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Imagining Your Garden
 Spring is in the air! Can you feel it? This is the time when every gardener's thoughts turn to seed catalogs, walks through greenhouses to catch a glimpse of glorious colors, shapes, textures and smells of live, thriving plants. In our thoughts we plan what our garden will look like for the upcoming season. Can you see it?
Imagine. . .
Much like a well planned garden what might the picture of our small group look like as it is flourishing, growing and thriving? Let's ask God to give us His vision for what our small group will look like. How do we know when God is speaking and giving His vision? Read More. . .
Calendars: A Small Group Gardening Tool
 A good small group gardener also has a plan. The plan involves what to plant, when to plant, etc. The dream or picture for small group is discovered in prayer. The calendar is a helpful gardening tool for small group leaders and coordinators as they implement the vision.
Small group leaders plan their calendars to grow group members. How will you plan to grow love for God in your group? Perhaps you have chosen a Bible or book study that is twelve weeks long. Put those dates on your calendar. What other ways could you encourage love toward God? Read More. . .
Lonely Little Petunia
 Have you ever heard that old song I'm a lonely little petunia in an onion patch and all I do is cry all day? This little song still goes through my head when I find myself in situations where I feel like I do not belong.
Sometimes small groups or individuals might look around at the small group garden in which they are planted and feel like they are "lonely little petunias in an onion patch." Not the there is anything wrong with onion patches! Read More. . .
Korean Coffee Break Conference Reflections
 Anyong haseo (an-nyeong-ha-se-yo)! That was about the limit of my communication in Korean - along with appropriate bowing. Oh, that means "hello" or "hola." If I got really brave, I added a "yes" (ye or ne). By the time I left and was in the airport I added in a "Thank you" (kam-sa-ham-ni-da) here and there, observing carefully to see if they had a peculiar smile. Read More. . .
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