When I was ten years (1973) old I got a set of stickers that were over the top cool. They were customized. Yep. Each sticker said things like, ―Far out, Jim!‖ ―LOVE Jim!‖ ―Genius Jim Award! Now you understand my post headline, don’t you? I couldn’t use stickers like these just anywhere. No way. I had to find the perfect …
Grab The Ring
What’s the one thing you know you need to do? That thing that scares you. The thing that would set up free if you did it. It’s time. For all of us; to leap for the ring. Grab it hard. Don’t let go. Never. It’s beyond your ability? Good. When it comes true you’ll know it wasn’t on your strength …
Life
Does it help to know you’re not the only one going through the exact struggle you’re facing? “No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always …
Utterly
Utterly engulfed, And wanting more, Buried, Drowned, Intoxicated, With the vastness of Love, Losing myself as the waves wash over me, Through me, Surrounding, Caught up in a hurricane of overwhelming peace, I have let go, And He has found me.
Step In
I had a book signing tonight at Barnes & Noble. Toward the end a lady walked up to me, a gleam in her eyes, and told me the theme of her life: “Step into afraid.” “What?” She smiled and repeated herself. “Step into afraid.” Then I got it. She’s right. Courage isn’t absence of fear. Courage isn’t the confidence that …
Do You Give Your Heart Workouts?
Do you exercise? Get some cardio in, lift weights? Even if you don’t, you know it’s part of keeping your body healthy. But what about your spiritual heart? What kind of exercise do you give it? God says out of our hearts flows the wellspring of life. LIFE! Yet most of us race through our existence taking little thought to …
Dad
My dad always had an remarkable sense of humor and was highly intelligent, but I didn’t see his amazing tenderness as I grew up. It was buried by years of severe emotional abuse by his mother and an uninvolved father. But ten years ago, Alzheimer’s changed that. The curse of Alzheimer’s became a stunning blessing as the disease ripped away …
Dreams
“You’re going to college.” It was an unspoken mantra around my home and social circles growing up. So I went. Today I look at my 17-year-old son and wonder. Should I make him go? Or let him pursue his dream of shooting videos, and being the next Jack Johnson? He’s a musician, writer, artist … a talented kid with personality …
Real Religion
“Can you give me any money?” My wife looked at the homeless guy sitting on the curb and said, “You look hungry.” “Yeah, do you have any change?” “What do you like to eat?” “Jo, jos.” “I’ll be right back.” She came out of the store ten minutes later with a meal for the guy. Why didn’t she just give …
I’m an Old Man
This afternoon my youngest son, Micah, said “I”m getting faster, Dad. Let’s race.” So we get set, fingers digging into the asphalt in front of our home. I’m thinking, do I let him win. Nah. That’d be a lie. He’ll beat me soon enough. A few second later my wife yells, “Go!” and we take off. It takes me about …