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Ron Edmondson Leadership Blog

Packed with practical thoughts on leadership, church, and culture

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    Help Me Define My Voice

    By Church, Family, Leadership, Uncategorized

    I need your help. If you regularly read this blog I’d love to hear from you. Even if you’ve never commented before, consider doing so on this post.

    I’ve been active online for over 15 years now and I see what I do here as an extension of my calling in ministry I’m consistently encouraged by the professionals…bloggers, pastor friends and book publishers…to define my life focus. Supposedly if I do I can write a book about it. Currently I simply post what’s most current on my mind or heart, but I always want to improve.

    I can look at the analytics of the posts I write, but honestly they don’t tell me much, as there doesn’t seem to be a pattern to any certain theme of posts I write and page views.

    So, I need your help. Could you answer a few questions for me?

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    February 21, 2011
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    One Principle of Attaining Success in Life

    By Encouragement, Leadership, Life Plan, Vision

    Here’s a principle I’ve learned the hard way:

    Sometimes the most successful are not the ones who do it perfectly but the ones who do it…

    Whatever “it” is…

    Many times we wait until the perfect timing, until all our questions are answered, or until the perfect set of circumstances are aligned before we move forward. In the meantime the world keeps moving and those who move, even though conditions are less than ideal, realize the victories others miss.

    What dream, vision, call of God do you need to move forward on today?

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    February 21, 2011
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    Experiencing God’s Unconditional Love

    By Devotional, Encouragement, Family, God

    Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need. Hebrews 4:16 NIV

    Do you know why you can approach God’s throne of grace with confidence?

    Unconditional Love! God loves you unconditionally!

    Have you ever experienced the awesome feeling of knowing you are loved unconditionally?

    I have come to realize how many people struggle with understanding the concept of unconditional love.

    I feel so blessed to

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    February 20, 2011
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    Why Do Christians Still Sin?

    By Christians, Encouragement, God, Jesus

    Last Sunday, in our LIES series, I addressed the lie that Christians stop sinning when we become followers of Christ. It’s also why we have been called hypocrites by some. Every believer knows, however, that they still battle sin, but it’s often confusing as to why. I addressed this issue in this message:

    Did you watch the message? Have you ever thought of Christians as hypocritical?

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    February 20, 2011
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    What Do You Do to Relax?

    By Culture, Encouragement, Family, Marriage

    I’m away for a few days relaxing with Cheryl and another couple. We are at a beach, eating well, and doing basically nothing. I will spend some time reading, running, and writing…because that’s relaxing to me.

    I thought I’d use this as an opportunity to ask the question:

    What do you do to relax?

    What’s a normal relaxation experience like…the kind you do often (hopefully)? What is a dream relaxation experience (the kind you plan and budget for)?

    Go! Share!

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    February 19, 2011
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    Whiteboard Conference: An Interview with Jason Young

    By Church, Encouragement, Leadership

    I’m excited to introduce you to Jason Young and the Whiteboard Sessions 2011…a church conference for everyone. I’ve been advertising for it on my blog this month and thought you should hear a little more about it. I’ve been to Whiteboard and Jason is the new director of this conference. I’ve spent some time with Jason and I’m convinced he’s going to make this conference a “must attend” event this year.

    Here’s an interview I did with Jason recently about Whiteboard:

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    February 18, 2011
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    A Theory: Speed of Growth Determines Speed of Decline

    By Church, Church Planting, Culture, Leadership

    Theory: The rate of increase, often determines the rate of decline.

    In my early twenties, I was working in retail and this theory developed in my mind as I watched dozens of items gather immediate interest, grow rapidly in popularity, quickly rack up sales, but then as a fad changed, the item sales just as quickly decline. I called it my “fad theory”. Other items grew slower, but styles changed gradually and so they slowly began to decline in sales.

    Let me give you two classic examples I observed firsthand:

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    February 15, 2011
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    Perfect Love Can Overcome Fear

    By Encouragement, Faith, Family, Fear, Jesus, Marriage

    Such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of judgment, and this shows that His love has not been perfected in us. 1 John 4:18 NLT

    Evidently, according to this verse, if we could have perfect love for God, we could get rid of all fear. The challenge comes in having perfect love.

    I’m not sure I understand the concept completely, especially as it relates to a God I cannot see, but the best way I know of is to compare what I don’t understand to something I do understand.

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    February 14, 2011
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    Where Do You Look When in a Valley?

    By Devotional, Encouragement, Faith, Fear, God, Jesus

    I lift up my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from? Psalm 121:1 NIV

    When you are in the valley, I mean really, deep in the valley, the only place to look is up!

    Life has a way of placing you in the valley for seasons. Have you ever been there before? Are you there now?

    Have you ever lifted up your eyes, heavy, burdened with guilt, mourning with hurt, drooping from the strain of sorrow, to see the mountains where your heart longs to be again?

    Have you ever been so low that you barely have a dream of what it is like to be on top?

    All of us will one day have a heart that needs to be filled. Each of us find ourselves at times expereincing that empty painful, awful hole in our heart, the size that only God can completely fill.

    In those times, it’s important, more than ever, to remember where your help come from. Your hope lies in a Savior, in a man like no other man, who came, who loved, who shared, who died, and who lives again! Your hope is in Jesus! Your help is found in Jesus! In that most desperate moment…there is no substitute!

    If you are in the valley today…look to the hills….look to Jesus!

    Can my readers and I pray with you about an issue? Leave a comment on this post.

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    February 13, 2011
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    If a Wife Wants to Encourage a Husband

    By Encouragement, Marriage

    I keep this note, attached to this picture, on my desk at the office. When I look at it, I’m inspired to dream bigger dreams, work harder, make better choices, and press on throughout all difficulties.

    Ladies, we are pretty simple as men….seriously…we are…if you want us to soar, tell us you are proud of us. Tell us you believe in us! Tell us we are great at what we do!

    That’s about all it takes!

    Men, do you agree?

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    February 12, 2011
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    Scripture Memorization, Week 7

    By Culture, Encouragement

    How are you doing with the Scripture memorization? Are you still participating?

    I love hearing from those who are sticking with it, trying hard, and even the ones who just can’t keep up with the weekly pace. I understand. Some years are better than others at spiritual disciplines. I hope, however, that you’ll keep trying. It’s still not too late to catch up if you need to, as I’ve tried to keep the verses…at this point in the year…fairly simple to memorize.

    Again, writing them down somewhere you will see throughout the week is a key. Some write them on mirrors, a few have made them their laptop or smart phone backdrop for the week, and others have them on their refrigerator. Whatever it takes!

    Here’s this week’s memory verse…

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    February 12, 2011
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    Friday Discussion: Is Social Media a Blessing or a Curse?

    By Culture, Innovation

    There’s a consistent debate about the role of social media in our lives today.

    There’s no doubt that I’ve embraced the cultural shift of socail media, but because of it, I received criticism for not doing other things. I’ve been online doing ministry for over 16 years and have developed good systems that allow me to do much online efficiently, but I knew it was “catching on” when my mother got on Facebook. Still, it does take time and, with limited time for all of us, that time has to take away from something else.

    I’ve heard people say it would have been better for the family had the television never been invented. I’ve heard the debates on social media also. Some feel we shouldn’t be doing it all at all. I wonder wgat the same people would say of social media.

    More importantly, I’m wondering today what you will say.

    Let’s discuss the role of social media. Consider these questions, then add your thoughts in a comment.

    Should the church be involved in social media?
    Does social media help or hurt a relationship?
    Are Facebook or Twitter beneficial to a relationship or is a distraction in building true friendships?
    In a perfect world, would we have social media?
    Does it add to or take away from the quality of our lives?
    Is it an unavoidable evil or a blessing for us all?
    Be honest!

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    February 11, 2011
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