Personal Growth Archives - Page 7 of 9 - The Artios Center for Vibrant Leadership

Ground Zero Perspectives New: Remembering September 11 and the Lessons We Learned

Brian Franks2022-07-20T09:30:11-06:00

By Whaid Rose GROUND ZERO For those old enough to recall them, the images remain vivid: the twin towers of the World Trade Center belching smoke and spewing debris; people leaping from the burning inferno to their death a hundred stories below; the buildings collapsing; terrified New Yorkers running, their clothes covered in ashes; the west wing of the Pentagon burning in the nation’s capital; in an open field in Pennsylvania, shocked residents viewing the scene of a downed airplane. That disastrous day is now twenty years past. It doesn’t seem so long ago. Lest we forget, this milestone anniversary is [...]

Ground Zero Perspectives New: Remembering September 11 and the Lessons We LearnedBrian Franks2022-07-20T09:30:11-06:00

Jesus-Followers, Instant Gratification, and Other Cultural Issues

Brian Franks2022-07-12T13:29:02-06:00

By Caitlin Meadows My little boy, Hudson is 20 months old. That said, it won’t surprise you that he has not yet developed a life skill parents grow to deeply appreciate. Patience. Hudson has none yet. The kid is pure impulse. Patience is something my husband and I are attempting to cultivate in him. We get to cultivate it in him when we have to cook our food before we eat it. Or when we have to drive 15 minutes first for him to see his grandparents. We cultivate it in him when I have to finish unloading the laundry before I hold [...]

Jesus-Followers, Instant Gratification, and Other Cultural IssuesBrian Franks2022-07-12T13:29:02-06:00

What Christians Need to Understand About Shame

Brian Franks2022-07-12T13:24:48-06:00

By Caitlin Meadows Shame on you! is something we say to someone who behaves poorly. It’s our response to a person caught red handed and unapologetic. In effect, we’re telling them: “What you’ve done is wrong and you should feel guilt, regret, and humiliation.” In these types of situations, we want the offender to claim guilt so that he or she can take responsibility for whatever offense was committed. We want justice, which in many cases is an honest apology. However, the response is rarely acceptance and apology. Rather, the response is often to hide, lie, or justify whatever offense he or she committed. [...]

What Christians Need to Understand About ShameBrian Franks2022-07-12T13:24:48-06:00

Are We a Supportive Community

Brian Franks2022-07-12T13:12:49-06:00

By Brian Franks We’re meant for community. In the beginning, the perfect, self-existent, self-sufficient, all-powerful, living God chose to create. In this creation He laid the groundwork, and literally the ground itself, for His vision. He made the stars, flora, and fauna of every kind. Indeed, everything we see sprang to life at His command or hand. Then, He continued with two more creation acts: “let us make humanity in our image” (Genesis 1:26) and God set apart the Sabbath day and blessed it (Genesis 2:3). Both of these are deeply intentional acts of community. The Sabbath is not a day of sleep. [...]

Are We a Supportive CommunityBrian Franks2022-07-12T13:12:49-06:00

Why Jesus Tells Us to Forgive Without Limit

Brian Franks2022-07-12T13:11:01-06:00

By Andrea Slawson I’m going to let you in on a secret: being a Christian leader is hard. You’re called to influence those around you for the sake of Christ? This is a tall order. Know what else is hard to do? Forgive. It’s hard because sometimes forgiveness is attached to confrontation. These situations are especially hard for those who are introverts at heart. Yet, when God tugs at my heart, I cannot help but obey because I love Him and I love to please Him. Although leadership and forgiveness are difficult tasks in our own strength, thankfully His Spirit enables [...]

Why Jesus Tells Us to Forgive Without LimitBrian Franks2022-07-12T13:11:01-06:00

Christ-Centered Rest on Sabbath is For Pastors, Too

Brian Franks2022-07-12T13:09:26-06:00

By Amber Riggs Exhausted from a long, demanding day, Joseph feels his body begin to release stress and his mind struggle to let go of its seemingly endless list of responsibilities. It’s almost Sunday, he tells himself. Maybe I’ll finally get a chance to rest. The sad irony is that this is a relatable situation for many pastors, ministry leaders, and members of congregations who meet on Saturday with good intentions of celebrating Sabbath. Unfortunately, the day on which a congregation worships is often the most physically and emotionally taxing day of the week for many pastors and church leaders. It can become a [...]

Christ-Centered Rest on Sabbath is For Pastors, TooBrian Franks2022-07-12T13:09:26-06:00

How Roman Christians Responded to Corrupt Rulers

Brian Franks2022-07-12T13:07:25-06:00

By Amber Riggs Not a month goes by that we don’t hear an allegation of corruption regarding one or more of our governing leaders. Even the thought that our leaders could consider themselves above the law is downright maddening. Or perhaps we think that a politician’s policies – or proposed policies – are dangerous. We question their motivations. What would happen if these policies are put into law? Regardless of your political persuasions, watching all of this take place can easily make a person feel helpless. And when we feel helpless, we often find it easier to react in frustration. However, [...]

How Roman Christians Responded to Corrupt RulersBrian Franks2022-07-12T13:07:25-06:00

Why You May Not Be Getting Enough Rest

Brian Franks2022-07-12T13:06:12-06:00

By Amber Riggs For years, there has been this accusing voice in the back of my head telling me that no matter how much I’m doing, it’s not enough. Like all lies, there’s truth in this. No matter how much I do, five seconds on my newsfeed is enough to jar me with words and images that confirm that this world is still very much a broken place. There’s a reason that the Christian stadium events I went to as a teen and young adult bombarded us with heartfelt pleas to be radical world changers. There’s a reason why so many [...]

Why You May Not Be Getting Enough RestBrian Franks2022-07-12T13:06:12-06:00

Is God Still in Control?

Brian Franks2022-07-12T13:02:12-06:00

By Martin Cicero I am not sure what God considers the last days, but to me, it sure seems that we are approaching those days rather quickly. As I read 2 Timothy 3:1-5, it appears that the Apostle Paul is describing our time: But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of [...]

Is God Still in Control?Brian Franks2022-07-12T13:02:12-06:00

How Does Prayer Connect Us to God?

Brian Franks2022-07-12T12:50:12-06:00

By Josiah Robles How does prayer connect us to God? Prayer is more than just a few words spoken to God before a meal or before one goes to sleep. Though it can simply be said that prayer is how “we make contact with God, and likewise God communicates with us.” Prayer is a lifestyle of communion with God in which we develop a deep intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father. This deep intimate relationship with the father is what allows us to become friends with God. Prayer for me as a Christian leader is extremely significant. Prayer is what allows me to come before [...]

How Does Prayer Connect Us to God?Brian Franks2022-07-12T12:50:12-06:00

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