Have you ever mastered a skill? If you use the Merriam-Webster’s definition of the verb, it means “to become skilled or proficient in the use of” or “to gain a thorough understanding of.” Adopting this definition, have you mastered any skills in your life such as riding a bike, driving a car, or speaking another …
Category: Spiritual Life
Circle Not a Square
Novel experiences, like navigating the COVID pandemic, create opportunities to illuminate the creativity and flexibility of individuals and communities in surprising ways. Concepts once imagined as impossible become achievable and people prove themselves resilient and persistent. A willingness to consider strategies in a new light creates a new normal and life continues to happen. From …
Sunday to Monday Gap
Admittedly, my intrigue radar blipped when as the research for neighborly love and hospitality led me to Tom Nelson’s book entitled The Economics of Neighborly Love: Investing in Your Community’s Compassion and Capacity and his challenge to think about love, investing, and vocation in an entirely new light. As a professor attempting to guide emerging …
Good, Better, Best
Once upon a time there was a retail and appliance store called Sears (sadly there are only a few locations remaining) where almost every single item we ever owned was purchased. Every appliance in our home had a Kenmore label purchased with a Sears employee discount. This retailer was so prominent during the 70s and …
Water Stations
Listening to a message this morning on my walk presented by Dave Shields at Menlo Church, I was enlightened to consider missions and church attendance in a new light. As a person who relishes practical and applicable sermons, this morning’s epiphany was extremely relevant even though it was not the main theme of the presentation. …
The Habit of Growth
John Townsend shares in People Fuel the importance of creating a Habit of Growth when he shares, “That’s why we are responsible to ask for relational help not just in a crisis but on a regular and sustained basis for the rest of our lives. So many people shy away from going to others for …
IQ, EQ and HQ
It’s the middle of March in 2020 as I compose this blog post and our society is currently in a state of panic over the threat of the spread of the coronavirus. With sporting events and church services being cancelled and colleges transitioning to online instruction, the world seems slightly unsettled at the moment. Not …
The Habit of Margin
Loads and Limits Several years ago, fellow Union professor Hayward Armstrong recommended a book to me entitled Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives by Richard Swensen in relationship to a nutrition course. Today, not only do I return to the wisdom Swensen provides, but his use of the word flourishing …
Deliberate Practice
When continuing themes emerge in one’s reading and research, it is probably wise to pay deliberate attention to the advice being offered, so although we touched on the issue of habits in Asphalt of Habits, this posting will submit further reasoning to ponder the importance of the small, regular rituals which comprise the 24 hours …
Spiritual Conversations
In the post entitled Courageous Conversations, I outlined four categories of courageous conversations that I believe are important to address especially when guiding the next generation. These four types were explained in that post but to recap, the four types are: tough conversations, empathetic conversations, lingering conversations, and spiritual conversations. Defining the first three previously, …
Flourishing @ Life 