Saturday, April 11, 2009

opting for power and control instead


"One thing is clear to me:

The temptation of power is greatest when intimacy is a threat.

Much Christian leadership is exercised by people
who do not know how to develop healthy, intimate relationships
and have opted for power and control instead.

Many Christian empire-builders
have been people unable to give and receive love."
-Henri Nouwen, "In the Name of Jesus"

5 comments:

  1. I think we fear being found out. We hide our shame, and when our facade is threatened, we push/force/control people away so we won't be truly seen. This is wisdom, if to be truly known is to be despised.

    This is great tragedy of human marriage.

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  2. Hey, what are you blogging for? It's Easter Sunday! Don't you have some religious stuff to be doing?

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  3. St. Amy:
    I gave up religion for Lent!
    After speaking at serviced three days in a row, and having tons of people from church over for easter lunch and party..i decided to relax and debrief by checking the blog..that's a holy endeavor.

    How is MBBS going?

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  4. At this very moment, I am holed up in the computer lab, trying not to panic about deadlines. In other words, pretty dadgum good!

    non sequitur
    I have recently become a displaced person, having lost my worship gathering of choice due to closure.

    My family and I are seeking a community of believers to hang with, and I think I'll be joining you at one of your gatherings sometime soon.

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  5. love your blog..

    as you may know, some folk have been joining us since the church closed..
    I cannot imagine how hard that is; and i loved the church...connected well with it over the years.

    Praying the best scenario for you and yours

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Hey, thanks for engaging the conversation!