I was recently speaking on the issue of sacrifice. Most people don’t really like the idea of sacrificing because they believe it is all about giving up something that is of value to them. However, consider the proper definition of sacrifice: “The forfeiture of something highly valued for the sake of something of greater value.” […] Read more

Easter brings to mankind a powerful sense of hope for the future. I share this because there seems to be a sense of hopelessness pervading our country today. I have read a great deal about the disturbing rise of deaths of despair (drug overdoses and suicide) among our younger generation. In a New York Times […] Read more

For the past twenty years, we’ve held a Good Friday breakfast at the Country Club of Birmingham. Years ago, one of the attendees brought a friend. Afterward, the guest remarked, “The minister at my church never talks about the things that Richard talks about.” I believe he was referring to the harsh realities of the […] Read more

Every quarter I like to share quotes that I have encountered in my reading and research that have been meaningful to me. I call them “Nuggets of Wisdom.” ***** “When you look at people who are eager to learn more, you can bet they are on the right track. And when you talk to people who […] Read more

One of the most troubling conditions in man is spiritual apathy. This is when a person exhibits indifference to spiritual truth or the pursuit of a relationship with God. It represents a state of emotional or intellectual disinterest in God. What people don’t realize is that spiritual apathy, if allowed to take root, often leads […] Read more

Recently I read these words in John 12:37 where we are told, “Even after Jesus had performed all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in Him.” I have always been intrigued by how people arrive at their beliefs, particularly their beliefs about God and spiritual reality. I remember speaking with […] Read more

I think one of the reasons people pursue great wealth is they think it will eliminate problems in their life, believing that money can act as a cure-all for their problems. However, the truth is, when life does become difficult, no amount of money can truly shield them from life’s inevitable struggles. There’s an interesting […] Read more

A.J. Brown is an All-Pro wide receiver with the Philadelphia Eagles, who recently won the Super Bowl. Reflecting on this wonderful accomplishment, Brown said: “After a few days, I’ve had time to reflect on being a champion. I tried to feel how everyone made it seem to be a champion and unfortunately it was short-lived…two […] Read more

Best-selling author, Daniel Pink, surveyed more than 26,000 people from 130 countries about the biggest regret in their lives. He concluded that most people struggled with four core regrets. Foundation regrets are “small decisions people make early in life that accumulate to terrible consequences later on,” Pink said. For example: You didn’t contribute regularly to […] Read more

As we begin a new year on Wednesday, I thought an essay from my new book, Practical Wisdom: The Art of Living Well would work well for today’s blog. It’s titled “The Art of Achieving” and I believe it will provide a great challenge as we prepare for the new year. ***** I recently read […] Read more