"Looking forward to crucial conversations", Newsletter 10 January 2020
Season 1, Episode 28, Jan 11, 2020, 11:48 AM
Looking forward to crucial conversationsYesterday I booked flights to San Antonio. I'll be attending the teachers' conference there in early March. The title "Conversations: exploring the teaching ministry" is intriguing. It sounds open and non-threatening. A place to listen and to be heard. That's the kind of conference I like most. Somewhere to gather with passionate people who are as committed to learning as to teaching. At least, that's my hope and, I think, reasonable expectation of what might happen.
The more I study, teach and broadcast on the beatitudes, the more I see that well-handled conversations are part of what it means to live in harmony with God and my fellow-humans. One can learn helpful techniques for healthy conversations. The book, "Crucial Conversations" was a game-changer for me a few years ago. I thoroughly recommend it.
However, the heart, attitude and spirit of the internal conversationalist is far more important than any external practice. Consider the beatitudes in this light.
However, the heart, attitude and spirit of the internal conversationalist is far more important than any external practice. Consider the beatitudes in this light.
- The poor in spirit will approach a conversation with an openness to learning, because they know they do not have all of what they need.
- The mourners will approach a conversation with a desire to help the other person given that there is pain in their lives, just like everyone else.
- The meek will approach a conversation with a listening attitude because they already possess an inner strength which enables them to attend to the views of others without being threatened or feeling the need to defend their position.
- The hungry for righteousness will approach a conversation with a desire to be right with the person, rather than be right about their own opinion.
- The merciful will approach a conversation with an open heart because they will be more interested in offering the other person mercy than proving them wrong.
- The pure of heart will approach a conversation with love because they more interested in the needs of the other person than their own.
- The peacemakers will approach a conversation with a desire to help the other person to be reconciled with God, their fellow-human beings, of even with themselves.
- The persecuted will approach a conversation with a surrendered heart, knowing that if they are opposed for the sake of Christ, it is all for the good.
With this in mind, please pray that this is the spirit in which in approach conversations, now and in San Antonio. What an amazing atmosphere we will have in our families, churches and neighbourhoods if we can live out these beatitudes in our conversations.
Prayer request
Please pray for me as I prepare the materials for the Watford teaching day. Also, spare a prayer or two for the tensions in the Middle East right now. A prayer for wisdom in our leaders would not go amiss.
Thank you for reading this far, and encouraging me in my endeavours to support our times of quiet with God, our corporate worship experiences, and the effectiveness of our preaching and teaching. I hope my uploads will help you to have beatitude-infused conversations this week.
If you know anyone who might enjoy these materials, please send them a link to my website and encourage them to sign up for this newsletter.
God bless, Malcolm
If you know anyone who might enjoy these materials, please send them a link to my website and encourage them to sign up for this newsletter.
God bless, Malcolm