Posts Tagged ‘Growth’
Get activated!
I received an updated credit card this past week. It came with a sticker attached that read, “THIS CARD CAN NOT BE USED UNTIL ACTIVATED.” I’m certain you’ve had cards with similar instructions. My wife smiled and said, ” This is not a bad warning label for Christ-followers.” She’s right. There is a decision of…
Read MoreLife is just plain hard
Sometimes life is just plain hard. People we love get sick. Governments do idiotic things. The news we hear is often negative. Careers don’t always work out. Kids don’t constantly express their love for their parents. Has it ever crossed your mind, “why?” Here’s a thought. Crisis and difficulty in your life have a purpose.…
Read MoreBe a rocket scientist!
Here’s a fascinating book to put on your reading list: Think Like a Rocket Scientist by Ozan Varol, JD. The premise of the read is simple: “To think like a rocket scientist is to imagine the unimaginable and solve the unsolvable.” Rocket scientists are all about long-term goals, not quick wins. They see challenges as…
Read MoreDo you wonder if God can use you?
Many of you have seen a list of all the unlikely people God used throughout history. A short sampling might include Moses. He killed an Egyptian and struggled with public speaking, yet God used him to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. How about David? Despite committing adultery with Bathsheba and arranging the murder of her…
Read MoreCuriosity
Here’s an intriguing thought: as you approach retirement (whatever that may mean), people often lose their curiosity about life. While this may not apply to you, it certainly resonates with many. Curiosity is a quality that requires cultivation and is sustained throughout your life. It’s often associated with childlike wonder and something to be embraced…
Read MoreIt’s right in front of your nose!
Observation is a lost art. I’m always fascinated by the life of Sherlock Holmes, either reading or watching some version of Sherlock Holmes investigating a crime. The fascinating part is his uncanny ability to see what other people can’t see. It’s called the power of deduction. I especially love how the great detective can tell…
Read MoreFacing change
Change is such a volatile word. The mere mention of it stirs up angst within the souls of many people. You might be one of them. So, let’s talk about it. What’s the good, bad, and ugly of change? In the most general sense, change can bring excitement back into your life. It can be…
Read MoreHealth
There comes a time in your life when you are not healthy. That statement is not too profound, but it’s certainly true. It might be something minor or something big. Either way, eventually, things break down. Paul speaks to this in 2 Corinthians 4:16-17, saying, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are…
Read More“I wish someone had told me!”
At least once in life, everyone has said, “I wish I had known that earlier,” or “I wish someone had told me that…” I’ve found myself saying that more times than I can count. Sometimes a small morsel of wisdom, a piece of advice, or a relevant story at the right time can save your…
Read MoreUsing your platform
At the end of a championship game, I’m always encouraged when the MVP or another significant athlete immediately gives a “shout out” to Jesus Christ. ◊ The Kansas City Chiefs won their fourth Super Bowl in franchise history this year. When the MVP and quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, spoke while receiving the trophy, he said, “I…
Read MoreThe real power of a “mission trip”
You’ve heard the phrase, “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey.” Never was this truer than when describing a “mission trip.” First, I’ll define a “mission trip” like this: It is an experience where Christians go out into the world to help those in need, whether the needs are physical or spiritual. That definition allows me…
Read More“Atomic Habits”
Catchy book titles grab my attention. That’s the case with the book Atomic Habits. I discovered one fresh insight that was worth reading the entire book. Here it is: Whether good or bad, habits accumulate. They have a compounding influence I did not think about before. Positive habits associated with productivity, knowledge, and relationships can…
Read More“One bell”
There is an unseen factor that growing businesses and ministries share. The fact is most people ignore it. People will look at any business or a ministry in my world and say, “Why is it growing?” They attribute growth to this or that, but one of the factors that is most commonly overlooked is unity…particularly,…
Read MoreGreat athlete, poor coach
Great athletes don’t always make great coaches. It’s one thing to play a sport with excellence. It’s another thing to teach and show someone else how to do it. Wayne Gretzky, known as “The Great One” in hockey circles had major shortcomings as a head coach. Magic Johnson attempted coaching the L.A. Lakers, but was…
Read MoreSeeing clearly
Is it OK to admit that I need glasses to read? I’ve been blessed to have 20-20 vision my whole life. Now I can’t read anything without help. I have to admit that it was pretty easy to take good vision for granted. Today however is a different story. As a matter of fact, you…
Read MoreFind the surprise
Things that surprise us are easier to remember. I was in high school at a Sadie Hawkins dance. Afterward, I took my date for a drive in my Mom’s car. When we stopped, we were leaning against the car. We both commented about how quiet the desert was that night. All of a sudden, above…
Read MoreThe “journey” in journeyman
How do you love people in need? Whether you grew up going to Sunday School or not, you probably have heard of the phrase, “The Good Samaritan”. It refers to a parable told by Jesus Christ. The point of His story is a foundational example of what it means to be a Christ-follower. Passing on…
Read MoreGet activated!
I received an updated credit card this past week. It came with a sticker attached that read, “THIS CARD CAN NOT BE USED UNTIL ACTIVATED.” I’m certain you’ve had cards with similar instructions. My wife smiled and said this is not a bad warning label for Christ-followers. She’s right. There is a decision of dedication…
Read MoreINFLATION WOES
It’s on the lips of just about everyone this summer. Inflation. The name-calling and blame-shifting are at a fever pitch. But, here’s the reality most Americans are feeling. Money just doesn’t go as far as it used to. Some of you reading this update today has had several family meetings trying to figure out how to stretch your…
Read MoreConvenience
Life is hard and most of us realize that. Our culture is driven to make things more convenient. Smartphones, smart speakers, smart everything :-). I’m just thinking, all these conveniences that are smart just might make you dumber. Why is that? Convenient shortcuts (and we all love them) short circuit the process used to grow…
Read MoreAge is only a number
Want an intriguing question? “How old would you be if you didn’t know when you were born?” See, our age points back to a birth certificate and some testimony of others, because you and I can’t remember our birth. I mean, we were there for sure, but you don’t remember the event. Perhaps, you listen…
Read MoreIsolation sucks
Isolation sucks. I don’t think it really matters if you’re an introvert or an extrovert. Isolation is bad. Think about it. When a prisoner (who’s already in jail away from the public) messes up, they are put in “isolation.” It doesn’t sound like that’s a good thing to me. Often people with physical or mental…
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