The word is out on the streets!
Come Celebrate with Us, November 20th as we celebrate St. Paul's being in the neighborhood for 50 years!

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St. Paul's Hosted the NE District Conference, May 1st!
And what a Celebration is was!
Also the District said Thanks and Goodbye to
District Superintendent, Rev. Anne Lippincott.

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I want to thank everyone for the wonderful honor of being your pastor, and now for the wonderful honor so many of you shared with me in celebrating the fact that I have been a pastor now for 25 years. The celebration on August 22 was a thrill to my husband, Mike and me! Pastor Sheryl Campbell

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Pastor Sheryl, Someone you should know!
See KWWL's Special Feature!

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"Let your light so shine before people that they may see your good deeds,
and praise your Father in heaven."
Jesus--in Matthew 5:16

 

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What people at St. Paul's most often say they want in a church is warm and inspiring worship, a clear understanding of the Bible,  and to see ways that the Bible and genuine Christian faith apply to real life today.  This is what we work for and we have a wonderfully fun time doing it! 

 

 

The church has one full-time ordained clergyperson, the Rev. Sheryl Eash Campbell, often known as Pastor Sheryl.  Tina Evans Dykstra is Assistant to the Pastor, as well as Community Liaison and Ministries Coordinator. 

 

Our staff secretary Iva is at the office Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings from 8am until noon.  We have other excellent part time staff as well--a custodian, organist/choir director, and nursery staff.  We have many volunteers, including a treasurer, more musicians, Sunday school teachers and helpers, committee chairpersons and members, excellent cooks, and various other organizers, planners, workers, and pray-ers.

 

The Trustees are in charge of building and property.  Finance Committee oversees financial matters and helps with stewardship.  The Nurture Committee is responsible for planning and administering the educational work of the church, and the loving care of our members.   Other boards and committees include Outreach/Mission, Memorial, Altar, Music, United Methodist Women (and circles), United Methodist Men, and several adult classes and other groups.  The Church Council meets monthly to coordinate the programs and correlate the activities of the entire church.  

 

St. Paul's is in the Northeast District of the Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church denomination of the Christian religion.  The Rev. Julius Calvin Trimble is the Bishop of the Iowa Conference, and the Rev. Anne Lippincott is the Conference Minister of the Northeast District, with the Rev. Jaymee Glenn-Burns as Field Outreach Minister. 

 

 

Although we have much in common with other United Methodist churches, we might not be just like another UMC church you may know.  We invite you to get to know us, and let us get to know you, as we seek together to worship God and to preach, teach, live and share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

 

Sacrifice

We remember the sacrifices made by those who put their lives on the line for us. We are grateful that many survived and we shed a tear for those who paid the ultimate price. May we never forget their devotion, their selflessness for great causes. Most importantly, we remember the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who paid a price he did not owe to free us from a debt we could not pay.

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

Scriptures for Sunday morning, November 14 included: 

Isaiah 65:17-25; Malachi 4:1-2a; Psalm 98; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13;             Luke 21:5-19; Isaiah 65:17-25

17 For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind.
18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating; for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy, and its people as a delight.
19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and delight in my people; no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it, or the cry of distress.
20 No more shall there be in it an infant that lives but a few days, or an old person who does not live out a lifetime; for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth, and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed.
21 They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
22 They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
23 They shall not labor in vain, or bear children for calamity; for they shall be offspring blessed by the LORD-- and their descendants as well.
24 Before they call I will answer, while they are yet speaking I will hear.
25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox; but the serpent--its food shall be dust! They shall not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain, says the LORD.

 

2 Thessalonians 3:6-13
3:6 Now we command you, beloved, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from believers who are living in idleness and not according to the tradition that they received from us.
3:7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you,
3:8 and we did not eat anyone's bread without paying for it; but with toil and labor we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you.
3:9 This was not because we do not have that right, but in order to give you an example to imitate.
3:10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat.
3:11 For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work.
3:12 Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
3:13 Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right.

 

SERMON NOVEMBER 14, 2010              VETERANS SUNDAY
REV. SHERYL CAMPBELL

 

Consider this writing by a woman named Fran Larsen:
This afternoon I will go to my community Flag Garden, along with others in my subdivision and I will remember soldiers who died for my country. After the ceremony, I will go to the clubhouse and dine on traditional Memorial Day food, such as hamburgers, hotdogs, potato salad, ice cream and apple pie.

 

I will remember soldiers who have died and for a few moments, I will feel sad. Is that enough? Do I owe the one's who have died something?

Yes, I think I do owe these brave individuals who gave their life something. I owe them big time. I owe them every free breath I take; every free word I am allowed to speak; every free prayer I am allowed to utter.

However, most of all, I owe at least the promise that I will not waste my life. If I waste my life, what they have intimately sacrificed will be in vain. I need to make every free minute count (that has been given to me) for something good and just.

 

What do you think? Do we owe that to those who have given their lives for us? Soldiers past as well as present?
I would like to consider as well, that we owe our living veterans for the breaths we take, the words we speak, the prayers we utter, in a nation of freedom and of peace. As it says on the front of the bulletin, we ARE thankful that many survived—and whether your service was in time of war or peace, your willingness and your preparedness to fight the battles and keep the peace on behalf of all, is a tremendous gift we definitely should not take for granted.

 

A surgeon, known only as “Dr. Tim,” wrote: [W]ith every generation we learn anew what we have known since our founding: that to have the blessings of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for the many, a few must be willing to give up those blessings. Those who die are to be remembered forever for having given us that precious gift, and no such gift is wasteful.
To those who are living, Sheryl adds, Thank you. Indeed, thank you. I hope I do not waste this life of freedom that I have the opportunity to live.

 

What about what we owe Jesus Christ?
We know that “He died for our sins.” Another thing we need to remember is that he did indeed fight tremendous battles—especially the battle with evil—Satan himself--
though suffered greatly--
though he lost his earthly life—in fact, he willingly gave it up,
Jesus Christ, God Father, Son and Holy Spirit, was the Victor. And that victory is offered to all.
How do we keep from wasting our lives, in such a way that what Christ sacrificed would be in vain?
What is a purpose-filled life that soldiers have given of themselves to the cause of freedom and order so we can have?

 

What would be a purpose-filled life of those for whom Christ so completely offers abundant life to all, looked evil in the face and won; fought and defeated death?

What is known as Jesus' Great Commission is found in Matthew, chapter 28—and is what he said to his disciples after his Great Battle, as he appeared to them in the 40 days after he rose from the dead, and just before he ascended into heaven: 18 Jesus drew near and said to them, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 20 and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age."

And Jesus taught so much more about being salt and light in a world that so badly needs both! To love all, and to put that love into action; to give real help to those who need it; to use well the gifts with which you are blessed, including finances; not to judge others but to remove the log from your own eye; and also otherwise to bear good fruit for the Kingdom of God.

John Piper wrote that Probably the worst enemy of enthusiasm is time. Human beings have a remarkable and sad capacity for getting tired of wonderful things. Almost every one of you can think of something you were enthusiastic about recently but now the joy is faded. Your first day of vacation on the coast the sunset was breathtaking and made you so happy you could sing. But by the end of your stay you hardly noticed it any more. Vacationers get tired of sunsets, millionaires get tired of money, kids gets tired of toys, and Christians get tired of doing good. At first the excitement of teaching that Sunday School class was strong, but now you have grown weary of well-doing. The thrill is gone. At first you felt clean and strong in the Holy Spirit as you drove the van, taught the Lao English [here I substitute Reading with Carver Special Needs students, though if someone out there is interested in helping someone learn English, let me know!], led the small group, visited the newcomers, started reading the Bible, worked in the emergency shelter…, but now you have grown weary in well-doing. The inner power and joy have seeped away. It's a chore. You've lost heart.

But in 2 Thessalonians 3:13, the Apostle Paul writes, “Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right.” In Galatians 6:9 he says, "Let us not grow weary in well-doing,” and adds, “for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."
It doesn't mean, of course, that you can never stop one job and start another. If you ask what the well-doing is that we must not tire of, probably the fruit of the Spirit in Gal. 5:22f is the best answer: don't weary of being patient and kind and good and faithful and gentle and self-controlled. Don't weary of manifesting your peace and joy in all kinds of acts of love to your neighbors and associates and family. In short, don't lose heart in spending yourself through love.

 

It's frustrating, isn't it, to give of yourself when you aren't sure the ones you are doing it for deserve it?! We read about some of those this morning, too... and part of what we need to do on this earth is to join Sheriff Tony and others in helping teach responsibility to others when it is possible for us to do so—Sheriff Tony Thompson has spoken to our men's and women's groups, and to the Neighborhood Coalition and I just heard him address the Community Foundation about how he helps those who have blown it, and those who are at risk of blowing it, by mentoring them in duty and purpose and being fruitful...
Sometimes your efforts will be a success in your lifetime.Sometimes they  won't.

You probably have heard of or seen these words somewhere—they are sometimes attributed to Mother Teresa, as she had posted them on the wall of her children's home in Calcutta. However, they are known as

The Paradoxical Commandments
by Dr. Kent M. Keith

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.

© Copyright Kent M. Keith 1968, renewed 2001

 

3:13 Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right.
don't lose heart in spending yourself through love.
Our soliders gave of themselves for everyone to have freedom to pursue whatever they might pursue.

Our Christian soldiers gave and give of themselves for the purposes of Jesus Christ.

Our United Methodist Statement of Purpose puts it to words quite well: To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the world.
Help the world be more like what God wants.

But realize also, as referred to in the Gospel of Luke—anything we acquire, build or do on this earth—even though much of it may be good, it one day will pass away...

But Jesus also said:
“Heaven and earth will pass away,
but my Words will never pass away.”
How to make these sacrifices worth something?
Most of all, bring others to Jesus.
Or somehow, be your part, do your duty, for that great mission—of making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appreciative Inquiry Sermon, August 29, 2010

 

Scripture:

Jeremiah 2:13

for my people have committed two sins: they have turned away from me, the spring of fresh water, and they have dug cisterns, cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all.

 

Hebrews 13:1-8, 15,16

1 Keep on loving one another as Christians.

 

2 Remember to welcome strangers in your homes. There were some who did that and welcomed angels without knowing it.

 

3 Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them.

 

Remember those who are suffering, as though you were suffering as they are.

 

4 Marriage is to be honored by all, and husbands and wives must be faithful to each other. God will judge those who are immoral and those who commit adultery.

 

5 Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, "I will never leave you; I will never abandon you."

 

6 Let us be bold, then, and say, "The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?"

 

7 Remember your former leaders, who spoke God's message to you.

Think back on how they lived and died, and imitate their faith.

 

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

 

15 Let us, then, always offer praise to God as our sacrifice through Jesus,

which is the offering presented by lips that confess him as Lord.

 

16 Do not forget to do good and to help one another,

because these are the sacrifices that please God.

 

Luke 14:1, 7-14

7 Jesus noticed how some of the guests were choosing the best places, so he told this parable to all of them: 8 "When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place. It could happen that someone more important than you has been invited, 9 and your host, who invited both of you, would have to come and say to you, "Let him have this place.' Then you would be embarrassed and have to sit in the lowest place. 10 Instead, when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that your host will come to you and say, "Come on up, my friend, to a better place.' This will bring you honor in the presence of all the other guests. 11 For those who make themselves great will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be made great." 12 Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your rich neighbors - for they will invite you back, and in this way you will be paid for what you did. 13 When you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind; 14 and you will be blessed, because they are not able to pay you back. God will repay you on the day the good people rise from death."

 

 

Appreciative Inquiry Sermon

 

Appreciative Inquiry. Appreciative Inquiry is a name for a way of thinking, seeing and acting, for powerful, purposeful moving ahead in organizations—such as, let's say, a church. Appreciative Inquiry works on the assumption that

 

whatever you want more of, already exists in your organization.

 

It is different than traditional problem-solving.

 

If you were a traditional Organizational Development Consultant, you might ask questions like, “What are the problems that you are having here?” and, “How shall we go about fixing what is broken?”

 

With the Appreciative Inquiry approach we would ask, “What is working well around here?” and, “How can we do more of it?”

 

The assumptions of Appreciative Inquiry include,

 

1. In every society, organization or group, something works.

2. What we focus on becomes our reality

3. People have more confidence and comfort to journey to the unknown of the future, when they carry forward parts of the known-of-the-past.

4. If we carry parts of the past forward into the future, they should be what is best about the past.

5. It is important to value differences

6. The language we use can be important (in creating our reality)

 

 

From an article on Appreciative Inquiry by Sue Hammond and Joe Hall: “Imagine if your job is to help people and organizations find what they are very good at, and help them take action to do more of what they do well?”

 

You can apply this on a personal basis, too.

 

Imagine structuring who you are, based on what you do well, instead of trying to change who you are?

 

I don't always enjoy analysis and tests and statistics, measuring the before-and-after of what people and organizations do.... but those who DO do those kinds of analyses have discovered—that “When you do more of what works, the stuff that doesn't work goes away.”

 

Appreciative Inquiry truly honors the past. That is one reason it is a wonderful way to help people manage what needs to take place in the future. One reason it works, is that the message is less about what people have done wrong or have to stop doing—it is more an affirmation that much is well, and ready to be nurtured.

 

I don't always carry this list in my pocket, but those who write about Appreciative Inquiry do—it is the 4-D process--

 

Discover: Identifying organizational processes that work well.

Dream: Envisioning processes that would work well in the future.

Designing: Planning and prioritizing processes that would work well.

Delivery—or some call this Destiny: The implementation—or, putting into practice, or reality, what has been proposed based on the above.

 

If we were going to have an Appreciative Inquiry meeting right now—and we won't, because it would take more time than people are planning on here—we might have people interview one another, and ask questions like this, taking notes on the answers...

note that this particular Appreciative Inquiry set of questions is based on Jesus' answer to the one who asked, “What is the greatest commandment?” And Jesus' response—in Matthew 22 and also Mark 12-- was, “to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind—and your neighbor as yourself.”

 

1. Best experience of Loving God: Reflect on your entire experience of St. Paul's United Methodist Church. Recall a time when you felt most aware and spiritually touched by God's presence and love at St. Paul's. Tell me (or tell your interviewer—who is another member of this church) about this memorable experience that you have had of loving and being loved by God at St. Paul's. Describe the event. Who was involved? Describe how you felt? What made it an exciting (or helpful, or meaningful) experience? Describe what you did as a result of the experience?

    

2. Best experience of Loving Your Neighbor: Reflect on your entire experience of St. Paul's United Methodist Church. Recall a time when you or people from St. Paul's reached out and cared for people in the wider community that left you feeling proud of being a member of St. Paul's. Tell me about this memorable experience that you have had of the people of St. Paul's loving their neighbor. Describe the event in detail and how it left you feeling proud and inspired.

    

3. Best experience of Loving Yourselves: What do you love to do? Tell me a story about a memorable time when you were able to engage in something that you really love to do and which left you with a feeling of deep satisfaction. What made it memorable? What was the outcome of the experience? What ydid you do as a result of the experience?

    

4. Values: I. our church: What is it about your church that you value? What is the single most important thing that your church has contributed to your life?

   II. Your denomination: What is it about belonging to the United Methodist Church that you value? What is the single most important thing that your denomination has contributed to your life?

    

5. Core Value: What do you think is the core value of your church? What values give life to your congregation? What is it that, if it did not exist, would make your church totally different than it currently is?

    

6. Three Wishes: If God gave you three wishes for your church, what would they be?

 

Some say that organizations—like, churches, for example—and individuals too—like, PEOPLE, for example—little ones and big ones—are like plants... in that, they move toward the light...

 

Of course, we know it is Jesus Christ who is the Light of the World, and we move toward Him...

 

and one of our favorite scriptures, which ends up also in one of our favorite songs, is when Jesus says, YOU are the light of the world, and don't hide it under a bushel, but put it on a lampstand for all to see—and we know that what that means is that we CARRY the light of the world—our prayer comes from Matthew 5:16, Jesus instruction, to Let your light so shine before others, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven!

 

Appreciative Inquiry seeks out the best of what is, to help ignite the the group's imagination of what might be.

 

Think about the Appreciative Inquiry approach with me, as we read this scripture from Hebrews 13 again...

 

Hebrews 13:1-8, 15,16

1 Keep on loving one another as Christians.

 

I think that is interesting. We know from reading other passages of scripture, that the people of the early churches did not always love one another perfectly. This line doesn't say that they did—but it DOES say that they know there is some love. “Keep on loving one another as Christians.” I am hearing—everything that you are doing that is loving, do more of that.” By contrast, that also implies, everything that you are doing that isn't loving, do less of that!” Or, as one of my favorite Christian comedians put it, “If you take the time to do the do's, you won't have time to do the don'ts!” “Keep on loving one another as Christians.”

 

2 Remember to welcome strangers in your homes. There were some who did that and welcomed angels without knowing it.

 

Well, we can react to this right away—We can't let strangers into our homes in this day and age! So, maybe we shouldn't... But, what does “stranger” mean in this context—written in this book of the Bible to those people of that time—it may have meant simply, 'someone from out of town.' And, what would it mean for us to be “welcoming”? Is there more than one way to “welcome,” or be hospitable, or to show love or care in some way rather than open the door of our house?

 

3 Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them.

 

Remember those who are suffering, as though you were suffering as they are.

 

This one is one you have taught to others, too—put yourself in their shoes. What would you most want, or need, if you were the one in that situation? Ok, maybe you would most want that you wouldn't be in prison, period—or that you wouldn't be suffering—or in pain—or have lost your home, or your job, or your loved one to death, or whatever it is that would make you suffer... but take the time to think, if that HAD happened to you, what—that someone else could do—would be most meaningful, or truly helpful, or good for you? See if there is anything like that you can do, or give, or share, or work toward—and of course, to pray for. It goes with Jesus' Golden Rule—whatsoever you would have others do to you, do so to them—but you imagine as if you were in the tough situation right with them—or, maybe even remember a time you WERE in such a situation??!!

 

4 Marriage is to be honored by all, and husbands and wives must be faithful to each other. God will judge those who are immoral and those who commit adultery.

 

I just had the privilege of officiating at the marriage of Lonnie Stein and Jane Tragord yesterday. Jane is Carl & Gen Borwig's daughter—Todd's sister—and as each makes those promises, one to the other, to love and to cherish, for better for worse, in sickness and health, forsaking all others—keep yourself only unto her—or him--these beautiful traditional words also are said, Be well assured that if these solemn vows are kept unviolated, as God’s Word insists, and if steadfastly you endeavor to do the will of your heavenly Father, God will bless your marriage, will grant you fulfillment in it, and will establish your home in peace.

 

5 Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be satisfied with what you have.

Free from the “love of money.” Money is a tool in our hands, as part of our resources to put to use in living our lives for the glory of God. Whether we have a lot, or a little, we are to use Godly principles in handling it--

 

Of course, being satisfied with what you have does not mean that you should never work for or make goals for more—but it DOES mean to be satisfied with what you can appropriately, legally, and morally do—and not to lie, cheat, steal or deceive—or otherwise compromise what is most important—in order to get more. And, the Lord will be with us.

 

For God has said, "I will never leave you; I will never abandon you."

6 Let us be bold, then, and say, "The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?"

 

This works for people like Stephen, in the Bible, who was being stoned to death for his faith. It also works when people “say all manner of evil against you,” as we read in the Beatitudes—blessed are they—or, when people just aren't right, aren't fair, even hurt you—it goes with the end of Romans chapter 8, 38 For I am persuaded , that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present , nor things to come , 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

7 Remember your former leaders, who spoke God's message to you.

Think back on how they lived and died, and imitate their faith.

 

Isn't this how our Hebrews scripture series of the past few weeks got started? The Hall of Fame of Faith, how the people of God who have gone before us have had and lived their faith—every one of them was not perfect, but there was something wonderful about their faith that can inspire us. Same with our own church's former leaders and members—Sunday school teachers, pastors, kitchen cooks and more... if nothing else, the church we have is here because of those who have gone before us! Think back on what they did that was good, helpful, had a positive influence on you personally or the church in general—consider the part about them that was faith and light—and do more of it!

 

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

 

Ah, not only is He the same, but Jesus Christ IS the sinless one! Yesterday, today and forever.

 

15 Let us, then, always offer praise to God as our sacrifice through Jesus,

which is the offering presented by lips that confess him as Lord.

 

As the piece that Jean shared that I read earlier said,

You should always go to church on Sabbath because it makes God happy, [and I would add from this scripture, you should always offer praise to God through Jesus—that is an offering that makes God happy—you can probably think of more to add, too, but here's the punchline--] and if there's anybody you want to make happy, it's God!

 

16 Do not forget to do good and to help one another, because these are the sacrifices that please God.

 

I bet you are familiar with this passage from the Bible, the book of James, chapter 1...

I'm reading verse 22-25—22 Do not deceive yourselves by just listening to his word; instead, put it into practice. 23 If you listen to the word, but do not put it into practice you are like people who look in a mirror and see themselves as they are. 24 They take a good look at themselves and then go away and at once forget what they look like. 25 But if you look closely into the perfect law that sets people free, and keep on paying attention to it and do not simply listen and then forget it, but put it into practice - you will be blessed by God in what you do.

 

Today is just an introduction. Appreciative Inquiry is a big concept—people in various kinds of organizations go to classes to get this down—and some churches send both their pastors and their people to school, or get someone to come in to really help everyone along with this. But we've already been doing a lot of it. I can only speak for the past three years—many of you have many more to look upon--

 

I don't care if you ever remember the phrase, “Appreciative Inquiry.” It's kind of a mouthful, and sometimes it can sound a little high-falutin'. But what I think of it as, is, Look at yourself—look at your church—look at the people of your church. Find something you like. It is even greater if groups of people together find stuff they like. Do more of it.

 

Even if in some areas you only see a little of of what is good, blow on the coals and gently put in some more kindling...

 

I had to laugh at one comment I read under “Appreciative Tips...”

It was titled, Motivating Others: Seeking the Fire Within:

 

I often hear leaders saying I am going to "light a fire" under an employee or group of people. In my experience when you try to light fires under people all you get is burnt butts rather than sustained growth and development.

A much more enlightened way to motivate people is to find the fire within them and fan it. The Appreciative Way discovers the fire within organizations and individuals and orients this passion around the pursuit of shared goals.

Let us turn our leaves toward the Light, which is Christ.

And because of Him, let us let Our Light so shine before others, AND one-another--that they also see what is good here, and give glory to our Father in Heaven.

 

 

 

 

 

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