Blog

  • Megan Pacheco

    Blinded by Groupthink

    Blog | Megan Pacheco | October 29, 2019

    In 2006 Turkish shepherds watched as hundreds of their sheep followed each other over a cliff. It started with just one sheep who thought it could cross the ravine, and the next thing the shepherds knew, 1,100 other sheep followed suit. In total, 400 of the “non-thinking followers” plunged to their deaths while the rest managed to survive.

    While reading the article in disbelief, I kept thinking: How could the sheep be so foolish? Didn’t they see the cliff? Didn’t they see the first few plunge to their deaths? And if they did, why did they keep following?

  • Find Strength in Surrender

    Blog | Gilbert Camacho | October 24, 2019

    Sometimes, just like in the movies, you want to call a “cease fire.”  You need the hostilities directed your way to stop.  You haven’t seen a promotion, bonus or pay raise in a while.  You’re spending less time at home; relationships are beginning to crumble.  The kids are entering their teens, and they seem to be rebelling more.  You’ve missed Bible study, choir rehearsal, and even skipped services to pick up odd jobs.  You’re putting in more hours, maybe you’ve taken on a second job, but not seeing any progress.  There are more demands than you can handle.

  • Fear or Anxiety?

    Blog | Karen McGuire | October 22, 2019

    Have you ever been plagued by either fear or anxiety? I’ve encountered a growing number of people who are fearful and anxious – often at the same time. With a behavioral science background, I’m fascinated with how people act, react, feel, adapt, change or fall apart.

    Recent conversations have caused me to wonder about these two subjects and so with a short search through dictionary.com, I found concise definitions of both that I offer here:

  • I Love to Wait!

    Said No One - EVER!

    Blog | Kim Rider | October 17, 2019

    Waiting! We do it in the line at the store, at the doctor’s office, in the carpool line at school, on the interstate in traffic, after we’ve had a test and want results. Even in this age of instant gratification technology, we still have to wait.

    Why does waiting bother us so much?

  • Hide and Seek

    Blog | Sheryl Giesbrecht | October 15, 2019

    “I’m covering my eyes. I’ll count to one hundred. Now all of you go hide.” Most of us have played the children’s game of hide and seek. And maybe you even took time off today, to enjoy some playtime with your children or grandchildren? Although the game is fun for youngsters, as adults, we might revert to ‘hide and seek’ as a coping skill or a sneaky way to manipulate others. You know how it goes.

  • Jesus Detects Greed and Self-Indulgence in Leaders

    Blog | Paul Swamidass | October 10, 2019

    “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. (Matthew 23:25). 

    The magnified sins of leaders 

    Jesus told the Pharisees to clean up their act. He said, “Blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean” (Matthew 23: 26). 

  • Power Struggles

    Blog | Christine Vogelsang | October 08, 2019

    “Charles! Take that attitude and mouth with you when you leave. The office is expecting you. NOW!”

    Charles was a fifteen-year-old student in my seventh grade class. He had given even the most seasoned teachers the runaround the first three months of the school year. I was a rookie, and I had my hands full dealing with his ongoing disruptive behavior. We all celebrated in the teachers’ lounge the day Charles moved to California to live with his mother.

  • Opportunity Not Obstacle

    Blog | Sheryl Giesbrecht | September 26, 2019

    Ever had to let go of something familiar and embrace something brand new? Of course, all of us have. If you’ve ever changed churches, you know what it feels like to leave familiar terrain and faces, and walk into the new place and ask for directions. It’s weird to worship with strangers. Years ago, my pastor- husband and I were looking for a church. He was in-between jobs. We were late because we couldn’t find the kids’ classrooms, we thought we’d slip into the service, the prelude was ending but there were no empty seats in the back.

  • Friends

    Blog | Karen McGuire | September 24, 2019

    As an only child, I grew up in a small family. My parents both passed away when I was a young adult and my last close relative passed away when I was 40. I was married for a few years and have a son, daughter-in-law and 2 grandchildren – still a pretty small family.

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