DLGP

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

Archbishops, Apologists, and Atheists

By: on August 31, 2023

Here we go. Time to dust off the old blog cobwebs. I can almost hear the gears trying to crank back up in my head writing this post after the summer break! I have to say I never knew Oxford contained so many colleges within it, 44 to be exact. While reading through Paul Sullivan’s…

13 responses

My Oxford Portal

By: on August 29, 2023

The Secret History of Oxford by Paul Sullivan delves into the lesser-known aspects of Oxford University’s rich and storied past. Unveiling hidden narratives, the book explores intriguing stories that have shaped the university’s history.  Historical narratives and timelines are intriguing to me for so many reasons, one of the reasons being that historical narratives expose…

9 responses

Sacred vs. Secular

By: on August 29, 2023

As I read Secret History of Oxford I am struck by a number of things, some interesting yet unsurprising but others quite unexpected. In any case, in a few weeks we are headed to a town that is obviously steeped in history like few other places on Earth. We’re talking about history that few of…

9 responses

Bucket List or Pilgrimage?

By: on August 28, 2023

I never knew Oxford was on my bucket list until discovering it as a location for our Advance. It has been 43-years since I last traveled to the United Kingdom. Decades have passed with longings to visit destinations I missed during my summer backpacking adventure through Europe in 1980. I knew nothing about Oxford as…

18 responses

Oxford…A World Beyond

By: on August 28, 2023

As I read through the pages of Paul Sullivan’s “The Secret History of Oxford”, my finite mind was overwhelmed at the incredible stunning architecture, historical significance, and continuing educational investment of a place that I have only heard about in movies. As the author gave behind-the-scenes stories, I felt as if I had embarked into…

8 responses

Context Is Everything

By: on August 28, 2023

Context Is Everything The first time I heard about Cecil Rhodes and his longer history was during a visit to Oxford, England in September 2017 with a group of CCCU leaders for the Oxford Onclave.  Standing before us was the Dean of Corpus Christi, who detailed the problems her college officials were facing as students…

14 responses

YOU ARE HERE

By: on August 28, 2023

Years ago, my wife and I had a couple of hours to kill between meetings in a large city, so we decided to visit a famous nearby shopping mall. This mall was massive, and we entered it through a huge store called The Burlington Coat Factory. Then we started to meander down the main central…

14 responses

“Somewhereness”

By: on August 28, 2023

To help prepare us for our upcoming advance we received an email from Cliff that provided us with an overview of the intentions behind the “I AM HERE” day.[1] This message suggested that to appreciate our time in this revered town, we might consider the concept of Terroir, or a sense of “somewhereness.” It stated:…

6 responses

Сучасні припущення (Ukrainian) – Modern Day Inklings

By: on August 28, 2023

Summary No Hawaiians at Oxford, Oxford Marmalade, and the Alfred Jewel. Oxford Tuition. Dictators & Ministers Actress and Tolkien Summary, Modern-Day Inklings   No Hawaiians…Sadly, there were no Royal Hawaiians that attended Oxford. However, my google search reminded me of how the visit to England killed King Kamehameha II and Queen Kamamalu. “We review the…

6 responses

We were in the same ballpark?!?

By: on April 30, 2023

As I read Cascades by Greg Satell, the above 2 pictures kept coming to mind. The first one was taken January 12, 2022, and the second one was taken March 15, 2022. As Executive Director of Restore Counseling Center I meet twice a month with my Board Chairman to pray, dream, strategize, and discuss any…

2 responses

Relationship + Obedience + Fruit = Credibility

By: on April 29, 2023

Credibility = proven competence + integrity + relationships As I read Cascades by Greg Satell, my mind was drawn to the emphasis on relationships and community, especially as the author contrasted the historical mental model of strong governance as the catalyst for change. [1]  The need to create interconnectivity and interdependence is essential.  The author…

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1001 New Worshiping Communities, a Movement.

By: on April 29, 2023

In 2021 the Presbyterian Church (USA) released statistic showing the steady decline of the denomination. Over the last twenty years, membership has decreased but the pandemic exacerbated the decline. The 2021 statistics show current active membership stands at just over 1.1 million, a 51,000-member drop from 2020. Total number of churches in 2021 stood at…

7 responses

B.H.A.G

By: on April 28, 2023

Let me tell you a story about a B.H.A.G.  What is a B.H.A.G. you may ask?  Why it’s a Big, Hairy, Audacious, Goal. The term was originally coined by Jim Collins and Jerry Porras in their book Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies, first published in 1994. Collins says, “The power of the BHAG is…

10 responses

Good Lessons for The Church

By: on April 27, 2023

In His book, Cascades: How to Create A Movement That Drives Transformational Change (1), Greg Satell is instructing his readers on six key principles that drive transformational change. While there were many areas of application to dig into, I found myself ruminating on several primary issues related to my own context: Do We Try to…

7 responses

Keep Challenging Your Status Quo and Comfort Zone

By: on April 27, 2023

“Because small groups engender strong bonds, loose connections provide greater numbers, and a common purpose gives direction.” ­-Greg Satell-   After completing and submitting assignments in two courses, my wife and I went to the cinema to watch Jesus Revolution movie. The movie depicts a spiritual revolution in Costa Mesta, Southern California in early 1970s. The…

6 responses

Making a Point or Making a Difference?

By: on April 27, 2023

While in Divinity school after several of us had shared an interest in starting home churches, the professor challenged us when he said, “Just remember, it takes systems to change systems.” That concept has lingered with me ever since, and I believe that is one of the main points Greg Satell is getting at in…

8 responses

Curiosity killed the cat and satisfaction brought it back

By: on April 26, 2023

My company often describes itself to people as “your marketing department,” because you can’t hire us to create one graphic or one email. Typically we need to be invited into your company or nonprofit so we can learn about the organization, its culture and people. What I’ve learned these last five years since founding Leading…

6 responses

Joy as an act of rebellion against the spirit of the world

By: on April 26, 2023

I once heard someone say that joy is one of the most punk rock attributes a person can have. That it rebels against the world’s system. That it is the ultimate alternative to the cynicism we are so easily sucked into. When I was reading Cascades by Greg Satell I couldn’t stop thinking about that…

8 responses

Soul Groups: Loosely Connected But United in Purpose

By: on April 25, 2023

In 2001, I met with a small group of women in Newberg, Oregon for the single purpose of connection.  Most of us had recently moved from across the country; one woman relocated from Russia. Another had been living in Newberg for more than a decade. Each week, huddled in a circle sipping coffee, one person…

17 responses

Kleon would be proud!

By: on April 24, 2023

The premise of Greg Satell’s book “Cascades” is clear and simple: “Small groups, loosely connected, but united by a common purpose” can cause a monumental cascade of change.[1] Satell surmises that power is no longer in the hands of the top hierarchies but in the center of networks.[2] Satell parades an array of examples throughout…

19 responses