Do you think that your identity is being sucked away by the culture? Do you hurt for a world that is set up to fail, and you don’t see any answers? Then read on... Estonia is an country in the Baltic region that for much of it’s history has actually been part of someone else. The list of occupiers is a long one, as they were pawns in power struggles between Vikings, Swedes, Normans, Germanics, and a host of others.... Read more
When did He ever tell you to quit dreaming? When did He tell you to quit thinking big? When did He demand that you quit chasing that one thing? What caused you to give up? Read more
Whether you are dreaming of world change or a new bike, there are four types of dreams -- Those that are fulfilled, those that are delayed, those that are denied, and those that are suppressed. Read more
Shame is that terrible, private feeling that something is wrong with us—that we are somehow defective as a person, that we are irreparably damaged. But it doesn't have to define you. It has no part in your life. Read more
I was frozen in terror. Standing on the end of the fiberglass plank, I could feel my toes, curled in silent resistance. I snuck a glance down into the azure water at the deep end of the pool. It was only ten feet below me, but I might as well have been diving from the volcanic cliffs of a Caribbean Island. I remember the first time I jumped off the diving board at the community pool. Not the one that all the little kids were diving from. The big one – the one that towered over the deep of the pool. The one that the high school boys jackknifed from, slicing the water. That one. I was probably no more than 11 years old. But I was old enough to feel the weight of mortality, every pore of my body dripped with the fear of splashing in the water far below. I don’t know if it was bravery or the fear of being called a chicken, but somehow, I mustered a final jolt of bravery. I closed my eyes and counted out loud. Three. Two. One. Jump! Read more
All the theories being thrown around about white supremacy, guns, mental illness and “hate” speech are not supported by the data. And no matter what our feelings are, the facts don’t change. This ultimately needs a spiritual solution. The problem can’t be willed or legislated or forced out of our society. It must come from within. And that’s why I was encouraged to see Oprah Winfrey weigh in with a hint of what’s really wrong. Read more
You might not choose to go to the moon, but you can choose to go across the street, or pick up the phone, or write a check – all hard things. You might not hurtle into space, but you can choose to help the needy, go on a mission trip, or start a program to help others. Life is full of hard things, and we need people – Modern Astronauts of the Heart – who will strap in, give a thumbs up and plunge into the unknown. Read more
The worst thing is to look for blame, an oppressor, someone who caused the storm. Some blame God. But no one wins in the blame game and as a victim, you end up the loser. Rather than point a finger, start to look for the clouds to part. Even if its a single shred of sunshine, don't let you eyes look away. Hold on. Read more
And through this process, I’m learning about life again. Winter taught me a few things. It taught me that there is a spring and a summer. And there will be a time of harvest as I find love and restoration, through the soil, sun, and seed. Read more
limbing into bed I wondered if the hour I had put my legs up on a chair in a class had made all the difference, or maybe it was the oxygen…when I was pulled up short by a louder thought – almost a voice: “Why are you trying to explain away My blessing of answered prayer?” And I realized it really was a miraculous answer to the prayers of my friends, my church, and my prayer partner for the day. Read more
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