In my earlier post Here Comes Trouble, I talked about the good kind of trouble—the kind that might even have you humming along to that 1990s country classic, “T‑R‑O‑U‑B‑L‑E.” But when we look at Jesus and His disciples, “trouble” takes on a deeper meaning. It isn’t distress or anxiety; it’s a holy disruption—an interruption that …
Category: Spiritual Life
Grit and Grace
As a longtime fan of crime procedurals, I’ve watched more than my fair share of Law & Order (and its many spin‑offs) over the past twenty‑five years. I’ve often found myself quoting that iconic opening narration: “In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups… These are their …
Flourish Together
How do you know when you are trusting God’s timing and not your own? If hindsight were equal to foresight, the answer might come easily. But if I could see the future, there would be no need for faith—no need to rely on God. This Paradoxical Life often rattles my thinking and leaves me confused. …
Be Like Fred
I am fully aware that my age is showing when I use quotes like “Show me the money!” and “You complete me” in class and none of the students have any idea that I’m referencing a sports movie. How can we discuss the route to becoming a sport agent if students are unfamiliar with Jerry …
Me-First Attitude
If you pose a question like, “What are your thoughts on the current college transfer rules?” you’re almost guaranteed to spark a lively debate about the state of intercollegiate athletics—especially on a campus where nearly 80 percent of students are athletes. Teach in a sport-related discipline, and the intensity rises: not only are most students …
Weaving Threads
Does anyone else have an unfinished project tucked away at home? Perhaps it was a venture into woodworking, sewing, scrapbooking, or painting—now sitting quietly, reminding you of the Habit of Resilience you didn’t quite embrace to finish what you started. As I placed Christmas decorations around the house this week, I stumbled upon a framed …
Not an Expert
Yazoo, Mississippi—If reading those words fails to bring to your mind a rich southern drawl sharing the stories of Marcel Ledbetter and coon hunting, then you did not have the same rich childhood that I did growing up in the 1970s. But guess what? You do not have to miss out, because you can Just …
Appreciative Examen
Are you a math person or a language person? Perhaps, like me, you might rate yourself somewhere in between, similar to what is described in a previous post about being a Lark, Owl or Third Bird. Providing information in a numerical format seems easier for me to remember, but words also matter. Ask me to …
Come Jesus Come
When do you become aware of just how selfish humans can be? When do you feel convicted of your own personal selfishness? Has a moment ever struck you—perhaps even while praying—when you realized you placed your own desires above what’s best for others? If I’m honest, this realization probably happens more often than I consciously …
Restored Breath
Name one aspect of human life that you are currently taking for granted? If someone posed that question to you right now as you read this post, how would you respond? Might your answer be that we are not self-made people as I describe in the post Belly Button? Or for those who are entering …
Flourishing @ Life 