Michael Blue |
June 23, 2020 |
Blog Thrive in 5
Choosing the Kingdom Path Gary Hoag, Scott Rodin and Wesley Willmer challenge churches and ministries to recalculate the route for Christ-centered ministry by examining the presuppositions that drive decision-making and vision casting. They contend that the way...
Dr. Toddy Holeman |
June 9, 2020 |
Blog Education & Clergy Development Thrive in 5
Creating Shared Meaning Relationships that last, especially in families and congregations, have a sense of shared meaning. Shared meaning is bounded by trustworthiness and commitment, built on a “you’ve got my back and I’ve got yours” attitude and grounded in...
Linda Gist |
May 26, 2020 |
Blog Education & Clergy Development Thrive in 5
Contemplative Prayer: Palms Down, Palms Up During this time of Covid-19, we feel it is vitally important for pastors to continue to learn to carve out a few moments each day to simply be with God in prayer. In this edition of Thrive in 5 we are deviating from our...
David B. Lewis |
May 12, 2020 |
Blog Education & Clergy Development Thrive in 5
A Theological Perspective on Essence & Performance In today’s world, some would argue that our human value is based upon function or performance. For example, assertions are made that the unborn child developing in her mother’s womb is not truly human or...
Dr. Eric Hallett |
April 28, 2020 |
Blog Thrive in 5
Time for A Missional Reset The Covid-19 pandemic is the largest societal disruption of the 21st Century. It is easily the largest church disruption. Covid-19 will reset our lives in many ways. I want to advocate for a missional reset that builds off the recent heroic...
Linda Gist |
April 27, 2020 |
Blog Education & Clergy Development Thrive in 5
From Solitude to Community to Ministry As a pastor, does your ministry flow out of regular time alone with God and authentic community with others? Or do you reach out for help in ministry only when it isn’t working and then maybe you pray? Henri Nouwen presents a...
Dr. Virginia Holeman |
April 14, 2020 |
Blog Education & Clergy Development Thrive in 5 Thriving Clergy
Are you a “High Hoper”? All of us will face moments when we must exercise hope. Hope researchers observe that hope is active, not passive. “High hopers” exert whatever degree of control they have to reach that for which...
Michael Blue |
March 31, 2020 |
Blog Thrive in 5
Truth in Troubling Financial Times This past month has been one of the most turbulent months in the history of the financial markets. From a new record high in the S&P 500 on February 19th to a nearly 35% plunge just one month later, this past month has created a...
Russ Gunsalus |
March 24, 2020 |
Blog Education & Clergy Development The Church & COVID-19 Thrive in 5
This image has been in the news recently, and it has gripped me. Thirty years ago, Rembrandt’s The Storm on the Sea of Galilee was stolen from Boston’s Gardner Museum in the largest art heist in U.S. history. But today, what I find most interesting is the peaceful...
Dr. Toddy Holeman |
March 17, 2020 |
Blog Education & Clergy Development Thrive in 5
Honor Each Other’s Life Dreams In strong and vibrant marriages, mates honor one another’s life dreams. Life dreams are much more than personal whims. Life dreams go to the core of your being and reflect an essential part of who God created you to be....
David B. Lewis |
February 18, 2020 |
Blog Education & Clergy Development Thrive in 5
The Peloton Bike Commercial & A Fitness Focus Over the Christmas holidays social media buzzed with criticism over a Peloton Bike commercial. The commercial portrays the excitement of a woman who receives a Peloton Bike as a Christmas present from her husband....
Dr. Eric Hallett |
February 4, 2020 |
Blog Thrive in 5
Developing a Wesleyan “Fake News” Filter We live and serve in an “information” age so how are we doing as ministry leaders in processing the news presented in popular culture? A new term has emerged in recent years called “Fake News.” The Cambridge Dictionary offers...
Dr. Virginia Holeman |
January 21, 2020 |
Blog Education & Clergy Development Thrive in 5 Thriving Clergy
Emotional Rule of Life You may have heard of a Rule of Life, but have you ever considered creating an Emotional Rule of Life in 2020? Your typical Rule of Life represents spiritual growth commitments that you make after a...
Michael Blue |
January 8, 2020 |
Blog Thrive in 5
Financial Convictions in the Five Uses of Money New years are full of new convictions. Whether it is eating better, working out more or spending more time with God, most people think about doing things “better” than they did the year before. Money is an area in which...
Dr. Toddy Holeman |
December 18, 2019 |
Blog Education & Clergy Development Thrive in 5
Five Keys to Good Conflict Management Relational conflict is an inevitable result of family life, including clergy families, but it can have positive effects in our relationships — provided it is managed well. Wise conflict management creates relationship...
Linda Gist |
December 9, 2019 |
Blog Education & Clergy Development Thrive in 5
Thrive in 5 – Spiritual Do you cringe when you think of the term spiritual disciplines? Does it evoke a sense of guilt or failure when you consider that you are a pastor? The good news is that defeat is not what God intended for us. Gaining a new vision of what...
Dr. Eric Hallett |
November 14, 2019 |
Blog Thrive in 5
Thrive in 5 is pleased to welcome Dr. Eric Hallett as the contributor to the Intellectual/Leadership domain. Dr. Hallett serves as the new district superintendent of the Central Canada District of The Wesleyan Church after many years of faithful and effective service...
Dr. Virginia Holeman |
October 24, 2019 |
Blog Education & Clergy Development Thrive in 5 Thriving Clergy
With the holidays just around the corner, pastors enter one of their busiest seasons with the possible exception of Holy Week. From All Saints Day through to the inauguration of a New Year, pastors take up seasonal demands at a time...
Michael Blue |
October 8, 2019 |
Blog Thrive in 5
Education & Clergy Development welcomes Michael Blue as the new contributor to the financial domain of clergy care for Thrive in 5. Michael serves as the executive director and general counsel for The Ron Blue Institute for Financial Planning. The Ron Blue...
Dr. Toddy Holeman |
September 25, 2019 |
Blog Education & Clergy Development Thrive in 5
How many times in your intimate relationships have your best problem-solving skills failed? Your problem may not be poor implementation as much as it might be implementing the wrong strategy for managing certain types of conflicts. Relationship experts Drs....
Linda Gist |
September 10, 2019 |
Blog Education & Clergy Development Thrive in 5
Thrive in 5 – Spiritual Dallas Willard’s writings are among the most significant in recent years for helping us learn about the transformational process of becoming more like Christ. As pastors who are leading others, we need to be intentional about engaging the...
David B. Lewis |
August 27, 2019 |
Blog Education & Clergy Development Thrive in 5
The Necessity of Rest and Sleep Four key components for physical well-being include: proper nutrition, consistent quality exercise, spiritual vitality (yes, our spiritual health directly influences our physical well-being) and sufficient rest/sleep. We will focus on...
Dr. David Drury |
August 15, 2019 |
Blog Thrive in 5
Challenging My Ministry Mind As a pastor, you know the importance of continuing to learn and grow in your leadership. Our world is changing fast, and we need to challenge our thinking and keep it sharp. In this “Thrive in Five,” David Drury, pastor and chief of staff...
Dr. Virginia Holeman |
July 2, 2019 |
Blog Education & Clergy Development Thrive in 5 Thriving Clergy
Self-justification Do you own a yahbut? No, this is not a new designer-dog breed. It is a common mutt. Self-justification is a common human tendency. Psychology refers to the “yahbut” as self-justification. Think: “Yeah, but...
