Leading in Hope 2009 Archives

Your Support Matters!

Your donations are vital to help us keep the light shining.

Donate Now

Bureaucratic Encumbrance

What happens when process becomes more important than mission?

Rubel Shelly uses General Motors before reorganization and the New York Times article to help remind us that we can be full of so many processes, procedures, rules, and traditions that we lose the main objective -- if everything is important, then nothing

Which Holiday Is This?

It's easy to get confused this time of year!

Rubel Shelly reminds us of the importance of remembering the real meaning of Thanksgiving.

The Measure of Success

How do we define what is so easily distorted?

Bill Sherrill reminds us that the measure of success in Jesus' eyes is whether or not we helped those in need who are around us.

How to Think of God

Do you see God in the face and actions of a young child?

Rubel Shelly's night with a little girl in a restaurant reminds him of who God actually is.

Back to Basics

Isn't it about time to get rid of the fluff and get back to the basics?

Rubel Shelly uses the recent world series and a few Casey Stengel stories about the early days of the Mets to remind us that the we need to get back to the basics of what we do as believers: love God and love each other.

Art, Crime, and Justice

When is it time to tell the self-appointed elite they are wrong?

Rubel Shelly reminds us that Roman Polanski is a predator and is not to be given any special treatment because he is part of the media elite.

Respect and Truth-Telling

Would you have told the truth in such dire circumstances?

Rubel Shelly challenges us with an old story to be people of truth and respect even in the most dire and painful circumstances and treat people with the same ethical respect we would expect ourselves.

When You Know It All!

What can you learn after you know it all?

Rubel Shelly reminds us through the words of Coach John Wooden that "What really counts in life is what you learn after you know it all."

Good News about Tomorrow

There's a wave of truthfulness headed down the pipeline!

Rubel Shelly talks about his medical ethics class and the importance these students put on telling the truth in all situations.

Spend it Well

Where will you spend your life?

Rubel Shelly talks about seeing life as small increments of cash that we can only spend a little at a time.

Why God Permits Pain

I thought if I followed Jesus, He would take care of me?

Rubel Shelly discusses both the problem and the purpose of pain in the believer's life.

Beyond Circumstances: Attitude Makes the Difference

What can you really control about your day?

Rubel Shelly reminds us of several things we cannot change, especially in overwhelming times, but one we can change is our attitude.

Why Such Bad Answers?

Where did this try it before you buy idea come from?

Rubel Shelly talks about the try it before you buy idea, the test drive mentality, that infests the idea about marriage in modern society and he boils the problem down to selfishness.

Bigotry: The Shoe Is on the other Foot

Some would make religion the reason for disqualification?

Rubel Shelly comments on the recommendation of Francis Collins nomination for the head of NIH and the Sam Harris criticism of his nomination.

All About the Layers

Where do you find God doing His best work?

Ron Rose talks about layers in photography and layers in our lives, and emphasizes that the layers are where God's transformation takes place.

It's All About Me!

So is it really about me?

Rubel Shelly shares a story from post World War II at Yankee Stadium and helps us understand that self-centeredness may be okay for little kids, but not for us!

A New Normal

What are you going to do in the new financial environment?

Rubel Shelly reminds us that the economic times, especially the financial downturn, gives us an opportunity to learn new things and establish new values, more biblical values, in our approach to consumption, greed, and ownership.

Everyone Is a Critic

What do we do and how do we act in a world of critics?

Rubel Shelly talks about how we all have begun to play the role of critic -- some are on the giving end and some on the receiving -- so how are we to act and respond in such a world?

Don't Abandon Optimism

What's there to feel good about?

Rubel Shelly reminds us that there is something positive about thinking with an optimistic spirit and believing things can get done and be better.

Why Leaders Don't Make Excuses

What, it's my fault?

Rubel Shelly reminds us that the heart of leadership is not making excuses and helping others get the credit when things go right.

Helpfulness

So what can you do to make yourself a blessing to others?

Rubel Shelly shares insights on being helpful and how it's part of our being created in the image of God.

Worth Doing Poorly?

What do you do that you are not good at doing?

Rubel Shelly reminds us to try new things, to take risks, and to find some things we don't do well rather than falling into stale and boring ruts only doing the things we do well.

Just Part of the Job

A brain injury and a call for the maintenance man?

Rubel Shelly reminds us that the real challenge is to be resourceful and take our meager resources and big challenges and put them in the hands of the Living God.

People over Machines

Don't you just love getting caught in a caller option system?

Rubel Shelly talks about the nightmare of getting caught in a voice mail and caller processing system and says he prefers people over machines.

No Minister?

Can a

Patrick Odum talks about how we are all called to be ministers and challenges us to imagine church lived that way.