Solutions

People often seek real help for what they are going through in their lives. Sometimes we find it helpful to hear, not only what works for a particular problem, but why, and how to find out, so we can use the same strategy for another circumstance, when a new problem comes along.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus told us…

“Believe me [ or ] if you can’t …, believe what you see – these works. The person who trusts me will not only do what I’m doing but even greater things, because I … am giving you the same work to do that I’ve been doing. You can count on it.” (The Message translation)

One excellent strategy comes from a website called Solutions Journalism. It investigates and explains, in a critical and clear-eyed way, examples of people working toward solutions. It focuses not just on what may be working, but how and why it appears to be working, or alternatively, why it may be stumbling. Using the best available evidence, it delves deep into the how-to’s of problem solving, … investigat[ing] questions like: What models are having success? … How do they actually work? What are they doing differently than others that’s resulting in a better outcome?

In these days of competing information sources, we need a positive source for trustworthy truth. I strive to speak only reliable information and to choose, as best I can, sources that do so as well.

The solutions website names several steps they take:

+Focus on a response to a problem and how the response works

+Focus on effectiveness (not just good intentions)

+Presents evidence of results

+Discuss the limitations of the approach

+Seeks to provide insight that others can use

+Draws on sources with direct understanding of the relevant issues

Perhaps we can all use similar strategies. I hope this will help.

Pastor Mike Krewson