How much time do you and I spend anticipating The Next Big Event? You know, that tipping point when everything will change, all the effort will pay off, we’ll finally be happy. The new job, degree, relationship, or vacation. Graduation. Retirement. The Next Big Event will make it all better, if we can just hold […]
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Try Just One More Time
A while back I read a book called FAITH IN THE FOG by my friend Jeff Lucas. Jeff’s story revolves around Jesus’ breakfast with the disciples after His resurrection. You may recall the incident—Peter, John, and some of the other disciples fished all night but caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the […]
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Leave It All On The Field?
A true competitor wants to “leave it all on the field.” When the game concludes she wants to know she did everything, gave everything, held nothing back in pursuit of the win. Pain, sacrifice, the next game, the next season–none of that matters. The competitor has a single-minded focus on this game, this interaction, this win. All […]
Continue readingGive Good Instructions
“I couldn’t do something like that!” When you talk to people about extended cycle tours, you hear that sort of thing a lot. It’s the kind of focused place where folks tend to argue for their limitations. But there are lots of situations in which people seem defeated before they begin. So many folks are absolutely […]
Continue readingAre You Sure?
Truth or certainty? Isn’t true also certain, and vice versa? Are they not the same thing? Turns out–not so much. Certain is often a simplistic, watered-down place of political slogans and bumper stickers. It’s great for platitudes and song choruses. Certain rarely describes how the world works, how relationships work, how we can move the ball down the field. […]
Continue readingBecause I Said So?
Every parent and teacher wrestles with Why? As a new teacher my go-to response to Why? was Because I said so! After all, I’m the teacher. I make the rules, right? End of discussion. Took a lot of years for me to realize that Because I said so! was simply coercion. I have more power and control, so you have to […]
Continue readingWhat To Remember about 2016
It’s time to look forward and to look back. Year-end recaps and New Year’s resolutions are the big thing. Yesterday I talked about remembering to be grateful. I thought of some other things I want to remember. I want to remember to be kind. Kindness is a priceless gift that costs me nothing. I want to […]
Continue readingA Year To Forget?
By many accounts, 2016 wasn’t a good year. As I read and listen to various summaries of the year just passed, the general consensus appears to be don’t let the door hit you in the backside on your way out! Seems like most folks can’t wait to move on from what they perceive as a year […]
Continue readingObedience Might Be Kind Of Simple
I heard an interesting take on obedience recently. Our culture’s not big on obedience. We sort-of want folks to follow the rules, but we admire the John Wayne types who ignore boundaries and “do it their way.” For those of us who follow Jesus, there’s a bit of internal conflict. There’s that good old USAmerican blaze your […]
Continue readingIs It Okay To Move Forward?
So you got kicked in the teeth, or the gut, or some other sensitive spot. It won’t go away, this sense of loss and disappointment. Perhaps it fades for a few moments, but then it returns and you’re certain it’s part of your new reality. You’re not going to “just get over it.” Now…what? I’ve […]
Continue readingThree (Unexpected) Wise Men And Injustice
Seems like we hear a lot about injustice lately. Pipelines. Trafficking. Racism. Sexism. Religion. Immigration. Even bathrooms! Seems like everywhere we turn there’s some sort of debate, discussion, or dialogue about injustice. The FREEDOM TOUR, of course, enters the discussion by supporting kids rescued from the horrible injustice of sexual slavery. So here’s a question: How […]
Continue readingHope When You Don’t Feel It
“Help me understand hope.” It was a couple of years ago. Hers were those “friendly eyes” a speaker looks for in the audience, belonging to the handful of folks who let you know the message is heard. Now she wanted to go deeper. “I know what hope means…in my head, ” she said, “but I can’t […]
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