neither were Christians. When Runyon asked them what area churches could do to help the city, their answer was simple: start a neighboring program. What did the city officials mean by that? Runyon asked them to clarify. They elaborated: “Shovel snow, rake leaves, you know, do some good deeds for people—people you know. Research shows this impacts a city in a positive way.”...Read more …
Transcendent Love

Transcendent Love

  • Posted on August 10, 2015
  • /Under Loving
Editor’s note. The following is a compilation of Rev. George Byron Koch’s writings from his book, What We Believe and Why. What We Believe and Why started out as a teaching/sermon series for Koch’s own congregation and developed over the course of years into an insightful, plain-spoken and “feisty” book about the Christian faith. After reading the book, I’d say Koch summarizes his entire content well on page 240 when he says, echoing 1st Corinthians, that “Believing the right things is worthless when we are loveless. Faith is empty when it is without love.” And the question he poses at...Read more …
On the Radio – Walk the Way

On the Radio – Walk the Way

This is Walk the Way, brought to you by Q Place, I’m Jeff Klein. I recently spoke at a camp to about 350 high school students. At 55 years old, that’s a stretch. Aren’t camp speakers supposed to be cool, young, and handsome? Maybe. And if I ever was all that, it’s long gone. But age has brought along with it a new secret weapon: I ask questions. One student even told me that I was more social than most speakers. Interesting. Could it be because of the great conversation I’d just had with her and her whole cabin? And...Read more …
Where are you from?

Where are you from?

I’ve experienced a powerful discovery as I’ve led training workshops empowering believers to get involved in the Great Commission: Getting on the mission of Jesus can happen along the way, every day, in each of our lives, by simply asking questions and listening to the responses. At every workshop I conduct for Q Place, I do an exercise I’ve dubbed the “Six Degrees of Separation,” based on the social-science theory of the same name. You know the theory—that everyone and everything is six or fewer steps away from something in common. Here’s how it goes: I have everyone in the...Read more …
Questions

Questions

Editor’s Note. One of Q Place’s core values is self-discovery, because after over fifty+ years of ministry, evidence is strong that people grow and learn best when they discover truths for themselves through discussion and study. The primary means to facilitate self-discovery in others is through asking good questions. That is why I resonated so deeply with the thoughts to follow, penned by Frederick Buechner in his book, Wishful Thinking. Trusting they’ll spark something in you as well. – Pamela Klein, On Q Editor _____________________________ QUESTIONS “On her deathbed, Gertrude Stein is said to have asked, ‘What is the answer?’...Read more …
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