I couldn't argue with scripture, it was like arguing with God.' 'Every time he wanted me to do something, he would quote scripture. The authors diagnose a critical problem in the church and offer practical advice on how to fix it.' Andrew Graystone, theologian, broadcaster and communications consultant PS- Want to walk a nearby labyrinth? Check here for opportunities local to you.'Authority and rigour. We can suggest tools and resources, offer guidance for consultations, work with you to obtain coaching services, and we offer programs that educate, enrich, and enhance the mission and ministries of our local churches. Where will the journey through these times lead your congregation? Does God have a preferred future for your church? If you're seeking support or accompaniment in charting a future path for your congregation or need resources and tools for walking faithfully through these times, r emember that the team of the Center for Transformational Leadership is here to assist you. It could reveal a need to take more intentional time in focused discernment or it could, like Peter's dream in the book of Acts, mean that we need to clear a space for the Holy Spirit in all of our certainty, planning, and plotting. It may mean that the church needs to look beyond the barriers and 'dead-ends'. If we experience these times as a journey through a maze, it may indicate that our congregation could benefit from accompaniment, new tools or resources and a distinct point of view. Puzzles can intentionally challenge and confuse to engage the skills of the problem solver. The path when carefully prepared, faithfully executed, and thoughtfully traveled, will not intentionally confuse or mislead the traveler as they endeavor to journey.Ī maze does have a purpose! It's a puzzle and there are certainly folks who enjoy solving a good puzzle. Like a labyrinth journey, sustaining while disrupting means that we discover or discern new insights and new ideas to further our journey and make our way forward toward new or renewed vision for our mission and ministries. It's equally valuable to give yourself over to the time it takes to move forward at a pace that demonstrates progress, and that doesn't rush to the end or conclusion. It’s beneficial to walk into the center each time with a new intention in mind and to walk out each time inspired by the experience of finding and spending moments of being centered. Like a labyrinth journey, these times call for walking with intention as we seek inspiration. in their new book, Sustaining While Disrupting, offers insight, ideas, and hope for the way forward that can be thoughtfully prepared and carefully discerned like following the labyrinth's path not the sometimes confused experience of walking through a maze. The concept of sustaining while disrupting coined by Lovett Weems Jr. It may take several attempts at making progress to gain ground in moving toward and discovering a new path or your destination. In a maze, we may encounter an experience of the same barriers we encountered earlier, without having gained a greater sense of direction. On a labyrinth, we faithfully follow and trust that our steps will be purposeful to deepen our experience and understanding. ''Get me out of here!", the frazzled walker will plead. ![]() In a maze, we can become increasingly confused, disoriented, discouraged, and complacent. If we give ourselves time to perceive the path ahead of us, it will lead to the center, a place where folks often experience the Divine or some moment of inspiration. ![]() On a labyrinth walk, we can see that the path before us provides a way forward. We should do our best to minimize confusion. Our goal in this time of challenge and change as we anticipate the new thing that God is doing is to move forward and set a path for walking into the future that is more comparable to a labyrinth than a maze.
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