Mar 28, 2019 | Abuse, Calling, Criticism, Difficult people, Leadership, Ministry Leader, Missionary, Pastor, Relationships, Uncategorized
Difficult people go to church. I wish it wasn’t true . . . but sadly, it is. Not all people who go to church are difficult. The vast majority are not. But the few who are can make life miserable for a leader. I graduated from Oral Roberts University a...
Jan 17, 2019 | friendship, Loneliness, Relationships, Uncategorized
Every relationship in our life—both present and future—carries with it a degree of risk. If risk-free friendships you seek, find yourself more and more isolated you will. (Written in Yoda-speak) In our increasingly lonely society, I wonder if one way we try to...
Dec 13, 2018 | Christmas, Family, Grandparents, Relationships, Uncategorized
Christmas was magical to me as a kid. The fresh-cut pine tree loaded with lights and ornaments; piles of snow outside; Charlie Brown and The Grinch Christmas specials; holiday kielbasa and raspberry cream pies; family gatherings; opening gifts; no school for two...
Nov 29, 2018 | friendship, Leadership, Loneliness, Relationships, Uncategorized
We live in a world that is more connected technologically than any time in history. But I wonder if our technology prowess has resulted in us being lonelier than any time in history? In the Garden of Eden, shortly after creating Adam from the dust of the earth, God...
Aug 9, 2018 | Calling, Career, Emotional Health, Fear, Leadership, Mentors, Ministry Leader, Missionary, Pastor, People-pleasing, Relationships, Uncategorized, Work
I want everyone to like me. But I don’t need everyone to like me. I’ve been wrestling with the above thought for weeks. I want everyone to like me. But I don’t need everyone to like me. Wanting everyone to like me, when issuing from a healthy place, speaks to...
Jul 19, 2018 | Abuse, Anger, Bitterness, Depression, Difficult people, Disappointment, discouragement, Emotional Health, Family, Forgiveness, friendship, Loneliness, Relationships, Stress
“Lord, I’m hurting this morning.” Ever prayed that prayer before, or some version of it? I’m not talking about physical pain here—rather, about emotional pain. Especially the variety that issues from disappointing relationships. You know, the kind of pain that feels...
