Ever run across a familiar idea stated in a way that smacks you between the eyes? I did some reading over the holiday break and encountered this quote: We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give. (Winston Churchill) We need to pay the bills and we all […]
Continue readingFamily
HAPPY MONDAY! A remarkable young lady gives a fresh look at today’s word-of-the-week… FAMILY I haven’t always appreciated the gift of family, especially at holiday time. I invite you to see “family” through Jackie Turner’s eyes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ywovusmbl24&app=desktop If you’d like to hear a bit more of Jackie’s story, here’s a video that goes a little […]
Continue readingDuck!
I get a kick out of the TV show Duck Dynasty. If you’ve never watched, there’s no way to describe what happens. Mostly it’s just silly fun. I admire the Robertson family’s ingenuity and creativity. They don’t take themselves seriously, but they’re very serious about their faith in Jesus. Recently, Phil, the family patriarch, got […]
Continue readingAccumulated Wisdom About Being Wrong
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 […]
Continue readingNew 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 reading