2009

Leaning into Thanksgiving Clichés

Leaning into Thanksgiving Clichés

Thanksgiving: that time of year when dreams of stuffing, jello molds, and bean casseroles reign supreme. The season for finding a circle of people with whom to give a toast, say a prayer and give abundant thanks. Momenta to reminisce and recall God's provision, even in hardship. A holiday filled with good practices for us frantic Americans.

And while I honor these traditions ...

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Re-Thinking Conflict

"If you had a whole day free what would you do?"

The question came to me in a small group setting, and the answer came immediately to mind: "I'd go somewhere beautiful to sit and think." You see, I'm addicted to thinking.

Though I can't go somewhere beautiful for the day right now I have been thinking. Thinking about conflict. I've ...

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Cannibals in Christendom

I come from a long line of cannibals. My ancestors loved to chew up (and sometimes spit out) people. Mine was a particularly heinous group that made no distinction between "them" and "us." Members of our own family were just as likely to fall victim as were others. Imagine the tensions that arose when we gathered—each one wondering who might be ...

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Dorothy Greco

Get to know Dorothy Greco, one of our Gifted for Leadership regular contributors.

Dorothy Littell Greco uses words and images to help folks find transformation through Jesus Christ and see the beauty in everyday life. Her work has appeared in Relevant Magazine, Fullfill Magazine, Gifted for Leadership, Her.meneutics, Christianity Today, Today's Christian Woman, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, The Boston Globe, Yankee Magazine, and many others. ...

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Grounded

"It doesn't matter what happens next, it's not going to bother me."

I confidently exercised my faith aloud to the disbelieving passenger next to me. He snorted, as though he understood something I didn't.

"We'll see about that."

My husband and I'd been up since three in the morning to catch three different planes which would ...

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Confessions of a Money Changer

While visiting a very close friend, I agreed to help with her church's women's ministry event. I expected to prepare hospitality tables, fill vases with flowers and serve coffee and muffins. It's what we often do in women's ministry.

Instead, I was directed to the makeshift market that had been set up in the lobby. Eight-foot long, cloth-covered tables ...

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Putting Complainers to Work

I am a firm believer in open-book management—the practice of openly communicating financial details broadly across organizations. When I took over an intact department, I sought help in establishing a good approach to open-book management from a good friend and expert in the topic, Chuck Kremer. Chuck recommended an approach for sharing success stories, setting goals, ...

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Life, Doctrine and Women's Ministry

Whether through books, Bible studies, retreats, or conferences, a central focus of women's ministry has been on the practical dimensions of Christian living, either presupposing the theological understanding of the audience—which isn't always wrong to do—or simply neglecting to ground the practical in a richer theological framework.

Of course, I'm ...

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Journeys into Leadership

The other weekend I ran into a guy (literally) who had stopped short to turn around as we followed the masses out of a church sanctuary. "Sorry," he said, looking disheartened and eying the crowd. "I was supposed to have a group following me."

"No problem," I laughed. "'Nobody behind me' is the story of my life….." ...

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The High Cost of Cheap

I love a bargain. Whether I'm buying clothing, groceries, or other supplies, I enjoy knowing I got a deal. I can even dress it up in spiritual clothes, claiming I'm being a "good steward" of my resources by being thrifty.

Unfortunately, cheap sometimes has a hidden price tag. The prices of certain goods—from soccer balls to candy bars—are ...

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