Life is hard. Sometimes, it is really hard. Isn’t it great, however, to have friends, family, church members, and others who will come along side you and help! I am thinking of one Texas friend who I loved being with. We often ate lunch together. We would talk to one another about our lives… Continue reading “But The Good News Is . . .”
Category: Relationships
When Men Are Silent
A young wife e-mails an elder in their church about the bullying behavior of her husband. It took everything she had to write the letter. Her arm still throbbed from where her husband had grabbed her the night before. She had known this elder for many years and now was reaching out to him. After… Continue reading When Men Are Silent
When Men Leave Emotionally
What does a man do with pain? Many men simply leave. No, they don’t necessarily leave physically. Rather, they leave emotionally. I recently heard a friend of mine talk about this as he reflected upon a very difficult time in his life. I could identify. Many men have learned that the safest place to take one’s… Continue reading When Men Leave Emotionally
The Bully
Bullies seem to be everywhere. Some are married. Some are single. They come in all ages and from various economic and ethnic groups. You may work with a bully. You may have one in your family. Even assembling with your church may not be an escape from a bully. A bully can even be a church… Continue reading The Bully
Four Essential Practices for Any Church Leader
The following are four essential practices for any church leader. In fact, these might be helpful to any Christ-follower. 1. Take care of your mind. Too many ministers do not read widely and consequently get stuck in a mental rut. Some read only the latest books from well-known preachers. The mind, however, needs exercise. For… Continue reading Four Essential Practices for Any Church Leader
Five Qualities of People You Can Trust
Several years ago, Charlotte and I were at dinner with several friends. I realized at the end of our evening together that I had felt very relaxed throughout this dinner. We talked, laughed, and told stories. There was a certain ease about the evening. It dawned on me later how special the evening really was.… Continue reading Five Qualities of People You Can Trust
10 Qualities of a Good Dad
The other day, I was on Facebook and saw a picture of “Will” with his daughter. I felt so proud! Will is a good husband and dad. I have great respect for him. Being a dad may be one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Yes, it has been joyful. However, it has been… Continue reading 10 Qualities of a Good Dad
10 Traits of a Great Dad
For a number of years, I’ve had a front row seat to witness first hand some great fathers as they’ve interacted with their children. Most of these dads also modeled what it means to love their wives with an unconditional love. The guys who I have in mind are in their 30s and 40s. They… Continue reading 10 Traits of a Great Dad
5 People I Admire
1. I admire people who are respectful and gracious in their speech. I knew someone who would regularly say, “I’m just being honest.” In his mind, this seemed to excuse his crass, rude, and insulting remarks. Yet, speaking with honesty does not give one the license to put away their sensitivity filter and say whatever… Continue reading 5 People I Admire
Can I Trust This Person?
Good question! This is a question that many of us ask regularly. Not long ago, a friend expressed his appreciation for our relationship. He spoke of how often he had confided in me through the years. I came away from that conversation not only appreciating our friendship more but with greater resolve to always be… Continue reading Can I Trust This Person?