"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." ~Joshua 1:9
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Why are we still afraid? Every one of the more than 400 days I spent in combat, I wore a chain necklace with my dog tags and a small silver shield. On the back of the shield was inscribed the popular scripture from Joshua 1:9: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do … Continue reading “Be Strong & Courageous”: Why Are We Still Afraid?
As a child, I often heard the phrase, "See no evil, Hear no evil, Speak no evil." So many times, the lessons of our childhood ring with truth in our adult years. Solomon wrote, "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." (Proverbs 4:23). As the center of our being, … Continue reading Guard your Heart!
I remember the truth spoken quietly, almost as a secret, from my wise grandmother: "Things are not always as they seem." The veil lifts to expose reality, not hiding but not at first clear. What if the world around you, as it is presented, is not as it seems? What are the implications of this … Continue reading Lifting the Veil: “Things are not as they seem”
"God has given us two hands - one to receive with and the other to give with. We are not cisterns made for hoarding; we are channels made for sharing." - Billy Graham “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” ~ Hebrews 13:16 … Continue reading Channels for Sharing
Labels can be limiting, close-minded, and ultimately de-humanizing. I challenge you to rise above them. Ask yourself: Do you see your friends as being a part of a certain group or a set of beliefs? When you hear a name, do you think of the shared memories with your friend? Or do you, instead, think … Continue reading Rising Above
Don't allow your labels to define your identify. You're more than your labels. We're made to believe that we fit certain demographics. The world of big data, targeted marketing, and political segregation fits each of us nicely into "our" segments. Skin color. Gender. Education. Income-level. Sexual preference. Political affiliation. Ethnic background. Veteran status. Religious affiliation. … Continue reading You’re More Than Your Labels
Book Review To the Ends of the World by Chad & Amanda Garrett Passion can be exhilirating. Someone passionate about his work can drive success; extending his circle of influence beyond typical boundaries and defining new, atypical comfort zones. As missionaries for the Lord, the passion behind the work of Chad and Amanda Garrett is … Continue reading A Missionary’s Mission
Book Review Love & War: Finding the Marriage You've Dreamed of by John & Stasi Eldredge There's not an instructional manual on marriage. There's not a list of steps on how to become one with another human, on how to love another more than yourself; on being committed for, and beyond, life. That's impossible. But … Continue reading “Love & War” by John & Stasi Eldredge
Book Review The End of Me: Where Real Life in the Upside-Down Ways of Jesus Begins by Kyle Idleman Perhaps the most "famous" sermon of all time, there is certainly no shortage of material covering Christ's Sermon on the Mount. The early statements of that sermon, known as the beatitudes, are simple, timeless lessons for … Continue reading “The End of Me” by Kyle Idleman
"We typically think of integrity as the ability to resist temptation by resolve. And that's a good thing; self-discipline is a good thing. But there is another level of integrity, the kind where you don't even want the seduction that is being presented to you. Goodness runs so deep, so pervasive through your character and … Continue reading Deep-Rooted, Pervasive Integrity
Be Strong & Courageous! 