A lot of time and energy is spent trying to create a transparent government. People want to know what is really going on, to see for themselves. But have you noticed that everyone wants the other person to be transparent. Nobody welcomes the scrutiny and judgment that comes when it is all put out there. We have a hard enough time being completely honest with our spouses and friends. We often hold back because we are afraid what they might think and that the relationship might be damaged.
Read MoreLife’s Healing Choices begins with the choice to get real, to let down our masks and be honest about who we are. Daniel Lanois wrote a song that contained this line: “My image talked with your image, and your image talked with my image. And somewhere along the way, our images let each other down.” Everyone wants to fit in. We don’t want to talk about our failures and difficulties for fear that we will be judged and looked down upon.
Read MoreHave you ever played Wii sports? There is everything from bowling to golf, from driving to flying. The idea is that you can burn calories when you get off the couch and move around in front of your TV. Tennis burns 341 calories per hour, while boxing burns 360 calories per hour. I played Wii golf with a youth several years ago. We had a lot of fun, though I was frustrated that I couldn’t hit the ball straight. I used the same form that I do when I am out on
Read MoreWhat do you pray for and why? We usually pray about our personal lives, for forgiveness, for help with family, for friendships, and sometimes for God to correct (we often mean ‘smite’) someone’s error. How often do you pray for direction and success in your work? On average, Americans spend 150,000 hours working over their lifetime. That is more than any other activity that we do. Work dominates our lives--and God wants us to succeed--yet, we forget to ask God how to work wisely.
The wise person seeks God’s counsel and direction for their work. “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.” (Prov 16:3) This verse contains a premise and a promise. The premise is that we give God authority over our work. The promise is that God will guide us into good productive work. Two proverbs say how this is done. "The prayer of the upright pleases God.” (Prov 15:8) And "He who plans a thing will be successful." (Prov 16:2) God delights and desires for us to seek His wisdom and insight for our
Read MoreJim Collin’s book Good to Great was a best seller and a must read for MBAs. He and his team put in years of research in companies that were doing great, a notch about the really good. He delved into the different facets of the particular companies but came back again and again to leadership. Collin’s describes the actions of “Level 5 Leaders”. They develop humility, ask for help, take responsibility, develop discipline, find the right people, and lead with passion. The first quality is Developing Humility. In fact, Collin’s says that humility is key to the rest. Here is the way he describes it:
Level 5 leaders display a powerful mixture of personal humility and indomitable will. They're incredibly ambitious, but their ambition is first and foremost for the cause, for
The week we now call Holy Week began with the day which Christians hail as Palm Sunday. The excitement of Passover rippled through the Jewish community near and far. As this was one of the holy days that Jews were to present themselves before God at the Temple, Jerusalem swelled from 50,000 inhabitants to 150,000 with pilgrims everywhere. Early Sunday morning Jesus boldly and publicly entered the city. For Jesus – and his followers – this was the end of all privacy and safety. Riding in with throngs cheering, singing, and waving palms set Jesus on the inevitable collisions with the political
Read MoreForgiveness is not part of the mission of the church, it is THE mission of the church. Within a couple days of the resurrection, Jesus came to his disciples and said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (John 20:21-23) Jesus is very clear about what he expects of his disciples. It is
Read MoreJesus gave us a tremendous gift when He taught us what we now call ‘The Lord’s Prayer.’ If you just don’t know what to pray for in a situation, say the Lord’s Prayer. If it doesn’t seem like your prayers are getting past the ceiling, say the Lord’s Prayer. If you are too ashamed to pray to God, say the Lord’s Prayer. The Lord’s Prayer is our bedrock prayer that grounds us in the love of God who asks us to call Him ‘Father.’ It both lifts us up as the children of The King, as well as humbles us in our need for provision and protection. It guides our daily lives in the most fundamental needs of relational health:
Read MoreForgiveness is not part of the mission of the church, it is THE mission of the church. Within a couple days of the resurrection, Jesus came to his disciples and said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (John 20:21-23) Jesus is very clear about what he expects of his disciples. It is neither complicated nor difficult.
Read MoreThe table is where families have gathered for centuries. Food brings us together, and it is around the table that relationships are formed. Consider the many important activities that go on around the dining table:
Families tell stories around the table. Those stories locate us in relationship to those who have gone before. The stories of the past are OUR stories. When we hear about great grandma or