Arts Blog : Church

BOOMERS STEP ASIDE?

Nancy Beach — Mon, 11 May 2009 13:47:00 GMT

Last week's edition of Newsweek magazine included a 2-page article at the very back, written by long-time columnist Anna Quindlen. For 9 years, Anna has been writing "The Last Word" piece every other week for that magazine. While I don't...(read more)

AN OUTPOURING OF GENEROSITY

Nancy Beach — Mon, 04 May 2009 22:42:00 GMT

Yesterday we received two offerings at Willow Creek - the regular one about 20 minutes into the service, and a second offering at the end. One hundred per cent of the second offering will go directly to the under-resourced in Africa and Latin America...(read more)

SOLIDARITY WITH THE HUNGRY AND THIRSTY

Nancy Beach — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 20:16:00 GMT

Our church launched a 3-week Celebration of Hope campaign yesterday, with a focus this year on serving the under-resourced who are both hungry and thirsty. The campaign includes several aspects, including 17,000 volunteers packing food bags to go to Zimbabwe...(read more)

Brainstorming is broken

Tony Kim — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 08:15:00 GMT

For over 10 years, I have attended countless creative brainstorming meetings about service programming, marketing ideas, and creative events. As much as I hate to say it, I have concluded that brainstorming DOES NOT WORK. At least not the traditional...(read more)

Walls For Easter

Nancy Beach — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:30:00 GMT

For the past several Easters, our creative team at Willow Creek has sought to find an image that we could leverage to help tell the Easter story and to provide a visual anchor for the entire service. I think this practice dates back to the year we created...(read more)

I saw Jesus on the moon!

Tony Kim — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 05:30:00 GMT

The year was 1969. It was a tumultuous era full of war, strife, and political unrest. In that year, 250,000 people gathered in the largest protest in American history! A new (and now infamous) president was attempting to lead a divided American government...(read more)

You shall not marry your wife's sister...

Tony Kim — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 14:35:00 GMT

Let's face it, the Bible is weird. It's filled with spectacular stories, mystical beings, and strange laws , such as: You shall not marry your wife's sister You shall not trim the corners of your beard You should not lie on a bed where a menstruating...(read more)

A Place for Doubt

Pam Howell — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 03:07:00 GMT

Okay, I know you are busy preparing for Good Friday and Easter Services. But ... after Easter, if you haven't already read John Ortberg's book Faith & Doubt , pick it up. In the mean time, here is what to keep in mind for this weekend. God...(read more)

How to use a Flamethrower

Tony Kim — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 20:58:00 GMT

Throughout the history of war, the flame thrower has been one of the most iconic symbols of power and destruction on the battlefield. Used in almost every war this century, this weapon is capable of spreading maximum amount of carnage in a maximum amount...(read more)

Let's have a difficult conversation...

Tony Kim — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 22:37:00 GMT

I have heard leadership described in many ways. A leader is a: visionary, role model, problem solver, teacher,strategist, chearleader, shepherding, and the list goes on and on. These are all great leadership qualities. However, what does leadership ultimately...(read more)

Try on The Blue Sweater

Pam Howell — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 03:36:00 GMT

This is a fantastic story of one woman's journey to understand world poverty and what she could do to combat it - what we can do to overcome it. Jacqueline Novogratz, the author of The Blue Sweater, moved me with her stories, challenged me with her...(read more)

I fired myself...

Tony Kim — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 17:22:00 GMT

I would like to provoke some thought about the allure and the potential hazards of being a 'manager'. If you have any sort of organizational skills, any sort of leadership abilities, or any amount of charisma, it’s not too long until someone thinks...(read more)

The Secret to Team Creativity...

Tony Kim — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 03:53:00 GMT

How do you get a team to be more creative? That is the million dollar question. Do you lead through creative excersizes? How about see movies together? Is it a creative office space? Is it reading books on creativity? Perhaps go to an art museum and experience...(read more)

Pastoral Security in the Pulpit

Nancy Beach — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 16:33:00 GMT

As I'm sure most people are now aware, a pastor was shot and killed in the pulpit last Sunday in downstate Illinois. My heart goes out to his family and his congregation. I also believe this tragedy raises the question of security in our churches...(read more)

Throwaway Worship Question in Auckland

Nancy Beach — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:32:00 GMT

I'm preparing to leave New Zealand, where I've been investing some days in the lives of arts leaders and pastors. Today, in a coaching session with about thirty leaders, one of them asked about the beginning of a Sunday morning worship service...(read more)