Highlight Reel 11/17/2021 - Do you have a “highlight reel”? You know that video record of all your best plays, shining moments, greatest achievements, victories, etc., etc., etc. I literally have one. Now, I’m so old it’s on VHS tape (yes kids, a small “reel” of film which contains video images) and have no way of looking at it today since my last functional VHS player died over a decade-and-a-half ago of old age. The “tape” was generously compiled by a couple of my high school football coaches to help aid in getting me recruited to play quarterback at the next level. Now here’s the dangerous thing about my “highlight reel”-it’s just the highlights! Plenty of touchdown passes, but not one incompletion, and certainly not any of my record setting interceptions. Plenty of first downs gained but not one “3-and-out”. Plenty of victorious moments, but no record of crushing defeats anywhere to be found. The highlight reel, by definition, is intentionally deceptive. It seems odd that a football coach would recruit me, or anyone, based on images of just how good I was without knowing how bad I could be. It wasn’t the whole picture of who I was as a football player... Read more
Label Maker 11/10/2021 - When my oldest was little, I worked full time. I needed everything to be tidy and to have a home so my life would be easier. Even before Tristan could read, we made pictures of his toys to become labels for where they would go. A picture of an army guy for the action figure drawer, a picture of a car for where his matchbox cars would belong, etc. You get the idea...We do the same thing. We put labels on people... Read more
Power Packed Prayer 11/3/2021 - There have been times in my life that I have felt as though my prayer life is lacking. I have felt that I am doing it all wrong and many times I KNOW I am just going through the motions and “getting it over with.” I really do have a burden to pray. And if I tell you that I will pray for you I ABSOLUTELY do! But I wonder if God is sometimes just hearing “blah, blah, blah, blah” because I’m just not focused enough. Does that ever happen to you? If so, let’s take a minute and explore how we can truly have a power packed prayer life... Read more
Healing After the Pain 10/27/2021 - When I was a young Christian, I often heard it said: “They have been hurt by the church.” It was stated as an explanation to someone who seemed to have a chip on their shoulder when it came to church and all that church life entails. I was too young in my faith to understand it at the time, because after all, how could the church hurt someone? It wasn’t until years later I truly understood that statement and the significance it carried... Read more
Reluctant Leader 10/20/2021 - Feeling reluctant to take the next step? Am I the only one who feels like this? Like these opportunities God calls me to are just more than I’m cut out to do? Don’t answer that. I already know. As far back as Moses, God’s people have reminded Him about why we are woefully unqualified or just plain unwilling to do the job He’s calling us to do. So, yeah. It is safe to assume that you don’t always feel qualified or even inspired to serve either... Read more