Paul Raybon

Going to School

by Dr. S. Paul Raybon In my recent E-ncourager article When People Choose Poorly, under the heading “Refuse to be Complicit,” I laid out a number of things we need to learn. Learn not to be an enabler. Learn not to engage in pointless arguments. Learn not to be tolerant of intolerable behavior and language. […]

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When People Choose Poorly

By Dr. Paul Raybon Sooner or later we all grieve the loss of someone because of what we regard as their poor choices. If you live enough years and love enough people, you will endure this pain many times, and it never gets easier. There is a level of anger, resentment, and sometimes guilt, peculiar

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Can We Talk?

This week I found the file for the first workshop I led on communication, complete with acetate overhead sheets, from 25 years ago! It is interesting to note changes. There was no mention of internet, email, texting, Facebook, Twitter, or any form of social media. There was no discussion of cultural bias, gender identity, or

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Who’s “We”?

By Dr. Paul Raybon One of my favorite boyhood jokes goes like this: The Lone Ranger and Tonto were surrounded by an Indian war party; they sent their horses Silver and Scout away to safety, and now were down to their last bullets. The Lone Ranger turns to Tonto and says “I don’t think we’re

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How’s Your Vision

by Dr. Paul Raybon I made my annual trip to the eye doctor last week. When you read for work and pleasure as well as spend a lot of time in front of a computer screen, you take care of your eyes. I’m always fascinated by the whole process. Having pictures taken of the inside

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Not Enough

For he said to me “My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness.” II Cor. 12:9  The Message I understand when I see the memes and hashtags that say “you are enough” So many people in this world are drowning in messages of self-loathing and inadequacy,

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After the Keys Are Yours

One of the issues that churches fail to consider when building or renovating new space is the future cost of operating that space. A new space presents potential increases in utilities, cleaning supplies, janitorial services, insurance premiums and maintenance costs even if it is never used! 75% of the lifetime cost of a building is

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