Author: guy.chmieleski@gmail.com

Leadership Development

3 Steps to More Satisfying Work

What does the word ‘assessment’ do for you?

My guess would be that it evokes one of two responses: 1) you become giddy at the thought of a deep and thorough examination of pertinent data, calculating results and determining important ‘next steps’ (less common – it has to be!), OR 2) your pulse begins to race, your stomach begins to turn, and you suddenly feel like you’re at the bottom of a 14,000 foot mountain with neither the equipment nor the expertise to attempt the climb (more common — especially for the relational-types that make up a large percentage of the ministerial population).

While I don’t think I’ll ever LOVE the idea of assessment, I do think it’s important.

Spiritual Formation

Extreme Measures

The picture to the right is of a man (yes, fully clothed) running through Death Valley.

Extreme athletes will often go to extreme measures in their training in order to be most fully prepared for their upcoming event/s.

It’s a part of what makes them great!

Their willingness to push themselves beyond their limits — and far beyond what most of us would be willing to do — is what distinguishes them from the rest of us.

Spiritual Formation

An Important Question

What does it means to “train” people in the faith.

Last summer I had the chance to sit with Dr. Jerry Sittser, Professor of Theology at Whitworth University in Spokane, WA.

As a church historian, Jerry shared story after story from the early church Christians, as well as the desert fathers and mothers, regarding how they engaged in spiritual formation — training to be spiritual athletes.

Spiritual Formation, The Campus Minister

Towards Thin Places

Our reality is that we do life in the thick of it. And while God exists in the thick places, just as much as He does in the thin places, we typically have a much easier time experiencing Him in those thin places.

Our ministry contexts are filled with demands, responsibilities, tasks, deadlines, opportunities, relationships, roles, etc.

Transitions

Setting the Table

If you had the chance to communicate one message to incoming students — 2 months before their arrival — what would it be?

We are in the midst of our summer orientation here at BU. It’s probably not too different from what happens on most other campuses around the country that practice this same methodology of “introducing” new students to campus.

The Campus Minister

Confessions of an “I”

Hi. My name is Guy — and I’m an introvert.

No, I’m not a recovering introvert, just one that needs to remind myself — and others — from time-to-time that God has made me this way.

I enjoy my cave time. A LOT.

Summers on campus often feel like a blissful hibernation of sorts. Sure, there are the occasional meetings, interactions with other members of my staff, etc.; but for the most part there’s a lot of quiet space.