The experience of communal worship has become an increasingly integral part of our approach to ministry in the last couple of years. We have found this to be a powerful way of teaching people how to pray, and of providing a space for them to encounter the Lord in a personal way.This summer we held a six-week series that we called Worship Nights. Having wrapped up that event, I wanted to take a look back and share some reflections on the fruits that came from it.
Read MoreMalcolm Gladwell's Blink is a book about snap judgments, why they are sometimes better than our reasoned-out deliberations, sometimes worse, and how to identify which is which. It provides insights and challenges with implications on ministry and life.
Read MoreAs St. John recounts his first meeting with Jesus, it is a day he remembers right down to the very hour it happened ("four in the afternoon"). John the Baptist had just pointed out Jesus as the "Lamb of God." St. John and Andrew approach Jesus and ask him, "Rabbi, where are you staying?" The scene could have ended very quickly if Jesus had said, "I'm heading over to Galilee," and left it at that. But instead, Jesus said, "Come and see," and invited Andrew and John into the adventure of a lifetime.
Read MoreWhat follows are six guidelines to keep in mind when inviting people to make an act of faith based on the uniquely Catholic perspective that I have been exploring throughout this series. (Post 8/8 on "Inviting the Act of Faith")
Read MoreIn my last post I asked what kind of encounter is needed for someone to go "all in" with God and came to the conclusion that the heart of such an encounter is the experience of rescue. It's easy to imagine what rescue may look like for the hardened sinner or the person who hits rock bottom, but what about for someone who's always played by the rules, who's always gone to church, always tried their best to do their Christian duty? (Post 6/8 on "Inviting the Act of Faith")
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