Blog

Disturbing the comfortable & comforting the disturbed.

Staff thoughts and life lessons about poverty, injustice, leadership, religion and other social issues in the world today.

Freedom From Religion

Thoughts by Dave Blundell – 2 minute read

I desperately want to be freed from religion. I grew up religious; I trained for a religious career; I’ve traveled and been exposed to most of the world’s major religions. I’m done.

I have never been more finished with religion than I am today, and I have never been more in love with Christ either.

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2015 Annual Update

Thoughts by Dave Blundell – 3 minute read

We all want to have an impact. We all want our lives to have meaning and to make a difference. That desire in all of us is the image of a giving God living through us in a world that is desperate for His love. The reason you are receiving this is because you have made a difference, you have had an impact. Thank you for giving, or going, or in some way partnering with us in our vision—to see a world transformed by a global movement of compassion and justice, evidenced by the eradication of needless suffering.

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Faithophobia

Thoughts by Dave Blundell – 3 minute read

Is being altogether loving mutually exclusive of black and white? In today’s climate of moral relativism and faith-based reverse discrimination, isn’t it possible someone can be both full of Christ-like love AND convinced of the reality of a right and wrong? Is it possible to say, "You're wrong" and still love completely?

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Leadership Pain — Book Review

Thoughts by Dave Blundell – 2 minute read

As a leader, I was incredibly drawn to the title of this book. What leader doesn’t experience pain? At first, I thought the book was going to have a masochistic message. I was expecting, “Every leader experiences pain. Jesus did. So suck it up and keep serving.” I was wrong. Having read my share of leadership books, Leadership Pain is definitely among the most helpful books I’ve read that speaks to a leader’s soul. It’s a book that should be required reading for any leadership training or preparation.

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Are we Christ-like or just nice?

Thoughts by Dave Blundell – 3 minute read

It's never been more clear to me lately that the only way people will want to come and have a relationship with Jesus is when they see him in our lives. Yes…there will be a few that come because of tragedy, signs and wonders. But the only reason the rest would ever want anything to do with Jesus is if they are attracted to him; when they see him in us. I realize that isn't a new or profound thought. Probably every follower of Jesus would agree with me.

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Why is your missions comittee so frustrating?

Thoughts by Dave Blundell – 3 minute read

Having worked in a church, and now from working with hundreds of churches in global mobilization, it’s often the very group of people who are supposed to champion missions who become the obstacle.

Missions committees are those things in churches we seem to need but don’t really know why they are there or what specifically they are supposed to accomplish.

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When not helping hurts more

Thoughts by Dave Blundell – 3 minute read

I have been part of the international relief and development community and discussion for about 13 years now. And for all of the right reasons, there has never been such a huge discussion and focus placed on not doing harm when we are trying to help the poor. All the buzz words right now have tipped the scales toward considering “best practice” to maximize our aid effectiveness.

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I’m flawless?

Thoughts by Dave Blundell – 2 minute read

Apparently I am, and that is the gospel. The gospel is not only that I’m going to heaven. (And, doubtless, it is good that I am spending eternity with God as a result of the gospel.) But, for the here and now, the Good News is that because of the cross, I’m flawless.

I grew up with this notion that, while I was saved by grace, I had to behave right and religious in order to keep God pleased with me.

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Heart-check questions for the professionally religious

Thoughts by Dave Blundell – 3 minute read

Notwithstanding what self-absorbed motives we are trying to beat down in our hearts, a temptation of the professionally religious is to do our best to present the best spiritual image we can. We may tend to know the right things to say, but how consistently does saying the right thing reflect the real core value motives of our hearts?

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Size does matter

Thoughts by Dave Blundell – 3 minute read

Most of us know enough to say that size does not matter. And while we know it shouldn’t matter, let’s be honest, it actually does. We ask the size question in various ways. “So...how many attend your Sunday service now?” “What’s your program attendance?" Or, “How many staff do you have?” “What’s your annual budget?”

As soon as these kinds of questions are asked, our biggest task is to hide the wide-eyed look of insecurity to pretend we don’t care about being compared to something. Some of the thoughts that can go through our heads include “Maybe I’ll round up to make it sound better.” “Maybe I’ll give a range that includes the attendance at the Christmas Eve service.” Depending on who is asking, maybe I’ll say something about the good things happening in people’s lives.

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