Last Spring, we began regularly publishing this blog.
Our hope is to provide great content that introduces the Life Model Works approach and dives deeper into important concepts.
Here are our Top 10 Posts (so far…) We hope you’ll spend a moment looking around and share them on Facebook and Twitter.
Get to Know Dr. Jim Wilder
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For decades, Dr. Jim Wilder has been delving into biblical scripture, spiritual formation and brain science. These studies led to development of a unique model of spiritual and psychological maturation.
Tired of Cliché Christian Happiness? Try this Instead
By Jan Johnson
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My crabby self is beginning to be won over.
A little background. I don’t put stock in “easy answers.” I strive for authenticity and any hint of that plastic sort of happy-face Christianity –well, I have to work at loving a person who espouses that. I don’t like sugar-coating things, or even coming close to it.
An adjective used to describe my speaking perhaps too frequently is “real.” So I’ve eyed with suspicion verses such as “Rejoice always” (1 Thess 5:16; Phil 4:4).
Want Sustained Joy? Become a better mind reader.
By Chris Coursey
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The nonverbal aspects of our conversations create mutual connection. We both feel validated, comforted and understood. We are glad to be together. It is not so much our words, rather, the rapid exchange of nonverbal signals that are detected, interpreted and transmitted. The brain processes nonverbal communication much more rapidly than words. This dynamic process engages the brain regions that determine whether we will approach or avoid, or break into the two-step.
Steal this Method from Two Year Olds When You Feel Upset
By Jim Wilder
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Being stuck in a bad feeling is also a sign that we are using only half of our brain. We can validate ourselves, but it requires using our whole brain. This is something that securely attached children learn to do by age two.
What is it the secret two-year-olds know? How can you learn to spend less time being upset without outside help?
Seven Steps to Model Maturity and Avoid the Abuse of Power
By Chris Coursey
The abuse and misuse of power comes in the form of spiritual abuse, sexual exploitation, embezzlement, fraud, lying, greed, cheating, stealing, fear-based guidance, intimidation and more.
These behaviors are avoidable when maturity is brought into the limelight. Maturity provides a lens to examine the character and capacity of leaders so we learn realistic limitations. Maturity means we know what to expect from ourselves and each other. Maturity is a simple solution that is frequently overlooked and underestimated. Let’s look at seven steps to model maturity and avoid the abuse of power.
The Problem with Healing
By Ed Khouri
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Like a group of grizzly bears with fresh meat, heresy hunters, those self-appointed internet guardians of all things Christian, will rip the term – and the unwary feeder – apart. Name calling, personal and professional attacks systematically seek to destroy the credibility of anyone who might use those terms.
Here’s How Joy Radically Altered One Woman’s Life
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There’s nothing more exciting than watching God transform lives.
Sometimes, the changes we get to see are very visible.
One recent example is our friend Deborah. Five years ago, she was depressed, overweight and estranged from her mother. Then, Deborah participated in Connexus, a series of three transformative courses for churches.
Relationship Skill: Stop Overwhelming People (and being overwhelmed yourself!)
By Deni Huttula
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Taking a breather is skill number 9 of the 19 Relational Skills. This skill is one of the many skills our brain needs to learn from our parents when we are young. If we don’t learn it by the time we are three and half years old, then we will do whatever we learned to do instead of recognizing overwhelm.
What Will It Take to Become a Church for the Depressed?
By Chris Morton
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The first time I remember something akin to depression was a desperate loneliness I experienced around age eight. Like many High Schoolers, I struggled with a sense of hopelessness and self-hatred. I lost all motivation and moved lethargically for most of my junior year.
In college, depression got in the way of my relationships. When I was down, others felt the need to withdraw. I was cynical, angry and very, very dark. Who could blame them?
How to Have Joy at Thanksgiving
By Chris Coursey
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Make your Thanksgiving meal more joyful and meaningful. Scripture and brain science tells us gratitude and appreciation are essentials we should not overlook. The benefits of gratitude can stay with us for months. The Bible tells us in Ephesians 5 to, “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (19-20, NIV) Do not worry if you aren’t a singer or worship leader, you can express your thanks by appreciating the people and God’s gifts in your life. Start some joy this Thanksgiving with a short exercise around your Thanksgiving table.
