Truth is...

In 2006, Felps, Mitchell, and Byington published a paper in the journal Research in Organizational Behavior with the catchy title, "How, When, and Why Bad Apples Spoil the Barrel: Negative Group Members and Dysfunctional Groups."

The truth they discovered still rings true almost 20 years later.

They divided students into teams of four and gave them 45 minutes to solve management problems. The best team would receive a monetary reward.

What the students didn’t know was that some groups included a “plant” — an actor instructed to play one of three specific roles:

• The Slacker – lounged back, feet on the table, glued to their phone.
• The Cynic – interrupted with cutting sarcasm: “Are you serious?” or “You’ve clearly never managed anyone before.”
• The Pessimist – muttering that the task was hopeless and the team couldn’t possibly succeed.

What they found was that even when the other three members were capable and motivated, the negative behavior of just one person dragged down the group’s overall performance by 30–40%.

Their conclusion was striking: a team’s effectiveness depends less on how many strong performers it has — and more on whether it carries even a single toxic presence.

The LinkedIn post I learned this from had some words to say to HR departments and corporate executives, but I would like to encourage you to think about the implications for your local church community.

And more specifically, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you whether you might be a slacker, cynic, or pessimist, and pray for a transformation to happen.

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Truth is...one bad apple really can spoil the whole bunch. But that sounds kind of pessimistic. Let's all strive to be good apples: fresh, growing, and contributing to the health of the group we are in.

      

For the past eight weeks, we’ve been exploring the debut solo album (What a Day) of Phil Keaggy, one of the true pioneers of Contemporary Christian Music. With his crystal-clear tenor voice and unmatched guitar artistry, Keaggy has won the admiration of fellow musicians and listeners alike  —  whether or not they share his faith.

How fitting that this final song arrives the week before Thanksgiving. Its melody glides into the soul like a soft breeze crossing a meadow, stirring both peace and gratitude. More than a song, it feels like a psalm.

 

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Truth is...The idea of greeting each new morning with a peaceful song of praise is great, but hard to live up to. Maybe I should program my alarm clock to play this song.

      

The penultimate song on Phil Keaggy's debut album, What a Day, is "Hallelujah".

That is also the complete lyric.

If ever there was a "churchy" word that should feel strange on the lips of any non-believer, hallelujah is it. I mean...it doesn't even come out of my mouth all that much except when singing a song or reading a psalm.

It is actually a Hebrew word...a compound word, to be exact...formed by combining hallel, meaning "to praise" or just "praise," and jah, verbal shorthand for the personal name of God, Yahweh. (For a post about Yahweh, click here.)

So hallelujah is more than just a word expressing praise and gratitude to God. It is also an invitation  -  even a command  -  to lift up one's voice in recognition of the awesomeness of the creator.

 

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Truth is...Considering how much Yahweh loves me and forgives me and provides for me and guides me and, and, and ... it's a shame my mouth doesn't form the word hallelujah more often.

      

Take one part Psalm 1:1-3.

How happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked or stand in the pathway with sinners or sit in the company of mockers! Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

Add a cup of John 15:13.

No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.

Season to taste with "Amazing Grace".

Was blind, but now I see.

Mix well and cook over a sweet overlay of guitars, and you've got Phil Keaggy's "Now I Can See".

 

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Truth is...While being a Christian involves looking at facts and making decisions, there is certainly an emotional element and a personal benefit. I'm not just recognizing Jesus' authority or adhering to a list of rules. I am being transformed into a better, wiser, more joy-filled person.

      

Different people have different ideas about what heaven will be like. In the song, "What a Day," Phil Keaggy sang about his.

 

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Truth is...Nobody really knows what "so we will always be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:17) will be like. Will we actually get to hang out with our favorite Bible characters? Will we spend time reminiscing with our loved ones who died before us?

No one knows, but I'm pretty sure it will be wonderful. I'm pretty sure John got it right when he wrote Revelation 21:4  -  He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away. (CSB)