Tuesdays on the blog usually means that it is time to share some links to things that I have read and found interesting over the past week. I know I’m a day late, and that it’s Wednesday today, but I hope you enjoy them anyway. To help make sense of the links, I have grouped them in the following categories: Church and Ministry Thought & Practice; Cross-Sector Collaboration; Leadership Thought & Practice; Neighbor Love; Stewardship; and Vocation. I hope you enjoy this edition of the links.

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Church and Ministry Thought & Practice

The links are a day late this week as I am catching back up, post Nebraska Synod Assembly. The Nebraska Synod had a fantastic assembly, and I invite you to check out some of the great discussions, presentations, and experiences via YouTube and Facebook. We were taught and led by Bishop Brian Maas, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, and Dr. Anthony Bateza. Later this week I am planning to go in-depth on the assembly here on the blog, but until then, check out some of the videos and pictures.

If you are preparing for worship this weekend, or perhaps even preaching, I highly encourage you to spend time with friend and professor Rev. Dr. Matt Skinner’s “Commentary on 2 Corinthians 13:11-13,” and please pay special attention to his caution about preaching on the doctrine of the Trinity.” Relatedly, spend some time with friend and professor Rev. Dr. Karoline Lewis’ reflection about “A Trinitarian Difference.” And if you need some stewardship food for thought for this week, I humbly suggest this as a potential starting place.

Cross-Sector Collaboration
When I saw the subheading of this article in the Wall Street Journal, I knew I needed to include it in the Links. Kelsey Gee wrote and asked, “You’re Getting a Master’s in What?” As someone with a couple master’s degrees not always put together like I have done, that caught my attention. But it was the subheading that really got me, “From church management to fashion, business schools expand graduate offerings with shorter, more specialized courses.” What do you think? Did this article get your attention to?

Leadership Thought & Practice
Friend, professor, and dean of the Drucker School, Dr. Jenny Darroch writes and ponders, “How to Manage Through Change, the Drucker Way: Where are the Change Leaders?” Dr. Darroch lifts up the following attributes of a change leader: writing that a change leader gathers data and information; they filter new insights through a marketing and innovation lens; they need to be bold and place bets on one of many strategic options and be willing to take a chance; they are willing to abandon the old as they keep a keen eye on creating the future; and they are effective managers. Definitely spend some time with this article this week.

This article was originally written in the Harvard Business Review last year, but my wife Allison stumbled on it last week and shared it with me, as I had somehow missed it. So, I now share it with you from Shawn Achor and Michelle Gielan, “Resilience is About How You Recharge, Not How You Endure.”

In light of last week’s disastrous and short-sighted decision by President Trump to exit the Paris Climate Agreement, states and their governors are showing true leadership by picking up the climate. This has been reported widely, but I was proud to see Governor Jay Inslee help lead the way from Washington State.

Neighbor Love
As stated above, President Trump decided to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement. ELCA Advocacy shared this neighbor love and stewardship response in light of this awful decision.

Some Christians have tried to brush off the concerns of the environment and their faith. In response to this approach and reaction, Jacob Erickson writes, “‘I Worship Jesus, Not Mother Earth’: American Christian Exceptionalism and the Paris Withdrawal.”

Friend, pastor, and blogger Aaron Fuller writes and reflects about what he thinks is “The Single Most Important Theological Doctrine Today… (Talking to Lutherans & anyone else who would listen).”

When your brother, brother-in-law, and a sister-in-law all share the same article on Facebook, you take notice. Thomas, Orsure, and Maria all shared this moving and enlightening article by Linda Villarosa at, “America’s Hidden H.I.V. Epidemic.”

Nicholas Kristof offered an important read last week about our society, values, and neighbor love, in writing, “On a Portland Train, the Battlefield of American Values.”

My wife Allison shared this good read with me last week that could fit under cross-sector collaboration, but I am calling it more neighbor love. NPR shared this look at “When Schools Meet Trauma with Understanding, Not Discipline.” Perhaps there are insights in here for all of us?

Stewardship
Are you preaching this week? If so, I shared some thoughts yesterday on “Preaching on Stewardship on Holy Trinity Sunday.” Perhaps these might be helpful thought starters for you and your preaching?

Friend Adam Copeland shared the last installment of a three-part series by Jason Misselt on “Stewarding Attention: Cultivating Curious Christians.”

Vocation

My Great Aunt Sophie turned 100, about a week and a half ago. On Monday, she passed away in Mohall, North Dakota. Later this week I expect to share a few more thoughts on Sophie on the blog, but in the meantime, check out her obituary and share your love with the family here. Sophie’s funeral will be this Friday at 10:30am in Maxbass, North Dakota.

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That will conclude this week’s edition of the links. I hope you have enjoyed them, and that you are enjoying the new rhythm to the blog. If you have ideas for me, please let me know in the comments. Thank you for reading and being part of the conversation, and blessings on your week! -TS

Image Credits: The links and Great Aunt Sophie.