Tuesdays on the blog mean that I have the pleasure of sharing some links to things that I have found interesting and thought provoking over the previous week with all of you. To help make sense of all that I have read, I have grouped these links by the following categories: Church and Ministry Thought & Practice; Cross-Sector Collaboration; Leadership Thought & Practice; Millennials; Neighbor Love; Stewardship; Vocation; and Miscellaneous. I hope you enjoy these links!

Church and Ministry Thought & Practice
Are you preaching this week? If so, spend some time with friend and professor Rev. Dr. Karoline Lewis‘ reflections for this week’s gospel story in, “A Call Story.” Also, for some stewardship ideas, thoughts, questions, and inspirations for preaching this week, check out my thoughts from yesterday for this week.

Have you ever wondered about what exactly word and service ministry is? Or perhaps what’s a deacon? What’s diaconal ministry? If so, check out this issue of Currents in Theology and Mission, which I discovered last week from July 2015, focused on “The Future of Diaconal Ministry.”

Friend and professor Robert Saler shares a helpful and important read in, “‘Why don’t I get a vacation, too?’ How to talk about clergy sabbaticals.”

Cross-Sector Collaboration
Friend and communications strategist Carrie Gubsch shared this look at Mosaic by Taylour Kumpf, entitled, “The Waiting List, Part 1: An Introduction to Medicaid Waivers (and the waiting lists that go hand in hand).”

In a story related to all sectors of society, requiring collaboration and leadership of all kinds, friend and pastor Alison Shane shared the story from Michaeleen Doucleff who asked regarding the permafrost, “Is There a Ticking Time Bomb Under the Arctic?”

Somewhat related, a few friends pointed to the Weather Channel’s current project about climate change, check out the preface and the project here, entitled, “United States of Climate Change.”

If the story about the permafrost and climate change doesn’t keep you up at night, perhaps this update from the “Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists” will? Friend and pastor Brian Mundt shared the atomic scientist’s update, that today in 2018, we are “2 Minutes to Midnight.” We have work to do friends, and there is time, though not tons of it, to do something about this and change for the better.

Collaboration Ministries shared a couple great new posts. First, my brother Thomas Francis-Siburg writes and argues that, “Collaboration Achieves Success.” Second, my dad David Siburg reflected on “Ubuntu and Changing Yourself.” I encourage you to give both of these posts some time and thought.

Leadership Thought & Practice
Thomas Smale makes the connection between “‘Servant Leadership’ and how its 6 Main Principles can boost the success of your Startup.” The leadership principles that are unpacked include: empathy; awareness; building community; persuasion; conceptualization; and growth.

Marcel Schwantes writes that, “Warren Buffett says this 1 Simple Habit separates successful people from Everyone Else.” Hint, it has to do with being able to say “no.” Give the whole article a read and see what you think.

Speaking of Warren Buffett, news broke this morning that Amazon, JP Morgan, and Berkshire Hathaway are setting out to create a new health care company. Check out the news and reasons why. It could be a new model, or at least one that shows leadership in a sector in need of some new ideas and collaboration.

Jon Mertz at Thin Difference shared some perspective well worth anyone’s time to read and consider on, “Trust and Engagement: A Leadership Jolt to Act.”

Eric Torrence, also at Thin Difference, shared some thoughts about “Why it Matters that Your Best Ideas Come in the Shower.”

Emily Stewart writes regarding the remarkable economist and leader Janet Yellen, who has served well and successfully as the Federal Reserve Chair. Emily writes, “Janet Yellen, the first woman Fed chair, proved the skeptics wrong and got fired anyway.” The decision to replace her is another example of short-sightedness, and one that I believe continues to face and challenge many women in leadership, through no fault of their own. We have work to do to improve this.

In another example of women in leadership, my wife Allison Siburg shared the news from Scott Neuman that, “Senator Tammy Duckworth’s pregnancy set to be another first for the Illinois Democrat.” She would be the first serving U.S. Senator to give birth while in office.

Lolly Daskal shared some inspiration for leaders, and particularly women in leadership, highlighting “10 Powerful Ways Woman Can Succeed in a Male-dominated World.” Ways that Lolly lists include: become a person of value; let your voice be heard; speak with confidence; stop trying to be a pleaser; know your stuff and then some; learn how to handle conflict; take on a leadership role; don’t be afraid to ask for a raise or promotion; find a sponsor; and lead by example.

Millennials
Jana Riess sheds light on some interesting findings, writing that a, “New study of Millennials and GenZ points to a ‘massive religious realignment’ in America.” Check out these findings and see what might surprise you.

Neighbor Love
Many of our fellow Americans are still in the dark, without power, months after a hurricane ravaged their homes and communities. This is a major societal and neighbor love concern, and Abby Maxam rightly writes and argues, “Puerto Rico is Still in the Dark- we must pass equitable disaster relief now.”

Friend and seminarian Elle Dowd shared the depressing and disturbing news from Arizona, where a “No More Deaths volunteer (was) arrested, charged with harboring immigrants.” Paul Ingram reports on the story.

In another example of the need for more neighbor love in our country, world, and society, David Lohr reports about a report that “Shows Massive Increase in in Anti-LGBTQ Violence since President Trump took Office.”

Perhaps somewhat related to the links above, John Pavlovitz writes, “White Evangelicals, this is why people are through with you.” It connects with a somewhat similar post he wrote last year, worth revisiting, written on “Conservative Christianity and White Supremacy’s Scary Kinship.”

In a feel good, neighbor love in action story, Natalie Dreier shared about how a “Professor holds student’s baby while teaching class.”

For another feel good, neighbor love in action story, my wife Allison shared these photos from Conor Shine who reports that, “Southwest Airlines airlifts 62 puppies and kittens out of hurricane-hit Puerto Rico.”

Allison also shared this podcast from Teer Hardy on “Imitation.” In this episode questions considered include: “What does it mean to be created in the image of God? Are we imitations of the Godhead? Of Christ?”

Stewardship
Are you preaching this week? If so, here are some thoughts and ideas that come to my mind for preaching on stewardship this week.

What are you doing on Friday May 18th? If you find yourself in the vicinity of Eastern Nebraska, I invite you and highly encourage you to register and attend the “Embracing Stewardship- across all seasons and generations,” workshop event, sponsored by the Nebraska Synod.

Friend and communications strategist Carrie Gubsch shared this look from Europe by Sophie Gorman entitled, “Tap and Pray: Parish church introduces contactless contributions.” What might this look like or mean for your context?

Plan to join COMPASS for its next live chat, this Thursday February 1st at 1pm ET. It will be focused on “Generosity,” and will be led by Jacqueline Painter.

Vocation
Pastor, blogger, and writer Angela Denker shared personal and vocational reflection in, “A Prayer for January in Minnesota.”

Congratulations are in order to friend, blogger, and new communications program director of the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, Hannah Heinzekehr.

Randy Conley wrote a post at Thin Difference worth some time and reflection on life, leadership, and vocation, entitled, “You’re a Human Being, Not a Human Doing: 3 Steps to Opt Out of the Rat Race.” Randy offers three suggestions to consider as follows: Live for something bigger than yourself; focus on others, not yourself; and learn to be content with your limitations. What do you think?

Miscellaneous
For the travelers among us, Laura Dannen Redman writes that, “The ‘New’ Alaska Airlines Looks a Lot Like Virgin America.”

And finally, without comment, Avery Anapol shares the story about how the “Guggenheim Museum offers President Trump a gold toilet for the White House.”

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That will conclude this week’s edition of the links. I hope you have enjoyed them! If you have any ideas for future editions, or types of articles or links you would like to see, please let me know. Thank you for reading and being a part of the conversation, and blessings on your week. -TS

Image Credits:The Links and Grace and Chick.