As you think about young people on college campuses today, what is the first image that comes to mind? For me, it’s a sea of students streaming down the sidewalk, smartphones in hand. Their attention is constantly drawn to one thing: a screen.
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Transition for the Dunkin Family in Madison
As you may recall from our updates over the past few months, our church planting process was taking longer than we’d hoped. After much prayer and consideration, we’ve decided to make a ministry transition.
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Trusting God’s Sovereignty Amid Tragedy
Last week I taught on the topic of God’s sovereignty at a college ministry. We covered why God’s sovereignty matters for decision making, but I also wanted to cover the topic of trusting God amid tragedy.
Tragedies consistently cause us to question God. They make us skeptical of his goodness, his power, and his claim to be in control of all things. If God is sovereign, then why would he allow a forest fire to consume a neighborhood?
In response to these questions, scripture provides at least three reasons to trust God.
The Actual Meaning of “Sorry, I’m Busy”
If you spend a lot of time inviting people to things, then you’d better be prepared for rejection.
As a church planter, I would know. I’m basically a professional at being turned down.
But of course, I’m not alone. Talk with anyone in sales, donor development, marketing, start-ups, or any other line of work that requires a lot of invitations, and they’ll assure you, the only thing certain is that rejection will come, often in large, unrelenting quantities.
Through the hundreds of rejections I’ve received in the last few months, I’ve noticed a pattern. The most common way of being told, “no”, comes in the form of, “I’m sorry, I’m just really busy”.
I want to help us understand the dynamic occurring when someone declines your invitation in this way. Because, I think, we’re confused. We’re missing the truth of what’s being communicated in that interaction. At first, I was, too. But now, being the seasoned vet of rejection I am, I see things more clearly.
Follow Your Heart…Unless You Battle Mental Illness
We’re a society that affirms the prevalence and struggles associated with mental illness; yet we’re also a society that says, “Do whatever feels right; listen to your heart”. These two values contradict one another, and their contradiction exposes the insufficient philosophical foundations of postmodern secularism.
The worst advice you can give a depressed, postpartum mom is, “Just listen to your heart; do what feels right”. In her case, that which feels right may be smothering her infant to suppress his unrelenting colic.
When we tell someone to “follow their heart”, we’re generally encouraging them to trust their most basic, visceral sense of what is best. We’re telling them to trust themselves, to look inward for inspiration and guidance.
The problem for clinically depressed, anxious, anorexic, or otherwise mentally ill people is that they can’t trust themselves. When they look inward, they don’t see truth. They see lies.
What a world swimming in mental illness needs is not more admonitions to follow your heart. Rather, we need an objective, external, immovable point of reference to provide an anchor for our wayward hearts. What we need is the presence of God and the hope of Jesus Christ.
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Two Underutilized, Highly Effective Small Group Leadership Tricks
Who knew silence could be so loud?
I’ll tell you who: small group leaders.
You ask a question. A good question. A simple one, even.
And the response?
Someone’s stomach growls. One guy gets up to use the bathroom. A girl fake coughs in an effort to break the brutally awkward silence. You begin to wonder if you have bat in the cave considering that no one dares look at your face.
Who thought small groups were a good idea anyway?
Leading a small group is a bizarre, inconsistent, often bewildering experience. Thankfully, over the years, I’ve picked up two approaches that have helped me immensely in prompting productive group discussions. Each tool is incredibly simple. No specialized degrees necessary.
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A Charge to 8th Grade Graduates
Good evening 8th Grade Scholars.
And good evening to all of you, parents, grandparents, faculty, family and friends.
My name is Erik Dunkin, or around here at HPCS, Mr. Dunkin. This past year I taught middle school English and also taught the 8th Graders in Bible class. And as one who’s spent at least two hours per day with these 8th Graders every weekday for the last nine months, it’s a privilege now to offer them this charge upon their graduation.
