Category: Uncategorized
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The Beggar at the Church Door
“If you cannot find Christ in the beggar at the church door you will not find him in the Chalice.” – St. John Chrysostom This quote – a mere 1650 years old, give or take 10 years, is worth a lifetime of reflection. What jumps out is the connection and juxtaposition between the beggar at the
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What Then?
Let’s face facts, the topic of money dominates most church council meetings. “How many fundraising activities will it take to balance the budget this year?”, or “How much money can we withdraw from church investment accounts?” are typical discussion starters. Suppose for a moment that a new whiz-bang stewardship program unlocked our wallets, and the
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Something About Him
I’m an old, retired donkey (and for the record, I’ve already heard all the jokes). I used to give the kids rides when they played soldiers. Last Sunday, two guys pressed me into service to give this guy a ride into the city. He must have been important because there was a crowd of people
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Investing in My Life
I was reflecting on a celebration and memorial service for a dear friend. Flo lived 86 years. Underline “Lived.” Living life is an intentional action. Flo was a remarkable person who embraced those around her as her own family. Somehow, she managed to knead humor and compassion into her version of the bread of life
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Of Moral Hazards
During my adult life I have experienced 3 major banking crises. The first dates back to the Savings & Loan crash of 1987. The second was the credit default fiasco of 2008-2009 that crushed the Lehman Brothers firm and also tanked the S&P 500 by -49.9%. Now we have the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), Signature
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A Prayer Reflection
Each morning, the New England Annual Conference sends out a prayer. On Monday March 20, 2023 – the first day of Spring, Bishop Johnson’s prayer (see below) was shared. It appears to be based on Ezekiel 37 and the valley of the dry bones. As I read it, I also envisioned the words as a
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Are We Fundraising or Faith-Raising?
The task of a fundraiser is to connect the donor with the mission of the organization. The fundraiser knows the more I’m connected, through annual giving and volunteering, the better chance of a larger major gift down the road. And, if I’ve given annually for several years, even small amounts, there is a chance of
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Heart Blockage
At church during prayer time, someone asked for prayers for a person with a heart blockage. As usual my mind went off in another direction. A blockage in the heart is serious business. I wondered if the person had a family history of heart issues and inherited the problem. Was it caused by a poor
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Building Lasting Relationships
Stories abound about the advisor (attorney, planner, CPA, insurance broker), who for years worked closely with a business owner, usually a man, and neglected their families because they were not the decision makers. The business relationship grew and matured while the wealth was being created through a small business. And often times, the business grew
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Something New for Lent
The speaker was a therapist who works with at risk children. He shared that he often helps them reshape their perspectives. It works well, so he started practicing this technique for his daily living. It sounds so simple, but again simple is not the same as easy. And using this technique as a spiritual discipline