June 2011 - Margaret Feinberg

A Lesson From The Invisible Man: Liu Bolin

Margaret — June 29, 2011 — Leave a comment

Invisibility is not just meant for Harry Potter. Liu Bolin, a Chinese artist, is known internationally for becoming invisible. Bolin paints himself into his surroundings, making himself virtually undetectable as part of the background. He will stand there for up to ten hours, with strangers only alerted to his presence by his movement. Why use the paintbrush to become invisible?

Bolin’s art is a form of government protest. By blending into the society’s environment, he paradoxically shows we should not fit into society.

What can we learn from The Invisible Man? Christ did not call us to be invisible and to be undetectable from the rest of our environment. A light on a hill cannot be hidden but will shine out from the darkness surrounding it. Christ did not die in order for us to blend into our modern society. If God’s love is truly within, it will separate us from the darkness. Even though Bolin uses his paintbrush to blend in, God’s love will make us stand out.

In Leadership Invisible Man, Lou Bolin

Small Groups. We’ve all been in one where the numbers keep whittling down until it’s just you and the leader left. When you’re the one leading, what do you do if people start leaving yours?

1. Don’t freak out. This does not stamp you with the World’s Worst Small Group Leader award.

Breathe. Chances are, the reason they left has nothing to do with you. Sometimes life happens. Work shifts get moved around, kids have music lessons and baseball games, illnesses and life crises occur. Nothing gets accomplished if you start hyperventilating and then pass out on the floor.

2. Start talking. Ask them to a friendly cup of coffee in a nonthreatening tone and dialogue with them about why they left. Did life merely get hectic? Lend your support and listening ear. Is there anything you can do to encourage them to stay? If the time your small group has decided to meet doesn’t work anymore, can you change it?

See this as time for you to develop your leadership skills. Do they feel as though they are not being heard or not being challenged? Do they dislike the topic or see it as childish? Remember to approach your conversation prayerfully and in humility; now is not the time to assert your leadership authority over them. You are meeting to learn how to be a better leader. Also, don’t use your position as an excuse to share their business with the rest of the group. Trustworthiness should be one of your trademark leadership qualities.

3. Move on. Once you talk with them, you can determine whether or not their suggestions or complaints are valid and something you want to incorporate. You can’t please everybody. Although Christ did feed the crowd, he didn’t try to please them. Would switching topics really help the group, or are they only upset because they are not in control? At times, for the sake of the others in the group, it is better to let one person go. Eventually you will have to make a decision, trust God with the rest, and move on.

If you have you been in this situation before, what did you do?

**Photo courtesy of here

Say “Yes” to All God Has For You

Margaret — June 13, 2011 — 1 Comment

I’ve been busy today proofing the DVD for Pursuing God: Stories of God’s Love from the Book of Genesis. The study invites readers to engage in this foundational book of the Bible. One of the lessons focuses on the life of Abraham (the Biblical rockstar formerly known as Abram).

As I proofed the material, I was again reminded of the amazing journey of this father of the faith.

In Genesis 12, God invites Abram to embark on a life of faith. Abraham is forced to make a profound decision: Will he abandon the familiar for a life of the unknown? Will he give up a known inheritance for a promised one? Will he embrace the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of the unseen?

Abram says “Yes!” to God and embarks on an unforgettable journey that not only shapes his life but one that affects all of our lives. The encounter makes me wonder, What is God asking me to do right now? When am I most tempted to say “No”? And if I chose to say “No”, what is the short-term and long-term effect?

May we people who courageously say “Yes” to all God has for us!

(The Pursuing God DVD series releases August 31, 2011. To learn more, click here.)

*Photo courtesy of here

In Bible Study Bible Study, DVD, Genesis

How To Handle Awkward Silence In A Small Group

Margaret — June 6, 2011 — 7 Comments

I recently posed the following question on Facebook and Twitter:

When you are leading a small group and you ask a question and no one responds how do you handle the situation?

The question launched an interesting discussion on the topic. For some leaders, it’s best just to smile and keep on going. Others try to answer the question themselves in order that someone will chime in. Still others advocate pausing, a reminder that silence isn’t just acceptable but beneficial particularly when a thought-provoking question is being asked.

One leader suggested rephrasing the question, and waiting through the silence. If no one speaks up, the leader will share a transparent story from their own life knowing that the honestly and vulnerability often provokes a response.

I thought all the ideas and suggestions were helpful, and depending on the group, highly effective. I know that when I’m leading a discussion I’ve learned to make silence a friend. Sometimes it’s hard. In the process of asking a question sometimes I feel like I’m putting myself out there, and when I’m met with silence, I tend to squirm uncomfortably. But if I take a deep breath and count to ten, someone usually speaks up.

The ace card that I always keep in my back pocket and am not afraid to use (though some leader’s don’t like it) is simply calling on people by name as in, “Mark, what do you think about this?” If it’s an easy or what I call an “all-play” question, meaning something that’s not threatening and almost anyone would have an opinion on, then I’ll call on the newer or more reserved members of the group. But if it’s a deeper, stump-ya kind of question, then I’ll only call on veteran members of the group who won’t be embarrassed or even bothered if they don’t have an answer.

So what advice do you have on how to handle the awkward silence that sometimes happens in a small group?

In Church Life how to lead a small group, small group leaders