On this day after a national holiday focused on giving thanks (remember it’s not just about eating) I find it appropriate to reflect on gratitude. Merriam Webster’s Online Dictionary defines gratitude as a “state of being grateful”. Gratitude is more than just an attitude, or a few moments spent once a year counting our blessings. It is a state of being – a way of living.

 We live in an age and time when we're often more likely to emphasize and get stuck on being right than on understanding the point of view of another person. During the election season, most conservatives read conservative blogs , while liberals read liberal blogs , and neither group gets very good at really listening to the other. The same thing is often true in religious circles; several times in the past week I've had progressive friends lament the upcoming discussions they'd have with their conservative family members. It seems to be a rare individual who really "gets" people on the other side of the proverbial fence. ...

The utilization of mentors can be helpful in many ministry areas in the local church, including newcomer integration, confirmation programs and lay leadership development. A mentor/mentee relationship provides an arena for connection and collaboration and opportunities for growth in both parties.

The likelihood is that most of the "Technology Tuesdays" emails will be written by me (Tim). Simply put, I'm a bit of a tech geek, and Sally's not. On my computer right now, I have at least 280 different applications, and I use - well, definitely not all of them, but quite a few at least occasionally. I subscribe to various tech magazines, listen to MP3s about fun stuff like SEO (search engine optimization), and can't resist a trip down the electronics aisle at most any store...

The likelihood is that most of the "Technology Tuesdays" emails will be written by me (Tim). Simply put, I'm a bit of a tech geek, and Sally's not. On my computer right now, I have at least 280 different applications, and I use - well, definitely not all of them, but quite a few at least occasionally. I subscribe to various tech magazines, listen to MP3s about fun stuff like SEO (search engine optimization), and can't resist a trip down the electronics aisle at most any store...

At Different Voice, creation-care is one of our core values. What does it mean to translate this belief into action as we do ministry?

 I’m working on eliminating a word from my vocabulary, and it’s really hard. No, not a word of the 4-letter variety or a slang word that the youth remind me is years out of date. The word I’m trying not to use (at least in my "church life") is “volunteer.” It’s a word I’ve used a lot in the past, but I’ve decided it’s time to break the habit.

Religious books which recount a biblical story for children are frequently plagued by a number of problems that can render them less-than-acceptable in progressive congregations. Too often, the artwork portrays light-skinned characters instead of ones that look like they really do come from the Middle East....

Internet marketers have lots of tools at their disposal to determine which web pages you visit on their sites, what gets you to make a purchase, and how long you stay on a particular page. One of those tools is called split testing (or sometimes A/B split testing.) ...

In an article I've posted previously, I suggested a few suggestions of how to use digital music with youth. But a few lesser-known iTunes features are more appropriate for adults...and they don't cost a thing!