Welcome to the first edition of the Thought Thread. This week I'm thinking about RELATIONSHIP. Remember that the best way to keep tabs on this content is to subscribe to the newsletter via email. You can sign up for it by clicking here. 1. LINKSThe Ikea EffectI found this concept fascinating because I've had an old piece of Ikea furniture sitting in my basement for years. This pop-psychological label states that people place a higher than average value on things they create themselves. As ministry leaders seek new ways to mobilize their churches, are there ways we can further release the creativity of worshippers so their relationship with Jesus is even more dynamic?How Smart Should a Leader Be?One of the reasons I started Thought Thread was to inspire Christian leaders to become better learners. There is a danger, however, when leaders position themselves as more intellectual than their followers. How can you create healthy relationships with your subordinates when they think you're a know-it-all? This research offers some advice.Beyond the Bitcoin BubbleWe're hearing a lot about Bitcoin lately, but very few people understand it. Over the past months, I've repeatedly been asked to explain it, and this New York Times article does as well as anything I've seen to break it down simply. While I'd suggest that Bitcoin is actually a commodity rather than a currency, keep an eye on the technology behind the fad. Our relationship with blockchaining will far outlast this cryptocurrency and will infiltrate many aspects of our lives. My Thoughts: A Better Rule For Christian MenLast month, I wrote some thoughts on the Billy Graham Rule (now known as the Mike Pence Rule) You might not agree with my perspective, but it's important for male Christian leaders to consider how we ought to interact with the women in our church.2. RECOMMENDATIONSScale by Geoffrey WestIn this book, a theoretical physicist shows the relationship between organisms/organizations and growth. Those of us in ministry should be fascinated to see that a secularist believes that the propensity for growth is hardwired into the DNA of the universe. Before you read, you can click here for some selected quotes.HeavyweightThis podcast is produced by Gimlet Media and explores where relationships went wrong. To be clear, this isn't a Christian podcast, so be aware that there might be some language that one could find offensive. 3. FREE SERMON DOWNLOADOver the next few months, I'll be sharing a sermon series I taught from Paul's letter to the Colossians, entitled WHY JESUS WINS. My goal here was to help the people in my church see that Jesus and Christianity make exclusive claims, making it unique among all other worldviews. CLICK HERE to download a PDF transcript of Why Jesus Wins: Relationship (Colossians 1:1-14)A few notes: 1. All Scriptures are taken from the New International Version2. The primary source of textual research I used is the Smyth and Helwys commentary on Colossians by Nijay Gupta3. Feel free to customize the message for your audience. Since these sermons are heavy exegetical, there is no need to attribute content to me.  Thanks for reading. If you have thoughts about any of the above articles, feel free to start a conversation below. Photo credit: Dustin Lee on Unsplash

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