A couple of friends served in Vietnam. I remember when they came home. Among the things they talked about was “It don’t mean nothin’.” Apparently that phrase was a coping mechanism, a way of dealing with the horrors they confronted on a daily basis. It was a way of getting through each day when human […]
Continue readingAuthor: Rich
How Do You Define Criminal?
I grew up believing laws were a good thing. I was taught to obey the law, respect the police who enforced it, and harbor a certain amount of disdain for those who intentionally violated laws. Mandela, Gandhi, and King were all criminals. All three great men spent time in jail. In the worldview of my […]
Continue readingClimbing Mountains, Following Dreams
Did you watch The Sound Of Music last week? I did, and I was surprised. I expected nostalgia. I didn’t expect to be surprised by a message within lyrics of a familiar song. A dream that will need all the love you can give. Every day of your life for as long as you live. […]
Continue readingJustice
Happy Monday! The passing of a giant sparks thoughts of today’s word-of-the-week… JUSTICE For me, Nelson Mandela stands with Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. as transformative figures of the twentieth century. Mandiba, Gandhiji, MLK—all three stood for forgiveness, nonviolence, sacrifice, and reconciliation. They acknowledged their failures, endured significant personal hardship, and placed service above […]
Continue readingEver Faced FOOP?
Nehemiah had a big dream. I’m reading about it in Jon Swanson’s new book, A GREAT WORK. I’ll talk more about Jon’s book next week—today I’m thinking about one particular aspect of doing a great work. Following a dream, doing a great work—those require courage. God may ask you to raise a family or rescue […]
Continue readingLeaders And Blocking The Wind
Most people think cycling is an individual sport. It’s not. Without a strong, committed team, no individual rider could compete in a big race like le Tour de France. Each team identifies one, or perhaps two, leaders, the strongest, most experienced cyclists with the best chance to prevail at the end. The other riders do […]
Continue readingIt’s My Life, Right?
No, it’s not. I love great preaching that spurs me to think differently and dig a little deeper. This weekend Pastor Jeff Lucas offered a new (to me) perspective on idolatry and the 2nd commandment. “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of […]
Continue readingWhat We Reward Says A Lot About Our Communities
I have a personal theory that following Jesus is simple. Not simplistic, but simple. God organized the world around simple, long-term core principles. We can ignore them if we wish, and in the short run it might look like a good choice. But in the end, the designer knows what works best for us. When […]
Continue readingFriend
HAPPY MONDAY! A familiar story prompts thoughts about today’s word-of-the-week… FRIEND In Mark 2, four friends took a paralyzed man to see Jesus. The crowd was too large and they couldn’t get close. They might have shrugged. “Well, we tried. Too bad it didn’t work out.” But the friends were too committed to give up […]
Continue readingA Way To Join The Circle
Once in a while it’s good to remember why we do what we do. The whole point of BOUNCING BACK is to form a circle of folks who want to discuss what it looks like to live life on purpose as followers of Jesus. One of my big goals is to invite you into the […]
Continue readingNo Door Busting
Okay, it’s leftover time. And, of course, we now move on to those uniquely American holidays: Black Friday and Small Business Saturday. At this point I feel like I need a big-voice guy shouting about crazy, impossible-to-resist deals. Set your alarm, beat the crowds! Sorry, but that’s just not our style. Frankly, I don’t want […]
Continue readingFifty Years Ago
The past few days have been about remembering an event that re-shaped the world fifty years ago. For me, the public remembrance of President Kennedy’s death always evokes a more personal memory. I’ve told this story before, but a fiftieth anniversary seems like the right occasion to tell it again. (Note: I’m posting this on […]
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