Superhero adventure movies are all the rage. We can’t seem to get enough of them. We love these movies because we love the idea of wielding power for good. Having the power to defend, to change. The power to influence. In today’s world, there is little that suggests power more than physical strength. Force is the most direct path to influence, according to our culture. There’s nothing so American as punching our way to change. And, therefore, our heroes are... Read more
My friend Jim had no idea how close he was to second-tier change. Sitting on a beach in South Africa, Jim was confused and frustrated. He’d done all the right things. Obeyed the principles. Followed the prescriptions. Looking back over the last six months, he had changed. So why did he still feel so dissatisfied? So confused? It is a great challenge to change. To learn. To grow. To adapt. To take a step forward and be better is a... Read more
Am I just struggling or am I doing this wrong? It is hard to know if we are in the right place, doing the right thing. Juggling dreams and responsibilities, we work ourselves into a frenzy. We are just trying to keep our heads above water. But there is more to life. I know it. You know it. We know it. There is an itch we are dying to scratch. The Bible calls it ‘the fullness of life’. The keys to this kingdom are... Read more
The Olympics start this week and we are ready to go bonkers for it. Why do we get so into a bunch of sports we otherwise don’t care about? The games aren’t just about fun. It’s more than that. We can sense the energy. We can feel it. Our interest in the Olympics may go deeper than we realize. Perhaps this unique set of games scratches an itch deep in the heart of us. I live in one of those... Read more
As one of only three things we can control, whom we trust is vitally important for each of us. We are made to live in community and to care for one another. None of us can make it through this life alone; at least not in the sense of truly thriving. We need one another. We need people we can trust. Victim mentality becomes the perversion of our innate need to be together. Coexistence can easily become co-dependence. Our need... Read more
We give our circumstances too much power. We hand them the keys to the kingdom and bow at their feet. Even when circumstances are good, they are not meant to rule us. The seasons of our circumstance are nothing more than terrain for the journey. Joyride When I lived in Africa, my absolute favorite thing to do was pop some headphones in my ears and listen to music during the van rides. I watched the people and the places pass... Read more
In the beginning, we don’t own anything. We don’t get to decide what to wear or when to poop. Rules and perspectives and behaviors are either instinctive or taught with a tight set of boundaries. We are watched, guided, reared. The fundamental experience of a child is borrowing from their parents. As we try to find our way in the world, the attitudes and choices of our parents serve as placeholders. They help us navigate the world with some level... Read more
Reading through the Book of Acts recently, I’ve been fascinated with the dispute between Paul and Barnabas concerning John, also called Mark. As a missionary in a leadership position, I often found myself challenged by this very dilemma. Every minute spent pouring into one person is one that might have been spent elsewhere. How do I know where best to use my influence? What is the best approach for investing my time and passion? I spent hours, days, weeks, chasing... Read more
Fear is perhaps the most prominent negative human emotion. Ask any self-aware person what plagues them most abundantly and fear is likely the answer. We are afraid of rejection, of failure, of being hurt. We are scared of being exposed, misunderstood, accused. It is a giant weight that we pile on every day, even before we get out of bed. We’re afraid things won’t go well and people won’t like us. We’re afraid of not being seen or heard or... Read more
There is nothing on this earth more important than perspective. The way we see things can divide or unite us; it makes enemies, friends, and lovers. Everything we do or say is a result of our perspective. Perception drives us forward and holds us back. There are two constant mistakes we make concerning our perspective. The first is believing ours is the only legitimate way. It is absurd to us that someone might see things differently. We dismiss them as foolish or... Read more
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