As I was packing in preparation for the possible forced evacuation of our home after Hurricane Michael, I heard an odd ping when I banged my left hand against a counter. As I examined my wedding set, there was a gap in the engagement band that looked as obvious as a missing tooth. I sunk to …
The power of close-knit community is a game-changer. In the past year, I’ve experienced the strength of being surrounded by people who have pulled together in remarkable ways as our city recovers from the devastation of a Category 5 hurricane. We are called #850strong – a tribe brought together through adversity. (850 is the area …
Your unique blend of traits affects your emotions, work performance, and relationships. For centuries, psychologists, doctors, and academics have created personality tests for helping us understand ourselves and others. Especially since the advent of online tests and social media, certain personality tests are all the rage for awhile until they join the cabinets with the …
Emotional Quotient (EQ) has been in the forefront of research on human performance for at least two decades, yet many still haven’t heard the news: EQ is more important than IQ. In other words, caring, compassion, and the desire to invest relationally counts more in creating success than grades, degrees and diplomas. What is EQ? …
There is a high price we have all paid for every convenience the Digital Age offers. Now, instead of having a conversation when a quick answer is needed, we ask Alexa. Or Google a phrase and get millions of answers in seconds. It’s handy, but we’ve lost something valuable in the process. A Facebook post …
Of all the goals I set this year, becoming unoffendable is probably the grandest. When I mention this goal, the typical response is delivered with a smirk; “How is that working out for you?” Brant Hansen author of Unoffendable points out, “Anger is extraordinarily easy. It’s our default setting.” My personal default setting is happiness but …
This article is published by Beauty For Ashes Press in an anthology called From Tears to Triumph: Tales of Transformation Through Jesus Christ. In celebration of our 39th anniversary, I want to share it with you here. After the Wedding It seems unreasonable to anticipate an event for years, plan and prepare for months – …
If asked to name the three people with the greatest influence on my life, my mom tops the list. She has known me longer than anyone else on earth and loved me through it all. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have a mentor and parent who loves without limits – always available to offer …
Look around you. Scores of people abhor the widely-celebrated holiday we call Valentine’s Day. We’re all expected to be happy for those receiving candy, flowers, jewelry, and other romantic expressions of love. Yet it can feel a bit like getting stabbed when you notice everyone – but you – seems to be the recipient of …
Since time began, storytelling has been a method of passing important truths from one generation to the next. Values, history, culture and valuable lessons have always been communicated via stories. They spark emotion, connect us with one another, and reach us in a way that can actually change the lens of our perspective. Such is …
The Power of Stories – Recounting the Goodness of God Read More »