Sincerity is a good thing. It often speaks of character and moral fiber. When you speak, it’s important to speak with authenticity. Being “real” and genuine is huge. No question about it. But there’s a caution. Sincerity does not equal truth. Some of the greatest communicators of all time have spoken with sincerity and they…
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When I was growing up, my best friend had a Magic 8-Ball. It was a round plastic sphere that looked like an 8-Ball from a pool table. My friends and I used it for seeking adolescent advice. It was invented in 1946 by Albert C. Carter and Abe Bookman. You’d ask a question, then turn…
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The Bible is the most amazing book on the planet. Many of you reading this blog may be aware of the uniqueness of the Scriptures. Josh McDowell and Lee Strobel have written extensively about its historicity and veracity. But I’d like to share a different thought. My undergraduate degree was in science. So, when I…
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Dictionaries define a good name as “a person’s high standing among others.” We associate words that describe a good name dignity, good report, honor, prestige, reputation, repute, respect, and status.” A good name means people can depend on you. Seems that people can’t depend on much anymore. Can they depend on you? Do they know…
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Don’t you love the recurring stories about people at Starbucks “paying it forward?” It’s a bit of an anomaly. Someone in the drive-thru decides to pay for the person in line behind them. Then, something beautiful happens, it catches on. The next person “pays it forward” to the next car. I’ve read one account where…
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Justice in its deepest meaning involves making people whole, by keeping goodness and impartiality. In the book of James, it’s defined as the center of true religion. He says it’s the kind of “religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and…
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Great quote from Malcolm Forbes, “One who never asks either knows everything or nothing.” It’s interesting to me that Jesus was asked a bunch of questions from a variety of people. “By what authority are you doing these things?” “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Who is my neighbor?” But when asked in Matthew…
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I’ve been fortunate to travel to India five times. Each time I come back to the United States, I return with fresh insights. They often come as a result of looking at the world through a different “lens”. Mission trips have a way of doing that. Most recently, my observations didn’t come from my eyes,…
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Every once in and while we enter a difficult season. Perhaps money is tight or health is declining. In my case, I’ve had several friends die within the last few weeks. That situation certainly gets you in touch with your own mortality. But for me, it has done more. It has forced me to renew…
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One of the best relationship verses in the Bible is found in Philippians 2:3. The Apostle Paul writes, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,” If we only applied the first part of the passage (not doing anything with a selfish motive), we’d be miles ahead on…
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