Human slavery is a terrible thing. I write that mostly to remind myself. Sometimes I wonder, in my safe, comfortable suburban home, if I really appreciate the horrors of this pervasive crime we allow to exist in our communities. Becky, Woody, and I recently attended Human Trafficking Awareness Day at the Colorado State Capitol. We talked to folks from a broad […]
Continue readingWhere’s The Bible Centered?
I’ve been reading about different traditions when it comes to interpreting the bible. Without trying to explain all of the different options, it’s interesting to realize that I see scripture almost exclusively from a Christ-centered perspective. I’d never really considered that other options existed, but I’ve learned that they do. As our small group studies the life […]
Continue readingI Love Surprise Endings
From my friend Dick Foth: A man parked his shiny new sports car in a rather sketchy urban neighborhood. As he got out and locked the car he saw a young man staring longingly. “Hey, Mister,” said the kid. “Where’d you get that great set of wheels?” “My brother gave it to me.” “Get outta […]
Continue readingThe Circle Grows
You move down the road by putting one mile in front of the last one. It’s fun to imagine grand visions of big adventures, but the simple fact is you advance the vision and construct the adventure by stacking one mile on top of the last. And in the middle of winter when I’m accumulating miles […]
Continue readingAre You Trapped Or Free?
Free to choose. How you’ll respond. What you’ll believe. The risks you’ll take. Who you’ll listen to. The legacy you’ll leave. Whether you’ll forgive. How generously you’ll give. Which allegiance you’ll serve. We’re all completely, totally free to make the important choices that impact our lives and the lives of those around us. But… Choice […]
Continue readingCheek
HAPPY MONDAY! a twisty discussion leads to today’s word-of-the-week… CHEEK “So I guess you’re gonna tell us we have to turn the other cheek.” The sarcasm puddled on the table. A guy who’s lived on lobster boats doesn’t easily buy the notion of non-violece. We were talking about fear, and I said “He hit me” […]
Continue readingDo You Think About The Benefits?
“How can I contribute?” That’s the question you hear in a community. Everyone knows the mission. They’ve caught the vision. It’s a tipping point, and once you get past it things get really interesting. And creative. And fun. You know what you hear less and less? “What’s in it for me?” “What’s the Return On […]
Continue readingThe Things I Can’t Do
I still get frustrated by the whole wheelchair thing. After so many years you’d think I’d be over it, but not so far. I know I talk a lot about “don’t let what you CAN’T do keep you from doing what you CAN do.” Those aren’t empty words, but believing something doesn’t always make it […]
Continue readingA Burden I’m Not Supposed To Carry
I like to think I don’t judge people. Problem is, I like to think a lot of things that aren’t true. Sadly, not-judging is one of them. I’m thinking about this because our small group is doing a study of the life of Abraham, and I find myself frequently being sure the guy was an […]
Continue readingWe Have To Move
From John Sowers: “When the story of earth is told, all that will be remembered is the truth we exchanged. The vulnerable moments. The terrifying risk of love and the care we took to cultivate it.” ~ Don Miller Love requires us to take that terrifying risk. To take that first dangerous step into the […]
Continue readingWhat If You Change Your Focus?
“The key to storytelling is to focus on the audience.” Garr Reynolds is something of a presentation guru, but when I read his words I thought, “Well, duh! Everyone knows THAT.” I wonder, though. Does everyone understand the essential, deeper truth beneath Garr’s storytelling advice? It’s a principle that applies to everything we do. Life […]
Continue readingFacts Or Truth?
“Facts are the enemy of truth!” So said Don Quixote de la Mancha. And you might wonder about the judgment of someone who seeks wisdom from a fictional dreamer who imagined himself to be a knight and thought windmills were enemies to be vanquished. Don Quixote may have been mad, but he saw in his […]
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