Late last week, I traveled to Washington, D.C. where I spoke to pastors and lay leaders of the Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. It was a packed day where I gave three talks and connected with all sorts of creative leaders. When I got on the plane to travel home late Saturday, I was wiped. When I finally arrived in St. Louis, I shuffled off the plane bleary eyed and did so...  Read More

CoreGroup Guide | Clean Slate - Week FourWritten by Sherrill Wall and Jenny HuffmanWelcomeThis is the final week of our series, Clean Slate. We began the series with the precept that less is often better. During that first week we were challenged to consider what things are essential – what we truly value and what activities simply keep us busy. Next, our thoughts focused on beginning any changes ...  Read More

Changing requires new routines. But it is tough to start and maintain a new habit. One way to make it easier is doing it with someone else. This makes a new habit more enjoyable, more social, and builds in some accountability. Most of us find greater motivation for a new habit if we do it with someone else.  The American Society of Training and Development found people are 65 percent more likely t...  Read More

CoreGroup Guide | Clean Slate - Week ThreeWritten by Jenny Huffman and Sherrill WallWelcomeWe all have a rhythm to our life, a routine, parts of our day that always seem to happen whether we plan for them or not. Sometimes these routines are beneficial, but sometimes they are not! Sometimes we need a change, and change does not just happen. Meaningful change happens when we create new habits and w...  Read More

Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bswise_/49551058501 When we want to make a change in our lives we mistakenly believe that we need to take big immediate action in order to get there. But change is usually the result not of sudden and dramatic action, but of small steps. A principle of sustaining change in our lives or in the world is starting small. I have been reflecting on this principle ah...  Read More

CoreGroup Guide | Clean Slate - Week TwoWritten by Sherrill Wall and Jenny HuffmanWelcomeThis is the second week in our series Clean Slate, which offers an opportunity for change.  Last week in the series opener, Pastor Matt suggested that less is better – that change in our lives requires subtraction first. We need to pare down to what is essential and focus on what is most important. Hopefully y...  Read More