I tend to jump to conclusions. It’s a bad habit, especially for a guy who sits in a wheelchair and can’t jump. But whenever there’s a controversy, I seem to have an innate need to choose a side. I’m getting better about keeping my thoughts to myself, but that doesn’t solve the heart problem. What we […]
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New Wheels!
We found an early Christmas gift under the RICH’S RIDE Christmas tree. One of our amazing sponsors, Top End Handcycles, hooked us up with a spiffy new set of high-tech wheels. Spinergy wheels are some of the best cycle wheels available. The carbon fiber rims are super light, and the whole system reduces rolling resistance […]
Continue readingIt’s All About The Foundation
Appearances can deceive. Over the weekend I watched one of those DIY shows. A young woman purchased a cute, completely refurbished bungalow. After a few months the surface restorations began to crumble because the previous owner merely covered over serious, costly-to-repair problems. As a first-time owner, she was overwhelmed and tempted to walk away. But […]
Continue readingSurprise
Happy Monday! A home repair prompts today’s word-of-the-week… SURPRISE Ah, Christmas—tis the season for surprises. Last week we heard a minor squeaking noise from our furnace fan. The noise stopped, but we had a guy come for a routine maintenance check. He walked up the basement stairs with that look on his face. A crack […]
Continue readingEmpathy Illustrated
Happy Saturday! Maybe you’ve read my description of falling in the pit from Relentless Grace. This short video, narrated by Dr, Brene Brown, is a wonderful visual of the distinction between sympathy and empathy. Can’t see the video? Click here. have a great weekend!
Continue readingWhat If Everyone Takes A Turn At The Front?
My mind’s been focused on teams and leadership lately. I think it’s Jon’s fault. His conversation with Nehemiah about A Great Work isn’t the sort of thing you can just casually toss aside. I don’t think of myself as a leader. Neither did Nehemiah. He was a servant. His job was to taste the king’s […]
Continue readingA Conversation With A Really Old Guy
My friend Jon Swanson’s been conversing with Nehemiah. Yeah, that Nehemiah, the one from the Bible who lived like twenty-five centuries ago and led the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls. I know they talked because Jon published their discussions in A Great Work. If we weren’t sure, the subtitle confirms their relationship: A Conversation With Nehemiah […]
Continue readingIt Always Matters
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 readingHow 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 […]
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