Imagine riding a tour bus, bound for the Road to Hana on the island of Maui with ten strangers, when the screeching, pulsing tone of the emergency alert system begins sounding from cell phones. We’re all familiar with the tone used to deliver important emergency information such as weather and AMBER alerts, but visualize the …
Author: Julie Powell, Ed.D.
With over 30 years in higher education, I have a passion for seeing people, not only succeed at life, but to flourish in their God-given space personally, professionally, and spiritually.
God Speed
What thoughts come to mind when you read the title to this post? Do the ideas connect to a specific person, time, or place? Is it an unknown phrase and therefore offers no meaning to you personally? Perhaps, you are sitting on the edge of your seat in anticipation of where I might navigate this …
Little Ears
Hang around toddlers and pre-school children for any length of time and you are likely to be entertained by a statement that pours out of their mouth--whether it’s being brought to tears to hear precious four-year-old Elizabeth recite the Pledge of Allegiance around Memorial Day, or laughing out loud when Benaiah admits to why Zion …
Forest Bathing
Before the heat and humidity of a summer in West Tennessee hits, it’s enjoyable for me to spend as much time outdoors as possible; whether that happens while relaxing on the back porch, engaging in a morning walk, volunteering with Campers on Mission, or participating in a women’s weekend with TWRA, being outdoors revives my …
God-Listening Heart
Words of wisdom from one of the wisest men to ever live, King Solomon: “Here’s what I want: Give me a God-Listening Heart so I can lead your people well, discerning the difference between good and evil” (1 Kings 3:9 MSG). What if more of us in this sinful world intentionally chose to begin our …
Absolutely Not
Absolutely Not! Perhaps I’m the only person who dares utter these words in my conversations with God, but it does indeed happen. And it’s not as if my refusal is related to Him asking me to sell all my worldly goods, resign from my vocation, and move to some distant non-English-speaking country. There’s only this …
Say What?!?
Say What?!? Has someone ever verbalized an idea that caused your mind to desperately sift through the words that you know you heard, yet your mind struggles to pull it all together because it is so profound? That’s exactly what occurred during a Friday chapel service when Katrina Bazzoli shared with the crowd a question …
Show Up
“Just Show Up…with intentionality, recognizing that the words you use, the actions you display are going to have an impact on someone whether you intend that to happen or not.” These wise words were shared by Pharmacy Professor Kim Jones during a 2022 chapel service and resonated deeply with me as she shared of a …
Building a Household
If I were to ask you to take a few moments and describe your Household, what descriptors would you select? Would you describe the physical aspects of your home? The people who live inside? The U.S. Census Bureau’s definition is this: “A household includes the related family members and all the unrelated people, if any, …
Burning Curiosity
“I’m so sorry…for ringing your cowbell!” (Not an unfamiliar phrase to be uttered from these lips. At least the first part)! But last week at early voting in our county, my Burning Curiosity led me to, without permission, pick up the cute little cowbell sitting beside a computer monitor at the check-in desk. With her …
Flourishing @ Life 