Creating Space For Life

Understanding Margin

One of the most frustrating things about being a pastor are those moments when you teach about things that you struggle with the most. I actually believe that our most powerful teachings come from our most honest struggles, but it’s still no fun. I experienced this last week, when a small group gathered and we […]

In Search of Better Relationships (Part 3)

Trade Experiences For Relational Depth

When my daughter was in middle school and high school our daily schedule was insane. She had school during the day and I had work. When we got home, she would do homework, and I would mow, or wash the dishes, or do whatever chore that had been most neglected during the past week. After […]

Plotting Your Course

How Clarity Can Help You Accomplish Your Goals

Most people have dreams about what they would like to accomplish or become in life. We all want to do something valuable with our time. But for many people the dream remains just a dream. They struggle to attain their goals and realize their full potential. The most common problem that blocks us from reaching […]

The Third Week of Advent

Joy To The World

Victor Hugo once wrote that, “The supreme happiness in life is the conviction that we are loved, loved for ourselves, or more to the point, loved in spite of ourselves.” If that is true then Christmas is our reminder that unending happiness is available to us all. This joy comes from knowing that we haven’t […]

The Toxic Nature of Fear

How Trusting More Leads to Fearing Less

My high school basketball coach was terrifying.   At least that was my first impression of him. He was loud and intense. He screamed and had on occasion kicked us out of the gym if our practices didn’t meet the standard he desired. (The kicking out wasn’t the bad part, it was what awaited us […]

Why “Made To Thrive”?

Embracing both the highs and lows

Several years ago, I decided to try my hand at writing for public consumption. Writing had always been a cathartic process for me, and I hoped that my thoughts might also resonate with others.  Over 300 blog posts later, I decided it was time to redefine my direction. After weeks of trial and error and […]

Ronda Rousey and Identity: What The Best Fighter In The World Taught Us About Life

By now most people have seen Ronda Rousey’s interview with Ellen DeGeneres. The reactions to the interview were mixed (as media reactions almost always are). I for one am grateful for her courage, and feel that her honesty was commendable. I hope her words will encourage others to admit their own struggles and challenges and […]