Thanks again for another week of blogging. I hope you have as much fun reading this stuff and I have fun writing it all. Here are some links to some great articles much better written than my own. Special Team – Read an inspirational story by Rick Reilly about a group of high school football players treating a special needs student like Jesus would. Fourteen Really Bad Predictions – How is the election going to turn out? No one knows.... Read more
As our crazy election season comes to a close, Jonathan Merritt has some great perspective on the history of American Christianity in politics over the last 50 years, and what a new generation of Christians (including me) are looking for in politics today. Enjoy the video below. I’ll be reviewing his book “A Faith of Our Own” next Tuesday. A Faith of Our Own Read more
BIG Idea: Follow the money, find your heart. As a teenager, I had an addiction. A secret sin, something that consumed my thoughts and threatened to overtake my life. I was addicted to cheesy Christian music (cue “friends are friends forever” by Michael W. Smith). Back when music was still sold by the album on plastic discs, I bought all that I could get my hands on. I bought music by Petra, Newsboys, Audio Adrenaline, and even a little Christafari.... Read more
Why do Apple, Southwest Airlines, and Harley-Davidson have cult-like followings? What separates them from their competitors? They start with WHY. My first encounter with Simon Sinek was his famous TED Talk. He briefly shared his concept of the Golden Circle and how it applied to businesses today. A few weeks ago, I saw him speak live at Catalyst Conference and was impressed with his presentation of the same subject matter. His book, Start With Why, encapsulates his philosophy and is... Read more
Yesterday in my message “How to Fight Your Spouse,” we looked at ten unhealthy ways couples like to fight. Read the list and see if any of them describe you! 1. Stonewall Jackson – this is the spouse that emotionally shuts down in a fight. The more your spouse yells, the more you become like a an emotional wasteland of human recognition. It’s like you’re in an emotional coma. Your spouse says, “Why won’t you talk to me? Let’s talk this through,”... Read more
Here’s a Five for Friday: political edition. I know everyone’s a little tense with the election. Let’s feed the dog that’s barking the loudest this week: The Politics of Trust – why don’t we trust our politicians anymore? The Church & Politics = A Mess – great words from a guy (Perry Noble) who tells you how it is. The Inconsistent Logic of Abortion Rights Advocates – want to get politically touchy? Let’s talk abortion. Great dissection of the flaws... Read more
The world of ushering is itself an art form: the subtlety, the unspoken solemnity, the majesty of it all. Many ignorantly focus on the type of the offering plate itself (KFC bucket vs. oversized cloth-covered dinner plate vs. two-pronged velour bag). What captivates me is the movement of the ushers themselves. Being raised in church, I’ve seen just about every type of ushering move there is. The Jolted Usher – This is the usher whose only real reason to come... Read more
Big Idea: God owns everything. I’m his money manager. In the spring of 1994, I held a small piece of paper that would forever change the way I lived. I had just started my first real job, where I was a food service technician (i.e. waiter) at an upscale retirement home. Never changed a bed pan. Just needed to say that. The piece of paper I held was my first paycheck. I had busted my tail for two weeks at... Read more
Big Idea: God owns everything. I’m his money manager. In the spring of 1994, I held a small piece of paper that would forever change the way I lived. I had just started my first real job, where I was a food service technician (i.e. waiter) at an upscale retirement home. Never changed a bed pan. Just needed to say that. The piece of paper I held was my first paycheck. I had busted my tail for two weeks at... Read more
Books rarely start with a tutorial on how to remove your clothes in a bathroom stall. This book does. The trick apparently, is to start with your shirt. Doing a drop test on a door hook is an absolute must. Trying to balance something on the back of the toilet? Forget about it. These words of wisdom let you know from that outset that this isn’t going to be like most other books. Jon Acuff was a serial quitter. He... Read more
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