The Pursuit of Perfection
When have I experienced Christian Perfection? I was asked this question of the confirmation class. I told them not to be worried if they haven’t experienced it at all. I am 51 and have only experienced it three times: once when I was called, once at ordination, once my second year at PTCUMC. In each of those instances I felt the overwhelming power of the Holy Spirit in ways I have trouble…
Read MoreAim for Christian Perfection
Don’t miss the mark I can’t handle as much sugar as I used to. That doesn’t mean I don’t want it. I want it in excessive quantities. But I can’t consume large quantities at once. I should’ve never done it in the past. And even the little quantities make me jittery and crash hard later on. Such is the way with things that aren’t life giving for us. A certain quantity…
Read MoreYour Best Work
Be steadfast Your best work. Does it need to be done? Does it need to be done right? If excelling in work seems daunting, we often fail to get it done. We don’t always get it right at first. But it still needs to be done. Perhaps it needs to be done before we get it right. Perhaps we need to get it wrong first. So that we learn, tweak, and do…
Read MoreLead(H)er Talks: Episode 4
Lead(H)er Talks is a leadership podcast hosted by Coach Elaine Robinson Beattie and Rev Dr Shannon E Karafanda for women in leadership positions. It provides inspiring content and resources to equip passionate leaders with necessary tools for their growth. Each episode curates things we wish we knew with topics ranging from professional development and team building to stress management and creative problem solving. This podcast will give you the insights, motivation, and guidance…
Read MoreEmotional Issues
Emotional issues Nothing is an emotional issue until we assign emotion to it, Some things seem to rarely be emotional: ie where to go for lunch. But there are exceptions: ie your friend has a food allergy Some topics are almost always evoke emotion: ie religion or sex (and both at the same time is explosive) But there are a few exceptions: even naming them will cause a reaction for most.…
Read MoreIn the waiting
The waiting place… Dr. Suess wasn’t wrong. The waiting place is often dark and lonely. It seems to drag on and on and on. Waiting to hear. Waiting to go. Waiting for a turn. Waiting for what’s next. It isn’t easy. But in the waiting, God transforms us. We wait with prayer. We invite others to pray and wait with us. We build connections. We prepare for what’s next. We strengthen…
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