In 2011, near the end of our 1500-mile Mississippi River bike ride, we were invited to visit the small community of Rolling Fork, Mississippi. The wonderful people we met there have always been a special memory. So our hearts were broken by images of the horrific storm that devastated Rolling Fork last week. Like so […]
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Why Not Armies?
I like to think about Jesus hanging out with our 22 kids. Not literally, of course, like He did with His friends for three years. But I absolutely believe He’s with them, just as He’s been with them every moment of their precious lives. I like to think of Him around the table with them, […]
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Gotta Serve Somebody
In 1979, Bob Dylan released his Grammy award-winning song Gotta Serve Somebody. The theme was pretty simple. Doesn’t matter who you are, how much you have or don’t have, where you live, your station in life…in the end, everybody serves something or somebody. Dylan’s profound lyrics are a take-off on something I say a lot: […]
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Be Still
I listened to a friend speak for a few minutes on Saturday morning. John played some music and then shared a bit of his amazing journey. As part of his talk he shared this verse: The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. In other translations that last phrase says “just stay calm,” “hold […]
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Relationship Arithmetic
Jalen Rose played NBA basketball at the highest level. Recently, Rose commented on the difficult circumstances faced by one of basketball’s current young stars. The details aren’t important. Rose was explaining, as someone who’s been there, that perhaps the situation might be more complex than it appears. He made a statement I think all of […]
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Which World?
You and I don’t see the world the same way. It’s just a fact, but it’s really hard for me to remember. Sadly, I spend a lot of time and energy feeling critical toward those see things differently. Another, more accurate way, to say this is that I struggle with being judgmental. I don’t like […]
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Smiles All Around
Occasionally, I surprise myself by coming up with an interesting thought. Last time, I talked about the difference between accountability and responsibility. I ended with this sentence. You and I can take as much responsibility as we wish. In fact, I think that’s exactly what Jesus invited us to do. I think that’s kind of […]
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Accountable Or Responsible
Lots of conversation these days about accountability. To me, though, most of this “accountability” is just about pointing fingers and blaming. There’s nothing wrong with holding people accountable when they’ve done something wrong, but I think we confuse it with a bigger idea. What we really want, I think, is for people to take responsibility. […]
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Doing What We Know
I ran across a short passage this morning that sort of stopped me in my tracks. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained. It […]
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Service And Perspective
I believe we were created to serve. God. Other people. The Creation. When we serve, we’re being Christ-like. “The world looks vastly different when on one’s knees washing someone’s feet. I think that is why Jesus chose this for the disciples’ final group act before the cross. Is there a relationship in your life where […]
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Cutting Corners
It’s easy to lose track of purpose. We begin with grand mission statements involving faith and generosity. But it’s so easy to get seduced by short term goals and opportunities for growth. It’s pretty understandable why so many people and organizations cut corners. Seems like that mission statement can serve one of two purposes. It’s […]
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I Don’t Wanna
“I have to do this,” I’ll say. Becky’s response: “No, you get to do this.” It’s a half-serious, half-joking conversation that runs on a loop in our house. I suppose we could write it off as background noise, but I think there’s more to it. I’m pretty privileged. There are some things I have to […]
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