Do leaders need a coach?
Andy Stanley thinks so. He argues “In the world of athletics, nobody performs his way out of needing a coach. In the world of leadership, though, we operate under the misguided assumption that because we are leaders, we don’t need to be led
Michael Zigarelli writes:”Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, it is also the parent of all the others.” So said the ancient philosopher Cicero.
Two millennia later, our study of thousands of Christians confirms that gratitude indeed spawns myriad elusive virtues, like joy, inner peace, patience, forgiveness, and self-control.
While I might flippantly speak of my favourite football team with pride, C.S. Lewis was a little more serious when it came to speaking about it.
He has argued that pride is a “spiritual cancer,” “the complete anti-God state of mind,” and “the chief cause of misery in every nation and in every family since the world began.”
For insight into his thinking, Christianity 9 to 5 has provided his chapter on “The Great Sin” from Mere Christianity.
The Armidale diocese of the Catholic Church says it is expecting about 1,000 pilgrims from overseas to visit the region in the lead up to World Youth Day.
World Youth Day (WYD) is the largest youth event in the world and will be held in Sydney from Tuesday 15 to Sunday 20 July 2008.
Organised by the Catholic Church, WYD brings together young people from around the globe to celebrate and learn about their faith on a more regular basis.
“What we see around us today of the “usual†Christian life could easily make us think that spiritual transformation is simply impossible”, writes Dan Willard. This is made worse by the behaviour of prominent Christian leaders. Despite this, Willard believes that Transformation into Christlikeness is Possible.
“I had tried the public health system and counsellors, but none were beneficial,” Ms Habkouk said.
Although the 11-month Mercy Ministries program was hard, now she can look back at it through enlightened eyes.
“It was absolutely the best time of my life,” she said.
Speaking of Jesus and the events of Easter, St. Augustine said:
And he departed from our sight
that we might return to our heart,
and there find Him.
As we muse over the events of Good Friday, sit in vigil on Saturday and experience the rise of the Son on Easter Sunday, we reflect on these words from Augustine to seek out places where the resurrection of Christ meets us.
Sermon – Easter Sunday, 23rd March, 2008 (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting Church, Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie Wierenga
Pope Benedict called on Catholics to examine whether worldly desires had corrupted their faith, as he commemorated Palm Sunday before a crowd holding palm fronds and olive branches.
In a service to mark Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem a week before being crucified, Pope Benedict asked the faithful to remember that greed was also a form of idolatry that could creep into their daily life.
“Is our faith pure and open enough?” said the Pope, seated on a dais in front of St. Peter’s basilica, wearing red, gold and white vestments. “Do we perhaps let idols, through various means, enter in the world of our faith?”
The Vatican says Pope Benedict XVI will host a ground-breaking “summit” of Catholic and Muslim leaders in November.
The “Catholic-Muslim Forum” from November 4 to 6, will bring together 24 dignitaries from each faith on the theme of “love God, love your neighbour,” it said.
It can be difficult amidst the pace of life to find a space that is quiet and reflective. It is not always easy to find a labyrinth like many have this weekend at the Augustine centre. But one simple way to take a few moments between emails or while surfing online is to check out the church resources ‘quiet space‘ online. In addition to the quiet space they have daily gospel reflections and other prayer resources, including those submitted by users.
The St. David’s Uniting Church in Oakleigh offers monthly labyrinth prayer and meditation walks also. There is an online labyrinth for you to trace at any time should you be seeking a quiet labyrinth space.