“I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw” (Pro. 24:32). We are observing many tragic leadership decisions in our time. The author of this proverb urges us to apply our hearts to what we observe and to learn a lesson from it. Though this blog post was sparked by a couple of heartbreaking events in our city and in our country, I am trying to take wisdom from them. Though I am... Read more

Imagine three circles forming a target. The outer ring is the “what:” it’s who you are, what you do, the thing you sell. The middle ring is the “how:” the unique way you go about it. The third ring is the “why:” it’s the purpose behind the action, your most powerful creed. This is the Golden Circle, thought leader Simon Sinek’s model for why people are loyal to the products, organizations, and individuals they follow. His TED Talk, “How great... Read more

  Kellum Hall – the dormitory may not have looked like much more than crumbled brick and mortar, but in my college days it was a singular Florida State specimen. It was demolished last year in preparation for the construction of a new building. I drove past the site many times, mesmerized by the amount of preparation, money, and time it took just to tear something down. It reminded me of the worldviews we’ve built for ourselves, worldviews that we ourselves... Read more

Today, we turn our eyes to the White House as America inaugurates her 45th president. Regardless of where you stand, this is a historic day. Where I stand is kind of where I have always stood in the middle of a divided culture. I write this with both a heavy heart and great hope. As we focus our attention on Washington, D.C., I find myself drawn to a letter Paul once wrote to young Timothy: “I urge you, first of... Read more

It has been such a pleasure working with Patheos to launch The Great Divide. This blog has been a transformative vehicle for identifying and dismantling the walls that isolate us from each other, the walls that sever the secular from the sacred, the same walls that separate us from God. Over the holiday break, I took an inventory of my life. I asked myself, “What am I good at? What are the things I am passionate about? What can I... Read more

My youngest daughter, Peyten, can be found on any given day wearing a hipster beanie and a princess dress with full on frills. She is the littlest one in the tribe and as such she often has to fight for a place at the table. Both of her siblings are nearly twice her height and with a father who stands 6’5″ she is not only the smallest in the house, but her little voice struggles to be heard. I do... Read more

My middle child is a tall 9 year old girl full of spunk, compassion and she’s very pretty just like her mother. However, from about the time Brooklynn turned 7 years old, my wife and I identified that she has a lot of me in her too. Just like her daddy, she has a high level of anxiety and can get extremely emotional. A great example of how this plays out is as a dancer; though she is very talented,... Read more

My first born, my Son, is no ordinary boy. Anyone who has spent any time with him knows what I mean when I say this. When he was born, he was born on the autism spectrum and was unable to speak for his early infant years. Through an act of God, my now 11 year old son never has a shortage of words. He loves talking with people and has never once met a stranger. However, one of the tendencies... Read more

When people build together, there is something spiritual about it. Building something with other people can be a reflection of God’s kingdom. There is something supernatural about building and I believe this because God himself builds. He has uniquely designed us to build and when we do, we can make room for moments where heaven actually touches earth. Together we are able to accomplish greater things than we ever could as individuals. There is more beauty in the harmony of... Read more

Do you ever wonder why we are so in love with diversity but it doesn’t seem to love us back? We talk about diversity at length, especially in the United States. Maybe we love to talk about it so much because we are afraid to actually work for it. Oh sure, we want it… but look around and tell me how many truly diverse communities you can identify. Unfortunately, not many. We lack hammer, brick, mortar, and anything else necessary... Read more