Search Results for: noticing

The incredible beauty of noticing

The incredible beauty of noticing

  • Posted on January 13, 2017
  • /Under Noticing
One morning Majora Carter went out for her daily run across the South Bronx in New York City. The backdrop? Dumpsites. One after another. Maybe it was the smell of all that good, decaying refuse that made Majora’s dog pull her toward the Bronx River. Most likely it was. Nonetheless, before she knew it, she was walking gingerly behind her dog who was leading her—straining and sniffing forward—through weeds and scattered piles of garbage. The two ended up near the river’s shore, right at the site of a massive city dump. When Majora finally looked up, she saw it: Garbage upon more garbage,...Read more …
Before Knowing & Being Known: Noticing

Before Knowing & Being Known: Noticing

  • Posted on July 15, 2015
  • /Under Noticing
Do you remember the day you met your best friend? I do. It was a beautiful autumn day. The September sun was streaming, fading and golden, through the red, orange, and yellow leaves. It was cool enough for jeans and a jean jacket, but the air was still clinging to a bit of warmth from the Indian summer day. As I strolled past the front doors of the church that stood across from the expansive front lawn of the town’s college, I noticed a group of men in tuxes standing as a group on the steps. I say “noticed,” but...Read more …
Something worth practicing

Something worth practicing

Here’s a radio-minute that aired nationally this week on Q Place’s Walk the Way: This is Walk the Way, brought to you by Q Place, I’m Jeff Klein. And I’m Pam Klein. We don’t need to look any farther than Jesus’ example for ways to move out in mission. Jesus noticed people. People like Zaccheaus and the crippled man at the pool of Bethesda. Jesus initiated countless conversations. Remember the story of the Samaritan woman at the well? Jesus intentionally went out of his way to engage with her, notice her and ask her some questions. Jesus prayed. The Bible records Jesus...Read more …
Ever consider a different route?

Ever consider a different route?

For years, Dave drove the same roads from Chicago to his folks’ house in eastern Pennsylvania. That is, until the first time he drove it with his new wife, Jen. Jen decided she would consult Google in order to determine the best route. Dave found this utterly ludicrous! After all, hadn’t he been driving the best, fastest, and only route for years? Apparently not. When it was Jen’s turn to drive, and her new husband fell asleep in the passenger seat next to her, she switched to her route. And when Dave woke up, they had already arrived, an hour and a half...Read more …
Can you do what Jesus did?

Can you do what Jesus did?

Not too long ago, on the way out of church, Jack and his wife, Pat, noticed a woman, alone, still sitting in her seat. But because they’d been trained to notice others and understand that, in the middle of their ordinary routines and ordinary days, God puts people in front of us for a reason, they stopped to say hello, introduce themselves, and ask if anything was wrong. The three ended up eating together and through asking questions and listening, they unpacked the woman’s story. Her husband had left, she lost her job, and now she felt at the end of her...Read more …
Why did you enter the ministry?

Why did you enter the ministry?

  • Posted on May 19, 2017
  • /Under General
I think that many of us go into ministry out of a love for the Lord, a love for people, and a love for biblical theology. But once in ministry, we realize very quickly that we are responsible for leading and managing an organization. The larger the church, the more the focus of our time moves from doing ministry to leading staff, casting vision, dealing with fundraising, and attending to the myriad demands of organizational life. While all of those things are important, they often fail to bring that sense of fulfillment that led us into ministry in the first...Read more …
Jesus said, “GO.” The question is, how?

Jesus said, “GO.” The question is, how?

If the people of your church felt equipped to share their faith, do you think they would? A pastor from the Chicago area recently shared this story with us: I realized the need and wanted everyone in my church to be directly involved in the Mission of God. So, one Sunday morning I preached one of my best sermons! I urged my people on, I called them to action, I told them that they didn’t want to be the religious leaders walking by someone on the side of the road who needed their help, and I even laid on some guilt. At the...Read more …
What miracle does God want to work through your church?

What miracle does God want to work through your church?

About thirty-five years ago, Wayne Gordon accepted a job as a history teacher and head coach of the football team at a high school in the Lawndale neighborhood of Chicago. In 1975, this area was one of the poorest and most crime-ridden in the city and few people saw much good coming from there. Still, “Coach” purchased a weight machine and placed it in plain view in a first-floor storefront room below his apartment, for all his players to see as they passed by. Beginning with the basics Sure enough, they asked if they could come and lift weights. “Yes,” Coach replied, “on one condition.” Here...Read more …
Planting time!

Planting time!

  • Posted on April 21, 2017
  • /Under General
Can I share something with you that my friend Jodi recently wrote on Facebook? I’m thankful today for another woman (a stranger to me) who moved with the call to imagination and beauty. She poured out her love on this ground. What is now my backyard. And here I am with my little family, years later, enjoying the benefit of that hard and worthy work. What a great reminder to release the temptation for instant gratification and gratitude. I’ll press into the opportunity to leave a beautiful mark on the world and my people just by living into the woman...Read more …
On the Radio – Walk the Way

On the Radio – Walk the Way

  • Posted on April 12, 2017
  • /Under Noticing
This is Walk the Way. Brought to you by Q Place. I’m Jeff Klein. Did you hear about this? It was all over social media. Apparently, there was a father at an airline ticket counter who had planned on flying with his child in his lap. But between the time he had purchased the ticket and the time of their actual flight, the child had turned two. And kids over two need their own seat. But that additional ticket was going to cost about seven hundred and fifty dollars. The man couldn’t do it. He couldn’t afford it. And his...Read more …
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