Why do you believe in God? The question stopped me in my tracks. I’m naturally a seeker and a questioner so I’m accustomed to reconciling the internal consistency of my faith, but such interactions occur with other believers. I don’t think I’ve ever encountered this foundational question.
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How Should We Pray?
“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” I try to avoid politics. Really, I do. I dislike partisan bickering and divisiveness that casts someone as the personification of evil simply based on party affiliation. I’m […]
Continue readingMore TagDeveloping Resilience: Optimism And The 8000/2000 Principle
An optimist looks at a piece of moldy bread and sees penicillin. Leonard was tired of my endless complaining. More than a year after my accident I still invested more energy in seeking sympathy than working to get better. He was sick of my lousy attitude. Leonard was the latest in a series of physical […]
Continue readingMore TagDeveloping Resilience: Perseverance
In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins – not through strength, but through persistence. Do you recall waiting in long lines to get your driver’s license?
Continue readingMore TagBecoming Resilient
“How do you develop resilience?” We were discussing an approaching event at which I’ll speak to a group of nonprofit leaders about the notion of confronting and overcoming adversity.
Continue readingMore TagTrapped Behind An Open Door
I like to read bumper stickers. I think there’s something clever about expressing an important bit of philosophy in a few memorable words and convincing someone to display your wisdom on their car. I saw a catchy phrase yesterday that summarized the way I seem to live a good deal of my life: trapped behind […]
Continue readingMore TagWasted Worry
If you can imagine the worst–and see the possibility in it–you have turned a corner. Everything begins to shift. Worry is transformed into creativity. Michael Hyatt Are you as burned out on negativity as I am? I’ve basically stopped watching television news. My radio mostly blares mindless sports talk these days. I scan a few […]
Continue readingMore TagThe Mob
Palm Sunday–the day the Jews welcomed Jesus with cheers and celebration. This is a special day for Christians, the beginning of Holy Week. It’s a bittersweet day on which immediate joy mingles with the knowledge of impending disaster.
Continue readingMore TagClearing Planks and Confronting Specks
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” ~ Edmund Burke This blog has developed an interesting personality.to my previous thoughts concerning President Obama’s remark that his bowling style “looks like the Special Olympics.” A few folks asked a question that went something like this: “When […]
Continue readingMore TagTalking About Faith
Here’s another insightful question from my recent interaction with high school kids: “Is it hard for you to speak in places where you can’t talk about your faith?”
Continue readingMore TagHelp or Service?
Last week I spoke with a group of high school students at a wonderful event called Abilities Day. One of the great questions they asked was, “How should we approach someone who appears to need help so we don’t offend them?”
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One of my long-time friends, a guy I’ve known since the prehistoric days of junior high school, had brain surgery this morning. Some undiagnosed physical issues pointed to the possibility of a tumor, so, in my friend’s words, “The doctors are going fishing to see if they can determine the nature of the unknown tenant.”
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