DLGP

Doctor of Leadership in Global Perspectives: Crafting Ministry in an Interconnected World

Category: DLGP02

The Art of Talking Without Tearing Each Other Apart

By: on November 11, 2024

A few months ago, I found myself in one of those conversations you dread—an argument so loaded that it felt less like talking and more like defusing a bomb. A close friend of mine and I had stumbled into a political debate, one of those deeply divisive topics where both of us were convinced the…

one response

A Manual for Creating Atheists: The Sequel

By: on November 11, 2024

As a Christian, I would find a conversation with Peter Boghossian nearly impossible. Hmm…I wonder if there is a book on the market that could help me with this? Oh wait, Mr. Boghossian wrote one called How to Have Impossible Conversations: A Very Practical Guide. Allow me a moment of sheer snark:  I think this…

10 responses

I Overheard a Conversation about Racism…

By: on November 11, 2024

A Story After checking in with the apartment management office where I’m staying in Penang, Malaysia, I was asked to wait as ID cards were made. A few minutes later, I was greeted by a friendly gentleman who worked at the facility. He welcomed me to Penang and spoke of his upcoming holiday. A few…

11 responses

Unrelenting yet so Familiar!

By: on November 11, 2024

  I am terrified at the moral apathy, the death of the heart, which is happening in my country. These people have deluded themselves for so long that they really don’t think I’m human. And I base this on their conduct, not on what they say. And this means that they have become moral monsters…

4 responses

Navigating Challenging (not impossible) Curriculum Conversations

By: on November 11, 2024

Our Children’s Ministry is in the process of adopting a new curriculum.  The curriculum resource we are currently using was adopted just after the pandemic.  It was purchased because it fit our scope & sequence, Biblical foundation, and spiritual formation benchmarks for kids.  It also had components that fit our needs during the pandemic.  Currently,…

3 responses

Slavery and Colonialism: Pros and Cons

By: on November 7, 2024

My Standpoint Colonialism and slavery, in my view, are both kinds of oppression and exploitation that are carried out by a group of people or nations against other groups or nations who are weaker. Colonialism and slavery are practices that are carried out to accrue the most significant possible benefit from the people or nations…

6 responses

Although I Am, History is Not so Black and White

By: on November 7, 2024

‘Yes, I got my wife’s approval for the title. This week we are supposed to write about our views and assumptions about colonialism and slavery before we read A History of Slavery by Jeremy Black[i] and Colonialism by Nigel Biggar.[ii] Pre-Reading Thoughts First, I realize our tendency with just about anything and everything is to…

9 responses

Colonialism, Slavery, and A Few Classmates.

By: on November 7, 2024

Shame can often feel like an overwhelming and paralyzing force in our lives. As a therapist, I’ve learned to navigate my own feelings of shame, and I have come to realize that openness is key. Honestly, before delving into this topic, I had no understanding of colonialism, and my background kept me from shaming myself.…

12 responses

Reflections on Slavery and Colonialism: Then and Now

By: on November 5, 2024

This week, I set aside time to reflect deeply on the complex histories of slavery and colonialism, revisiting both my education and early teaching experiences as a fifth-grade teacher. Teaching these topics early in my career required me to navigate difficult historical truths while fostering an environment where young students could begin to understand the…

9 responses

May we listen and learn

By: on November 5, 2024

As I sit down to reflect, a few thoughts come to mind. Slavery is unequivocally wrong because it cruelly dehumanizes one who is made in the image of God. A worldview which allows for one people group to dominate, control and enslave another does not truly uphold the dignity of each human as a bearer…

8 responses

The Shore of My Ignorance

By: on November 4, 2024

What is a summary of your most deeply held convictions before the readings? To answer this question, I need to quote myself from a recent blog post: “I grew up in a small town in Wisconsin. By small, I mean less than 1500 people. We were an hour from Minneapolis, Minnesota. I mention that because…

12 responses

Worldwide Wicked Problems Continued…

By: on November 4, 2024

My Current Beliefs and Convictions Slavery I believe slavery is a dehumanizing evil because it deprives human beings created in the image of God of their basic human and universal legal rights that restrict their freedom of movement, self-determination, and dignity. I know slavery comes in many forms, including sexual, chattel, bonded, and forced labor.…

11 responses

Rebuilding the Church’s Credibility Amid a Moral-Spiritual Crisis

By: on October 31, 2024

Last June, I attended the International Reformed Theological Institute Conference at our alma mater in Yogyakarta. In a conversation with one of the participants from the Netherlands, we turned to the state of the church in our respective countries. The person showed me data showing that in his country, 51% of people aged 15 and…

4 responses

Hard To Hold!

By: on October 31, 2024

  “Only when something is lost can it be found. Only when something dies can it be born again.” [1] I have lamented over the past week about the current state of the United States. It has been an extremely challenging time for me, so difficult that I have had to protect my peace by…

5 responses

Can We Still Call This Christianity?

By: on October 31, 2024

It’s the season for chili here in Tennessee. It’s getting cool; the leaves are changing, and chili recipe videos are now a part of my algorithms. Last week, I ran across a chili recipe that looked amazing and had great reviews. It inspired me! I got all the ingredients and made it for the family.…

7 responses

A Few Classmates. Losing our Religion. And…an Alaskan Wolf?

By: on October 30, 2024

Hunting in the harsh winter of Alaska presents significant challenges, and for an Eskimo, the risks can be life-threatening. In these extreme conditions, the threat of frostbite or freezing can become a reality in less than thirty minutes. This is why it’s crucial for hunters to be innovative and resourceful. One such practice involves coating…

10 responses

Citizenship in Heaven

By: on October 29, 2024

On the first day of my first class in my master’s program, I learned an important lesson, namely what it feels like to cross cultural boundaries. The professor of this Intercultural Communication class ran a simulation. Students were divided into groups to play a silent card game. At the end of each round the winner…

12 responses

Raise Your Hand, Lift Your Head, and Let Your Eyes Meet Mine

By: on October 28, 2024

I love giving people the opportunity to commit their hearts and lives to Jesus. It’s safe to say that over the last 30+ years of pastoral ministry, I have had the great honor of leading thousands of people into a public profession of trust in the Lord. Those “altar calls” have happened in a myriad…

9 responses

A Lordship Problem?

By: on October 28, 2024

Wow, there is so much to chew on from this week’s reading Losing Our Religion:  An Altar Call for Evangelical America by Russel Moore. I am a little fired up so I apologize in advance for any leakage of pain and passion.  Not only did this book spark something deep within, but I am sitting…

7 responses