Michael Rose :: Spiritual Direction & Grief Support |

Knowing: Reason and Wonder

"The stirring in our hearts when watching the star studded sky is something no language can declare. What smites us with unquenchable amazement is not that which we can grasp and are able to convey but that which lies within our reach but beyond our grasp - the ineffable."* I remember first hearing about the…

Help Stop the Spread of the Email Insanity

Some days I want to declare email bankruptcy! I was recently swallowed up by a series of epic emails as a part of a conversation regarding a Board I serve on. It was a 5 way conversation with everyone "reply all"ing and it was pure cyber mayhem! We have since reformed our email etiquette…

When a Sparrow Falls – An Allegory of Failure & Hope

Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. Mt 10:29 Once upon a time a Momma bird hatched new baby sparrows. One sparrow was bigger and stronger than the other sparrows of the nest. With time, he grew faster, grew grander than his nest…

Sex and the Church: Pastoral Sexual Misconduct

Pastoral sexual misconduct is not a new phenomenon and dates back to the Old Testament when God rejects the sons of Eli for their sexual misconduct. Sexual misconduct is wide in scope and can range from passive sexual harassment of a co-worker or congregant to an extramarital affair as a “one time fall from…

(First Game) Daddy… what’s going on? Daddy who are all the faces? I’m not so sure about this Daddy but I’m sure about you. So many children, Daddy. I’ve never played soccer, Daddy. I’m not sure about this Daddy but I am sure about you. So I will stay with you, just for a while.…

SEX SCANDAL: Healthy Boundaries for Healthy Leaders & Communities

I was alarmed to hear of another church leader struggling with his sexuality. The leader is a young married man working with youth. I was made aware of the situation through someone I work with who is processing some of the thoughts and feelings around her sister being manipulated and inappropriately touched by this leader. …

Ding, Dong the Witch is Dead?

[This piece is dated for sure but the ideas within it are still valid. As we wrestle with Jesus' words to love our enemies and His Gospel of non-violence, we need to sit in the midst of seeming caldron of conflicting emotions and twisted ideas of justice and allow Holy Spirit to speak to us.]…

Motivating employees can be a challenge! Whether they receive a pay cheque or volunteer, it is important to help your team understand why what they do is important or meaningful. This sense of meaning can go a long way to increasing productivity, improve employee/volunteer retention and loyalty. Adam Grant, a Wharton management professor, demonstrates this…

The term "compassion" often evokes visions of pity or an infomercial showing impoverished children around the world. It seems the fullness of compassion in real, everyday life is often overshadowed by the noise of cultural greed and violence. Recent world events like the Japanese earthquake / tsunami and the resulting outpouring of support and prayers…

Blog

Knowing: Reason and Wonder

Help Stop the Spread of the Email Insanity

When a Sparrow Falls – An Allegory of Failure & Hope

Sex and the Church: Pastoral Sexual Misconduct

Rikers Song: An Ode to Child-like Faith

SEX SCANDAL: Healthy Boundaries for Healthy Leaders & Communities

Ding, Dong the Witch is Dead?

Motivating Employees with Meaning

Compassion: Genius in the Art of Living

Get my Newsletter