I never intended to be a minister. Never. I grew up in a church. Over the years, there were probably a half-dozen ministers who preached at this church. As a child, I really didn’t know much about them. I only saw them from a distance. Yet, most of them seemed “different.” Not different in a… Continue reading What Has Helped You Feel Less Self-Conscious?
Category: Emotional Maturity
How to Ruin a Good Relationship
Lots of people are looking for the right relationship. Yet, so often these same people will then contribute to the demise of what otherwise might have been a very good relationship. A few examples: A woman thinks she has found a new friend. She becomes acquainted with another woman at work who is about her… Continue reading How to Ruin a Good Relationship
Book Nuggets: Leaders Who Last
“We can in fact manage ourselves, if we choose to. We cannot control others. But we can offer our point of view, challenge them, and give them room to respond.” Not long ago, I read Leaders Who Last by Margaret J. Marcuson. The book is helpful, not only for those in a formal leadership role,… Continue reading Book Nuggets: Leaders Who Last
Burying Those Feelings Never Works
There is often a high price to pay when you bury your feelings. Feelings exist. I may not like these feelings. I may not feel comfortable with these feelings. I may be very uneasy by what I am feeling. I can try to bury my feelings but they will not stay buried. At some point… Continue reading Burying Those Feelings Never Works
“But What about Me?” The Curse of Self-Consciousness
It was an interesting moment. I was a freshman in high school. A photographer was present to take school pictures. That morning, he was taking pictures of our high school basketball team. I was in the gym and for a few minutes watched as the photographer first took a team picture and then took individual… Continue reading “But What about Me?” The Curse of Self-Consciousness
Willing to Be Changed! (Well–almost)
They are good people. They may be pleasant and intelligent people. Very often, they are Christian people. Yet, some of these same people never seem to grow up emotionally. There are some people who have developed their thinking processes quite well. There are some who have the capacity to grasp intellectual complexities and make sense… Continue reading Willing to Be Changed! (Well–almost)
Before You Marry (Part 4)
Marriage can be wonderful. It is a gift of God. Yet, it is very important to think through your reasons for wanting to get married. I have been thinking lately about what I have learned through many, many conversations with couples regarding marriage. I have been privileged to be a part of many conversations that were… Continue reading Before You Marry (Part 4)
Five Ways To Undermine Your Calling
The other day I heard someone refer to a situation in a church in which the minister had apparently been guilty of some kind of immoral behavior. Sometimes ministers and other church leaders have behaved in ways that completely go against what we have been called to be. In doing so, we sacrifice a very… Continue reading Five Ways To Undermine Your Calling
Moving Beyond Reaction
They are everywhere! People who just react. People who drain the life out of gatherings as they react to others in ways that are immature, curt, and abrupt. Like letting the air out of a balloon, they have a way of deflating most any conversation. Even worse, they are often allowed to deflate the dreams and… Continue reading Moving Beyond Reaction